Dec 28 look at okc

Page 1

LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT AND NEWS FOR PEOPLE WHO PAY ATTENTION

DECEMBER 28 – JANUARY 10, 2018 • VOL. 13 • ISSUE 26 LOOKATOKC.COM

Is this Plaza District bar saving jazz? Jazz slinger Christian Pearson discusses Saints Sessions and his enthusiasm for Okie music Page 14 PHOENIX TALKS FIRST OKLAHOMA VISIT PAGE 6 | JOHN MORELAND’S

BIG YEAR PAGE 8


from the editor

from the top

LOOKatOKC

I

that Coen Brothers classic. watched “No Country “It is not the one thing,” For Old Men” on Netflix Bell tells another sheriff. nine times this year. They’re discussing the Like seeing Tulsa’s dismal tide that’s plunged John Moreland in conthe world into the toilet. cert, it does not get old. Similar to some of MoreRepeated viewings, or land’s heavier songs, the listens, can reveal fresh scene pairs the good, the meanings to material bad and the ugly all into that’s steeped with one package. Here’s a few world-weary characters memories I scribbled into and honest illustrations the Notes section of my of a broken world. MoreNATHAN POPPE phone during the Dec. 2 land returned to OklaLOOKatOKC EDITOR NPOPPE@OKLAHOMAN.COM concert. homa the first weekend 1. A lot of people menof December for a pair of tioned they’d never seen Moreland play homecoming concerts at Cain’s Ballroom standing up or with accompaniment, and the newly renovated Tower Theatre. which means they weren’t savvy to when Oklahoma acted as a finishing line to a he performed with his Black Gold Band. benchmark year filled with a new record, Playing seated and solo for so long was “Big Bad Luv,” and months of touring. smart. It made economical sense, served Moreland played more than 100 concerts the songs well and hushed concertgoers. around the world in 2017. My only regret Well, now that he’s got national attention last weekend was not attending both and a stellar cast of players, let’s hope shows because Saturday evening was a full backing band becomes the new such a perfect show. Why? Allow me to quote Sheriff Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) from normal again. 2. This was the first sold-out concert at Tower Theatre, and the venue really shined. Although several hundred people filled the balcony and standing-room floor, it wasn’t hard to find a view thanks to the staggered architecture. 3. If you’ve never heard of Aaron Lee Tasjan then you’re running low on excuses. He set the tone for the evening with a blistering set. The Nashville-based songwriter delivered a sizzling collection of original material with a rollicking attitude. 4. Moreland was backed by John Calvin Abney (guitar/keys), Paddy Ryan (drums) and Aaron Boehler (bass). That’s a stacked crew of Okie players and the quartet relished the opportunity to play together. 5. Tom Petty’s the soundtrack to Moreland’s life and so it was fitting for the encore to be a cover of “You Wreck Me.” It capped off the 90-minute concert with an overwhelming energy. Hearing Petty was a stellar reward for sticking around all evening and celebrating with a community of fellow musicians, longtime fans and recent converts. Check out my interview with Moreland and read more about Saints Sessions in our cover story. Tune in next year to see John Moreland performs live at the Tower our collection of the best music and movTheatre on Dec. 2. [Photo provided by Ryan ies 2017 had to offer. Magnani]

Page 2

December 28, 2017 - January 10, 2018

4 | Phoenix Q&A Thomas Mars of the French indie band talks about his first Oklahoma visit, Daft Punk cassettes and “The Outsiders.” Nathan Poppe shares his interview.

11 | Going ‘Back’ Andy Adams’ “Back to Square One” is aptly titled and the result of a self-imposed crash course in some fundamentals of the profession: a practical commitment to the craft, of carrying out a cohesive vision in the studio and of what it really means to make a living from songs. Becky Carman has the story.

21 | Game on! Parker and Jarah Banks just opened a retail spot dedicated to board games. David Dishman rolls the dice with the new OKC business owners.

Find the LOOK photographers • LOOK photographers will be in Bricktown, Midtown and other hot spots.

The Oklahoman Media Group LOOKatOKC EDITOR Nathan Poppe PROJECT DESIGNER Chris Schoelen ADVERTISING Jerry Wagner (405) 475-3475 Nancy Simoneau (405) 475-3708 NICHE PUBLICATIONS EDITOR Melissa Howell ART DIRECTOR Todd Pendleton COVER DESIGN Chris Schoelen

Check out our online home at newsok.com/entertainment/lookatokc Go to facebook.com/ LOOkatOKC and become a fan. Follow LOOKatOKC on http://twitter.com/LOOKatOKC Single copies of LOOKatOKC may be obtained free of charge at locations from Stillwater to Norman. Additional copies are available for $1 each at The Oklahoman. Wholesale and indiscriminate removal of LOOKatOKC publications from newsstands for purposes other than individual use will result in prosecution. Every effort is made to ensure that all calendar entries areaccurate. LOOKatOKC does not guarantee the events or the schedules. Readers are encouraged to call ahead for exact times and dates. LOOKatOKC is published every other Thursday by The Oklahoman, 100 W. Main, Suite 100, Oklahoma City, OK 73102 For advertising and promotional opportunities please contact The Oklahoman retail advertising department at 475-3338.

LOOKATOKC.COM


LOOKATOKC.COM

December 28, 2017 - January 10, 2018

Page 3


MUSIC Q&A

PHOENIX

Phoenix talks first Oklahoma visit, Daft Punk cassettes and ‘The Outsiders’

BY NATHAN POPPE LOOKatOKC Editor

Growing up, Thomas Mars remembers how every kid in high school prescribed to one club that was into a single style of music. The Phoenix frontman, 41, and his future bandmates were frustrated with the notion of singular tastes. “We’d buy two records a month because that’s all we could afford,” he told LOOKatOKC in a phone interview. “The four of us would buy records (based on) the covers because we couldn’t hear them first.” Guitarists Christian Mazzalai, Laurent Brancowitz and bassist Deck D’Arcy developed an eclectic taste alongside Mars while they grew up outside of Paris. The electronic sounds of Kraftwerk soon combined with everything from hip-hop to Herb Alpert. The messier the mix of influences the better, Mars said. Ever since the French band started releasing singles in 1999, they’ve dabbled in pop, rock, synth and new wave sounds. These aren’t genres as much as different playgrounds for Phoenix to explore and re-purpose into something so upbeat and undeniably catchy that it’s no wonder the rest of the world eventually caught on when 2009’s “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” snagged a Grammy and earworms like “1901” and “Lisztomania” not only helped the album sell well but also landed the band as a soundtrack to omnipresent car ads. In June, Phoenix released its sixth studio album, “Ti Amo.” Off the bat, it’s a bubbly and an infectiously dancy affair. After more than two years of meticulous work, the record has catapulted the band around the world and through Oklahoma for the first time. On Dec. 4, Phoenix performed for a soldout crowd at Cain’s Ballroom, a venue Mars is aware of because of filmmaker Sofia Coppola. The two married in 2011, and Coppola had visited the venue in her youth while her dad made movies in Oklahoma. SEE Q&A, 6 Phoenix found inspiration in sci-fi movies like “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” while recording “Ti Amo.” The band also recently scored a remake of “The Beguiled.” [PHOTO PROVIDED]

PAGE 4

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

LOOKATOKC.COM


LOOKATOKC.COM

December 28, 2017 - January 10, 2018

Page 5


MUSIC Q&A

PHOENIX

The pressure we put on ourselves in the studio is very different than on tour. It’s kind of a nice mystique. You’re just in a vacuum. It’s comforting.

Q&A CONTINUED FROM 4 Small world. Here are some highlights from my interview with Mars, who took my phone call from his home in New York.

Q:

It’s rare to be a rock band that’s stuck around for nearly 20 years and has kept its core members. When you spend more than two years working on something like “Ti Amo,” is there a pressure for everyone to deliver? Thomas Mars: The pressure comes from ourselves. Everybody we work with, they know to leave us alone. One day, (the label) will get a call, and we’ll say the album’s ready so come see us and we’ll play the whole thing. They don’t hear a single note before then. They don’t know what’s going on. The pressure is only coming from us but that can get intense. You can get a bit lost working every day in the studio. Time can go really fast and suddenly it’s months or it’s a year. … The pressure we put on ourselves in the studio is very different than on tour. It’s kind of a nice mystique. You’re just in a vacuum. It’s comforting.

Q:

You recorded “Ti Amo” in an old opera house that’s been converted into a shared working space, movie theater and concert hall. Was it especially inspiring working right in the middle of Paris around all these artists? Mars: We knew a few musicians who spent time there for small projects. They would be there for a month maximum. We managed to stay for years. It was new for us because we’re usually in a secluded space. This was very open. It’s also a rock venue so you had bands arriving at 4 p.m. to soundcheck. We’d sneak in. We had the key to the mezzanine. We’d peek at the bands rehearsing, and then we’d go back in the studio. We also worked on the score for my wife’s movie. Sometimes, late at night, we’d go into the movie theater and watch the dailies projected on the screen. It was a good space for us.

