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FREE EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY | OKLAHOMA’S INDEPENDENT BIWEEKLY | MARCH 23, 2022

AFTER Y E BUSI NESSARS OF TESTI N ARE ELEV OWNERS A G TH EI R ME T T A T T N I N W G NEWEST 2ND AND LE, TH E MUSIC, B EER AND I RONWO K L E I N RKS DIST F O RICT DEV OD I N TH E ELOPMEN T.

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INSIDE COVER Years in the making, the three core businesses at the development project at NW 2nd and Klein Avenue — Beer City Music Hall, Fair-Weather Friend and Flycatcher Club — will all open for business this spring. By Matt Dinger Cover by Berlin Green

NEWS 5 6

Citizen Spolight: Mark & Shelly Braisher Chicken Fried News

EAT & DRINK 8

COVER Fair-Weather Friend

10 COVER Flycatcher Club 12

Gazedibles

ARTS & CULTURE 14 15

Piano Tales Calendar

MUSIC 19 COVER Beer City Music Hall 20

S. Reidy

22 COMMENTARY Chad Whitehead

Yola Soundcheck: Beau Jennings 26 Live music 24 26

THE HIGH CULTURE 29 30

Guyutes recipe Strain reviews

FUN 30 31

Astrology Puzzles sudoku | crossword

VOL. XLIV NO. 6

NOW PLAYING WATCHPLAYITLOUD.COM

PUBLISHER Bryan Hallman | bhallman@okgazette.com EDITOR Matt Dinger | mdinger@okgazette.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Berlin Green | bgreen@okgazette.com PRODUCTION MANAGER Kendall Bleakley ADVERTISING advertising@okgazette.com 405-528-6000 CIRCULATION MANAGER Patrick Hanscom | phanscom@okgazette.com CONTRIBUTORS Jerry Bennett Dave Gil de Rubio Evan Jarvicks Adrienne Proctor Chad Whitehead

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CITIZEN SPOTLIGHT

Mark & Shelly Braisher MARK AND SHELLY BRAISHER LIFT BURDENS THROUGH BEAUTIFICATION. By Berlin Green

Paying it forward can be beautiful in a multitude of ways. The Moore Faith Medical Clinic was formed in 2015 by a group of volunteers after tornadoes devastated the area in 2013. The small clinic is open part-time, offering free primary care, urgent care, diagnostic testing, disease management, and other medical care. Now in its seventh year, the clinic is still run entirely by volunteers and serves thousands of patients each year. “After the tornado, a bunch of us from different churches just worked together to try to help rebuild the community, and we found that there was a lot of continued need,” Dave Evans, executive director of Moore Faith Medical Clinic, said. “Our primary focus is serving patients, so this is huge; I don’t know if you looked at the building on the way in, but we’re desperately in need of a little beauty.” The clinic, with its empty flowerbeds, long-dead shrubbery, and patchy lawn, has needed a green thumb’s touch for quite some time. “This place has been neglected for years. Originally, it was the Clevela nd Cou nt y Hea lt h Department. Then it was vacant. Then it served Moore as the police station after the tornadoes. It was

just temporarily while they were building the new one, but nothing’s b e en done. Since we took the space, we haven’t had the resources or the manpower to do anything Shelly and Mark Braisher. Photo by Berlin Green. with the lawn and landscaping. We’ve just been a landscaping company, and wanted trying to take care of people’s to use their business to pay it health and medicines. So this is forward in the community. going to make a huge difference. I “We wanted to do something feel like this is going to brighten good with our business and give the whole area. Yeah, she’s gonna back in some way,” Shelly Braisher be beautiful.” said. “Mark reached out to our pastor, who told us about the medical clinic. We came over and “It’s another way met Dave and started getting the that we see our ball rolling. It’s a worthwhile place. community, It does a lot for the community and loving each other the people here. I know it’s not top and taking care of the mind because the people here of each other.” are doing things that are much more important than grass and -Dave Evans landscaping, but we feel like this is one way that we can contribute and make it nice for the volunteers and Mark and Shelly Braisher decided people who are coming in. It’s just to step in to help beautify the space. something we’re able to do that can The Braishers own ManageMowed, lift things off their plate.” The clinic’s volunteers are looking forward to the revitalization of their space, a nd t he Braishers think it’s something the patients will appreciate as well. “ W hen people come here to the free clinic, but there’s no reason why they shouldn’t come to a place they can be proud to walk into, the same as any other d o c t o r ’s of f ic e ,” Mark Braisher said. “Usually the medical field takes very good care of their landscaping and such,

and when you walk in it’s a nice building, nice image. We’d like for them to have that image for them as well. When there’s limited resources, that’s difficult. For us to be able to do that takes that piece away for them, it’s less they have to worry about, and it helps make it a place the patients and the volunteers can be proud of.” Once the spring gardening season begins, the Braishers will completely redo the beds with flowers and shrubbery and keep up with needed lawn care throughout the year. “It’s another way that we see our community, loving each other and taking care of each other,” Evans said. “It’s a great way to show that they care about the patients and the people who come here. We’re all volunteers. Everybody. Every doctor, every nurse or social worker, chaplain, we’re all volunteers. So it’s just another way that we see this community coming together and to love our neighbors. It’s really amazing. Volunteers are so critical. Mark and Shelly are just another example of people who care. so it’s beautiful when you see a plan come together.” To learn more about the Moore Faith Medical Clinic, visit www. moorefaithclinic.org. To learn more about ManageMowed, visit www.managemowed.com.

The exterior of Moore Faith Medical Clinic. Photo by Berlin Green.

CITIZEN SPOTLIGHT OKGA Z ET TE .COM | M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2

Illustrations by Jerry Bennett

I don’t think we’re in Oklahoma anymore, Toto…

The social landscape has shifted so quickly in the state that it’s almost unrecognizable and even some of the decision-making at the capitol is reflecting that. Enter House Bill 3414, which provides for research into the medicinal and therapeutic value of psilocybin mushrooms, also known as “magic mushrooms” or “shrooms.” “Universities, institutions of higher education located in Oklahoma, and research facilities that have entered into a memorandum of agreement with a university or institution of higher education located in Oklahoma are hereby authorized to conduct scientific research and medical trials on psilocybin and psilocin for the treatment of persons

eighteen (18) years of age or older,” the bill reads. The bill allows for psilocybin to be studied in patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, severe depression, severe anxiety, severe obsessive compulsive disorder, traumatic brain injury, early-stage dementia, palliative care, end-of-life care, opioid use disorder moderate to severe chronic pain, the bill states. It’s almost as if the legislature has learned that plant-based remedies to medical issues are worth examining. Gee, I wonder what happened to change their mind in recent years? Conspicuously absent from the discussion is overblown rhetoric, exaggerated hypotheticals and completely fabricated horror stories to try to drum up opposition on Lincoln Boulevard. Even more baffling is that the bill was proposed by a Republican … from Lawton. “I thought about, as we move beyond this pandemic, how we can address the mental health crisis our state faces. With so many folks who are struggling

rig ht now, I think we need to think outside the box, we need to think creatively,” Rep. Daniel Pae, the bill’s author, told The Oklahoman. “These trials are going to be very much in controlled environments with folks who are overseeing it. We are going to be micro-dosing.”

This is now the second Schedule 1 substance that will be legal in the state with some restrictions. On a windless day, you can hear the sound of Terence McKenna’s laughter from his California grave.

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M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2 | OKGA Z ET TE .COM CHICKEN FRIED NEWS

What goes up, must come down, right? Right?! The second Russian dictator Vladimir Putin fired the first volleys into the Ukraine, gas prices shot up because there’s nothing that energy speculators like more than taking advantage of people who are beholden to their products (which is everyone). Unsurprisingly, the first to complain were the monster truck drivers whose pickup beds have nary a scratch, hauling only their own asses and “Let’s Go Brandon” bumpster stickers to their gated communities on the edge of the cities. Mea nwh i le, t he a lreadystretched and rapidly diminishing middle classes get placed on the rack again, to say nothing of the working poor and those living in poverty whose turn in the barrel never seems to end. “Let them drink gas,” comes the refrain from the oil companies and lawmakers they own who enjoy the widening record profits. While oil and gas might have built Oklahoma City and Tulsa, it’s not prompting the growth of

communities now. And whet her t he loc a l yokels like it or not, Oklahoma’s endless cannabis, craft beer, gambling and low cost of living as well as exploding live music and restaur a nt s c ene s a r e causing people to flock to the state. Will those new arrivals be as willing to participate in our mass Stock holm Sy ndrome when it comes to being bilked by the oil and gas industry? Will they thank them while roads fall apart and schools close even as they pay more at the pump? Kevin and his cronies like to say the state is open for business and good for it. If that’s the case, why aren’t more of them moving here? Trump famously said that he loves the poorly educated but

s o does Oklahoma’s ruling class who exploit their lack of economic understanding to

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COVER STORY

Drinking buddy FAIR-WEATHER FRIEND HAS BEEN THE LONE OPEN OUTPOST OF THE IRONWORKS DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT AT NW 2ND AND KLEIN, SERVING FRESH BEERS AND HOT PIZZAS FOR OVER A YEAR. By Matt Dinger

