A Melodic Duel

Expect some good advice, but don't expect them to agree on much

G.K. Hizer: Dfest is finally here and with it a virtual smorgasbord of bands. The promise of two consecutive nights filled with music can be exciting and daunting at the same time. The question is, with roughly 140 bands to choose from over the weekend, where is one to start?

Sure, you can always play it safe and camp out at one of the main stages. With a lineup that includes Phantom Planet, Paramore and all American Rejects on the Haladay Stage and moe., Ghostland Observatory and Disco Biscuits on the RUR Stage on Friday, who would blame you?

The secret to really enjoying and taking advantage of a weekend like this, however, is learning to go with the flow. To be sure, you want to map out a game plan before you dive in, but once you're in the midst of the madness, allow yourself to follow the buzz--or in some cases, just follow the melody you hear flowing out of open doors. After all, everyone can see The Roots (who will be absolutely killer, btw), but how many people will go home having found their own private treasure?

While I won't begrudge you wanting to see the headliners, I've put together a few tips to get you started if you're willing venture off the path most traveled and look for your own hidden jewel. And if you don't care for my taste and pick, be sure to reference my partner in crime, Josh Kline's picks as well.

Josh Kline: By now, anyone who's read my music jabber on a semi-regular basis (hi, Mom!) has most likely picked up on a recurring pattern in my personal taste and preference. Most of the time, I try to hide it (unsuccessfully), but since Hizer and I are head-to-head on this one, be prepared for an unapologetic celebration of what I like. That means unique, heartfelt and not tailor-made for the lowest common denominator. No panderers allowed. No mall-punkers, Nickelback wannabes, Strokes-derived degenerates, or Toby Keith disciples. Call it "indie" if you must, I'll just call it "music that doesn't suck." Whether it's folk or electro, prog-rock or power pop, alt-country or filthy blues rock--if it's pure of heart and in possession of talent and taste, I probably won't object.

Some of these picks are personal obsessions that I've been pimping for months via this paper, others are bands I've only heard through MySpace because of Dfest. Some are sure bets in my mind, others I'm hesitant about recommending at all. Either way, between my indie-snobbery and Hizer's everyman charm, Dfest should be a little easier to navigate.

Friday, July 25

G.K.H.: If you're new to Tulsa or rarely get out, you may want to start out over at the big stages to get a taste of what Tulsa has to offer as things get started at 7pm. Tulsa's rising alt-rock darlings, Congress of a Crow appear on the Haladay stage, while reggae hot-shots Sam & the Stylees warm up the RUR stage.

Another band to watch out for is Love in October (Blank Slate, 7pm), Minneapolis act that turned heads on the second stage with its tight turns on alt-pop. They could be a spotlight stealer again this year, right out of the gate.

If you're looking for a few no-brainers, there are definitely some sure things waiting for you out there on Friday evening. For starters, make sure to stop and catch Stars Go Dim (9pm, OKFMI stage), easily the best unsigned pop band in Oklahoma right now. Indie rock fans have plenty to look forward too this weekend as well, especially with Black Swan (8pm, Continental) throwing down a groove heavy set and Mayola (9pm, Blank Slate) proving you can be an intelligent and heady act without taking yourself too seriously. Mayola drops the artsy pretentiousness that sucks the life out of so much indie rock and lets it be an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Later in the evening, one of Tulsa's best southern rock and Americana acts, Brandon Clark Band, will take the OKFMI stage at midnight and Stock Market Crash will rock the Blank Slate at 1am. If you didn't see Stock Market Crash last year, you definitely want to catch this show. Last year's set saw the band steal the spotlight for the evening as they arguably out performed the second stage headliners, Shiny Toy Guns.

The sleepers of the evening, which threatened to go overlooked, are Tulsa's latest rap prodigy, Kawnar (8pm, 1974), punk rockers First Lady Assassins (8pm, Exit 6C) and lo-fi pop rockers The Feed (9pm, Exit 6C).

There are two late-night acts, however, that threaten to potentially steal everyone else's thunder on Friday night. Deas Vail sports a classy, if occasionally angular take on glossy alt-pop. Having seen the band during one of its four appearances at Cornerstone earlier this month, I can guarantee Deas Vail is the real thing. One big break is all it will take for them to take off.

The other sleeping giant of the bunch is Erv Felker's Black Wednesday. Originally formed in 1995, the group drew attention from a couple of major labels before disbanding in '97. Now back on track, Black Wednesday proves Felker to be a dark horse behind Tulsa's alt-rock movement from the mid '90s forward. Having played in bands like Difuser, Redshift, DDS and Team Galaxy, Felker's latest project shows he's still a force to be reckoned with while giving a glimpse of where Tulsa's rock scene came from.

J.K.: If you still haven't heard Black Swan's (8PM, The Continental) dark, emotive take on mainstream-friendly post-punk, this show is a must. Never has a band so consistently impressed its crowd--this is perhaps the most audience-friendly band in Tulsa.