Q:

The “Ti Amo” album cover was inspired by romantic graffiti that be found throughout Italy. [IMAGE PROVIDED]

“Ti Amo” is significantly more upbeat compared to the moody, dark soundtrack for “The Beguiled?” How was it working on those projects at the same time? SEE Q&A, 7

PAGE 6

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

LOOKATOKC.COM


PHOENIX

MUSIC Q&A

studio frequently, and he’s the only guy who has an impact on what the record is going to be like, apart from the four of us. It’d be sad not to share our work with him. One of my favorite listening parties was when Thomas Bangalter from Daft Punk played us “Discovery” on cassette tape on a ghetto blaster boombox. That was something very special, and he explained the record’s whole concept. When you talk with the guys in Air and listen to their record, there’s so much thought put into it that you don’t realize. Again, it’s like a guide in a museum. They’re extremely knowledgeable about composition. They’ll give you all the keys to understand what their vision was.

Q:

Were you ever nervous about how “Ti Amo” was going to be received?

“Ti Amo” is Phoenix’s first album since 2013’s “Bankrupt!.” The record was produced by the band and recorded at La Gaite Lyrique in Paris with the help of longtime collaborator Pierrick Devin. [PHOTO PROVIDED BY EMMA LE DOYEN]

Q&A CONTINUED FROM 6

Mars: At first, it was like recess. It was fun. … Having two projects that were really different helped a lot. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been really clear what would’ve been on the record and what would’ve been on the score. It would’ve been a little added pressure.

Q:

What’s it like watching a movie with Sofia Coppola?

LOOKATOKC.COM

Mars: I think it’s the same as watching with anyone. The only thing that’s different is watching something like “The Outsiders” because that was shot it Oklahoma. She grew up on her father’s sets. I had my own bonus DVD commentary experience. ... It makes you appreciate things more. It’s like going to the museum with a guide. It gives you perspective.

Q:

It’s amazing to think you grew up around members of other notable French bands like Daft Punk and Air. What was that like? Do they weigh in on your work still? Mars: Some of their opinions are so important to us, like Philippe Zdar from Cassius. He visits the

Mars: No. I think we have a healthy approach when we release a record. We assume everyone forgot about us which is not true, but it’s a way to avoid any disappointment. The first record we ever put out, “United,” we thought the world would change overnight. That wasn’t true. It was very slow! Even if the album’s successful, everything is very gradual. To protect ourselves from any disappointment, we just try to enjoy the whole process. That’s why we assume no one cares. With “Bankrupt!” we were aware that it was easier to get people’s attention because of the success of the previous album. We wanted to go into a more lush, complex sound. There’s so many chord changes throughout a song that it’s a whole experimental journey. We wanted to challenge. We wanted the whole experience to be a real journey. When something’s a success then a lot of people want you to do more of the same. Even to simplify the message, which is the opposite of what you should do.

Q:

Last question, I’ve always appreciated how much your music makes me want to dance. Is there music that you’re prone to dance to? Mars: I can tell you my best dance party experience was in Denver. The day Michael Jackson died, we played a show. Once the concert was over, our sound engineer put on a Michael Jackson song. Everybody stayed to dance. Then he played another one and another. The club owner said we could go as long as we wanted. For three hours, we danced together to all of Michael Jackon’s hits. There’s a s- - - load of them.

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

PAGE 7


MUSIC Q&A

JOHN MORELAND

END OF THE ROAD

Tulsa songwriter John Moreland finished landmark year with pair of Oklahoma shows BY NATHAN POPPE | LOOKatOKC Editor

J

ohn Moreland was trying not to fall off a mountain. On a 10-hour drive through the Norwegian wilderness earlier this year, the Tulsa singer-songwriter, 32, was relying on a one-lane road to make it to another concert in support of his boldest, brightest record to date. “Big Bad Luv” landed May 5 via 4AD, and he made it to that show and dozens more. Moreland thought he was somewhere in Maryland when he spoke with me on his way to a Grand Ole Opry appearance he’d subsequently follow up with opening set for John Prine the following night. He joked he was fuzzy on exactly what day it was.

PAGE 8

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

It’s been a busy, trying year, although it’s nothing he hasn’t seen after several years making a living as a touring musician. Moreland’s 2017 switched into high gear after agreeing to join Iron & Wine for several weeks on the road, along with multiple invitations to perform in Europe, including a guest spot on the coveted “Jools Holland” show. He’s also been profiled by the New Yorker and GQ called Moreland the “new face of folk rock.” “The thing that was crazy about it was I had a full year of touring crammed into several months,” Moreland told LOOK atOKC. “ ‘Big Bad Luv’ didn’t come out until May. Before that, we weren’t really doing anything.”

John Moreland performs live at Tower Theatre on Dec. 2. [PHOTO PROVIDED BY RYAN MAGNANI]

SEE MORELAND, 9

LOOKATOKC.COM


JOHN MORELAND

MORELAND CONTINUED FROM 8 Traveling thousands of miles quickly charged that relaxed atmosphere. Keeping up with Iron & Wine’s no walk in the park. Their tourmates traveled at night in a comfortable bus while Moreland and Co. woke up extra early to drive and catch up the following morning. “People were hitting us up to say, ‘When you’re in this city, we should hang,’ ” Moreland said. “We seriously didn’t have a minute to spare. We’re driving, we’re at the show or we’re sleeping. Those were the only things we did all day.” Moreland closed his busiest year ever with a pair of homecoming shows. I caught the one at Tower Theatre with Moreland, his full band and a sold-out crowd. It was a stunning night. Moreland’s songs have the power to break your heart and serve as a reminder that it can still be a blast putting the pieces back together again. I caught up with him to see just how much (or how little) his life has changed after his van’s odometer got some rest. Here’s a few highlights from our chat.

Q:

You shared a few of your favorite 2017 albums recently. Can you tell me what stuck out about Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN.”? John Moreland: We’ve listened to it in the van a lot. ... It’s super woke and enlightened while at the same time it’s tough, too. It has a no bulls--- vibe that I really like.

Q:

You just wrapped touring with Iron & Wine, and they struck me as a fitting tour partner. Did any of those shows stick out to you? Moreland: A lot of those shows were really good. I think the last one in New York City a couple nights ago at The Town Hall was maybe the best one because it was a cool, old historic theater. The sound was really perfect. Ending the tour with them in New York was triumphant.

LOOKATOKC.COM

MUSIC Q&A

... Even though we still have a few more things left, it felt like we reached the mountaintop.

Q:

You were on the road so frequently this year. What did you do to kill time between shows? Moreland: Sometimes I read. I go through phases where I read a couple books really fast, and then I won’t read anything for two months after that. This tour, I downloaded the GarageBand app on my phone. I was trying to play with loops, get song ideas, make beats or whatever. We mostly just listen to music and talk s---. For me, writing is a very solitary thing. You just don’t get much alone time while on a tour. I’ve been trying to make myself do it more, and I’ve written a couple things on the road.

Q:

You’re playing more shows in a lot of illustrious venues. Does playing live feel any different?

John Moreland’s fourth album (cover shown below) and first with 4AD, “Big Bad Luv,” was recorded in Little Rock, Arkansas, and mostly with a crew of Tulsa friends: John Calvin Abney (piano and guitar), Aaron Boehler (bass), Paddy Ryan (drums), Jared Tyler (dobro) and Lucero’s Rick Steff (piano). [IMAGE PROVIDED]

Moreland: It definitely feels different because I’m playing with John Calvin Abney. I got so tired of playing solo shows that it was really a breath of fresh air. Performing with another human is awesome. I don’t think he’s ever played the same song the same way twice. It’s cool to listen to what he’s going to do, and he makes it exciting every time. I think we balance each other out. When I played solo, I used to have the tendency to be super serious. I wanted everyone to be quiet. He just has fun. His personality really comes through his playing. He lifts me up, but I keep him floating into outer space. I think it’s a good formula.

Q:

You’ve received praise from popular songwriters like Jason Isbell and Miranda Lambert. When you meet these people, do you ever get star-struck? Moreland: The only time I’ve been a little star-struck was meeting Steve Earle, and when I met Tchad Blake. Blake isn’t super famous, but for recording nerds SEE MORELAND, 10

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

PAGE 9


MUSIC Q&A

JOHN MORELAND

John Moreland, left, and John Calvin Abney perform live at Tower Theatre on Dec. 2. [PHOTO PROVIDED BY RYAN MAGNANI]

MORELAND CONTINUED FROM 9 he’s a big deal. That was really exciting. I met with him and talked him into mixing my record.

Q:

John Prine strikes me as another fitting personality for you to accompany. Do you see yourself as being a lifer similar to him? Moreland: As far as songwriting, I want to keep making new music forever. I don’t feel like John Prine. I feel like Tom Petty or something. I used to play solo

PAGE 10

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

all the time, and this year we’ve been performing mostly duo stuff. It takes a more folky, singersongwriter angle, but in my head I’m playing rock ’n’ roll music. So, yes and no.

Q:

I remember reading that you consider Tom Petty to be the soundtrack to your life. What’d you listen to when he passed earlier this year? Moreland: I was playing a show in Kansas City that night, and we put on Tom Petty as the house music. We also turned on the house music way before doors opened. I don’t remember what the first song was, but it was his entire catalog on

shuffle for six hours.