Adrienne Jaskula isn’t your FairWeather Friend, but her brewery is. Adrienne and her husband, Reed, moved to Oklahoma from Ohio several years ago. She managed the new Stonecloud taproom while he brewed beer at Prairie OKC. A craft beer fan since high school, Jaskula took a wine-tasting class in college where she met an intern at a distribution company, which started her down a road that ended at 314 N. Klein Ave. “Reed and I have been together for a long time. We used to go to this little craft beer bar in Kent, down the street from the campus and they had the best craft beer selection. We would go there all the time. And one day, we were just chatting and we’re like, ‘Let’s open a brewery someday. We love this. That’ll be the plan. I’ll get this internship and I’ll learn how to sell beer, and I’ll learn everything I can about that.’ And he decided he wanted to learn how to make beer and we kind of set off on our paths from there. And here we are now, after opening a bunch of breweries for other people, achieving our dream,” she said. Fair-Weather Friend has an extremely diverse beer menu, from lagers and stouts and back again. There are no core beers, though some of the brews do make encore

per formances, often in modified forms. On the menu, you’ll find beers like Better Get Bubbed, which is listed as a DDHHBIPAMWL on the menu. That stands for, “double Fair-Weather Friend. Photo, Berlin Green dry-hopped hazy boy India pale ale nature of brewing beer with ingremade with love.” And there’s the dients prepped and carried by hand. Cowboy Siesta, which is an impe“We make everything from rial stout that includes, among scratch if we can. If not, it’s great other things, coffee and cacao that quality,” she said. are roasted on site in the woodburning oven. “We don’t skimp “We don’t skimp on our ingredion our ingredients. ents. The quality of our beers in that The quality of our they’re unique and that we stand beers in that behind them is the most important they’re unique and thing for us. I’ll never dilute a beer that we stand for cost. That’s something that behind them is the brewers get put in a position to do most important regularly. We just won’t do it. Sweet thing for us. I’ll Afters is a billion dollars to make, never dilute a beer but it’s delicious.Those stouts? A for cost.” billion dollars to make. They’re delicious,” Jaskula said. -Adrienne Jaskula During the first half of the day, the brewery is a coffee shop for Prelude They ferment the dough for the Coffee Roasters before the pizza oven pizza in house for at least 48 hours is fired up and they start slinging before it’s served. beers with their pies at 4 p.m. “Some of it ferments for five days, “People come here for a coffee. honestly. The longer the fermentaThey enjoy it. They realize tion, the better. It’s more complex. there’s a brewery here in the It’s got that fermented complex evening and there’s pizza. flavor and crisp and fluff that checks Maybe they want to come all the boxes for the kind of pizza back at night or maybe they we’re trying to make, which is not want to finish their coffee, Neapolitan. We make pizza the way work throughout the day and we want to make pizza, whatever then have a beer. I think that style is,” Jaskula said. there’s a lot of synergy there Heretofore, the menu has been as well. We use a lot of coffee limited to three options, but she said and our beers. We’ve got a they’re expanding their ingredients relationship with him and list so people can pick their own tophe’s creative and focused on pings on a regular basis. quality and affordable coffee “What’s getting weird is now have and so it just made sense,” people that come in for the pizza Jaskula said. that don’t get that we’re a brewery. Food was always baked They don’t understand we don’t into the concept, with barbehave everything every week … We cue as the original idea until will always still have a special that’s the pizza plan came to fruicurated based on the cool, fun things tion while Reed was recoverwe want to do.” Jaskula said. ing from back surgery due to Fair-Weather Friend has also rethe demanding physical cently added cannolis to the menu Don’t Monkey Around with My Heart. Photo, Berlin Green 8

M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2 | OKGA Z ET TE .COM COVER STORY

and Jaskula said she hopes to add salads as a regular menu item soon. “I always wanted people to come here and have the experience here. I want our bartenders to serve you the beer and to talk about it the way it needs to be talked about and to serve you pizza here and for the pizza to shine here. I also don’t think of it as a to-go product. People ask if the pizza is to go. Yes, it comes in a to-go box, but do I want to have it on Uber Eats? No, because I don’t think that’s what represents us. It’s artisanal pizza,” Jaskula said. As far as the brewery’s name, Jaskula said that they had another name in mind for years — Here Nor There — but it was registered the month before they were set to snag it. “I think about it now and I like Fair-Weather Friend. I like how it abbreviates to FWF. People call us fair-weather friends all the time, and I want to stop them and be like, ‘I’m not your fair-weather friend. The brewery is.’ That’s how I think of it. The brewery is your fair-weather friend. We’re here for the good times. I mean, I hope you’re not sad drinking here. We support you either way. The brewery is a place that I hope gathers the good times,” she said. Coffee, pizza, salads. But she stresses that FWF is a taproom first. “We’re a brewery with food, not a restaurant with beer,” Jaskula said. “I put everything into this. Beer, pizza, the experience, you name it,” she said.

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COVER STORY OKGA Z ET TE .COM | M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2

COVER STORY

Grease trap THE NEW CONCEPT FROM RILEY MARSHALL AND DUSTIN LANCASTER WILL PROVIDE A “GRANDFATHER’S BASEMENT BAR” FEEL TO CONTRAST WITH THE CLASSY BAR ARBOLADA. By Matt Dinger

It’s going to be hard to keep a low profile when the centerpiece of your dive bar has been dubbed “the best double cheeseburger in America” by a celebrity chef. But that’s the plan for Flycatcher Club, a “high dive” that will open late April. The concept was designed by coowners Riley Marshall and Dustin Lancaster, who opened Bar Arbolada at the intersection of Main Street and N Lee Avenue four years ago. Marshall and Lancaster met while both were living and working in Los Angeles. “We kind of met by happenstance,” Marshall said. “He was bartending and I was sitting at the bar and struck up a conversation. It turned out he’s from Oklahoma and I’m from Oklahoma and then continued talking. We lived on the same street in LA, which was Arbolada. That’s where the name came from … He was already in the works on opening his first concept in LA, which was Bar Covell, named after Covell Road in Edmond.” In quick succession, Lancaster opened several more bar/restaurants in Los Angeles. When Marshall moved back to Oklahoma City, he broached the topic again and the planning stages began.

“Kind of just like a dive-y beer bar where you get a good gin and tonic or a Jack and Coke or beer and a burger and it’s more about just enjoying the spot in a little more laid back, casual kind of way.” -Riley Marshall

“The concept was a bar that felt like it could and would exist in any other big city, whether it be Los Angeles or New York City or wherever. We kind of felt that, at the time, Oklahoma City didn’t really have much that felt like a big city concept,” he said. They teamed with Tehra Thorp to

offer a small plate menu for the bar. “[She] was from Oklahoma and lived out in LA. She did a lot of fun pop-ups and was, I think, a private chef, most of the time. The interior of the Flycatcher is coming together in preparation for the grand opening. And so I approached her. Elevated bar snacks did that forever. It was just a lot of really was kind of our thought and fun,” Marshall said. that’s what we opened with and And then COVID-19 hit. started with,” Marshall said. Restaurants were first allowed to Meanwhile, a flat-top grill in the do takeout, so they started firing up building sat mostly dormant until the grill all day five days a week. weekly staff meetings when they “That helped a lot. We could run would take turns cooking. One time, a really lean staff and they could

The smashburger developed at Bar Arbolada will be the centerpiece of the Flycatcher Club menu. Photo, Berlin Green

Marshall took to the grill with his grandfather’s smashburger recipe and technique and they were an immediate hit. “We came up with this idea of doing a weekly burger pop-up burger weekly we called Paloma Town and we would do it Saturday night starting at 10 p.m. So the kitchen would run with its normal menu all day and then we would switch over to do the smashburgers,” he said. It wasn’t long before there were lines for a burger, fries and a paloma. “In the beginning, we would only buy a certain amount of meat and when it was gone, it was gone. We

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make some tip money and get paid hourly and we can make enough money to pay the rent and not be too worried. So that kind of helped us through COVID,” he said. When bars and restaurants started reopening, people were coming specifically for the smashburgers so they became a mainstay. “Financially, it just made more sense to keep doing the burgers and then the Alton Brown thing happened and it kind of exploded even bigger,” Marshall said. In early November, celebrity chef Alton Brown and his wife stopped in while they were in town. After

Photo, Berlin Green

the meal, he tweeted: “So #OklahomaCity, you have the best double cheeseburger in America.” Marshall said his phone immediately blew up, paving the way for his new concept, the lease for which had been signed before the pandemic “Everybody knew it was coming but I hadn’t made any kind of official announcement but then the Alton Brown stuff happened so we kind of rode with that,” he said. The intention is for Flycatcher Club to open for lunch at 11 a.m. seven days a week. They plan to close at midnight during the week and then stay open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The grill hours have yet to be determined, but Marshall expects them to serve the late-night crowd. He’s anticipating shutting down the kitchen at midnight on weekends. Aside from the burgers, Marshall said they intend to have an expanded bar food menu that includes eight to 12 items. Marshall said Flycatcher will also have a pool table, some pinball machines and dart boards. He hopes that leagues for each will develop at the club. “Other than that, kind of just like a dive-y beer bar where you get a good gin and tonic or a Jack and Coke or beer and a burger and it’s more about just enjoying the spot in a little more laid back, casual kind of way,” he said. The opening date has not been set but Marshall said he’s hoping Flycatcher Club will be open for business by May, catering to its own clientele as well as Beer City Music Hall’s crowds after the show. Until then, the renowned burgers are available at Bar Arbolada from the time they open until about 10 p.m. each night, he said.

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COVER STORY OKGA Z ET TE .COM | M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2

GAZEDIBLES

Avocado toast It may be 2022, but the avocado toast craze has yet to subside. We’ve seen a variety of food fads over the last several years but this one looks like it’s here to stay. Here are seven places around OKC and Tulsa where you can find a delicious slice of avocado toast and much more. By Berlin Green

Photos provided.

The Copley

405-724-9434 • 610 NW 23rd St. www.thecopleyokc.com

The Copley offers a warm, sophisticated atmosphere to enjoy delicious food, handcrafted coffee, and seasonal cocktails. Their avocado toast is made with a hearty toasted bread, topped with kale, poached egg, bacon, and pickled onion. Their other delectable options balance it out, like house-made pastries, croissants, breakfast bowls and salads.

M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2 | OKGA Z ET TE .COM E AT & DRINK

First Bite Cafe

405-748-3447 • 2328 W. Memorial Road

www.firstbiteokc.com

Formerly known as First Watch OKC, the First Bite Cafe is a locally owned café that serves smoothies and breakfast made with the best possible ingredients. Their avocado toast is simple but good — it’s served with two eggs on the side, cooked any way you’d like. The rest of their breakfast menu filled with a variety of options, including their breakfast benny (eggs benedict served on ciabatta bread), tacos, burritos, omelets, waffles and more.

Elemental Coffee

405-633-1703 • 815 N. Hudson Ave. www.elementalcoffee.com

At both their Hudson Avenue and OU Health locations, Elemental Coffee serves up some of the best coffee and toast options around. They offer a vegan toast made with toasted multi-grain bread rubbed with garlic and topped with avocado smash, radish, toasted sesame seeds, cilantro, lemon, and alder wood smoked salt.

Aurora

Bramble Breakfast & Bar

Hodges Bend

Notion

Aurora is known for its delightful menu, but their beautiful decor makes this one of the most Instagrammable spots on the list. And no Instagram post would be complete without their avocado toast made with fresh avocado, white bean hummus, cucumber, heirloom tomato and goat cheese. Add an egg for an even heartier meal.

With three locations in the Tulsa area, including one in Jenks, Bramble Breakfast & Bar is all about creating an unforgettable meal. Their avocado toast is certainly memorable, served on whole wheat and topped with a tomato, red onion and cucumber salad, then finished with a red wine vinaigrette. If you’re feeling eggy, add one on an extra charge.