Cheyenne (8pm, Dirty's Tavern) are Okie natives who up and left us for New York a while ago, but their rootsy brand of alt-country should feel so much more at home on familiar turf. Playing material from the recently self-released LP The Whale, Beau Jennings and co. should draw a good crowd of longtime local fans starved for their music.

Sir Threadius Mongus (9pm, The Continental), jazz/swing supergroup, will no doubt provide an amazing set of palette-cleansing standards and originals. Show up to say your goodbyes to one of Tulsa's best venues, stay for Annie Ellicott's sultry croon.

The Uglysuit (10pm, the Blank Slate) are the Stillwater group of badasses recently signed to Quarterstick/Touch and Go. Think a more country-fied Arcade Fire, with just as much poignancy and invention. One of the many bands helping to redefine Oklahoma's relevance on the indie landscape.

Ghostland Observatory (10:30pm, R.U.R. Stage) is an electro-punk duo from Austin that has blown up in the last two years, thanks in large part to their relentless touring of the festival circuit, where they've showcased their consistently crowd-pleasing, genre-bending dance rock. This should be one of the best parties of the entire festival.

Recorder (12am, Exit 6c) is equal parts art project and music group: a trio of robots (led by DJ Robbo) play surreal, sedate new wave electronica about love in the A.I. world. It's trippy, whimsical and oddly moving. Even comforting. Those who prefer their drug music hippie-free should skip the Disco Biscuits and check these guys out.

Jesse Aycock (1am, Dirty's) is one of the most-talented and hard working musicians in Tulsa, and his take on '70s-derived Americana/roots rock is always beyond refreshing. A perfect way to end the night quietly, away from the insanity of the two main stages.

Friday's sleepers include Paper Route (8pm, Blank Slate), Nashville Dream-poppers who use extensive production tricks to create lush, ambient soundscapes against fairly conventional, if at times sub-par, songwriting. Think Postal Service with the production value of Mutemath. The plus side: the recordings are gorgeously rendered ear candy. The downside: The songwriting might not be enough to hold these guys above water if the studio gloss is absent in the live performance. Nevertheless, I'm curious.

Mayola (9pm, Blue Dome Roadhouse) offers manic, country-tinged indie rock (echoes of Modest Mouse) from Stillwater. They put on quite the show at last year's festival. They may be a bit rough around the edges, but their live show is gaining a regional reputation by way of overwhelmingly positive word-of-mouth.

For those who prefer their rockabilly driving, upbeat and with a feminine touch, you can't do much better than The Oh Johnny! Girls (10pm, 1974) from Norman.

Some more zealous fans may crucify me for putting The Apples in Stereo (11pm, Blank Slate) in the sleeper section. But I'm not quite convinced by these indie-quirk veterans, and both Ghostland and Starkweather are playing at the same time. Enter at your own risk.

If David Bowie and Interpol had the kind of love child that people constantly refer to as "having potential," the kid would more or less resemble The Stockmarket Crash (1am, Blank Slate). Self-serious (or is it mockingly self-serious? We'll never know...) and melodramatic, these mopesters get points for respectably wearing their hearts on their sleeves (their MySpace page is unapologetic, theatrical kitsch), but this one's still a risk. However, if the Rejects and aren't your thing (and they're not mine), this is an interesting alternative. Of course, you'd have to miss Vangough (1am, Oklahoma Stage).

This very well may be the greatest cheeseball goof diversion of the whole festival. These guys channel '80s epic metal with verve and conviction. Did you grow up on Tangerine Dream's Legend soundtrack? Was Ride the Lightning your favorite album all through middle school? Do you think simulated wind for the lead singer's hair is the most badass live trick of all time? You CANNOT miss Vangough.

Saturday, July 26

G.K.H.: If you think Friday's lineup was hard to choose from, you'll definitely want some help on Saturday. My personal map for the evening begins and ends with a couple of no-brainers, balls-out rock bands. Tulsa's latest hot-shot metal band, Mercy Street, opens the evening on the RUR stage at 6pm, blending searing guitars, intelligent lyrics and strong vocal melodies, as well as the requisite screaming. This is the future of Tulsa's metal scene.

The evening will end just as emphatically at Dirty's at 1am with John Moreland and the Black Gold Band. Everyman imagery via Springsteen or Mellencamp fuses with Steve Earle grit and Social Distortion crunch and growl for Tulsa's most underappreciated, Americana-influenced rock-band. Do yourself a favor and squeeze youR way in at the end of the night for the last song or two, even if you've been camped out at the main stage.

Other no-brainers on Saturday night include indie-rock darlings Callupsie (7pm, Blank Slate) and Ceceda (8pM, 1974) and T-Town's most successful rapper, PDA (10pm, Blank Slate), showing off some of the best Tulsa has to offer.