Q:

Your wife, Pearl, tours with you and designs a lot of your merchandise. What’s it like collaborating with her? Moreland: I feel like her aesthetic really matches mine. She’ll show me stuff out of nowhere, and I’m like, “Holy s--- that’s awesome.” Sometimes, I’ll have an idea, but she’s much more technically inclined than I am. She’s able to make it come to life in a way that I couldn’t. It rules. I’m always worried that I’m being annoying with my suggestions. She puts up with me. She also wants me to tell you that I’m a better designer than she is. But that’s not true.

LOOKATOKC.COM


A N DY A D A M S

M U S I C F E AT U R E

Fair and

‘SQUARE’ OKC songwriter Andy Adams moves forward by going ‘Back’ BY BECKY CARMAN For LOOKatOKC

W

Above: The cover for Andy Adams’ third album “Back to Square One” which was self-released on Nov. 10. Alexandra Brodt created the artwork for the album (full illustration at right) on four separate wood panels. [IMAGE PROVIDED]

hen Andy Adams chose the title for his latest album, “Back to Square One,” he meant it. An Oklahoma City songwriter and frequent performer, and former host of a weekly songwriter night at the Blue Door, Adams isn’t exactly new to music; he has two prior records in his catalog. But still, “Back to Square One” is aptly titled and the result of a self-imposed crash course in some fundamentals of the profession: a practical commitment to the craft, of carrying out a cohesive vision in the studio and of what it really means to make a living from songs. It’s the first of three albums in 34-year-old Adams’ five-year plan, as well as his first with a record distribution deal and a publicist and concrete plans to tour. The second of three is already in preproduction. As Adams puts it, “The whole point with the record was to do everything the way they say you’re supposed to. I wasn’t shy about asking for help and being receptive. I asked people I’ve worked with before, ‘How did you do this?’ and ‘Can I pick your brain?’ ” Beyond the logistics, “Back to Square One” is a clear-headed, heartfelt song cycle. A handful of the songs are Adams’ own, including the title track, and there are glimpses of autobiography among them. “I Can Love You Better” is an ode to Adams’ wife, LeeAnn, “about being in a relationship you feel is too good to be true,” and “If You Can Still Dance With It” stems from a poem by Adams’ late uncle. The remaining tracks were written by or co-written with other Oklahoma songwriters — among them, Kyle Reid, Derek Paul and Levi Parham — a curious choice for what will essentially be viewed as a debut album. “It’s a narrative, starting with a guy down on his luck who goes through a relationship, admits fault and starts back again,” Adams said. “I’ve known all of these songs for years, so I picked specific songs from my friends to help me tell that story.”

SEE ADAMS, 12

LOOKATOKC.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

PAGE 11


M U S I C F E AT U R E

A N DY A D A M S

ADAMS CONTINUED FROM 11 Adams credits his highly collaborative nature to his history as an athlete in his hometown of Tahlequah (a pursuit he said he abandoned upon discovering guitar). “I do keep a team sport mindset in how I approach playing with people and keep competitiveness out of music as much as I can,” Adams said.

MAKING CONNECTIONS

Andy Adams sings and writes songs, but he’s also a capable bassist and harmonica player.

Andy Adams raised the funds to finish and promote “Back to Square One” via a successful Kickstarter campaign backed by 119 people. [PHOTOS PROVIDED]

PAGE 12

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

Adams raised the funds to finish and promote the record via a successful Kickstarter campaign backed by 119 people. He reached his goal after a marathon concert at J.J.’s Alley in July featuring over a dozen artists, including the Damn Quails, Jose Hernandez and Dylan Stewart. Though the songs and the album funding may have diverse origins, the record’s vision is primarily Adams’, with a heavy assist from producer Kyle Reid, whom Adams first played music with at the Travis Linville-helmed Illinois River Jam in Tahlequah two years ago. “It was nice to come together with Andy and just kind of put the egos aside and say, ‘I trust your taste, and you trust my taste, so let’s make this sound as good as we can make it sound,’ ” Reid said. “He wanted a simpler sound than I thought we were going to go for, and that was refreshing.” “Back to Square One” is simple, in some respects. Adams and Reid hammered out the preproduction details at Reid’s studio in his then-home Kansas City. They then recorded the album with Joe Bello in Oklahoma City in 50 hours over four days. The delivery of the songs is where Adams shines — storytellerforward, with his fascinating, warbly tenor clearly at the helm. Instrumentally, it’s relatively spare, with arrangements meant to push the album forward rather than spotlight the formidable technical talent of his session players (Reid, John Calvin Abney, Sarah Reid, Steve Boaz and James Purdy). Carter Sampson lends her vocals to several tracks, as well, including the Kyle Reid-penned duet “Dancing Alone,” and for both the production and the accompanying music video, Adams wanted Sampson at the forefront, with both vocalists carrying the same melody: two halves of a relationship. It’s a parallel to Adams’ record-making philosophy, that you can welcome others into your spotlight without shying away from it, and that, as he’s successfully done on “Back to Square One,” you can be both assertive and humble, a salesman and a poet. “With this one I feel I've made the connections necessary and learned things to where maybe with the next one, I actually know how to do it,” Adams said. And after square one, after the five-year plan, he remains pragmatic: “Let’s see if I can actually just be a songwriter.”

LOOKATOKC.COM


A N DY A D A M S

M U S I C F E AT U R E

Andy Adams performs at the Blue Door in Oklahoma City. Adams held two album release concerts at the listening room. [PHOTO BY NATHAN POPPE]

LOOKATOKC.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

PAGE 13


COVER STORY

SAINTS SESSIONS

Is this Plaza District bar saving jazz? Jazz slinger Christian Pearson discusses Saints Sessions and his enthusiasm for Okie music BY NATHAN POPPE LOOKatOKC Editor

Jazz doesn’t need to be saved. It just needs the right recipe. In July, I perched myself at the bar to soak in Saints Sessions, which at the time was a monthly celebration of live jazz at the Plaza District pub. I’m no stranger to concerts, but if I tried to act like a jazz expert, then I’d sound about as hollow as my cleanly emptied pint glass. It’s probably best to let former banker and pianist Christian Pearson or his Saints Sessions co-founder James Beach do the talking. “Some people don’t really listen to jazz or know much about it. Rather than saying, ‘I’m a blank slate,’ they carry the expectation that live jazz is like black and white videos in the Prohibition Era with Model T’s,” Pearson said. “It’s weird that people have this 1920s image of jazz frozen in their memory, but when those same people get invited to a rock concert in 2017, they don’t expect Elvis Presley.” What I saw that Thursday night at Saints Pub was a collection of energized talent. Musicians played multiple sets and the crowd was peppered with patrons that were welcomed onstage. Jazz was a living thing, and the audience was there to listen. That’s surprisingly hard to find. Especially in a bar. And the show was free, but donations were sugTrumpet player Garrison Brown, a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma, performs live at Saints Pub during Saints Sessions in July. [PHOTO BY NATHAN POPPE]

Page 14

December 28, 2017 - January 10, 2018

IN CONCERT SAINTS SESSIONS Jan. 4: Oliver Holden Jan 11: Savoy Trio Jan. 18: Adam Ledbetter Jan. 25: Brian Balanus Jan. 27: Jeremy Thomas Quartet Where: Saints Pub, 1715 NW 16 When: Shows start at 8 p.m. Information: www. facebook.com/ Saints.Session gested. Pearson was quick to jump onstage between sets with a collection bucket to remind people how much talent was onstage. “I don’t really care if jazz is ‘popular’ like it was when it changed everything in the early 20th century,” Pearson said. “The kind of jazz that happens at Saints Sessions is a super, high-quality boutique thing. ... I care about Oklahoma being culturally competent, and when locals think elevator music is lame and indicative of all jazz, despite it being such a massive genre that’s been around for so long. “That’s like saying, ‘I don’t go to rock concerts because I listened to Nickelback once. So, I know about rock ‘n’ roll, and I’m not a fan.’ ” Saints Sessions started roughly a year ago, and it’s already outgrown its monthly residency. It now lives under the umbrella of

SEE SAINTS, PAGE 16 LOOKATOKC.COM


SAINTS SESSIONS

COVER STORY

It’s weird that people have this 1920s image of jazz frozen in their memory, but when those same people get invited to a rock concert in 2017, they don’t expect CHRISTIAN PEARSON Elvis Presley.