Named after the area in which it’s located, Hodges Bend is a locally owned café that offers locallysourced coffee, delicious handcrafted cocktails and stellar cuisine. Their avocado toast is topped with a fried egg, arugula, pepitas and citrus for a fresh twist on this newly-minted classic.

Notion is an artsy underground coffee shop in downtown Tulsa that aims to offer patrons a space that fosters creativity and ideas. They’ve got multiple avocado toast options on their menu including the strawberry feta — a delightful treat of avocado spread and fresh strawberries topped with feta crumbles and finished with balsamic glaze drizzle then served on toasted sourdough bread.

405-609-8854 • 2029, 1704 NW 16th St. www.shinewithaurora.com

539-664-5635 • 1302 E. 6th St, Tulsa www.bramblebartulsa.com

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918-398-4470 • 823 E 3rd St, Tulsa www.hodges-bend.com

918-205-3030 • 321 S Frankfort Ave., Tulsa www.notiontulsa.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

EXPERIENCE FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY WALK Friday, April 1, 2022 • 6-9pm

ARTS DISTRICT

In the Paseo Arts & Creativity Center at 3024 Paseo GALLERY I - AutismOklahoma’s Duets GALLERY II - Ann Margaret Blue GALLERY III - Kaylee Scales Opening reception is Friday, April 1, 6-9pm. Featured through April 30. Local and national art, great food, art classes and plenty of shopping!

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405.525.2688 • thepaseo.org

James & Jerome. Photo by Marcus Middleton & Theo Cote.

Wild tales OKLAHOMA CITY REPERTORY THEATER IS GIVING VOICE TO AN ORIGINAL COLLABORATIVE PROJECT FOR FOUR PERFORMANCES THIS MONTH AT OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY. By Adrienne Proctor

Oklahoma City Repertory Theater (OKCRep) continues its spring reboot season with Piano Tales. Following the success of their first new work of the season, An Evening with an Immigrant, Artistic Director Kelly Kerwin and company present another original work for Oklahoma City audiences. Piano Tales is a devised piece of theatre, meaning there is no set script or choreography. The show is created via a collaborative process, and ideas are given space to breathe and develop into more intricate concepts. Devised works are created, not written. What results is a more natural, realistic, and relatable experience than the traditional play. This piece will give audiences a chance to be a part of the creation of a show, and watch it unfold as the night progresses. Devised works are fairly new to Oklahoma City, but they’re being incorporated more and working alongside traditional theatrical experiences. New York-based artists James Harrison Monaco and Jjjjjjerome Ellis (known professionally as James and Jerome) are bringing their devised-concept show to OKCRep. Piano Tales is an ongoing celebration of storytelling, music and the freedom that comes from not having a plan. James and Jerome will rely on audience participation to create a new show each night. Audience members will select objects from a 14

M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2 | OKGA Z ET TE .COM ART S & CULTURE

trunk, then James and Jerome will build the story around those selections. This unique approach to storytelling means that the story will be told differently, and in a different order, for each performance. James and Jerome will also incorporate piano into the story, making it a truly singular experience for the audience. Piano Tales promises humor and heart, with poignant moments and levity throughout the evening. The basic plot is in place, but it’s pared down to give space for the story to unfold organically. The immediacy offered during the show will give the audience an immersive storytelling experience. Piano Tales is more than just a play or a musical, it is concept art in motion. As an old woman lays dying, she asks the two artists and creators to tell her some stories, as she knows her life is ending. The audience will then decide the fate of the show as their selections form the timeline of the tales. Audience members become co-creators and contributors to the formation of a new story, and the artists at the helm of the journey will experience it along with them. Piano Tales runs for four performances only, March 31 through April 2 at the Te Ata Theater, in partnership with Oklahoma Contemporary, 11 NW 11th St. Tickets are available at okcrep.org.

are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.

BOOKS Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum Abraham Lincoln: Wisdom for Today The Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum hosts a free event sharing the lessons learned from the April 19, 1995, OKC bombing and how those lessons are still relevant. The Museum will be joined by Ronald C. White, one of today’s most astute biographers of Abraham Lincoln with his latest book, Lincoln in Private. White’s talk will focus on Abraham Lincoln: Wisdom for Today using examples of Lincoln’s ideas and words that address issues in our nation today. Books available for purchase and book signing following the workshop. Register MemorialMuseum.com/events Free, Sat., March 26, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, 620 N. Harvey Ave., 405-235-3313, MemorialMuseum.com/events. SAT, MAR 26 Poetry at Rose Poetry at Rose is an annual, community poetry reading that features students, faculty, and a featured poet. This year’s featured poet is Quraysh Ali Lansana. The community is welcome to attend this free event located in the Atkinson Theatre., Sat., March 26, 6-8 p.m. Rose State College, 6420 SE 15th St., 405733-7673, rose.edu. SAT, MAR 26 A Visit from Poet Naomi Shihab Nye Join us for the continuation of the annual Thatcher Hoffman Smith Poetry Series with live readings and book signings by accomplished poet Naomi Shihab Nye. In accordance with OCU’s Event Policy, face masks and proof of vaccination are required for all attendees. On April 6th at 10:00 AM and a second session at 8:00 PM in the Kerr McGee Auditorium., Naomi Shihab Nye describes herself as a “wandering poet.” She has spent more than 40 years traveling the country and the world to lead writing workshops and inspiring students of all ages. Free!, Wed., April 6, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Oklahoma City University Meinders School of Business, 2700 N. McKinley, (405) 208-5707, okcu.edu/filmliterature/spring-poet/current. WED, APR 6 A Visit with Poet Ellen Bass OCU will host public presentations by celebrated poet Ellen Bass on April 6 for the 23rd annual Thatcher Hoffman Smith Poetry Series. Our first event at 10:00AM and a follow-up event at 8:00PM. A chancellor of the Academy of American Poets, Bass has received many awards and recognitions for her work. She is the author of 10 books. Her latest book of poems, “Indigo,” was released just last year. Join us for live readings, discussion, and workshops led by Ellen Bass herself. Stay tuned to our website and social media for updates regarding this event you won’t want to miss! Free!, Wed., April 6, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Oklahoma City University, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave, (405) 208-5707, okcu.edu/ film-literature/home. WED, APR 6

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HAPPENINGS Brown Bag Lunch Series: Inuit Traditional Skin Markings Traditional Tattooer Holly Mititquq Nordlum discusses Inuit people, place, history, colonization, healing and wearing sacred markings in a modern context. Nordlum is one of a few women internationally bringing back Inuit markings to her people and working with the next generation. (Nordlum will speak via Zoom from Anchorage, Alaska.) Bring your lunch or purchase one at The Museum Grill. Reservations are not required. Free admission to the Brown Bag presentation and The Museum Grill. Free admission to Brown Bag presentation and the Museum Grill, Thu., March 24, 12-1 p.m. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org/event/brown-bag-lunchseries-inuit-traditional-skin-markings. THU, MAR 24 Coffee & Cars Coffee and Cars OKC is the largest monthly gathering of car enthusiasts across the state of Oklahoma! Head to Chisholm Creek on the first Saturday morning of each month to share your passion for automotives. The event will be held at the property just north of Pawnee Drive and Cabela Road. Everyone is welcome and there are no fees!, first Saturday of every month, 8 p.m. Chisholm Creek, 13230 Pawnee Dr., 405-728-2780, chisholmcreek.com. SAT, APR 2 Early Explorers Toddlers and preschoolers explore science through hands-on, come-and-go activities that can be easily replicated with everyday items found at home. Early Explorers is perfect for young scientists with short attention spans. Included in general admission - $18.95 adults/$14.95 children/seniors, Wednesdays, 10-11 a.m. through July 27. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. WEDNESDAYS Food Truck Lunch Join Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership and fellow downtowners for a come-and-go Food Truck Lunch in Kerr Park on Thursday, March 24 from 11am to 1pm. The event will host live music from Don’t Tell Dena and a wide variety of food trucks., Thu., March 24. Kerr Park, 102 Robert S. Kerr Ave., 405-235-3500, downtownokc.com/event/food-truck-lunch-at-kerrpark. THU, MAR 24 Make Ready Market The Make Ready Market is OKC’s only all-handmade makers market and is held on the fourth Saturday of every month. Shop beautiful handmade artisans with products ranging from original art, handmade clothing, jewelry, food, soap, perfume, coffee, plants, and curated vintage all while enjoying live music and food trucks., Every fourth Saturday. through Oct. 28. Make Ready Buildings, 220 NW 13th St., 4053990097, fieldstudyclothing.com. SAT, MAR 26 OKC Brew Tours Join us every Friday evening and Saturday day on OKC Brew Tours! The ultimate craft beer experience. Take a ride in the bus as we visit three local breweries within the OKC metro area where we will try and explore multiple tasters at each stop as well as take a behind the scenes tour and learn how

beer is made. Its a perfect way to get to know new people and drink OKC’s tastiest beer offerings! $69.50, Fridays, 6-9 p.m. and Saturdays, 2-5 p.m. through Jan. 31. Core4 Brewing, 7 N. Lee Ave, 405-822-0285, okcbrewtour.com. FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS Storytime Science At Storytime Science children read a story and follow it up with a fun, hands-on scientific activity related to the book. Included in general admission to museum, Tuesdays, Saturdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. through July 26. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. TUESDAYS & SATURDAYS Teacher Workshop - This Land is Herland: Women in the West Join us for a professional development opportunity for teachers (best suited for grades 6 –12) at the National Cowboy Museum in collaboration with the College of Education and Professional Studies, University of Central Oklahoma. This educator workshop focuses on the untold stories of women in the West as featured in This Land Is Herland: Gendered Activism in Oklahoma from the 1870s to the 2010s. Hear from co-editors Sarah Eppler Janda and Patricia Loughlin as well as authors featured in the book. Learn about Western women who faced challenges but persisted, nonetheless. Register by March 18th. Free, Fri., March 25, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org/ event/teacher-workshop-this-land-is-herland-womenin-the-west. FRI, MAR 25

PERFORMING ARTS Canterbury Voices present Duo Lumina Canterbury Voices concludes its season with English composer John Rutter’s most recent major work, Mass of the Children - a moving metaphor of life’s journey, blending the power of youth and adult voices. Joined by the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, we depart from the trials of yesterday and turn toward the radiance of a new spring. We will close with the cherished choral classic Dona nobis pacem by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Tickets start at $18.00!, Sun., March 27, 3-4 p.m. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-232-7464, canterburyokc.com/duolumina. SUN, MAR 27 Distant Thunder Darrell Waters, a brash young attorney, returns to his childhood home in Montana to broker a deal between a large energy company and the Blackfeet Nation. In the process, he is forced to confront his reclusive father about their painful past., March 23-27. First Americans Museum, 659 First Americans Blvd., 405.594.2100. WED-SUN, MAR 23-27

