Photos by Nathan Poppe
Oxford, England is a long way from Oklahoma.
That’s a nearly 5,000 mile walk. Glass Animals’ strong debut, impending sophomore release and a lot of word of mouth attracted one of the biggest, youngest crowds I’ve seen at The Criterion. And it was a Monday night. I love seeing that sort of thing happen.
It’s also worth mentioning that Oklahoma City’s own Horse Thief opened the show and played to their biggest local crowd yet.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
It was real. It was sweaty. It was real sweaty.
I made my annual pilgrimage to the Zoo Amphitheatre to catch Twenty One Pilots and Mutemath play a sold out show.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
I felt something slide by my feet.
It was a legless man named CJ who was zipping through The Criterion crowd on a skateboard. That’s not half as strange as the Saosin lead singer deep-throating a mic stand and Taking Back Sunday’s frontman reminding everyone that he was the soundtrack to their high school PDA.
I still had a good time at this celebration of all things emo with The Early November, Saosin, Taking Back Sunday and Dashboard Confessional. Especially when CJ started crowdsurfing.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
Maxwell’s got charm.
A killer backing band, dance moves and velvety smooth pipes sure help in that department but there’s something undeniable about his magnetic personality. Simply put, he may not be young, but he can make concertgoers feel that way. At 43, he can hold the stage with the confidence of a weathered heavyweight boxer but his smile makes it look almost as if he’s out there for the first time.
Concert opener Ro James shared a handful of impressive R&B numbers and his song about consensual boning is quite the crowd pleaser. James also spent some time growing up in Lawton, Okla.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
I’d never once listened to Widespread Panic before catching them live but fans’ dedication to the band is cult-like. I think that’s because the live experience is just so excellent. Also, check out this amazing database that catalogues every detail you could ever want to know about this Oklahoma City set.
Check out more photos from the set here.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
Randy Rogers, Read Southall and their respective bands delivered a dump truck’s worth of red dirt country to The Criterion. This marked my first time seeing both acts, and the first time I’d seen a dad hold a kid on his shoulders while chugging a beer.
You bet your sweet six pack of Coors Light that I was there to document the night.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
I think the most accurate description of the music I heard this evening was “songs to be angry to.” If The Hulk were in attendance then things would’ve gotten bad fast. I think this also marks the first mosh pit in the history of The Criterion.
I had never listened to either bands but their energy was pretty infectious. I couldn’t help but dart around the stage trying to bottle up the performers’ enthusiasm. I was won over.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
Some bands aren’t just loud.
Take Disclosure for example.They were an atomic explosion of sound and lights. The brotherly British DJ duo visited Oklahoma for the first time and effectively tried to crumble The Criterion back to its foundation.
In the bleachers on the second level of the venue or backstage in a storage room, it didn’t matter where I was. Everything was shaking. I never danced but I definitely regret not busting a move. It was a great show with an even better energy.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
Sturgill Simpson is anything but an ordinary country musician. He bends the genre to his will delivers performances with a relentless passion and vigor. He’s fierce live and sharp in interviews. It was no accident he had 3,000 fans chanting his name before he took stage. Simpson’s Criterion set had some sound issues but that was no fault of the venue or the performer.
Simpson bounced between several songs from his first two albums before finally delving into “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth” and offering a satisfying trip through his perfect 2016 album. A horn section added a lavish punch that helps define Simpson as an artist who continues to grow, change and sharply entertain.
He’s only going to get bigger from this point on. You better catch him while you can.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
There’s something hypnotic about Grace Potter when she charges the stage.
The alluring performer dances, jumps and switches between nearly every instrument within her grasp. She’s a force and you can’t help but follow her dart back and forth the stage like you would a tennis ball at Wimbledon. Just be careful not to get whiplash. It sure doesn’t hurt when the songs have heart and manic energy to match Potter’s enthusiasm.
One of the best concerts I’ve seen all year, and I’d be a fool not to catch her again in Tulsa later this year.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
Here’s another look into a songwriting session I visited during the Oklahoma Songwriter’s Festival last month.
I watched as Graham Colton, Zac Maloy and Marti Frederiksen work on a jaded love song.
Here’s the first post if’n you missed it.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
I’ve never sat down and observed a song getting written.
That changed when I stopped in and watched Marcus Hummon, JD McPherson and Jim Beavers in a songwriting session. This was in part with the Oklahoma Songwriter’s Festival.
I enjoyed documenting the process but it did feel highly personal. I didn’t stay at this session for too long, but I was happy with the shots.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
Have you ever been around someone so talented that it’s frustrating?
That’s sort of the reaction I had around My Morning Jacket when they took stage for the first time in Oklahoma City. This is a band that clearly takes its music and musicianship very seriously. Although the sound was somewhat muddy, nothing could fully distract from the quality of the performance. Jim James and Co. blazed throughout the MMJ catalogue and performed a double dose of Prince covers.
What a night.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
An opening band can be a lot of things.
Out of place, tepid, surprising and a zillion other adjectives.
The Barr Brothers weren’t good. It took three songs for me to realize they were great. The road-tested band of Canadians performed a set that constantly teetered between searing and intimate. As strong as My Morning Jacket’s headlining set was, you only saw half a night of stellar music if you skipped this opening slot.
I can’t wait for The Barr Brothers to return.
The rest of the shots are here. They also name drop Oklahoma in this haunting ballad.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
That’s all I got for photos from Norman Music Festival this year.
I had a ton of fun spending nearly 24 hours at the festival over three days of shooting.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
Here’s a healthy helping of photos from my return trip to Norman Music Festival 9.
The festival got bigger and badder on Friday night. Just wait until you see Saturday’s shots though.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
Norman Music Festival 9 has come and gone but here’s visual walk through my three days at the festival starting with my April 21 shots.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
I caught my fourth Ben Folds show and it was a treat because of the his accompaniment.
Yep, the yMusic Ensemble is something special and was a welcomed addition to Folds’ latest tour.
The venue was packed out, which was great to see on weekday evening in OKC.