Christian Pearson, center, studied jazz and music theory at the University of Oklahoma and performed with the Pride of Oklahoma and the OU Jazz Ensemble. [PHOTO PROVIDED BY J. GWYN RAINEY]

LOOKATOKC.COM

December 28, 2017 - January 10, 2018

Page 15


COVER STORY

SAINTS SESSIONS

The kind of jazz we do finds an audience under the right circumstances, but it really has to be the right musicians who have put the time in and the right vibe. CHRISTIAN PEARSON

Logan Gorrell performs live at Saints Pub during Saints Sessions in July. The concert series started as a jazz concert every first Thursday of the month and has grown into a concert booking and music promotion project. [PHOTOS BY NATHAN POPPE]

SAINTS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 OkSessions, an all-out celebration of Oklahoma music that’s shifting into a website and promotion hub. This all started when Pearson caught Jemar Poteat and Adam Ledbetter playing at Bistro 46 a few miles away. He wanted more people to hear what he was hearing. A trip to New York’s Smalls Jazz Club in Greenwhich Village cemented Pearson’s concert enthusiasm. After successful practice runs in 2016, Pearson was convinced he could replicate his experience for others. “I thought we could make Saints Sessions a destination in the national jazz scene because the vibes were so good and we have such a strong group of musicians locally,” Pearson said. “Being five feet away from a sax player riding that line between really burning and making the whole tune fall apart and no one, including the musicians, knows for sure how they’re going to

Page 16

get out of this frenetic motif to something more sustainable. The whole room is riding that wave together. It’s something you feel in your soul.” In October, Saints Sessions started charging a cover and still attracted a crowd of 100 throughout the night. Today, you can find some form of jazz at the pub at 8 p.m. every Thursday since Pearson and Co. took over booking. The music project even expanded into the monthly Deep Deuce Sessions in downtown Oklahoma City, which included several concerts spanning multiple genres in a single evening. “The kind of jazz we do finds an audience under the right circumstances, but it really has to be the right musicians who have put the time in and the right vibe,” Pearson said. “Everyone has to be in sync. It takes intention to have all of those circumstances at once.” I emailed Pearson to share more about his grassroots vision

December 28, 2017 - January 10, 2018

Willie Lee Peterson Jr. performs live at Saints Pub during Saints Sessions in July.

LOOKATOKC.COM


SAINTS SESSIONS

COVER STORY

The most talented musicians aren’t the most famous, and when you find the right small venue experience, it can be life-changing. CHRISTIAN PEARSON Adam Ledbetter performs live at Saints Pub during Saints Sessions in July. The musician also co-fronts Adam & Kizzie, a project that combines elements of soul, hip-hop and R&B. [PHOTO BY NATHAN POPPE] for concerts in Oklahoma. Q: Talk to me about the organization you and James Beach brought to Saints Sessions. It seems like all the talent was there, but you had a way of connecting the dots. Christian Pearson: We really got the whole creative and business community involved. We invited photographers, videographers, sound engineers, writers and bloggers. A lot of bankers come to our sessions and invite people, too. Pretty quickly, people were approaching us to see if they could contribute, and we always try to welcome people who want to be involved. Q: What made Saints Pub a fitting spot to introduce your jazz night? Pearson: It’s a great room for it. Some people think it’s a small room, but it’s pretty big compared to some of the best places in NYC. Any bigger and you’d lose the closeness that makes it feel electric. Also, after a really banging first jam in 2016, Saints Pub manager

LOOKATOKC.COM

Josh Jefferson told me, “You guys can do whatever the f--- you want here.” We thrive when a venue trusts us to make decisions and Josh has been amazing in that respect. He’s contributed a ton, and he’s a big part of what made Saints Sessions take off. Q: You recently left a full-time job to pursue organizing shows and growing your music endeavors. Was that a scary jump? Pearson: Leaving job security is scary. Risk is scary. People tell me every day that music is a tough business, but I feel like those people aren’t looking at things the way James and I are. I came from the banking industry, and I can tell some of my friends feel bad for me leaving a solid career to go work the door at small venues. That’s just step one though, and I’ve actually had some people in the professional world recently say they get it now. Some musicians have told me why OkSessions will fail, but I think those individuals feel frustrated that they have worked hard for

a long time in a scene that they feel doesn’t appreciate them. My view is that the local music market isn’t connecting the supply and demand. We have a shocking supply of talent and everyone constantly complains about not being able to find great music to hear. Those two statements make no sense, and that’s why we are starting OkSessions. I do get scared every day and waffle back and forth between feeling confident in the plan and super scared about my future. The pressure is beneficial though because it makes it easy to dedicate every waking moment to OkSessions. I have confidence in our business model, we are gradually establishing revenue streams, and have fantastic support from the creative community and the local business world. I’m sure we will stay small, scrappy and hungry for the next couple of years but that’s a good place to be. Q: You’ve played piano weekly at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel for a handful of

years. What do you get out of that? Pearson: I have always wanted to entertain and perform for people. You get to go to a different place and take people with you. That’s so amazing to me. I had never dreamed of promoting music, but now that I am, it’s super fascinating to try to get the right audience matched to the right band in the right environment. ... I know what it’s like to disconnect from a hectic life for an hour or two and let myself get swept away by a performer, and I love giving other people that experience. Q: Are you a big fan of attending concerts yourself? Pearson: I love concerts. Live music is to recorded music as a face-to-face conversation is to a phone call; however, I really haven’t gone to a ton of big concerts or music festivals. I like those events, but I mainly go to tons of smallvenue performances. Music feels different when you can see the musicians’ eyeballs.

December 28, 2017 - January 10, 2018

Page 17


T H E AT E R R E V I E W

‘A C H R I S T M A S C A R O L’

A sparkling ‘Carol’ From left, cast members Jennifer Teel, Nakeisha McGee, Lexi Windsor and Susan Riley sing Christmas carols in Lyric Theatre’s 2017 production of “A Christmas Carol.” [PHOTO PROVIDED BY KO RINEARSON]

Lyric delivers faithful, quality version of holiday classic BY BRANDY MCDONNELL | For LOOK at OKC

F

or theater lovers and yuletide enthusiasts, having a faithful, high-quality production of “A Christmas Carol” staged every year right in town is a blessing to be praised. For the seventh year, Lyric Theatre continued what already has become a beloved Oklahoma City theatrical tradition by performing Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of Christmastime redemption on its cozy Plaza District stage. In keeping with Producing Artistic Director Michael Baron’s plan to shake up the production every five years, Lyric was in its second year of

PAGE 18

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

a new-look “A Christmas Carol” featuring a new set, costumes and roles for the company, which included many Lyric favorites who have been with the show from the beginning. Dominated by a clever revolve that not only helped to pull off the story’s ghostly enchantments but also added a bit of theater magic to even the most mundane scenes, Kimberly Powers’ set design charmingly approximated the streets of Victorian London. Jeffrey Meek’s costume designs also beautifully invoked the period, and audience members got a nice close-up look at many of the period clothes on

the occasions when actors made their way up or down the aisles. The sparkling outfit Meek devised for the Ghost of Christmas Past, a glittering ghost who looked more like a fairy than a phantasm, and the Ghost of Christmas Present, who called to mind a grand Russian version of Santa Claus, deserved special praise. Seeing the play for the first time, my daughter Brenna, 7, and son Gabe, 11, were surprised and enchanted by these beautiful ghosts. A hit since it was published on Dec. 19, 1843, Dickens’ story of a greedy businessman who SEE CLASSIC, 20

LOOKATOKC.COM


‘A C H R I S T M A S C A R O L’

T H E AT E R R E V I E W

Natalya Ferch, playing the Ghost of Christmas Past, flies above Dirk Lumbard, playing Ebenezer Scrooge, and a group of children in a scene from Lyric Theatre’s 2017 production of “A Christmas Carol.” [PHOTO PROVIDED BY KO RINEARSON]

LOOKATOKC.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

PAGE 19


T H E AT E R R E V I E W

‘A C H R I S T M A S C A R O L’

Thomas E. Cunningham, foreground, plays Marley, and Dirk Lumbard plays Ebenezer Scrooge in Lyric Theatre’s 2017 production of “A Christmas Carol.” [PHOTO PROVIDED BY KO RINEARSON]

CLASSIC CONTINUED FROM 18 changes his selfish ways after he is haunted by four ghosts on the night before Christmas has become a seasonal staple in the United States, where it has been adapted countless times for the stage, film and television. For the second year, Dirk Lumbard, whose Broadway credits include “The Music Man,” “Barnum” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” was playing Ebenezer Scrooge, the hardhearted miser at the heart of Dickens’ story. To put it in movie terms, the seasoned actor, who divides his time between New York City and Raleigh, North Carolina, created a Scrooge that is less George C. Scott’s gruff meanness and more Alastair Sim’s sharptongued scolding. It wasn’t my favorite artistic choice: I’ve personally never found the Sim model for Scrooge intimidating enough to justify the way other characters

PAGE 20

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

treat him with such caution, to call for the way narrators Matthew Alvin Brown and Brenda Williams scamper off when they see him coming. Although I don’t care for his style of Scrooge, there’s no faulting the quality of Lumbard’s performance; his portrayal was by turns odious, pitiable and triumphant. In contrast, Charlie Monnot and Nakeisha McGee were imminently likable as Scrooge’s long-suffering clerk Bob Cratchit and his wife. At the Dec. 1 performance, the children of the Ivy cast, who alternate with the youngsters of the Holly cast, were uniformly solid, especially Anthony Neumann as the Cratchit’s crippled youngest son, Tiny Tim, and Delaney S. Horton as Scrooge’s illfated sister, Fan. Andi Dema went over the top playing Scrooge’s determinedly cheerful nephew Fred, but his turn as the younger version of Scrooge had a tenderness that makes the miser’s downfall even more resonant. When they weren’t winningly narrating, Brown brought a bit of comedy as Fred’s bumbling pal Topper, and Williams added a matter-of-fact hardness to her performance of

Scrooge’s pilfering maid, Mrs. Dilber. Impressively juggling three divergent roles, Thomas E. Cunningham was particularly effective as the chained and regretful spirit of Scrooge’s dead partner Marley, and he got the haunting off to a thrilling start. Playing the Ghosts of Christmas Past and Present, respectively, Natalya Ferch and Mateja Govich each proved they know how to make a grand entrance. Even better, Ferch managed to exude both whimsy and wistfulness while hanging from a harness high above the stage, while Govich was at once jolly and stern in his dealings with Scrooge. Astonishingly convincing puppets designed by Penny Benson also helped bring Dicken’s “Ghost Story of Christmas” to life. Under Baron’s surehanded direction, Lyric’s “A Christmas Carol” brought extra holiday cheer to the spirited story by working in wonderful old seasonal songs like “Ding Dong Merrily on High,” “Good King Wenceslas” and “What Child Is This,” which were beautifully sung by the talented cast.