Dope Poetry Night Dope Poetry Night at the Ice Event Center Bar and Grill is every Wednesday starting at 7:30 p.m. Sign-ups begin at 7 p.m.Only the first 25 poets., Come to experience a place where you can be you unapologetically, a place where your voice and presence matter, a place where you’re accepted and loved, where smiles, laughter, thoughts, and feelings are shared, and it’s all free. Just remember to wear a mask. Ice Event Center & Grill, 1148 NE 36th St., 405-208-4240, facebook.com/Ice-Event-CenterGrill-384104648334867. WEDNESDAYS Foreign Tongues The Arkansas-based slam poetry collective Foreign Tongues will bring the season to a close in a special additional performance. This firstof-its-kind event in DWPAS will feature an original poetry performance with all the energy of a slam and all the expertise of professional actors. Students will participate in writing and performance workshops and audiences will have an intimate opportunity to connect with the artists as they take storytelling to a new level. $10-15, Thu., March 31, 7:30-9 p.m. University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, 1727 W. Alabama Ave., 4055741211, usao.edu/arts-and-culture/dwpas/2122-foreign-tongues.html. THU, MAR 31

CannaCon afterparty Join dozens of Oklahoma cannabis businesses at the CannaCon

afterparty and Sensi magazine Oklahoma launch party at the Oklahoma City Farmers Market. The night market-style event will feature live painting and exhibitions from local and national visual artists as well as music all night from the likes of Kid Lennon, DJ Lord, DJ Lite Brite, DJ Nikka T and a 30-minute performance by the Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon to round out the night. The event is March 31 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. General admission tickets are $10. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $50. OKC Farmers Market 311 S Klein Ave. THURSDAY, MAR 31 Photo provided

Neil Simon’s “Rumors” At a large, tastefullyappointed Sneden’s Landing townhouse, the Deputy Mayor of New York has just shot himself. Though only a flesh wound, four couples are about to experience a severe attack of Farce. Gathering for their tenth wedding anniversary, the host lies bleeding in the other room, and his wife is nowhere in sight. His lawyer, Ken, and wife, Chris, must get “the story” straight before the other guests arrive. As the confusions and mis-communications mount, the evening spins off into classic farcical hilarity. $10 - $25, Thu., March 24, 8-10 p.m., Fri., March 25, 8-10 p.m., Sat., March 26, 8-10 p.m., Sun., March 27, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Thu., March 31, 8-10 p.m., Fri., April 1, 8-10 p.m., Sat., April 2, 8-10 p.m. and Sun., April 3, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Jewel Box Theatre, 321 NW 36th St., 405-521-1786, jewelboxokc.com. VARIOUS DATES

ACTIVE Yoga Tuesdays an all-levels class; bring your own

water and yoga mat, 5:45 p.m.-7 p.m. Tuesdays. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. TUESDAYS

VISUAL ARTS ‘Domestic Inquiries’ photography exhibit Oklahoma City University’s Norick Art Center hosts “Domestic Inquiries” featuring the photography of Sam Charboneau Feb. 23 through Aug. 12, with an artist talk at 6 p.m. March 24. Charboneau pulls inspiration from stop-motion animators, building puppets and sets to bring her serious yet lighthearted dreams into reality. As a self-taught artist, she uses the traditional methods of trial and error, evolving her sets along the way. OCU Norick Art Center, 1608 NW 26th Street, (405) 208-5707, okcu.edu. THROUGH AUG 12 Art Moves Art Moves is an Arts Council OKC initiative that provides free arts events each workday from Noon-1:00. Art Moves artists perform and demonstrate their artistry daily from popular downtown locations or live streaming from their studio or homes! Help us support our local artist by joining us weekdays at Arts Council Oklahoma City’s facebook page for livestreaming performances and check out the weekly line up below., Art Moves is an Arts Council OKC initiative that provides free arts events each workday from Noon-1:00. Events took place in various downtown locations and may include artist demonstrations or musical performances. The daily line-up features a wide range of artistic mediums including musical and theater performances, live art demonstrations, short film selections, and more, Mondays-Fridays, noon. artscouncilokc.com/art-moves. WEEKDAYS Artist Talk | John Newsom, Jeremiah Davis and Matt Dillon Join Oklahoma Contemporary for a conversation between artist John Newsom and actor/director Matt Dillon. Topics will include Newsom’s 20+ year career painting in New York, the evolution of his distinct approach to making art and his time growing up in Oklahoma., This conversation is a public program celebrating John Newsom: Nature’s Course, a mid-career retrospective featuring 31 oil paintings that address nature and its patterns, as well as ideas of America, the cycle of life and the history of painting., Livestream available on YouTube and Facebook. More info: okcontemp.org/ JohnNewsom. Free, Fri., March 25, 6-7 p.m. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-9510000, okcontemp.org/JohnNewsom. FRI, MAR 25 Chakaia Booker: Shaved Portions Commissioned specifically for Campbell Art Park, Shaved Portions is among the most recent additions to Booker’s body of work marked by her distinct ability to radically transform her signature material — salvaged rubber tires — into an incredible array of biomorphic sculptures. Free, Through Aug. 31. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary. org/exhibitions/upcoming/chakaia-booker-shavedportions. THROUGH AUG 31 John Newsom: Nature’s Course Opening Join Oklahoma-raised, New York-based artist John Newsom at the Opening Celebration of his homecoming and mid-career retrospective, Nature’s Course! Filling the Eleanor Kirkpatrick Main Gallery with stunning flora and fauna, Nature’s Course is built to impress on multiple levels, as you move beyond identification and explore the power of allegory. This celebration of 31 large-scale oil paintings will include a preview of the exhibition before the public opening, complimentary drinks, hors d’oeuvres and an exclusive set from NYC DJ Gustavo Guerra., Tickets are $20 and spots are limited: okcontemp.org/JohnNewsom. $20, Fri., March 25, 6 p.m. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 4059510000, oklahomacontemporary.org. FRI, MAR 25

Maren Hassinger: Nature, Sweet Nature Traveling from Aspen Art Museum, the exhibition Nature, Sweet Nature, by renowned artist Maren Hassinger, has been reconfigured to respond to the grounds of Oklahoma Contemporary., Nature, Sweet Nature is comprised of two installations constructed with galvanized wire rope. Garden and Paradise Regained will each stand in rows at relative human scale; one near the entrance to the art center and the other within the Sculpture Garden. Free, Through Aug. 31. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-9510000, oklahomacontemporary.org/exhibitions/upcoming/maren-hassinger-nature-sweet-nature. THROUGH AUG 31

Nathan Poppe - Lively Beerworks Artist Reception Join us Friday, March 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. as we celebrate Nathan Poppe with an artist reception for his inaugural solo photography exhibition featuring his acclaimed concert photography. Presented by Rally and hosted by Lively Beerworks. Nathan has been creatively documenting the local and regional live music experi

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JON LOVITZ

THURSDAY, APRIL 7

LAUREN ALAINA MONDAY, APRIL 25

CITIZEN COPE An Evening With...

SATURDAY, MAY 7

WHERE THE F*CK IS THE MUSIC?

ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS THURSDAY, MAY 12

CLUTCH

with THE SWORD, NATE BERGMAN

SUNDAY, MAY 15

WOMEN OF SONG TRIBUTE to Gus Hardin, Debbie Campbell, Betsy Smittle and the Tulsa Sound

FRIDAY, MAY 20

ROBERT EARL KEEN THURSDAY, MAY 26

GANG OF YOUTHS THURSDAY, JUNE 2

THE BAND CAMINO THURSDAY, JUNE 23

BONE THUGS N HARMONY FRIDAY, JULY 15

RAY WYLIE HUBBARD MONDAY, JULY 17

PURITY RING

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27

CAT POWER

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ence. He has captured some of the most unique and breath-taking moments in the local and regional music scene over the last few years. Enjoy 20% off all taproom pours during the reception. We hope to see you there! Cheers! free. Lively Beerworks, 815 SW 2nd St, 405.594.8100, fb.me/e/1eMLHGeqO. FRI, MAR 25 Off the Wall Off the Wall introduces visitors to site-responsive installations untethered from the walls in Oklahoma Contemporary’s Mary LeFlore Clements Oklahoma Gallery., The exhibition features artworks by three Oklahoma artists — Sarah Ahmad, romy owens and Marium Rana — who mix traditional techniques with modern machinery to create unexpected, largescale forms. Ahmad, owens and Rana work in fiber, textiles and mixed media, using methods that range from sewing and quilting to the intricate application of paint and the exploration of new technologies., Mondays, Wednesdays-Sundays. through June 20. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org. THROUGH

understanding. Thirty four artists will present work created as part of an art relay team., Through March 31. The Art Hall, 519 NW 23rd St., 405-231-5700, okartguild.com. THROUGH MAR 31 Women of the Banjo A special exhibit at the American Banjo Museum Women of the Banjo chronicles the contributions of women to the colorful past, vibrant present, and unlimited future of the banjo. From prominent contemporary performers such as Alison Brown and Rhiannon Giddens to pop icons Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton and many others, historic insights, instruments, stage attire, and a glimpse of ever-changing fashion trends all help in the telling of this important aspect of banjo history., Through May 31. American Banjo Museum, 9 E. Sheridan Ave., 405-604-2793, americanbanjomuseum.com/currentexhibits/special-exhibits/. THROUGH MAY 31

JUNE 20

OVAC’s Momentum The Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition’s annual Momentum exhibition features Oklahoma artists aged 30 and under, working in diverse media. The exhibition presents a diversified look at the young artistic talent in Oklahoma. This year’s exhibit showcases 62 emerging visual artists using a wide range of media including, painting, printmaking, sculpture, video, and much more! Enjoy live music, a cash bar, and shop the exhibition or artist marketplace for unique pieces made by Oklahoma’s young creatives., Fri., March 25, Sat., March 26 and Sun., March 27. TAP Architecture, 415 N Broadway Ave, 2nd Floor, (405) 232-8787, ovac-ok.org/momentum. FRISUN, MAR 25 - 27

Paseo Arts District’s First Friday Gallery Walk Peruse art from over 80 artists with 25 participating businesses for a night of special themed exhibits, refreshments and a variety of entertainment opportunities, 6-9 p.m. first Friday of every month. Paseo Arts District, 3024 Paseo St., 405-525-2688, thepaseo.org. FRI, APRIL 1 Together Together is a collaborative art show that seeks to foster an environment of positive communication and empathetic

Visit okgazette.com/Events/AddEvent to submit your event. Submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible.

