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OKLAHOMA TRAILBLAZERS

AJ Griffin served six years in the Oklahoma Senate, including two terms as vice chair for the Republican caucus. Two years ago, Griffin became the CEO of Potts Family Foundation, an Oklahoma City nonprofit focused on improving early childhood conditions in the state. The nonprofit also helps organize the Early Childhood Legislative Caucus, a bipartisan group of lawmakers who focus on bills to improve young children’s lives.

Griffin recently discussed her former work in the Legislature and her position at Potts with Oklahoma Gazette

Oklahoma Gazette: Do you miss the Legislature at all?

AJ Griffin: I enjoy being able to still do policy work and influence policy, but I’m actually really glad that I’m not serving (in the Legislature) right now.

What do you miss most about being in the Legislature?

I miss being able to have control over policies, killing bad stuff and getting good stuff across the finish line. I can still have influence in my current role, but it’s not as easy.

What do you miss the least?

I don’t miss the politics inside that building, all of the nonsense, like who’s the chair of this committee or who is in this leadership position. You spend a lot of time on some stuff that I just didn’t really think mattered that much.

What made you want to work at Potts Family Foundation?

I was one of Oklahoma’s first Smart Start Community coordinators 20 years ago, so the early childhood work comes naturally to me.

Education has been a challenging issue for Oklahoma, but early childhood education has been a bright spot with universal Pre-K. However, where are we now regarding early childhood education in the state?

The advances that we’ve made in early childhood education, most states have caught up with when it comes to access to high-quality early education for 4-year-olds, and some states are now adding 3-year-olds to the public school systems. And while we have a great system for high-quality child care, it’s not funded for low-income families and is just simply unaffordable in a lot of places. The (COVID-19) pandemic really put a strain on those child-care businesses.

What has the post-pandemic world been like for early childhood care in Oklahoma?

During COVID, a lot of additional federal funds got pumped into the system and beefed up access to child care. Most of that additional funding has now gone away, and so we’re losing providers, and when you can’t access

AJ Griffin

By Benjamin Thomas

child care, it makes it hard to go to work, which makes your economic situation unstable, which makes your family life more difficult. I mean, it’s just all cyclical; everything goes together.

One thing you learn when you are in the Legislature is that it’s all one big system, and every lever that gets pulled impacts the whole thing either positively or negatively. Every tax change impacts the whole system, up and down, all levels of government. You can’t make a single change and not think it’s going to impact families.

Do you think the Legislature understands that?

I have the luxury of no longer having to stand for election, which means I can speak clearly and plainly about how policies will impact families at the end of the day. The challenge with elected officials is they are making decisions beholden to the people that vote. And unfortunately, that’s not many Oklahomans. Because of our closed primary system, it’s just voters in the primary for the most part in many elections. So a lot of the policy work gets lost in the politics.

What are you most proud of?

We have our Family Positive Workplace program, which celebrates employers that recognize their employees’ role as caregivers and support them. It’s a twoprong program. Family Positive has a certification that any Oklahoma employer can survey with us and be certified as a Family Positive employer. We also partner with The Oklahoman and its Oklahoma Top Workplaces award, and any employer with 35 or more employees can vie for Oklahoma’s top family-positive workplace this year. This year, that was Phase Two, which is a technology company here in Oklahoma City.

Are there any bills or policies you are closely tracking this session?

There’s a bill that would enact mandatory vision and hearing screenings for kids when they enter school. It’s really important. It’s estimated that 75 percent of kids who are diagnosed with a learning disability actually had a visual or hearing disorder that could have been corrected at some point. However, most of those things have to be addressed before you turn 7 or you typically have learning loss. I’ve also been involved in the attempt to eliminate the use of corporal punishment in Oklahoma schools. The research is pretty clear: Hitting children is never beneficial.

Kentucky Derby Group Packages

Opinions

The math behind Stitt’s half and a path plan does not add up

By Cyndi Munson

By now, most everyone in Oklahoma has seen the ads for the governor’s plan to cut the income tax .5% each year until we get to 0% — or his “half and a path” plan. But what does that really mean for Oklahomans?

For starters, we know that an acrossthe-board income tax cut does not benefit everyday working Oklahomans, but instead benefits the wealthiest Oklahomans. Full elimination of the income tax would actually raise taxes for our lowest-income earners and disproportionately benefit our highestincome earners.

According to Oklahoma Policy Institute, a 0.5-percent cut to Oklahoma’s personal income tax cut would reduce state revenue by an estimated $660 million annually when fully implemented.

Aside from that, about a third of Oklahoma’s general revenue is attributed to income tax revenue. This means a cut to the income tax would be a cut for state funding for services Oklahomans need, like public education, health care and infrastructure.

Other states that have already implemented a similar income tax cut are facing serious budget shortfalls and the threat of more cuts being made to core services.