LOOKATOKC.COM


PB&J GAMES

CITY NEWS

Playing to win LEFT: A board game available for playing and purchasing is on display at PB&J Games. BELOW: Owner Parker Banks poses for a photo with game items he sells at his store, PB&J Games, in northwest Oklahoma City. [PHOTOS BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER]

Board game business owners taking a turn BY DAVID DISHMAN For LOOKatOKC

P

arker and Jarah Banks are small-business owners in northwest Oklahoma City who pay bills, stock inventory and sell goods to consumers, just like other business owners across Oklahoma and the rest of the country. But these two play the game a little differently. The Bankses own PB&J games, a business dedicated to board games. The pair know they are

LOOKATOKC.COM

operating in a niche market, one many might be surprised to learn exists, but they love their work because of the departure from traditional retail. “Our heart behind it — yes, we love board games and, yes, it’s a great hobby — is that people would find a new way to spend time together and a way to find community that this day and age we don’t get as much of,” Jarah said. “We don’t have (as much) people interaction, and we enjoy helping people find that again.” SEE GAMES, 22

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

PAGE 21


CITY NEWS

PB&J GAMES

GAMES CONTINUED FROM 21 PB&J Games, 1201 NW 178, held a grand opening Nov. 10 and 11. The store houses hundreds of board games for purchase, as well as many to play on site. Customers are encouraged to try games before they buy and learn about games they’ve never heard of. Game players can spend several hours in the store, playing anything in the library of demo games for the price of a $5 day pass. If you plan to come in regularly, you can buy monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription rates, which count as store credit for purchases. This model places value on time spent in store, as opposed to restaurants or other businesses that see more value as customers cycle in and out at a high rate. “What’s different with the board game store is they may come in and sit down for a couple hours or more playing a game,” Parker said. Happy customers lead to good reviews through word-of-mouth recommendations, which leads to customers returning with friends and family, Parker said. PB&J Games isn’t the product of two individuals who dreamed for years of opening a board game store. The Bankses both said their interest in games blossomed after they started dating in college. Parker attended the University of Arkansas and Jarah attended Wayne State in Nebraska. The two were both involved with an international ministry, called Cru, on their respective campuses, and they met on a summer mission trip in Juneau, Alaska, in 2011. The pair began dating and Jarah got her future husband one of his first board games as a gift shortly after, she said. Before they got married, they decided to include more games on their registry. “We were wanting different games to play, and we realized there were a lot,” Jarah said. “It was a great way to connect with people as we moved around a lot our first few years of marriage.” The Bankses lived in two states and two countries during their first three

PAGE 22

Some of the games sold at PB&J Games are shown. [PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER] years of marriage. They lived in Omaha before moving to Germany so Parker could pursue his MBA. As part of his studies, he worked to develop a business model and forecast financial projections to keep a board game store viable. “We wanted to do something really different,” Parker said. “A lot of people were telling us that retail was dying and that it wasn’t going to exist anymore because of Amazon. I really didn’t see that happening. I saw bad retail dying — retail that didn’t meet a need. “I thought we had a really good chance here doing something an online store couldn’t do,” he added.

‘BETTER THAN EXPECTED’ Instead of returning to Omaha, the couple moved closer to where Parker grew up in Oklahoma City and launched their store. Parker spent several months searching for the right location, before settling on what would become PB&J Games. The name is reflective of the couple’s initials — Parker Banks and Jarah — a name Jarah’s mother coined for the couple

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

when the two were dating, Jarah said. Jarah continues to work a second job, in addition to helping with the startup. “It’s fun,” she said. “I was just telling co-workers I’ve had a lot of fun helping people find board games they might be interested in. The aspect of community it creates ... it’s really cool and helping to facilitate that community is part of why we opened it.” PB&J Games is brightly lit, with lots of white and bright blue-painted walls — a design Jarah said was intentional. As part of the community aspect, and drawing new people into the hobby, the couple wanted the store to feel inviting for newcomers. And this isn’t just a hangout, Parker said. “I run this as a business, and not a clubhouse,” he said. “That’s a big difference from a lot of game stores. I didn’t open this to play more games, and I didn’t open this to have a place for my friends to come play with me. Running this as a business is the only way to make it successful.” The concept may seem novel to Oklahomans, he said, but it’s gaining

PB&J Games is at 1201 NW 178, Suite 117, in Oklahoma City. popularity in other parts of the country. He and Jarah visited stores in Omaha, as well as the Seattle and Portland, Oregon, area to observe best business practices before opening PB&J Games. There are some similarities, and some differences between PB&J Games and many of those the Bankses visited, Parker said. And so far, the model is working, Parker said. How did the store do in its first month of business? “Better than expected,” he said. “We created our projection, we had our business plan, we had our financial projections and our sales goals — we knew what we had to do to break even and we did much better than that, so we were very excited and very pleased.” Moving forward, Parker hopes the in-store model and hands-on availability resonates with shoppers and allows for growth of the company. Jarah says her husband is the dreamer of the pair and has the big picture vision, but she hopes they can open a second store or expand some online offerings in coming years. Challenges are inevitable but business is a game you must play to win.

LOOKATOKC.COM


‘A RT N OW 2 0 1 8 ’ | O K L A H O M A CO N T E M P O RA RY

THROUGH JAN. 19 ArtNow is Oklahoma Contemporary’s annual exhibition of Oklahoma-based contemporary artists. The closing event is an art sale — the first big party of the year with cocktails, tastemakers and the opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind works. Proceeds help keep Oklahoma Contemporary exhibitions free of charge year-round. The 2018 exhibition will run through Jan. 19 and end with the “party with a purpose” the night of Jan. 19. Tickets range from $75 to $150. Go online to www.oklahomacontemporary.org for information and to purchase tickets.

P L A Z A B E E R WA L K | P L A Z A D I S T R I C T

5 T O 9 P. M .

DEC. 27

The Plaza District is hosting its last beer walk of 2017. Join Stonecloud Brewing Co. with Empire Slice House, Saints, Oak & Ore and The Press for brews with distinct flavor profiles. Each location is hosting a winter coat and clothing drive to benefit The Homeless Alliance and The Curbside Chronicle. All Plaza Beer walk attendees are encouraged to bring a heavy coat to donate, or other items listed below. Donation boxes will be located at all four locations. Each donor will receive a raffle ticket for a prize drawing to be held at 8 p.m. at Oak & Ore. Suggested donation items includes new socks, gloves, hats and stocking caps and hand warmers. Go to www.plazadistrict.org for ticket prices and information.

LOOKATOKC.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

PAGE 23


F I R S T F R I D AYS O N T H E PA S E O | PA S E O A R T S D I S T R I C T

6 T O 1 0 P. M .

JAN. 5

Each First Friday, the Paseo’s art galleries offer specially themed exhibits, refreshments, guest artists and a variety of entertainment opportunities — all within walking distance. More than 80 artists in 22 galleries participate. Three restaurants, two rotating food trucks and a handful of shops round out the Paseo’s experience. Located between NW 27 and NW 30 and Walker and Hudson Aves., First Friday occurs monthly. The event is free. Call 525-2699, or go to www. thepaseo.org for information.

‘ T H E C O L O R P U R P L E : T H E M U S I C A L’ | C I V I C C E N T E R M U S I C H A L L

J A N . 2 -7 This American classic about a young woman’s journey to love and triumph in the American South is on tour in a new “ravishingly reconceived production that is a glory to behold,” according to The New York Times. Directed by Tony winner John Doyle, “The Color Purple” was the 2016 Tony Award winner for Best Musical Revival. Recommended for mature audiences. The show will be presented Jan. 2-7 at the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker. Go to www.okcciviccenter.com for tickets and show times.