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Allied Arts presents GLOW To commemorate 50 years of growth and support for

the arts community, this free, public art installation features two large-scale works, “Oscillation” and “Passage,” from March 11 to April 10. Guests who visit the park will enjoy a whimsical and immersive experience as they interact with the lights and sounds of each piece. In addition to the installation, Allied Arts will host “Catch the Glow,” a community thank you celebration at Scissortail Park on the evening of April 8. The event will be free and open to all ages, featuring a hot air balloon night glow, synchronized drone light show, glow-in-the-dark art from local artists, live performances, food trucks and more. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., 405-445-6377, https://alliedartsokc.com/event/glow-exhibition-in-scissortail-park. THROUGH APRIL 11 Passage by Serge Maheu/ photo provide

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Some days are better than others... 18 M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2 | OKGA Z ET TE .COM COVER STORY

COVER STORY

Welcome to Beer City ITS MAYORS ARE STEPHEN TYLER AND CHAD WHITEHEAD. By Matt Dinger

While the original Beer City was a lawless and short-lived pre-statehood Panhandle town from which Beer City Music Hall took its name, the collective force behind the venue intend to bring the spirit of the town back to life in the form of a new 500-person music venue and survive much longer than the two years behind its namesake. The partners in the Tower Theatre revival, Pivot, are also the developers in the complex where Beer City Music Hall and others reside. “We have always been aware of the fact that Oklahoma City has historically had a shortage of rooms to build artists and it’s really hard to just show up, having never played in the market, and sell out Tower Theatre. You’re kind of putting an extra risk into the room by not having the band come through the market, to build their audience and to build their fan base,” partner and talent buyer Chad Whitehead said. While the idea came to fruition in 2018, the real estate was tied up through 2020 and supply line issues have held up the venue in the final stretch but it’s poised to start holding shows as of April 2, Whitehead said. The first show at the venue will be Eli Young Band, a country performer, followed by a DJ set from electro-funk duo Chromeo. A couple more country acts follow before the first show that’s already sold out, hardcore band Knocked Loose. Two days later, Spanish-language comedy performer Carlos Ballarta is set to take the stage. This musical hodgepodge is precisely the impetus behind the new venue. “We are going to be able to put some hardcore shows on over there at Beer City because it’s a flat floor with a barricade built in. We can’t really do that safely at Tower; there’s just those terraces and those drink rails. Not a safe environment for any hardcore dancing or moshing or anything like that,” Whitehead said. “For the growth of the music industry in Oklahoma City, we have to have a variety of these smaller rooms that build up into rooms like Tower and Jones Assembly and Criterion. Really, what we’re doing is filling a gap in our marketplace. Everyone’s

well aware that e ver si nc e Wormy Dog [Saloon] closed, there’s not been a mid-sized room in Oklahoma City and Wormy Dog only did a very specific genre,” The stage is almost complete at Beer City Music Hall. Photo by Berlin Green. he said. While there will be exceptions, the “We didn’t have too much choice. idea is to have shows with ticket prices It was more of how do we make the between $15 and $25. best of that situation, whereas over “Hopefully, any night of the week, here, it’s an empty box so we had all you can go there and see a great show, the choices,” managing partner find a new artist that you’re absoStephen Tyler said. lutely going to be on their bandwag“It’s always about what’s on stage. on for. It’s at the level where most of That is a thing I’ve said in many difthe artists are still going to be in a ferent conversations. There are places van, not a tour bus. It’s a different that have live music and then there hardship at are venues, that level,” and that’s Whitehead my distincsaid. tion. That’s Because not a knock of the acts against planned to anywhere grace the else or anystage, they thing else, put special but what is considerthe first ation into thing? Is the venue’s the first g r e e n thing your room, like a booze or shower and your food w a s h e r/ and then dryer. the music is “A little there, or is extra hospithe first tality goes a thing your long way at music and the level then the that Beer booze or City’s at the food or and we’re whatever is r e a l l y Artwork by Jack Fowler adorns the bar. Photo by Berlin Green. ju s t to excited to forge some relationships support that? We are music and with artists and put on great shows,” events first. Everything else is secWhitehead said. ondary to that, really,” he said. Tyler, who handles the sound and “Every aspect of the spot — the light design in Beer City, said that functional pieces of the bar, the stage options were limited in the Tower — were designed with our team: our Theatre, which had already been built bartenders, our bar managers, our compared to Beer City which was a sound techs and lighting design. blank slate. Everybody got to be involved in the

process. So everything kind of has those elements to it that are designed not just for efficiency, but for quality performance. The sound system is probably too big for the room. But, you know, why not?” Tyler said. The bar will have 16 taps, with eight beers to start on them, plus a broad selection of cans and bottles, including Beer City branded beers, the first of which is produced by Anthem Brewing. The hope is to stock the coolers with as many Oklahoma beer brands as possible. The menu is also still in development, but its centerpiece will be a burrito. “They’ll be Mission style, if you’ve ever been to San Francisco. It’s a little tighter of a burrito, so it’s not like a food baby that’s just gonna fall apart and be a big mess. It’s not Chipotle, it’s wrapped pretty tight so it’s a longer burrito. A lot easier to eat it if you’re just holding it configured in your mouth. We wanted something that’s clean and easy to take with you on your way out the door or you can just hold it and walk around and street tacos are not going to be clean. We’re mostly thinking about the fact that you can now sell to-go alcohol and having something to partner that with as well,” Whitehead said. “At the end of the day, our job is to put on an awesome party, bring the coolest music in and have all the great people and have the best drinks and just have a great time,” Tyler said.

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MUSIC

Serendipitous Songs DIY HIP-HOP OUTSIDER S. REIDY CATCHES MAJOR WAVE FROM LATEST LP RELEASE. By Evan Jarvicks

When S. Reidy released “Abstract coming from an emcee’s mouth.” Gravity” as a single in the pre-COJudging by the response, people VID days of 2020, the longhaired, are perking up. S. Reidy is hitting beanie-wearing Norman rapper personal record streaming numbers didn’t know it would become the this year, which is noteworthy given opening track to his new album. It his history of having fun with the was intended for a project called algorithm. On past releases, he Open: Honesty, which he scrapped teased gimmicks that he would only during the pandemic. The next year, perform if he hit 1,000 streams on a following his well-regarded I Started certain release. These stunts includGrieving Today EP, he began work ed chugging a can of chili on Facebook on a companion EP called I Started live and taking a kick to the groin in Healing Today. It, too, was scrapped. front of a concert audience, both of The concept wasn’t melding the way which came to fruition. For An he wanted. Then he had an idea. Album, with Songs, however, there “I was like, ‘Dawg, why don’t I just were no streaming campaigns. put the best songs I have on a “Having some of my biggest influrecord?’” S. Reidy said. ences start to find the music and Simply titled An Album, with compliment me on it has been crazy Songs, S. Reidy’s new 12-track for sure,” Reidy said. “[Anthony] release is a collection of highlights Fantano retweeting ‘Pipeline’ was from his incomplete projects, previcrazy...Hannibal Buress reaching out ously released singles, and new to compliment was insane for sure.” tracks that hadn’t yet found a home. Both of those brushes with culEchoing the understated and tural giants came in response to a deadpan title, the record’s cover art is a doodled black-and-white self-portrait. A run of CDs includes a scrappy, handwritten tracklist. This straightforward, minimal framework may feel stripped of context, but that isn’t for lack of any. On the contrary, this is Reidy at his most self-aware. This is the context. S. Reidy is as no-frills as hip-hop comes. His moody instrumentals vary in tone and structure, but many tend to feature him on acoustic guitar against lo-fi beats with minimal bass, if any. Although he started hewing his style in the ocean of Soundcloud’s hip-hop heyday, he is only thematically an extension of mumble rap. A more Artwork for An Album, with Songs. Photo provided. fitting comparison to his organic, smooth lead single featuring none dialogue-driven approach to the other than art rap pioneer Open craft would be mumblecore cinema. Mike Eagle. “Pipeline” is one of the “It’s kind of hard to really feel a higher energy cuts on the record message from a song if your car is with fizzy production by Vhsceral vibrating like an electric toothand snazzy guitar and key samples. brush,” Reidy said. “When you’re Reidy’s lyrics detour from his spitting poetry over an emotional typical introspective soul-searching instrumental like so much rap music here to more overtly take on societal does (especially early rap music), it complicity and fragile masculinity. lends itself to an atmosphere of being This is Reidy at the top of his pen taken very seriously, and it makes game, and he earns the platform you want to believe every word with Open Mike Eagle, who closes 20 M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2 | OKGA Z ET TE .COM MUSIC

S. Reidy. Photo provided.

out the track on a high note with a verse about shallow discourse. Other collaborators on the album include UK producer beatsbypond and L.A. emcee A-F-R-O, but like much of his work, S. Reidy handles the bulk of An Album himself. He holds half of the record’s production credits, and most of the tracks have no features. This extends beyond the album, too, since he doesn’t work with a music label, third-party studio, or digital media services. “If you can do something yourself, you should,” Reidy said. “Some promoter needs you to submit a logo so you can be on a show that will be good for you? Download a free graphic design program and just make it happen. Some venue wants you to pay $200 to open up for a has-been onehit-wonder from 2004? Screw that. Rap to 11 of your friends in your living room.” Intimacy is a hallmark of S. Reidy’s music, so it makes sense that despite having played large stages, his smaller performances at house venues and art spaces have proven the more memorable experiences. His confessional lyricism and raw performances are almost too personal to translate to a broad audience in a more amped environment. That’s a hurdle he plans to clear, however, as S. Reidy was recently announced as a headliner for this year’s Norman Music Festival.

“I’m excited to give myself the challenge of making a large festival set work when most of my performances have an up-close and personal approach to them,” said Reidy. “I’ve been to every Norman Music Festival since I was 13 years old, so it’s a dream come true.” In the meantime, he is planning out the rest of the year with a tour through the Midwest, new collaborations, and a jumpstart on the next project. “But who knows? Maybe I take 4 songs from it and a bunch of other tracks 2 years from now and put out an album called A Music Project with 14 Tracks on It,” Reidy said. S. Reidy’s willingness to live life to its unpredictable fullest with a healthy sense of humor is one of his keenest qualities. Not only does it allow him to rebound from unexpected turns in his chosen path, but it also enables him to experience the full spectrum of human emotion as only he can. Where some artists brag about how many hours they grind in the studio, Reidy shrugs that mentality off. He prefers a rich, well-rounded life of meeting people and going places outside of music because that’s where many of the most interesting and honest stories originate. “I have so many moods, so much source material, so many feelings,” Reidy said. “It just depends on what I want to hear, and, truly, I want to hear a bit of everything.”