Oklahoma City's Hush Hush, Commotion (11pm, OKFMI stage) have turned my ear enough that I'll likely make a special trip to catch them and see if they're worth the buzz, before fighting through the midnight hour, which has a host of great acts trying to go up against The Roots. Ryan Lindsey (12am, Blue Dome Diner) is among the most prominent, as the poster boy for what Dfest is trying to promote--new artists emerging into the national spotlight. My Solstice will be taking to the OKFMI stage as well and previewing some new tunes from its forthcoming CD, Persistence of Vision.

Midnight sleepers include NYC based garage/punk/sleaze rockers The Compulsions pulling out the stops at McNellie's and Of God & Science at Exit 6C. This Albuquerque-based band could be the highlight of the weekend for dreamy, ambient indie-rock fans.

If you're a visitor from out of town and want some more hometown suggestions, you can't go wrong with Born a Number (7pm, The Continental) or Vandevander (7pm, Dirty's) earlier in the evening. Anyone looking for a hidden gem, however, needs to seek out singer-songwriter Sherree Chamberlain (8pm, Dirty's), OKC indie rock act, The Non (10pm, 1974) and Taddy Porter (11pm, McNellie's). Taddy Porter has been surfacing in the local indie-rock clubs, but sports a bluesy, '70s rock swagger that puts the and in a league with Rose Hill Drive, Earl Greyhound, and Jet. Now I just need to see if they can pull it off live. If so, watch out.

J.K.: Saturday evening gets started early and with a bang. Two of Tulsa's more prolific rock acts, Callupsie and Vandevander, play at the same time (7pm, Blank Slate and Dirty's, respectively), and while you can't go wrong with either one, I'd recommend that the two fan bases stretch themselves and give the one they don't usually watch a shot. Callupsie fans: get over to Vandevander and see a real rock 'n' roll band put the Effects to shame. Vandevander fans: get over to Callupsie and see what's defining the local indie movement right now.

We've been promoting the hell out of Cecada (8pm, 1974) for months, and with good reason. Naysayers need not apply, but anyone with a taste for moody, hypnotic folk-rock should not miss this performance. Not only is this the band's first show in several months, it's the first performance to showcase their newly acquired percussionist, Harmonious Monk's Andrew Bones.

This is a tough one. You've got Tulsa staples Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey (9pm, Hadley Stage) showcasing their new jazz-meets-ambient electronica sound on the main stage, and you've got Shawnee's folk troubadour, the newly signed Samantha Crain (9pm, Dirty's) playing with her full band (finally). I'll probably go with Crain, but you really can't go wrong here, whichever you choose.

Admission: I still haven't seen Tulsa's biggest hip-hop act, PDA (10pm, Blank Slate). For this reason, I will be foregoing all other options to finally catch up with this guy. From what I hear, I probably won't be disappointed.

Helmet (10:30pm, R.U.R. Stage) is a band far exceeding expiration date both in age and relevance, but dammit, I'm curious. This is the hardcore band that ushered in an era full of Tools and Deftones, hardcore made palatable for a wider audience. Of course, that subsequently led to the near-apocalypse of Korn, Slipknot and all those other goobers taking over the radio a few years back, but... I'm still curious.

See pop wunderkind Ryan Lindsey's 40-minute set at Blue Dome (12am), then rush over to the main stage for the last hour of The Roots. You get the whole spectrum in an hour and 40 minutes: quietly catchy, intelligent pop tunes followed by some seriously aggressive hip hop. Your night will be complete. Unless, of course, you prefer the spooky freak folk of Ghosts of Monkhood. In which case, you'd do well to get over to Exit 6C by 1am.

Two prog-rock acts, Rainbows are Free from Norman and Here is There from Tulsa, are playing at the same time (7pm, RUR Stage and Exit 6c, respectively). Rainbows takes a cue from the Zeppelin and Sabbath school of hard rock, while Here is There pulls from such disparate influences as the Mars Volta and Jeff Buckley. These both have the potential to be amazing shows.

Gentle power-poppers Quiet Company (8pm, Exit 6c) from Austin play endearing, upbeat tunes that are equal parts Aqueduct and Wolf Parade. If you've already seen Cecada a billion times, this might be worth checking out.

Dance rockers Cavedoll (9pm, The Continental) from Salt Lake City employ whimsical keys, big hooks, and driving beats to create songs that are just waiting to be picked up by a Nissan commercial. Think the Rapture and Fischerspooner combined with a more radio-friendly sensibility.

Versatile, vocal-free rockers The Non (10pm, 1974) explore guitar-heavy soundscapes that routinely draw crowds in their hometown of OKC. These guys have a great reputation, and this might be one of the most satisfying sleeper hits of the festival.

The Boxing Lesson (11pm, the Continental) is reverb-soaked space rock from Austin. Plus side: the music is pretty cool; if they were an instrumental band this would be some crazy shit. Minus: the lyrics are laughably bad and lead singer's voice is a bit too '80s butt rock meets praise-and-worship for my tastes. However, this may be a case of an amazing live show that forces the weak vocals into the background. Or not. We'll find out.

Hopefully, that gives you some idea where to start this weekend. Just remember, don't subscribe to anything as an absolute. The best surprises come when you follow your heart--and your ears.