Freedom to Rock

Let's be honest - most hardcore and post-hardcore bands are nothing special; yet another of the dime-a-dozen groups that have a loyal, but tiny following in a niche market with a loud, yet unimpressive live show and nearly indecipherable lyrics. Every once in a long while, however, one shows up that defies stereotypes and proves to actually be a good band with something to say.

The first time I saw Project 86 (as a support act on Pillar's "Where Do We Go From Here" tour), I wasn't really expecting much. I knew that the band had a rabidly loyal fan base and a cross-market appeal between Christian rock and hardcore audiences, but I didn't know much else.

I left that night, perhaps not quite converted, but definitely intrigued. Led by enigmatic front-man Andrew Schwab, the group had a mesmerizing stage presence that demanded further investigation.

Once I gave Songs to Burn Your Bridges By a solid listen, though, I was a believer. The band's stage presence was matched by thoughtful, literary lyrics that transcended any genre or vocal style.

Of course the live performance played no small part in my devotion to the band. Any time the band has subsequently to returned to Tulsa, I've made every effort to be there. Regardless of it being a sold-out, two-night stand with shoulder-to-shoulder crowds at the Pinkeye or a larger show at The Hive with tornados threatening to scuttle the event, an evening with Project 86 is a personal experience, which keeps me coming back for more.

Under the surface, however, Project 86 has always been a band that transcended the genre. With each successive album, beginning with 1998's self-titled debut, the band has continued to evolve, touching on elements of punk, metal, industrial and post-hardcore without losing touch with its audience.

Now, with the release of Rival Factions, Project 86 has emerged as a more straight-forward hard rock band with even more incisive lyrics dealing with internal and external conflicts: good vs. evil, light vs. dark.

That's not to say that the band has completely denied its hardcore roots. The raw energy of "The Forces of Radio Have Dropped a Viper in the Rhythm Section" shows that the band isn't a world away from its earlier recordings, but songs like "Molotov" also reveal a more moody, introspective Project 86.

The group recently wrapped up the last few dates of the "Tooth and Nail" tour with MxPx and began its own headlining tour behind the new CD. According to lead singer Schwab, he's seen a genuine excitement about the new material, both on the road and online.

"This is a different take on our sound," said Schwab. "Traditionally, people have an idea of what the band is supposed to sound like, talk about and be."

"We've confronted that, head on, and reinvented ourselves with this record," he continued, "still as a rock band, but with a more moody and keyboard-driven sound."

In listening to Rival Factions, Schwab's signature intensity is still present, but much of his screaming has been replaced with a warm, yet haunting baritone and more melodic delivery. Hints of the band's post-hardcore heaviness still glint through, but the more atmospheric guitar and keyboard layers make the lyrics even more immediate.

Schwab's lyrics have also taken a new turn with the album, become more direct and less cryptic -- at least in places. "Sanctuary Hum," which addresses a leader's violent tendencies hidden behind ambition and public image, is one of the few songs that Andrew has ever written as a complete story, as opposed to one part of a bigger, conceptual picture.

So far, response to the new album and musical direction has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Schwab. "It's a great sign -- two days after the record comes out, kids are singing the new songs as loud as the old ones."

When asked what precipitated the band's change in creative direction, Schwab responded, "It's just where we've naturally gone. The thing I love about the perspective of the band is that we never limit ourselves and never repeat ourselves."

As a result, the band has produced its most direct and immediate album to date. Combined with what promises to be the group's biggest tour to date, Project 86 shouldn't be an underappreciated band with a niche following much longer.

Project 86 arrives in Tulsa this coming Tuesday night, July 3, for a show at The Otherside with Showbread, Chasing Victory, Inhale-Exhale and Motive for Movement. Tickets are only $12 and the doors open at 6pm, with Motive for Movement taking the stage at 6:30pm. If you've never seen or identified with Project 86, now is the time to check them out.

While Rival Factions is a more direct presentation of the band's current direction, it's really not a far cry from "All of Me" off ...And the Rest Will Follow or "A Shadow on Me" from Songs to Burn Your Bridges By. Once you've experienced the band live and digested the new CD, it's only a matter of time before you work your way backwards through the catalogue and become one of the rabid fans I mentioned earlier.

Mr. Independent

If you've been waiting to see who else would make a move and walk through the door from Tulsa's hip-hop underground to the mainstream once PDA kicked the door open earlier this year, your answer arrives this week. Infamous officially dropped his new disc, The Independence Theory, on June 22, but the Tulsa release party is this Friday night, June 29, at The Pinkeye.

Much like PDA, Infamous eschews trends and "snap-rap" to follow his own muse and direction. By incorporating a blend of hip hop, punk, R&B and indie-rock sensibilities Infamous has developed a personalized sound that he self-describes as "underground beats with a mainstream flow."

What does that mean? If his fan base and the lead tracks "Move" and "Rollin' Solo" are any indication, it means he throws down some beat-heavy raps with big hooks that appeal to the rock kids as well as hip hop fans.

Lead single "Move" raked in more than 8,000 plays in the first week it was posted on myspace making Infamous Oklahoma's #1 hip hop artist and #3 artist in any genre, surpassed by only Hanson and Hinder during that time period. That's not bad for a kid who just got in the rap game roughly four years ago.