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MUSIC OKGA Z ET TE .COM | M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2 21

MUSIC

Five years later... FIVE YEARS AFTER TAKING CONTROL OF THE HISTORIC TOWER THEATRE, BEER CITY MUSIC HALL IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS, FILLING A GAP IN OKLAHOMA CITY’S MUSICAL MARKET, WITH VENUES BOLSTERED BY THE NEW SAVELIVE PARTNERSHIP. By Chad Whitehead

In March 2017, my business partner Stephen Tyler and I had a dream to make Tower Theatre a world-class concert venue in the heart of our beloved Uptown 23rd entertainment district. We also had no money, an unfinished building, and an empty calendar. We were under intense pressure to open as soon as possible and basically lived there that summer. I remember touching up the paint in the artist ’s green room at Tower Theatre while the tour bus was backing into the lot for our first concert. Somehow, by August, we were open and hosting concerts regularly. Five years hence, the landscape of live music in OKC has changed. While people are still traveling to Tulsa or Dallas for shows, great live music is being booked locally. “Five years ago, Oklahoma City had finally become a market artists could grow in. We had a variety of sizes of venues and more importantly, people were starting to go to shows in a bigger way,” said Chad Whitehead speaks to the crowd at Tower Theatre. Photo Madelyn Amacher. Scott Booker, CEO of the Academy the time you’re reading this, the On the booking side, I now have of Contemporary Music at UCO focus has always been on partnerpartners in LA, New York City and and manager of The Flaming Lips. ing together. Nashville who are identifying Oklahoma City’s live music “If you bought the best restautalent and submitting offers for landscape is changing again as we rants, would you fire the chef and OKC. Strategic partnerships with open Beer City Music Hall, a new the maître d’ and change the menu Granada Theater in Dallas and 500-capacity venue in the heart and the name? I wouldn’t. I’d Patchwork Presents have been of the Iron Works District. With protect the shit out of them,” significant, and with SaveLive, the help of our partners at Geiger said on our first phone call. we are leveling up again. SaveLive, a music startup coOver a series of months, we “Working with Marc Geiger is founded by Marc Geiger, the worked on a deal that partnered a stamp of approval, letting the former Global Head of Music for all three venues, Tower Theatre, industry know that OKC is ready the largest booking agency in the Ponyboy and the new Beer City for the next level,” Booker said. world a nd c o -fou nder of Music Hall with SaveLive. We More and better shows are Lollapalooza, we now have the eliminated substantial debt from coming to OKC and our stages are financial and structural backing Tower’s startup phase, kept our ready for the increased attention. to continue what we do best — team intact, and will ensure that Tower Theatre and Ponyboy will bring first-class music to OKC. live music will continue to flow continue to add more shows to the The people at SaveLive aren’t into OKC. We retain our indepencalendar, and the quality of booka group of khaki-wearing, corpodence and get the benefit of ings will continue to evolve. rate overlords, but a hard-working having trusted experts in booking, SaveLive arrived at the perfect team of music business profesfood and beverage, marketing, time to help us open Beer City sionals that are serious about and accounting to help us naviMusic Hall. The uncertainty of transforming the industry and gate and grow through what we the last two years only makes this developing artists. From my first hope is the tail end of a gnarly 24 moment sweeter. Eli Young Band, conversation with Geiger up to months in the live music business. Big Freedia, Pi’erre Bourne,

22 M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2 | OKGA Z ET TE .COM COVER STORY

TOKiMONSTA, Adriel Favela, Lucero, Pinegrove and more play OKC’s newest stage beginning April 2, with more acts announcing soon. Will this be the roaring 20s people keep talking about? Probably not, but with the addition of Beer City Music Hall, we now have a pipeline to develop the next generation of music stars. Artists can grow from Ponyboy to Beer City to Tower Theatre, a network of stages that did not exist five years ago in OKC. Five years ago, this was all a dream. The unthinkable is happening: OKC is becoming a concert town, albeit one where we talk through the whole show. One step at a time though. Follow Chad on Instagram at @405chad.

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MUSIC

YOLO with Yola THE ENGLISH SINGER-SONGWRITER BRINGS HER AMERICANA-LADEN SOUND TO THE JONES ASSEMBLY THIS MONTH. By Dave Gil de Rubio

Stories abound of how musicians navigated the full-stop nature of the pandemic. For English singer-songwriter Yola, the extended COVID-19 pause gave her a chance to do a deep dive into herself with Stand For Myself, the follow-up album to her critically-acclaimed 2019 debut Walk Through Fire. While her introduction to the public came as a country-soul force of nature who earned multiple Grammy nods, including Best Americana Album and Best American Roots Performance (despite hailing from Bristol, England), the woman born Yolanda Claire Quartey has expanded her stylistic palette considerably with Stand For Myself. With Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys returning as producer, Stand For Myself finds the sounds of Yola’s childhood bubbling up and encompassing everything from hooky protest jams (“Diamond Studded Shoes”) and Bacharach-flavored pop (“Like a Photograph”) to Gamble & Huffflavored disco (“Dancing Away in Tears”) and silk sheet R&B (“Now You’re Here”). In the process, Yola did a self inventory, having already worked to hold onto her center while weathering a tsunami of success. “It became apparent during lockdown when I was adding songs to my coffer of tunes, that I was writing about something,” she said. “It felt like the arc of my journey from being a little of a dual-mapped person to seeming like I was on my path properly felt like the inspiration to the arc of this record, a moment where life had realized some sense of timing. I negotiated how to get that for myself and how to have control over my own life—not anyone else’s—just mine. It was quite astounding how often I was in situations where people wanted to have control over my life and they didn’t even realize they were doing that. They were just making it so that nothing was left for my life or they were encouraging me to think in ways that gave up my agency. I went through an arc of realizing those patterns and outgrowing them and those paradigms of thought. Every song was like a stop on the way to that.” A major factor allowing Yola to find the greater truth she was seeking on 24 M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2 | OKGA Z ET TE .COM MUSIC

this project was the presence and contributions of a female-centric supporting cast. Among the major contributors were less-familiar talents like Joy Oladokun and Ruby Amanfu and better-known names like Brandi Carlile and Natalie Hemby. “I feel like with the first record, I was so surrounded by white men,” Yola explained. “It was my connections with women of varying background, hue and persuasion that gave me this wonderful ability to truly excavate everything I needed to [dig up] on this record. I was blessed to have a clutch of women that would get me there fully understanding where I was trying to go. Then I had to call Brandi — she’s obviously on the opposite end of the country up in Seattle. I told her she could send me a vocal and she was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m all over it.’ She was even telling me, ‘You know I’m going to be on this record, right?’ and I said, ‘Yeah, I do.’” The Carlile and Hemby connection came via the Highwaywomen. Yola was invited to contribute to the selftitled 2019 album by this all-female supergroup, which also includes Maren Morris and Amanda Shires. Hemby caught Yola playing at Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion Festival, professed her love of the latter’s debut album and insisted she was going to hip Carlile to the British vocal powerhouse. The Highwaywomen project followed in its wake, and doors of opportunity continued opening for Yola. “When I flew over to RCA Studio A in Nashville, I became fast friends with Brandi,” Yola said. “She said to bring a song and this was what they were thinking of doing. It became the connector to so many things. I met Brandi along with Natalie Hemby, who writes on five out of the 12 songs on my current record. I met Maren [Morris] and Amanda [Shires] there. I met Dave Cobb there. Obviously, I’ve been on the road with Dave and Chris Stapleton as well, so we got to see quite a lot of each other. [Dave] was doing the soundtrack to this movie [about Elvis Presley] and we had already connected. He’d seen how I worked in the studio and thought I would really smash this, so he suggested I audition with everybody else [for a role in the

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YOUR DAILY INTEL BRIEFING Yola. Photo by Joseph Ross Smith.

Presley movie] and I got the call-back. Everything seemed to kind of spring off my friendship with Brandi Carlile and Natalie Hemby.” As if a year full of touring dates isn’t enough, the film Yola was referencing is Baz Luhrmann’s forthcoming Elvis biopic, in which Yola plays gospel-starturned-rock-and-roll pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Yola was thrilled to play that role, particularly given how Tharpe’s sound fits alongside the 30-something’s rougher-edged childhood influences like Mavis Staples, Tina Turner and Otis Redding. “With this role, I get to redress some of the inconsistencies in rock and roll’s etymology,” Yola said. “It’s a great privilege to be able to talk about that and bring it to the fore for people. I know (as Tharpe) I’m the jump-off point for Elvis, as a character in the movie, but without me, you don’t have him. Without him, you don’t have the entire scene. The main thing is how [Tharpe] gave people showcases and discovered them. She single-handedly brought us people that might not have been seen or heard of at the same level, as well as obviously inventing that style of playing (guitar) that nobody was doing. No one had been distorting their amp and playing and no one had been bending the strings the way she was — or at all. All of this innovation changed everything. Plus she was very out about being queer.” Yola is eager to share the entirety of her Stand For Myself material now that pandemic numbers are plunging and venues are opening, Anchored by the

rhythm section of bassist Nick Movshon (Sharon Jones; Amy Winehouse) and drummer Aaron Frazer (Durand Jones and the Indications), Yola promises both substance and sizzle with her show. “I knew this record needed a rhythm section steeped in disco and funk,” she said. “Feel in the pocket was paramount to the drum sections we had. No one has heard the whole thing unless they tuned into the one livestream, so now people can hear the whole gosh-darned record played, which is better late than never. We’ve been opening for Chris Stapleton doing short sets, so finally we get the full fat arrangement, delivery and everything. I learned about how I connect to this record and what is coming to the fore in these live performances. It’s also an opportunity to present these topics that can be either taken on either a surface or deeper level and meeting people where they’re at.” Yola is performing March 30 at The Jones Assembly. Tickets are $27.50 in advance and $32.50 at the door. Visit thejonesassembly.com.