PAGE 24

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

LOOKATOKC.COM


MUSIC

T H E N I XO N S | C H E V Y B R I C K T O W N E V E N T S C E N T E R

DECEMBER 29: Hosty, VZD’s. 29: Steve Reynolds Program, Opolis. (Norman) 30: Harry Connick Jr., WinStar World Casino. (Thackerville) 30-31: Turnpike Troubadours, Cain’s Ballroom. (Tulsa) 31: Uptown Get Down feat. the Hood Internet, Jabee, Tower Theatre. 31: Darryl Hall and John Oates, WinStar World Casino. (Thackerville)

JA N UA RY 4: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Criterion. 5: John Calvin Abney, Camille Harp, Bluebonnet. (Norman) 14: John Hiatt and the Goners, Brady Theater. (Tulsa) 14: Carter Sampson, The Depot. (Norman) 16: Bela Fleck, Banjo & Brooklyn Rider, Armstrong Auditorium. (Edmond) 19: Jason Scott vinyl release, Tower Theatre Studio. 19: Annie Oakley, Colony. (Tulsa) 20: Gladys Knight, WinStar World Casino. (Thackerville) 21: Wanda Jackson, Cain’s Ballroom. (Tulsa) 21: Marty Stuart, Tower Theatre. 24: Margo Price, Diamond Ballroom. 26: Keller Williams, Tower Theatre. 26: Pitbull, WinStar World Casino. (Thackerville) 27: Equilibrium, UCO Jazz Lab. (Edmond) 27: Travis Linville, Blue Door. 27: Beau Jennings, John Calvin Abney, Woody Guthrie Center. (Tulsa)

F E B RUA RY 9: Jim Gaffigan, WinStar World Casino. (Thackerville) 10: Killswitch Engage, Anthrax, Criterion. 15: Bahamas, ACM@UCO Performance Lab. 16: Bully, Opolis. (Norman) 17: Gaelynn Lea, Opolis. (Norman) 20: Nothing More, Cain’s Ballroom. (Tulsa) 23: Orange Peel feat. Cody Canada, Farmers Public Market. 24: OrangePeel feat. The Great Divide, Cain’s Ballroom. (Tulsa) 26: St. Vincent, Brady Theater. (Tulsa)

The Nixons

MARCH

DEC. 31 2: Avett Brothers, Cox Business Center Arena. (Tulsa) 9: Miranda Lambert, Chesapeake Energy Arena. 11: Ellis Paul, The Depot. (Norman) 17: Skillet, Chesapeake Energy Arena. 24: Hot Club of Cowtown, Jacob Tovar, Vanguard. (Tulsa) 26: Sylvan Esso, Cain’s Ballroom. (Tulsa) 31: Martin Sexton, Opolis. (Norman)

APRIL 2: Dweezil Zappa, Tower Theatre. 7: Reverend Horton Heat, Tower Theatre. 13-14: Tribute to Joni Mitchell, Blue Door. 21: Jay Leno, WinStar World Casino. (Thackerville) 21: Calexico, Vanguard. (Tulsa)

LOOKATOKC.COM

Oklahoma’s own Nixons continue their run of reunion shows with a holiday celebration alongside fellow Okie acts Hinder, Aranda and Part-Time Savants at 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Tickets are available now starting at $35 via www.ticketstorm.com. VIP packages include meet and greet opportunities and Champagne specials. The Nixons frontman Zac Maloy will serve as the event’s MC. “We want to create a rockin’ event in Oklahoma City for New Year’s Eve, and if it goes well, then it’ll continue as an annual event,” Maloy told LOOKatOKC. “We want to build on it each year. This year we thought headlining with perhaps two of the biggest rock bands from Oklahoma was pretty cool.”

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

PAGE 25


SHOTS

B R I C K T O W N , D O W N T O W N O KC

Shown above and below are spray paint cans used to complete the mural “Abstract Passages” designed by artist Kris Kanaly.

Artist Kris Kanaly, shown above and below, works with spray paint to complete his mural “Abstract Passages” on the Santa Fe Railroad over Main St. into Bricktown.

Artist Sean Vali works with spray paint on the mural “Abstract Passages” designed by artist Kris Kanaly.

PAGE 26

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

LOOKATOKC.COM


B R I C K T O W N , D O W N T O W N O KC

SHOTS

[ P H OTOS BY CH R IS L AN DS B E RG E R, FO R LOOKATOKC]

LOOKATOKC.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

PAGE 27


SHOTS

F I R S T F R I D AY | PA S E O D I S T R I C T

Charlie, Marcella, Jack and Caitlin

Ata and Taylor

Lily, Shelly, Aubry and Bradford

PAGE 28

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

Twyleen and Amberla

LOOKATOKC.COM


F I R S T F R I D AY | PA S E O D I S T R I C T

SHOTS

Trey, Santa and Starla

Ty And Hector

P H OTOS BY ST E VE N MAU PIN, FOR LOOKATOKC

Colton and Aybike

LOOKATOKC.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2017–JANUARY 10, 2018

PAGE 29


1963 Chevy C10 pickup, custom cab, long bed, big back glass, all original, good daily driver, 283 V8, 3 speed, numbers matching, new tires, $5000 firm, 580-302-3760.

1 Owner 2013 OK Edition Toyota Tundra 2WD, 4.8L, Automatic, excellent cond, 80K mi, $22K, (405) 416-0812

2015 X5 35i, Xdrive, Mineral silver, nav, 36K, $36,850, 410-3626.

2005 Chevy Z71 Tahoe leather loaded nice $4950. 863-6399

2012 Chrysler 200 very nice $6950 863-6399 '06 PT Cruiser, 4cyl, 5spd, gas saver, 68K, $2750. 863-6399

2001 Taurus, auto, power, a/c, extra clean, runs excellent, 94K actual mi, $2250, 405-962-8424.

2013 Polaris 300 Trail Boss, very, very, very, low hours, $2,500. » » » 405-227-7220 Sharp sand or river dune buggy, 3 point harness, 1845cc, tow bar, $2450 or trade, 405-651-8248.

Fuel Off Road 22" Rims, Toyo tires, 8 bolt pattern, only 1 month on vehicle, $2,300. Worth $4,000 new. 405-823-6161

'06 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, loaded, sharp, 145K, $9,200. 405-285-6044 / 778-9977

CASH FOR CARS Running Or Not. 405-512-7278.

We Buy Junked Cars Running or Not. CASH on the spot. Free Tow » » » 209-4815

2005 Lincoln Town Car 106k mi, Metallic Ice Blue, 1 owner, garage kept, excl condition $5,800, Mike 405-889-6453

2009 Marquis, loaded, 114K mi, blue, $5800 obo, 405-438-4405.

2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew cab V6 auto new mtr $4950 863-6399

$ WE PAY CASH $ UP TO $10,000 for Cars Run/Not, Wrecked Free Tow 405-788-2222 AAA cash car, trk cycle. Run/notfree tow. Some $350+ 850-9696 $155 & up for most non-running vehicles, no title ok, 405-819-6293

Page 30

1999 F450, 7.3 diesel, dually 4x4, brush guard, 286K mi, reblt eng & trans, new seat covers, DewEZE 782 hyd bed, P&S P826 cake feeder $16,000 580-767-9034

ENID SCHOOLS: MS Science ¡ MS Social Studies ¡ HS Social Studies ¡ HS ROTC ¡ enidpublicschools.org/applytoday

1999 F450, 7.3 diesel, dually 4x4, brush guard, 286K mi, reblt eng & trans, new seat covers, DewEZE 782 hyd bed, P&S P826 cake feeder $16,000 580-767-9034

December 28, 2017 - January 10, 2018

LOOKATOKC.COM


LOOKATOKC.COM

December 28, 2017 - January 10, 2018

Page 31


Page 32

December 28, 2017 - January 10, 2018

LOOKATOKC.COM


Reynolds Ford of Norman Has an opportunty in our service department for

LINE TECHNICIANS Driveability experience & transmission are preferred. Dont miss this rare opportunity to join the premier auto group in Oklahoma. Full benefits pkg & competitive pay await the chosen application. EOE. Apply in person to Ken Hines at Renolds Ford 825 N Interstate Dr. Norman. or email resume for confidential revieww to

3 bed 2 bath set-up & ready for immediate move-in. Burntwood Mobile Home Park 405-631-7600

TIMBER CREEK ESTATES

Christmas Special - Casady 1Bed $495; 2Bed $595

751-8088

800 N Meridian

I BUY & SELL HOUSES 27 YRS EXP 650-7667 HOMESOFOKCINC.COM

1 & 2 Bedroom 946-9506

Brand new 3bed, 2bath, study, 1901sf, Mustang Schools, $1600/mo + dep. 405-413-2900 4/1.5/2 Great house in a great location, $975, 405-354-6418.

3336 NW 12th St, 1bed, stove, fridge, no Sec 8 405-818-4089

Grasshopper, zero turn, 18hp, good cond., 48" cut, $1,200. » » » 405-733-7094 » » »

Reward for return of gun in case, lost in area of N Shartel & NW 50th, no questions, 405-924-3167. GSP pups, 8 weeks, 1M, 1F, $650; Bruce, 405-361-9498.

Cedar wood panels, 6 feet high, 8 feet long, $43 each, 405-833-5439.

Shotguns, deer rifles and pistols, $400-$1750, 405-651-8248.