During that four-year period, Infamous released three EPs and toured for a year before dropping his full-length debut, The Beginning of the End. Since then he's toured nationally, doing a string of tour dates with the traveling car show, Hot Import Nights, before getting tabbed for a few shows with Funk Master Flex and eventually sharing the stage with even bigger national names like Mike Jones and OKC natives Hinder.

After building a solid tour history beneath him, Infamous changed gears with the new album, shifting from more introspective, thought-provoking raps to a more high energy, show-oriented sound. That's not to shun more thoughtful lyrics, but the live reaction to cuts like "You Can Hate Me" and "Upgrade the Game" (which was built on a PDA beat) admittedly made Infamous realize that he wanted the next album to appeal more to the concert crowd.

With The Independence Theory, Infamous steps up his game and recruits an A-list of local and regional artists, as well as production by PDA, Tech Groove and Kashmir Royale to make the new disc an event. In keeping with that, the Tulsa release party, held this Friday night at the Pinkeye, will be a huge show for local hip hop fans as Infamous taps a long list of friends to open the show as well as join him on stage to recreate the album.

This weekend's line up includes Navigator, Trauma, Minister Kaine, Double L, Aqword and PDA as Infamous brings his Independence Theory to Tulsa. Admission is only $6 at the door and the show starts at 8pm. If you're looking a sample of some of the hottest local and regional hip hop artists, it's the place to be.

Festival Update

In case you haven't heard, they are still tweaking the lineup for the Rocklahoma Festival out in Pryor, which is just a couple weeks away. For starters, they've added an extra day, opening the grounds on Thursday with British glam-rocker Tigertailz, tribute acts Hollywood Guns and Kiss Army and an all-star '80s jam with "special guests" from the weekend's festivities that arrive early enough to take part.

On a more interesting note, Queensryche has signed on to fill the Sunday night spot that W.A.S.P. was previously slotted in before canceling its summer tour. Bad news for W.A.S.P. fans, but it makes for a more balanced Sunday lineup overall.

Results from the online JPOT contest to determine opening acts were just announced this past weekend as well and it looks like Tulsa's own Down for Five will be playing Rocklahoma after all. DFF will be appearing on the festival's main stage at 11:05am on Saturday, July 14, to jumpstart the crowd before Bang Tango and Bullet Boys take the stage, so be sure to arrive early to throw your "metal horns" and show the band some love.

If you're planning on heading out for the big '80s rock fest, you'd better get your tickets in advance. Prices are now $50 for single-day general admission, $115 for three-day general admission and $150 for three-day reserved seating with day of show/gate prices currently posted as "TBA." That means buy them now or plan to get screwed at the door.

Weekly Roundup

As always, there are shows aplenty this week; it's just a matter of what you're looking for. The UTW events calendar has more detailed listings, but here are a few of the highlights.

Kick off your weekend early tonight (Thursday, June 27) with School Girl Knife Fight, My Solstice and more at the Mooch & Burn at 222 N. Moan Street. Cover is only $5.

On Friday night, Mooch & Burn features Last Year's Resolution, Bill Murray's Prostate and White Ship for $5.

Just down up the street the Cain's Ballroom hosts THE show of the month for Red Dirt, outlaw country and western swing fans with Jason Boland and the Stragglers and Doug Moreland. Of course, everyone knows that Boland's got the outlaw country covered with a sound that's influenced by Haggard and Waylon. Moreland's the real wildcard of the evening, though, with a heavy dose of western swing that's all too appropriate for the Ballroom. Tickets are $14 in advance and $16 at the door.

Also appearing around town on June 29, Aaron and the Classics bring their rockabilly and Elvis impersonator act to The Continental ($5), The Crush Lounge hosts Arlis Moon and the Stars with GHOSTS, Tranny and Charlie 6th Avenue ($7) and the aforementioned Infamous CD release party takes over The Pinkeye ($10).

On Saturday, June 30, Mercury Lounge plays hosts Electric Rag Band, Crush Lounge holds an acoustic performance night with Shannon Thomas, Lindsay Smart and Justin Cowell and the Riverwalk Crossing goes country with Random Sample.

Saturday's big blow out, however, is Under the Mooch's first anniversary party. The indie record store at 14th and Harvard opens at noon and the music goes from 2pm until midnight with True White Brother, Circa 360, Klondike 5, Simmons 666, Ira Burton, Elliot the Letter Ostrich, Acoustic Ross, Only the Bug Man, GHOSTS, Stevedore and DJ Nutter.

Sunday's big show is out in Broken Arrow with "Rockets over Rhema" on the campus of Rhema Bible Church. The Rhema worship band, Axis, takes the outdoor stage at 7pm, followed by 33 Miles at 7:45pm, Chris Rice at 8:30pm and Jackson Waters at 9:30pm. The night closes out with a fireworks display at 10pm and admission is free, sponsored by KXOJ.

Tuesday night, July 3,is the next big night on the concert calendar with not only the previously highlighted Project 86 show at the Otherside, but also the metal onslaught of GWAR with Shadows Fall at the Cain's. Doors open at 7pm and tickets are $26 in advance.

Finally, indie rockers can catch a free show with Girl in a Coma, Crackerwagon and Coulter at everyone's favorite local bicycle bar, The Soundpony.

Whatever your plans, be safe and enjoy your 4th of July holiday -- just don't burn down the house!