ON-AIR, ONLINE AND ON-DEMAND

MUSIC OKGA Z ET TE .COM | M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2 25

SOUNDCHECK

Beau Jennings and The Tigers Heavy Light THE NORMAN MUSIC SINGER-SONGWRITER INQUIRES AND INSPIRES WITH A FULL BAND IN TOW ON NEW LP. by Evan Jarvicks

There is so much life in Heavy Light. Musically, Beau Jennings’ band brings layers of bustling energy and bright tones, but it isn’t just that. Life at its fullest is colored with hardship and hope, trial and triumph. Jennings’ songwriting is at the crossroads of these opposing forces. While he sometimes uses these juxtapositions to echo the polarized state of American discourse, his focus is broader. Life is difficult, but love makes it rewarding. Ok la homa tends to include Beau Jennings in its beloved folk/Americana box of homegrown talents, but Heavy Light is yet another reason this is shortsighted at best and wrongheaded at worst. There’s no doubt that his songwriting is rooted in the tender storytelling of those genres, but even Jennings at his most stripped back, 2019’s The Christmas Light, shows an artist working outside of categorical constraints. Beau Jennings is as much a power-pop or rock-and-roll artist as a folk one, and his band of regulars, The Tigers, brings this to the forefront. On Heavy Light, Beau Jennings and The Tigers revisits the full sound of its major 2019 full-length album, The Thunderbird. Various tones of glimmering keys, hearty piano, and contemplative organ ensure the ivories soak in as much expressive room as the band’s guitar strings and pedals. Occasional harmonica crests along the top of rock arrangement swells. Big sprinkles of tambourine, hand claps, and even cowbell at one point keep a sense of joy at play as if to keep the album’s titular light in sight while heavier themes linger in the recesses. Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen comparisons abound when discussing Beau Jennings’ style, but he also ropes in some Leonard Cohen this go around,

particularly on the chilly “I Know These Guys.” That cut walks an unsettling line between empathy and distrust with political undertones. While it’s an outlier in the tracklist, it signifies the darkness implied by the album’s need for positivity. “The Comeback,” for instance, is packed with feel-good instrumentation, but it can’t shake a persistent memory of defeat, using it as a springboard to question underdog ideology and redemption. Some of it may be Jennings’ vocal tone, which is never shy about its mild and characteristic imperfections. He spends more time in his lower register here than on prior releases, and he sounds a bit more grizzled and warbly for it. It’s significant, then, when the title track finds him back in his mid-range to reflect on the album’s themes. As he recounted in his recent spotlight episode of Grand Casino’s Play it Loud series, this song was the last written for the album, and the title came before the lyrics. When the album closer entrusts listeners with “May This Song Be in Your Heart,” it is part mantra, part prayer. It provides tangible handrails when stability and goodness seem distant. It makes time for healing. It makes room for hope. When the album lingers on its final full-band strum, not quite resolving its chord progression, it isn’t to prolong the doubt with which the prior half-hour wrestles. Rather, it is here that it reclaims its faith. It passes the song to the listener like a relay hand-off, believing the human spirit in them will continue the race into the light.

26 M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2 | OKGA Z ET TE .COM MUSIC

These are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members. For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.

Black Veil Brides/ Motionless in White/ Icce Nine Kills, The Criterion. Red Dirty Poetry Open Mic, Ponyboy. YOLA w/ Jac Ross, The Jones Assembly.

THURSDAY, MAR. 31 WEDNESDAY, MAR. 23

SEPULTURA, Diamond Ballroom.

Dave Mason, Tower Theatre.

Tabea Debus Explores Musical Horizons, Armstrong Auditorium.

Steel Panther, Cain’s Ballroom. ROCK

The Emo Night Tour, 89th Street.

THURSDAY, MAR. 24

Thursday Jazz Nights, Bradford House.

Belmont, 89th Street.

White Rose Karaoke Club, Ponyboy.

Thursday Jazz Nights, Bradford House.

FRIDAY, APR. 1

Todrick Hall, Tower Theatre.

FRIDAY, MAR. 25

Bill Engvall: The Farewell Tour, The Tulsa Theater. DRI 40th Anniversary Tour, 89th Street.

HAIRBALL, Diamond Ballroom.

Jokers to the Right, Katt’s Cove.

Jose Gonzales, Tower Theatre.

Laredo, Tower Theatre.

Marcia Ball and Tinsley Ellis, Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewing Company.

LATTO, The Criterion.

Midas 13, HeyDay. COVER Replay, Remington Park. On the Old No. 7 Stage Scott H Biram with JD Pinkus, 89th Street.

SATURDAY, APR. 2 ATTILA, Diamond Ballroom. Eli Young Band, Beer City Music Hall.

SATURDAY, MAR. 26

Jon Lovitz, Cain’s Ballroom.

Carly Pearce, Tower Theatre.

SUNDAY, APR. 3

Egg Drop Soup, Ponyboy. Midas 13, Friends Restaurant & Club. COVER

SUNDAY, MAR. 27 Hosty, The Deli. ELECTRIC

TUESDAY, MAR. 29

My So Called Band, Tower Theatre. COVER

Hosty, The Deli. ELECTRIC The Mastersons, Ponyboy.

TUESDAY, APR. 5 Baroness, 89th Street.

Papa Roach, The Criterion.

WEDNESDAY, MAR. 30

Album Release: Wood Willow This is no April Fool’s Joke! Wood Willow will perform upstairs in Ponyboy to celebrate their album release show at Ponboy on April 1. Swim Fan will be opening Ponyboy, 432 NW 23rd, 405-896-2037, towertheatre.com. FRI, APR 1 Photo Provided Live music submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Visit okgazette.com to submit your lisitngs or email listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

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MUSIC OKGA Z ET TE .COM | M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2 27

28 M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2 | OKGA Z ET TE .COM HIGH CULTURE

THE HIGH CULTURE

Green snapper THE CHEFS AT GUYUTES HAVE WHIPPED UP A QUICK FISH MEAL WITH AN INFUSED HERB SAUCE TO SHEPHERD IN THE SPRING. By Matt Dinger

It’s officially spring in Oklahoma and can go from freezing cold to blazing hot overnight, so a nutritious but light meal can help your body adjust to the temperature shifts. Each month, the chefs at Guyutes — Jarrod Friedel and Matt Pryor — team up with Oklahoma Gazette for an infused recipe off the beaten path. This month, they tackle a red snapper filet with an herb sauce. “Any fish market probably will have a good, nice red snapper,” Pryor said. “First thing you want to do is score it so when we go in to sear the skin, we’re going to get it as crispy as possible … The reason why we’re

gonna start skin side down is, we want that to get just charred almost like a chip. It’ll shrink a little bit.” Use a nonstick or cast iron skillet to cook the fish, as you don’t want the snapper to stick, Pryor said. Also, keep the filet frozen until you’re ready to put it directly into the extremely hot pan. “Cold to very hot very quick. You’re basically shocking the skin in the fish at the same time,” Pryor said. The sauce itself is incredibly simple and should be put on the plate before laying the cooked fish on top and then spooning the remaining sauce over it before serving.

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Red Snapper Infused oil (no strain method) 2 cup olive oil 14 grams decarbed marijuana Directions Add water to a saucepan and heat it to 140160 degrees Fahrenheit. Add 2 cups of oil to a mason jar. Place the top of the mason jar lid at the bottom of the saucepan for a double boil setup. Place 14 grams of decarbed cannabis into a cheesecloth sachet and tie it off with butcher string. Place the sachet in the oil and the jar into the saucepan. After 30 minutes, add the peppers to the oil. Let the entire batch steep for 90-120 minutes, making sure the heat does not exceed 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Carefully remove the sachet from the oil. Do not squeeze it. Discard the sachet. Store the oil in the refrigerator.

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Red snapper with an infused herb sauce 2 filets of skin-on red snapper 5 tablespoons infused olive oil 1 heaping tablespoon capers 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/3 cup fresh basil 1/3 cup fresh dill 1/3 cup fresh parsley 1 lemon 2 anchovy filets 1 clove garlic Directions Chop capers, basil, parsley and dill. Add to mixing bowl with 5 tablespoons of infused olive oil. Juice lemon and add to bowl. Thinly slice garlic and anchovies, then mash together with the side of a chef’s knife until it forms a paste. Add to bowl and stir well. Taste and add salt and pepper then set aside. Salt both sides of red snapper. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to a non-stick pan. Add fish to pan skin side down. Heat pan to medium heat and add more oil if necessary. Let fish cook skin side down for 8 to 10 minutes until the skin is crispy, flip and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Spoon sauce on a plate and add fish skin side up, spoon remaining sauce on top of fish. Dosage information 14g x 24.48 percent 14g x 244.8 milligrams (converted to decimal) 3427.2 x .088 (decarbing loss) 301.59 x .80 (loss in infusion process) 241.27 divided by 32 tablespoons 7.53 milligrams per tablespoon 7.53 x 5 tablespoons 37.65 divided by two servings 18.82 milligrams per serving

Red Snapper with an infused herb sauce. Photo: Berlin Green

HIGH CULTURE OKGA Z ET TE .COM | M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2 29

THE HIGH CULTURE STRAIN REVIEWS

Strain name: Mint Sherbert Grown by: Dreamline Cannabis Acquired from: Packwoods (Packs)

energy levels up without being jarring, but at the same time makes you less productive. Highly recommended for spring activities in the sun.

Strain name: Fruit Flambe Grown by: Classen Farms Acquired from: Classen Collective

Date acquired: March 10

Physical traits: multiple shades of green

Physical traits: light green and frosted with trichomes

Bouquet: pungently earthy

with a head-swimming intensity that lasts the duration. While Classen Collective stocks plenty of strains from the open market, this Fruit Flambe from their own farm was the final choice (of four strong contenders) and was a good one.