MWC For Rent/Sale. Nice homes $400/up. RV space $200 306-2576

K Office, K Warehouse. 1155sf. 221 W. Wilshire 842-7300

1213 SW 60th St, 1 & 2 bdr apts, $375 - $475 mo w/$250 dep, No Sec 8. 632-9849 2409 SW 45th St, 1bed, stove, fridge, no Sec 8 405-314-4667

Efficiency, Del City, no pets, all bills paid, $110/wk, 405-672-0877

kwhines10@gmail.com

STOCK UP & SAVE

Paying cash for: Diabetic Test

7 RK-Unsplit Wood $350 Del 7 RK-Split Wood $520 Del 6 RK-Split Wood $435 Del 3 RK-Split Wood $230 Del 1 RK-Split Wood $95 Delivered & Stacked. Pick Up $65. (405) 641-4856.

Strips: FreeStyle, OneTouch, & Accuchek, also CPAP/BIPAP Machines Also buying GOLD & SILVER: Jim 405-202-2527

GET YOUR HOLIDAY FIREWOOD

Starting at $125 per rick. Call Buck ¡ 405-503-2478

NANTUCKET, Gated 2/2, W/D, FP, Appls, $790 + dep, Available Now, No Smoke, 405-229-8574.

WELDERS: Oil Field Equipment Apply in person at Coughlin Equipment, 1600 W Vandament Ave, Yukon, OK. No phone calls.

Seasoned split oak firewood, fast delivery, $120 rick, 405-301-2019. Seasoned Oak Firewood $125/rick Delivered • 405-585-7083

2bd $390 + bills. Furn Effic. $400 all bills paid 314-7905/427-7566

New Luxury 3/2/2 Duplex 13516 Brandon Pl, fp, Deer Creek Schools, near Mercy 842-7300 New & Used. Financing available. 1233 SE 44th 405-632-8954

3Bd, fenced yard, double garage on corner lot. $645 Call 596-8410

BONANZA INSULATED HEATER Energy efficient model BH100 30' long 100,000 BTU works on nat gas or propane, $2150obo. Quiet cool model QC36B1 48x60 commcl port. Quiet cooler. Energy efficient $1950obo. Both only aprx 2yrs old! Will make package deal. 921-1178 or 919-3071

Large 1&2bd, 2 laundry rooms, no Sec 8, $375-475mo 470-3535

» 2705 Greenfield Drive » 3/2/2, 405-370-1077

TOP LOCATION! Pd. wtr/garb. Near malls. 2 bed from $675 341-4813

» 2224 Red Elm » 405-370-1077 10 Homes 2-4 beds $625-1895 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com

E of OKC, pay out dn. Many choices mobile home ready. Call for maps TERMS 275-1695 www.paulmilburnacreages.com 10 or 20 acres, close to Remington Park & I-35, 405-651-8248.

Clayton Homes of OKC has lenders offering Zero down with Land and less than perfect credit. We will take trades in any condition & give you top dollar towards your new home. Purchase home and receive a free 50 inch TV! Call 405-631-7600 for details WAC

LOOKATOKC.COM

Furnished/Unfurnished. Bills Paid Unfurn 1 bed $169 wk, $640 mo; Unfurn 2 bed $189 wk, $780 mo; Furn 1 bed $179 wk, $680 mo; Furn 2 bed $199 wk, $820 mo; Deposits: 1 bed $150, 2 bed $200; $25 application fee paid at rental; Wes Chase Apartments, Elk Horn Apartments, Hillcrest (SW OKC), 370-1077.

57th/N May Crescent Park Apts Secure, HW floors. cer tile. Grt loc. ALL BILLS PAID! 840-7833

MAYFAIR great historic loc, sec./quiet 1 & 2 beds 947-5665

» 10848 Admiral Drive » 405-370-1077 9 Homes 2-4 Beds $625-1350 Express Realty 844-6101 www.expressrealtyok.com

Medical Diary Financing avail. 30day-5yr warr. $125&up 1233 SE 44th 632-8954 Washer, Dryer, Freezer, Stove, Frig, $100 ea, can del, 820-8727.

4' Workbench w/lite, 2 chrome shelves 4' & 3' + Misc. $200OBO Bowling eqmt $105 494-7377

Sheet Metal 4'x8', 10 GA, Excellent for trailer floor. $75 per sheet: 2 NE 9th Street-OKC, (405) 290-7552 Sheet Metal 3'x10' $16 ¡ Trim & Screws ¡ Mon-Sat ¡ 390-2077

quiet area $725 ¡ 785-635-4224 Coin Auction New Year's Day Gold silver proof &mint, pennies& more over 300 lots doors open @ 11am for grading & preview Auction starts 1:30p 2403 N Westminster Nicoma Park 73066 nxt sale Feb.if you would like to consign please call us . 405-833-2787

For more profit! Low birth wts like Angus but more muscle & growth & better disposition. Buy Now Most $2,000-$2,800. John Kusel Limousins ¡ 580-759-6038 3 black Sim bulls 28mos old big stout heavy muscled, come look, you'll like $2900ea 405-964-3732 16 foot stock or horse trailer, good condition, top canvas, $1700, 405-733-7094. 100 black & black/white face bred cows, just starting to calve, $1300, 405-401-9587.

ADBA Classic Bullies Edge Champ. Ped $250 580-237-1961 We buy GUNS Mustang Pawn & Gun. Over 1000 guns! 376-GUNS AKC GERMAN SHORTHAIR Fmls 8 mo, liver roan, started on guns, quails, pointing, retreiving, hsbroke, $700-$1,000, 405-550-8324

Near Deaconess 2/1/1 very nice

3025 SW 40th Pl ¡ 3 bed, 1 bath, fenced yard, quiet neighborhood, w/d hookups, appliances, covered carport, $595/mo + dep, 834-8895

A booklet to take to drs appointments with all your medical history in it.Price is $13.00 To purchase, call/text 405.593.1533 OR visit OKDRS.com

GENETIC SUPERIOR BULLS

Flight Conditioned Bob White Quail, Newcastle, OK, $5ea. » » » 405-426-9149 » » » 2 barrell skeet & trap combo, 12 ga, hard case, $1750 or trade, 405-651-8248.

Aussies, Mini, Registered, red F $600, blue merle F $900 / M $800, choc M $500 UTD shots, 8wks Serious Inquires Only. 580-380-6100 Australian Shepherd, mini male, 2 years old, housebroken, must go to good home, $25, 405-514-5444. Australian Shepherd toy, reg, 2F, 1M, 1 red tri, 2 red merle, s/w, $250-$500, 405-830-8045.

Australian Shepherd, Mini, Puppies, $250ea. 918-470-6529

December 28, 2017 - January 10, 2018

Page 33


BASSET HOUND PUPPIES from UKC champion bloodlines, 6F, 1M, ready Jan 15th, taking deposits, $1000, ($200 deposit), 918-534-6926 or 918-914-3470.

BEAGLES, full blood, 8 weeks, s/w, 5F, 3M, POP, tri-color, $150 cash, 405-386-5123 or 405-659-7169.

Boxer Mix One male and one female less than one year old. Spayed and neutered, and have shots. $100. each phone 405-200-9993 text 405-818-5698 BOXER PUP AKC CHAMPION Looking for New Addition to your family? Starting at $600 & up 405-902-5033 Boxer puppies, AKC, M&F, s/w, POP, fawn & white and brindle & white, $500 obo, calls only, no text, 918-387-4216.

Belgian Malinois, AKC pups, born 10/27, 5M, 2F, father imported from Serbia, great for home protection, $350 for limited registration, 918-630-8678

BLUE PIT PUPPIES $100 OBO ‘ 405-924-8479

Boxer Pups, AKC, 6 weeks, fawn, 2M, 2F, s/w/dc, vet checked, $500, 918-623-6612. BULL TERRIER PUPPIES $1100-1300 AKC Registered Please call or text 580-786-8595

BOSTON TERRIER PUPPIES ACA REG. ‘ RED & WHITE 1 M $500 ¡ 1 F $600 FB gossensbostonterriers,

580-343-2623 ‘ 580-330-0719

Page 34

females, 1 year old, have basic obedience, $300ea., s/w, spayed, AbilityStockdogs. 580-716-9002

Chihuahua Teacups, TEENY TINY, 1st shot, $350 cash 405-441-2899

December 28, 2017 - January 10, 2018

French Bulldog Puppies AKC, 2M, 8 weeks, s/w, vet checked, $2200, pics at stubbornbullies.com 918-407-5220 or 918-407-5221.

Corgi pups, AKC, 5M, tri & red, ready 12/26/17, will be small, s/w/dc, vet checked, $800, 918-623-6612.

Dachshund Puppies, M, silver dapple, mini $250ea 405-222-8612

GERMAN SHEPHERD, AKC French Bulldogs, AKC, $2500 taking deposits, 918-652-5535, www.thunderridgebulldogs.com

PUPPIES, perfect Christmas gifts, 6 weeks old, 4F, 3M, $500, 405-420-1279.

