Oklahoma Red Dirt
Kyle Nix Turnpike Troubadours
Can’t say I had ever heard the term “Red Dirt” before I came to Oklahoma. And even then I didn’t pay much attention until I moved to Medicine Park. Red Dirt is kind of gritty country with blue grass undertones, the best of which tells a story and also invites you to dance. After really getting to attend the Red Dirt Ball, Memorial Day Weekend Medicine Park. I got to hear a number of performances. Red Dirt music grows on you or should I say it cakes and once on it is hard to shake loose. My new favorite would have to be the Turnpike Troubadours, I’m a sucker for fiddle playing. And the lyrics, well they tell a fine story. The Funeral takes you with it, you feel everything from bump in the road to the lump in the throat. I would say it was the most interesting of their songs but I ended up buying the album because there isn’t a bad song in the lot. Who can’t see the picture they are painting in 1968? And that is what’s great about their music, She’s Every Girl, case in point, by time the song is done, you know that girl. Even before the Red Dirt Ball I heard Feeling Better Now by Travis Linville, simple but just what you need to hear sometimes.
And then again maybe not the expected form of Red Dirt are some of the Oklahoma born women singer/ song writers of heard of late. They don’t have a kind of frilly voice that sings you a lullaby they have more of “let me tell you like it is” voice. Ali Harter is one of them, with a very personal style, worth a listen. Poor Kate (She’s a Drinker) is one of the grittier. Run Run Run a message song that speaks to the chaos women’s lives. Fresh in my memory is one Jenny Casey, the Rosanne Barr of
Ali Harter at Medicine Park
song, who takes what life dishes out, the good, bad and ugly, and makes you laugh with her. Jump in the car with her as she sings Morning Drive. And she lets you know you’re not alone in an imperfect world.
Don’t take my word for it, give these Oklahoma talents a listen you might end up buying a 99¢ wonder or even a whole album!
This entry was posted on Friday, June 25th, 2010 at 8:16 pm and is filed under Music. You can follow any comments to this post through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