An across-the-board income tax cut is a bad idea, but particularly for the next few years while millions of federal dollars are hanging in the balance. Many state agen-

cies are reaching out to me, concerned about the future of their services with funding no longer being certain, and I don’t blame them. We should be doing more to work with our congressional delegation to protect state agencies when we know about half of our state’s funding comes from federal grants. Instead, the governor is focused on making life even easier for the wealthiest people in Oklahoma.

It’s no secret that Oklahoma is a poor state. Oklahoma is among the top 10 poorest states in the country. I put forth two pieces of legislation to give Oklahomans the financial relief they deserve. One was House Bill 2228, the Sales Tax Relief Credit, which modernizes and expands the Sales Tax Relief Credit in Oklahoma. The Sales Tax Relief Credit, created in 1990, is meant to help those who need it most by targeting tax relief to middle- and low-income families. Currently, the credit is $40; my legislation would increase the credit to $200 with additional benefits depending on dependents and other factors.

The second was House Bill 2229, which would raise the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) refund to 10 percent from 5 percent. The EITC has historically had bipartisan support because the credit has been effective for families and our economy.

Both of these bills were blocked by Republican leadership and never given

a hearing, which begs the question: Are they really trying to provide tax relief for hardworking Oklahomans or only the wealthiest insiders who have access to the governor?

While the governor touts saving $157 million by returning federal health grants, Oklahomans are still feeling the financial and economic burden. They are concerned about the future of their state agencies and their funding and have received little to no reassurance that their needs will be considered.

Saving money is one thing, but slashing away core services is another. This will only end up costing our state more money and putting our most vulnerable Oklahomans in an even worse spot. Taxpayers will end up paying more to fill in the gaps, and we will be right back where we were less than a decade ago. How about that for leadership?

There are real solutions that can help Oklahomans keep more of their money, but an income tax cut is not one of them. If the governor wanted to help the lowest-earning Oklahomans, he would heed the advice of experts in our state who are offering solutions.

Oklahoma needs help when it comes to funding for our public schools, teachers and students; building safer roads and bridges; and creating better access to affordable health care. The income tax cut would harm those things we all

care about and continue to make it more difficult for Oklahomans to access the resources they need.

The state’s budget is already in a tough spot, and I see no reason to tank it even further. Republicans can make all the cuts they want with DOGE-OK, but without taking care of Oklahomans, we will only see our state continue to drop in rankings across the country in areas most important to building our economy: education, health care and infrastructure.

Oklahomans are not silent when it comes to their needs. The governor is getting pushback from all across the state with his suggestion to cut the Forestry Service after wildfires ravaged our state less than a month ago. He needs to stop trying to please the president and mimic his administration and start listening to Oklahomans.

I posed these questions in a back-andforth with him on X, and I’ll do it again here. Which services will he be willing to cut: education, health care, infrastructure public safety? Which taxes will he be willing to raise on everyday Oklahomans: sales, property ,small business?

It’s bad math to decimate our primary revenue source only to help a few. It isn’t about me and you; it’s about him.

Leader Cyndi Munson, the first Asian-American woman in the Oklahoma Legislature, advocates for education, justice reform and families. A dedicated leader, she champions public service and community engagement.

In-Person

• Attend town hall meetings or voter or legislative forums.

• During session, visit your legislators at the Oklahoma Capitol.

• Out of session, set up a meeting and bring like-minded friends. Make a call

• You may reach a staffer or leave a message. State the issue(s) and what you want them to do about it. Email or write a letter

• Email your individual legislators or committee members.

OKLAHOMA DELEGATION

US Senator Markwayne Mullin

DC Tel: (202) 224-4721

DC Fax: No Fax

OKC Tel: (405) 246-0025; Tulsa Tel: (918) 921-8520

US Senator James Lankford

DC Tel: (202) 224-5754

DC Fax: (202) 228-1015

OKC Ofc Tel: (405) 231-4941; Tulsa Ofc: (918) 581-7651

Dist 5: Stephanie Bice (OKC)

DC Tel: (202) 225-2132

DCFax NOFAX

OKC Ofc: ( 405) 300-6890

Dist 4: Tom Cole (NOR,SW OK)

DC Tel: (202) 225-6165

DC Fax: (202) 225-3512

Norman Ofc: (405) 329-6500

Dist 3: Frank Lucas (W. OK)

DC Tel: (202) 225-5565

DC Fax: (202) 225-8698

OKC Ofc: (405) 373-1958

Dist 2: Josh Brecheen (Muskogee, NE Oklahoma)

DC Tel: (202) 225-2701

DC Fax: (202) 225-3038

Claremore: (918) 283-6262

Dist 1: Kevin Hern (Tulsa)

DC Tel: (202) 225-2211

DC Fax: (202) 225-9178

Tulsa: (918) 935-3222

chicken friedNEWS

School board elections

Shopping carts

Cockfigting

Oklahoma voters banned the sport of cockfighting more than 20 years ago, but efforts to legalize or lessen penalties have resurfaced in recent years. A political action committee largely made up of cockfighters began pumping thousands of dollars into lawmaker coffers a few years ago, which helped allow some bills to receive a hearing and minimal support. Even Gov. Kevin Stitt publicly praised the organization two years ago amidst its push to pass new laws. This year, Senate Bill 111 would have reduced the penalties for participating in cockfight ing. The Senate Public Safety Committee narrowly voted (3 to 4) to reject the bill. The fact that cockfighting remains a topic of discussion within the Legislature and governor’s office is an embarrassment. But it’s proof that if enough money is spent, Oklahoma lawmakers are willing to consider almost anything.