Bouquet: sweet and sour

Review: Packwoods brings that West Coast hip-hop ethos to their shop and the flower selection mirrors that branding. Words like “loud” and “gas” come to mind, as most of the selections that were showcased are heavy on the nose. This one was the budtender’s top recommendation and I’m glad I took it. This Mint Sherbert produced a strong euphoric and energizing high, which actually becomes kind of a problem because you want to smoke more as it drives

Review: This one was love at first whiff. It has everything that sets off bells and lights in the olfactory bulb, with strong citrus backed by sweet notes and that certain deepdown sour scent that comes from many of the “pie” strains, a sharp turn at the end of the inhale. The smoke itself is smooth and tasty and the high matches,

FIND MORE STRAIN REVIEWS AT OKGAZETTE.COM/THEHIGHCULTURE

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY WEEK OF MARCH 24 Homework: What non-sexual experience or adventure do you lust for? FreeWillAstrology.com ARIES (March 21-April 19)

The Carib people from Surinam quote their mysterious Snake Spirit as follows: “I am the force of the spirit of the lightning eel, the thunder ax, the stone. I am the force of the firefly; thunder and lightning have I created.” I realize that what I’m about to say may sound far-fetched, but I suspect you will have access to powers that are comparable to the Snake Spirit’s in the coming weeks. In fact, your state of being reminds me of how Aries poet Marge Piercy expressed her quests for inspiration: “When I work, I am pure as an angel tiger, and clear is my eye and hot my brain and silent all the whining grunting piglets of the appetites.”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

“It’s always too early to quit,” wrote cheerful author Norman Vincent Peale, who first popularized the idea of “positive thinking.” I’m an optimistic person myself, but I think his advice is excessively optimistic. On some occasions, it’s wise to withdraw your energy from a project or relationship you’ve been working on. Struggling to find relevance and redemption may reach a limit. Pushing ever onward might be fruitless and even harmful. However, I don’t think that now is one of those times for you, Taurus. According to my reading of the astrological omens, it is too early for you to quit.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

“You can be as earnest and ridiculous as you need to be, if you don’t attempt it in isolation.” So says author Barbara Kingsolver. She adds, “The ridiculously earnest are known to travel in groups. And they are known to change the world.” In my view, this is perfect advice for you right now. If you and the members of your crew focus on coordinating your efforts, you could accomplish blazing amazements in the coming weeks. You may solve riddles that none of you has been able to decipher alone. You can synergize your efforts in such a way that everyone’s individual fate will be lifted up.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) About 200 years ago, poet William Wordsworth wrote, “Every great and original writer must himself create the taste by which he is to be relished.” Now I’ve come up with a variation on that wisdom: “Every great and original soul must herself create the taste by which she is to be understood and appreciated.” That’s what I hope you will work on in the coming weeks, Cancerian: fostering an ambiance in which you can be even better understood and appreciated. You now have extra power to teach people how to value you and get the best out of you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

“I hate housework!” complained comedian Joan Rivers. “You make the beds, you do the dishes, and six months later you have to start all over again.” I wish I could give you a six-month reprieve from having to attend to those chores, Leo. In fact, I’d love it if I could permanently authorize you to avoid all activities that distract you from thinking big thoughts and feeling rich emotions and pursuing expansive adventures. But I’m afraid I can only exempt you from the nagging small stuff for just the next three weeks or so—four, tops. After that, you’ll have to do the dishes and make the beds again. But for the foreseeable future: Focus your energy on thinking big thoughts and feeling rich emotions and pursuing expansive adventures!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

A British plumber named Kev Crane worked for weeks to install a new bathroom at a private home. As he toiled, he passed the time by singing his favorite songs. He didn’t know that the homeowner, Paul Conneally, was the owner of a music label. So he was surprised and delighted when Conneally offered him a deal to record an album in the label’s studio. There may be a comparable development in your life during the coming weeks, Virgo. You could be noticed in new ways for what you do well. Your secret or unknown talents may be discovered or revealed. You might get invitations to show more of who you really are. Be alert for such opportunities.

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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

It’s the start of the Listening Season for you Libras. I propose a full-on celebration of listening: a three-week Holiday of Paying Close Attention to Important and Interesting Words Being Said in Your Vicinity. Make yourself a magnet for useful revelations. Be alert for the rich information that becomes available as you show the world you would love to know more of its secrets. For inspiration, read these quotes. 1. You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time. —M. Scott Peck. 2. Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly. —my friend Jenna. 3. Listening is being able to be changed by the other person. —Alan Alda. 4. If you want to be listened to, you should put in time listening. —Marge Piercy. 5. Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold. —Karl A. Menninger.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

“Worry doesn’t count as preparation,” writes author Lily Akerman. That sounds wise, but I don’t think it’s true in all cases. At its best, worrying may serve as a meditation that helps us analyze potential problems. It prompts us to imagine constructive actions we might take to forestall potential disruptions—and maybe even prevent them from erupting into actual disruptions. I bring these thoughts to your attention, Scorpio, because now is an excellent time to engage in this kind of pondering. I declare the next three weeks to be your Season of Productive Worrying.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

If I had my way, you’d be a connoisseur of kisses in the coming weeks. You’d make it your intention to expand your repertoire of kissing styles and ask willing partners to do the same. You would give and receive unwieldy kisses, brave kisses, and mysterious kisses. You would explore foolish, sublime kisses and sincere but inscrutable kisses and awakening kisses that change the meaning of kisses altogether. Are you interested in pursuing this challenge? It will be best accomplished through unhurried, playful, luxurious efforts. There’s no goal except to have experimental fun.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

“Anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days,” wrote author Flannery O’Connor. Her observation may be a bit of an exaggeration, but not much. And I’m offering it to you now, as you begin a phase when you can glean many new teachings about your childhood—insights that could prove handy for a long time to come. I encourage you to enjoy a deep dive into your memories of your young years. They have superb secrets to divulge.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

“Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected,” said author William Plomer. I agree with that. And I’m pleased to let you know that in the coming weeks, you will have more of this power to connect than you’ve had in a long time. I hope you will use it to link your fortunes to influences that inspire you. I hope you will wield it to build bridges between parts of your world that have been separate or alienated until now. And I hope you will deploy your enhanced capacity for blending and joining as you weave at least one magnificent new creation.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

“I use my intelligence to discover more ways of appreciating you,” author Piscean Anaïs Nin told her lover Henry Miller. In the coming weeks, I recommend you activate a similar ambition. Now is a time when you can enhance your close relationships with important allies by deepening your insight into them. What magic is at play within them that you haven’t fully recognized before? How could you better see and understand their mysteries? PS: You may be pleased when your deepening vision of them prompts them to extend the same favor toward you.

Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes /daily text message horoscopes. The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.

PUZZLES NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE | PARLOR TRICK By Matthew Stock and Will Nediger | Puzzles Edited by Will Shortz | 0320 1

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‘‘Bon ____!’’ ‘‘See ya later!’’ It covers more than 30 percent of the earth’s surface Donna ____, member of Bill Clinton’s cabinet Klein who wrote the best seller ‘‘This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate’’ Desert whose soil has been compared with that of Mars Biting writings Breakfast treat Persuades a customer to

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pay more 26 ‘‘Or so’’ 27 Much of a delivery person’s income 29 Makes a choice 31 Hoppin’ 32 Prearranged 33 Suffix with official 34 Nickel found in a pocket, say 35 Actor Barinholtz of ‘‘The Mindy Project’’ 36 Classic Camaro 38 ____ K. Smith, poet who won a Pulitzer for ‘‘Life on Mars’’ 40 Cosmetic that can be applied with a brush 42 Neighbors of exclamation

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marks ‘‘La Dolce ____’’ Stuffed one’s face Bump on a frog Question regarding a mic Hubbub One of the Blues Brothers Above criticism Question from the befuddled Syrian city with a historic citadel What ‘‘10’’ can mean Extra Rolled one’s r’s, say Linguistic unit Giraffe’s closest living relative Deb ____, secretary of

the interior starting in 2021 66 Opposite of ’neath 67 Regarding 69 Exams for some future clerks: Abbr. 71 Cold open? 72 Hang out on a line 73 U.K. award bestowed by the queen 74 West Coast news inits. 75 Blunder 76 They cast lots 78 ‘‘Love covers a multitude of ____’’: I Peter 4:8 79 Lawn material 82 Something’s essential aspect ... or what’s spelled out by letters in this puzzle’s eight ‘‘cups’’ 87 Comedian Margaret 90 2011 film for which Octavia Spencer won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar 92 It takes blades to blades 93 Deal 95 Like the consonants ‘‘t’’ and ‘‘d’’ 97 Eject forcefully 98 Records request inits. 99 ____ history 101 Utah’s state flower 102 Org. that sets permissible exposure limits 103 Karaoke instruction ... or what to do starting at 10-Down 109 P.R. consultant on ‘‘Ted Lasso’’ 110 Start playing for pay 111 Into really small pieces 112 Scott who sued for his freedom 113 Afford, casually 114 Add salt to, say

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Home of St. Clare Starfleet weapon Election night calculation ... or what’s traced by the circled letters Name that’s 6-Down backward Save it for a rainy day! La Corse, par exemple Brewery employee Comb through

Stumped? Call 1-900-285-5656 to get the answers to any three clues by phone ($1.20 a minute).

SUDOKU MEDIUM | N° 57473 Fill in the grid so that every row, column and 3-by-3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9. www.printmysudoku.com

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Bubs Worker’s ‘‘on vacation’’ inits. ‘‘Actually, I disagree’’ Rococo painter of ‘‘Allegory of the Planets and Continents’’ They might be pregnant Organic energy compound, for short ‘‘Mi ____ es su ____’’ Part of a cold compress Become clear ... or make like the object represented by the circled letters ‘‘So then my response was ... ’’ Hereditary divisions Physicist Newton Loyalty that’s pledged Lemonlike fruit Big rigs ‘‘Well, fine then’’ Age beautifully, informally Cuss out Big Brother’s creator Pink pad on a paw, in slang The Lord, in the Hebrew Bible Start of a simple request Roly-poly, scientifically ____ torte (Austrian cake) Warm-up act Move shakily Ross Perot founded it in 1995 Lack of engagement More wacky ‘‘You’re just assuming’’ It’s blown in the winds Showed off one’s pipes Airport with a Harvey Milk terminal: Abbr. Harry Styles tune about a woman who ‘‘lives in daydreams’’ Lines of notes Sight line? Cooked with hot seasoning Prefix with -lithic Not against the rules It’s under @ on a keyboard ____ lodge Rowing machine, informally Event for moving vehicles Super Actress Tatum Folk medicine practitioner Foolish sort Sports fan’s cheer

97 Universal Human Rights Mo. 100 Ability to sustain longterm interest 101 Kiss, in Kent 104 Sports fan’s cheer 105 Gift wrapper’s final touch 106 Nail-polish brand 107 Buffet table item 108 Zoo animal whose name rhymes with ‘‘zoo’’

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS Puzzle No. 0306, which appeared in the March 9 issue.

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VOL. XLIV NO. 6 Oklahoma Gazette is circulated at its designated distribution points free of charge to readers for their individual use and by mail to subscribers. The cash value of this copy is $1. Persons taking copies of the Oklahoma Gazette from its distribution points for any reason other than their or others’ individual use for reading purposes are subject to prosecution. Please address all unsolicited news items (non-returnable) to the editor. For subscription inquiries, email kbleakley@okgazette.com

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