GOLDENDOODLES & LABRADOODLES Mini/Medium/Standard sizes~ No shed/hypoallergenic~vet checked~ MC/DC/S/W~ more info at rubyrunkennel.com $2,200- $2,500 rubyrunkennel@yahoo.com 405 320-1198 Golden Retriever pups AKC M&F $800 Ready 1/5/18 580-585-1286 lewisporch@aol.com Golden Retriever pups AKC M&F $800 Ready 1/5/18 580-585-1286 lewisporch@aol.com

GERMAN SHEPHERD Solid Wht AKC pups s/w $400 405-881-9844

English Bulldog Puppy, AKC male, vaccinations up to date, $1500, jwilsonbulldogs.com 405-878-0128.

French Bulldogs $2000. Short leg Jack Russells $300 405-698-9569

English Mastiff Pups, 5F, 4M, Ready to go for Christmas, $500-$600. 405-408-1357

French Bulldog Puppies, AKC, 6wks, UTD shots, 2 chocolate M, 1 blk F, 1 blk M, $2,000-$3,500.

English Setter, 3 year old female. 8yr old GSH M. $1800 for the pair. 405-642-0316

German Shepherd, AKC puppies, 9 wks, s/w, 3M, black & tan and sables, Ch American show lines, hip guarantee, limited reg $750, 580-303-8866 or 580-303-8806. German Shepherd Puppies AKC registered, s/w, parents on site, text for pics. READY to go to their FOREVER home on Christmas Eve. $800. 830-624-5866

Dachshund, AKC, 2F, 6 weeks old, black & tan, POP, $400, 405-881-3101 or 405-200-3760.

Chihuahua, ACA, 1F, choc brindle, 12 weeks, $550, 405-627-0419.

Border Collie Puppies Working Stock 4F 1 M $150.00 Call 405-414-1318

Boston Terriers, AKC, $450-$600, mchip s/w hlt guar 405-434-0528

Collies, AKC, 2 sable smooth

Goldendoodles, 6wks beautiful! S/W $800 361-5317.

580-445-7395 Weatherford, OK French Bulldog Puppies, 3M, AKC reg., vet checked, home raised, $1,500ea ¡‘¡ 580-243-7719

Golden Retrievers, AKC, 7wks 1st s/w, pics savailable, $700, 405-783-4205.

Great Danes, AKC, 1 blk M, 2 blk F, $750, s/dw. 405-476-8673

LOOKATOKC.COM


DOG Deaconess Hospital area.

Great Pyrenees, 2F, 1M, will be 6wks & ready for pickup for Christmas, s/w, $300ea, 405-880-2785 or 405-612-9856

VIZSLA ‘ AKC ‘ 2 LITTERS! 4m 5f, s/w, ready for new homes, field champion bloodlines, great companions,

Great Pyrenees, 2F, 1M, 6 weeks old s/w $250 405-880-2785 or 405-612-9856

HAVANESE, AKC, F & M, $500 ‘ 405-408-6645

$850-$1000 ‘ 580-647-6933

MORKIES & SNORKIES, s/w, ready for Christmas, $550-$675, 405-641-2662.

MORKIES adorable, 6 weeks, s/w, $400-$500 ‘ 361-5317.

Schnauzers, AKC, mini & toy s/w, vet chk $700-$900. Hold til Xmas 972-310-7338, Norman, OK. Schnauzers Miniature AKC 9 weeks, chocolate and parti colored chocolate/white 3M S/W/D ears cropped www.minischnauzersok.com $1,000 call or text 580-402-4185 Schnauzers AKC mchip s/w/e/t hlt grtd $500-$1000 405-434-0528

Lab AKC Chocolate Puppies 1M 5F Ready for Christmas! $600. Call or Text 405-802-4199

Lab Puppies, chocolate, AKC reg., s & w, M & F, weaned, $600, 8wks. 405-222-1510

Must identify & pay for Vet bills 405-373-4191

YORKIE, 1F, Cute, Small, $700, 405-380-5859.

Fitzpatrick Painting, 34 yrs exp, free est, lic, ins, 405-446-9882. Black & tan longhair dachshund, near 50th & Penn, reward for return, no questions, 405-209-1812.

YORKIE, ACA F, small, s/w/dc,

Bill's Painting & Home Repairs

pics avail, $700, 580-224-1642.

Quality Work! Free Est. 306-3087.

YORKIE PARTI COLOR PUPPY AKC M. s/w 9wks. 4-4.5lbs grown playful & pretty. $1000 . 485-2869 Yorkie puppies, M&F, $400 each, 405-570-6622, leave message. Yorkies, ACA, 4F, small, s/w, $795 ‘ 580-465-3730

BUDDY'S PLUMBING, INC.

YORKIES Pitbull Rednose Puppies 8 wks old, Have had first shots and wormed. Females only. $250 405-694-7411

Schnorkies (AKC Mini Schnauzer/ Yorkie designer breed) Non shed Hypo allergenic Groomed Vet ckd s/w/t/dc $400, 580-436-1699.

2F 7wks $1000. 1M 6 mos $500 1 M Porky $500 580-919-5099.

Ask about our camera special. 528-7733, buddysplumbingok.com

Yorkies AKC 2M, s/w 6-9lbs $550 4052260243 BST PLUMBING ¡ sewers, drains, residential 24hr emergency srvc. Licensed, bonded, Ins. ¡ 403-3204

LAB PUPPIES, AKC, Yellow, 1F, 1M, 8wks, s/w, POP, $350 » » » 580-822-1541 » » » Lab Pups - Red Fox & Yellow AKC 3m 3f, 9wk Robust size Yellow - shots & dewormed $600 Call/Text 405.821.7771

LLEWELLIN SETTER PUPPIES IPDBA, hunting parents on site, great family dogs, 2M $450, 4F $550. 6wks @ 12/25 405-760-6249

Any Type of Plumbing-No Job Too Small. Free Est. » 405-885-0155 Pomeranian AKC 7 wks. 1 F 1 M AKC Pom. P.O.P S/W Enid $900. each 5802316217

Pug, AKC, male, 6wks, s/w, POP, $900 CASH. 405-314-2738 Pugs, ACA reg, 3F, 10 weeks, s/w, $950 ‘ 580-465-1571

Rat Terrier Pups, small, hard to find, $200, 405-892-7512.

Shidoodle Puppies: Tiny, Quality, boys $450ea., girls $500ea. Ready before Christmas. 918-426-0169 Shih-Tzu/Yorkie Mix Puppies, 2F, 3M, s/w $400-$450. 405-982-9824

True Teacup Piglets $300ea Adult Pet Sows $50-$100, 405-481-5558. Appliance & A/C Service, 27 years exper, $40 service call, 371-3049.

SHIH TZU ACA REG. PUPPIES Adorable 9wk old Males S/W, Dewclaws $400ea 405-808-9323

A-1 Plumbing, no job to big or too small, lic, bond, 405-409-3090

TIPTONSPLUMBING.COM

Shih Tzus, mchip, $400-$450, taking Christmas dep, 405-434-0528.

Brick & stone work. Small

No Job Too Large Or Too Small Call Zach - (405) 703-2700

concrete jobs. (405) 821-1076

Maltese & Morkies (ideal house pets) M & F, small, no shed, low allergy & odor, easy going, sweet & loving dogs, delivery/show room, $500-$1000, 918-694-3868.

Maltese, M, 8wks, AKC, small, $800. heartlandpuppiesok.com

Top Quality Paint Ext. & Int. Repair » 405-326-4294

Xmas Sale 20x20 Carports, $1600 instl'd. Other sizes avail 694-6109

Babysitter Kids Pony

ROOFING & REPAIRS, Free Est. Ins. lic 80120 722-2226/640-1144

super quiet & gentle 10 hands $1000 can deliver. 405-481-5558.

580-660-0120

ROTTWEILER, AKC, 1 large F, 8 weeks old, $650 ¡ 405-210-6341

Morkie Adorable, Itty Bitty F $595 VISA/MC ’ ’ ’ 826-4557 ’’’

Siberian Husky puppies 7 M, 1 F, Born 11/15/17. Choc, Black,Blonde. POP. Ready for Christmas $350 405/657-8443

Rottweiler puppies, ACA reg, beautiful dogs, nice Christmas gifts, $1000 each, 405-812-1645.

Siberian Husky 1m 10wks old blk & white $200 580-428-3357

Tearouts/Repours, Drives, Patios, & More, Lic Ins Free Est 794-8505

SHEPHERD CONCRETE, Free Est, Licensed, Bonded, Ins, 520-4426.

»GENE’S TREE SERVICE» Insured-Free Est. 682-2100.

L&R Tree Service, Low Prices, Ins, Free Est, Firewood, 946-3369. Home Repair & Remodel. Roofing. Siding. Free Estimate. 410-2495.

L&R Tree Service, Low Prices, Ins, Free Est, Firewood, 946-3369.

RESIDENTIAL HAULING AND CLEANING, 765-8843.

LOOKATOKC.COM

Pro Tree Service - 1/2 off Seniors Free stump removal. 314-1313.

December 28, 2017 - January 10, 2018

Page 35


Page 36

December 28, 2017 - January 10, 2018

LOOKATOKC.COM


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.