If there’s one thing education doesn’t need more of, it’s partisan politics. But in an era when Oklahoma’s top education official is pushing school-sanctioned religion and fealty to President Trump, state lawmakers want to see local school board elections injected with that same kind of right-wing pandering. Senate Bill 6, which was advanced last month by the Senate, would move the general election for school board races from April to November. “Senate Bill 6 will increase the number of candidates running for these key positions and, more importantly, boost voter participation in these pivotal races,” said Sen. Ally Seifried, a Claremore Republican who authored the bill. But turnout likely isn’t the goal here. The goal is to push more school board candidates to shift their campaign platforms from reading scores and teacher pay to the kind of culture-war rhetoric that now dominates November elections. If lawmakers really anted to reverse Oklahoma’s status as one of the worst voter-turnout states, it would be better to look at an open primary system, expanded early voting and other proven concepts.

Oklahoma’s House of Representatives re cently advanced a bill that would in crease the penalty for stealing a shopping cart. A person could end up in jail for a year and pay a $1,000 fine if House Bill 1689 were to become law. Oklahoma has a special connection to the shopping cart. It was invented here in 1937. But support ers of this bill aren’t trying to protect a piece of state lore. Instead, this bill is aimed at increasing punish ments for those expe riencing homelessness, some of whom use shopping carts to transport their belongings. Numerous studies and common sense have shown that further criminalizing homelessness doesn’t work. Lawmakers who voted for this bill can boast to their constituents that they stuck it to the homeless, which may be a winning strategy in some conservative districts. But ironically, they actually made homelessness a bigger problem. In the end, it would be cheaper to just buy each person experiencing homelessness a shopping cart than it would be to process the theft of one.

Power from the people

There’s nothing that scares Republican lawmakers more than giving more power to the people. Oklahoma is a politically conservative state, but when given the chance, voters have supported some fairly progressive issues in statewide votes, including Medicaid expansion and medical marijuana. That’s why the initiative petition process that puts issues on a statewide ballot has long been a threat to the most conservative groups. Republican lawmakers have recently advanced Senate Bill 1027, which would limit the number of petition signatures that can come from high-population areas, including Oklahoma and Tulsa counties. At its heart, this bill seeks to tamp down progressive voices and give more power to rural (and conservative) voters. “This is about suppressing a process,” said Sen. Regina Goodwin, a Tulsa Democrat. This bill is also about the most conservative Republicans assuring total dominance over policies throughout

HE’S MAKING GOVERNMENT MAKE SENSE

Lionel Ramos is on the front lines of government news, bringing clarity to complex issues. But that’s not all — KOSU has a team of experts covering every corner of Oklahoma news.

Through radio, podcasts, newsletters or more options — KOSU delivers the news that matters to you.

MEET LIONEL RAMOS

EAT & DRINK

The sequel

LEAP Coffee Roasters moves forward artfully.

By Julie Porter Scott

Kari and Eric Starkey bought LEAP Coffee Roasters in 2016 and quickly turned the small-batch roastery known for its exceptional coffee into one that also supports the local arts community. When they announced in February that they were passing the torch to new owners, I knew there was more to the story. Over a cup of one of LEAP’s robust releases, Kari and the new owners told me all about it.

The scene

LEAP is a cornerstone in the local coffee scene, to be sure. But the outgoing owners have been a part of the it since long before Oklahoma City had any-

thing even resembling a coffee scene. Nearly three decades ago, Kari owned Yippee Yi Yo Cafe. Many fondly remember the charming little coffee shop on Western Avenue with its wall of camp mugs and the warm hospitality Kari lavished on her customers.

Yippee Yi Yo Cafe had a great run and laid the foundation for the future roastery, as well as another important future: Kari and Eric had their first date there. That first date led to a happy marriage that produced a lovely daughter. Many creative pursuits ensued, including a kids’ television show and film, television and theater roles for Eric. After successful careers in the arts (Kari at Oklahoma Children’s Theatre and City Arts Center) and accounting and acting (Eric for over 20 years in films and theater), the couple returned to their caffeinated roots with LEAP Coffee Roasters.

The premise was simple: Source and roast the finest beans. Then, in 2017, LEAP launched its Artists Series coffees, wherein local artists receive a percentage of the sales of their personally curated coffee beans: Romy Owens’ Militant

Optimist, Ebony Iman Dallas’ Mystic Moments and Nightingale by Miss Brown to You, among others. LEAP was the deserving recipient of a Governor’s Arts Award last year for these efforts, and you can purchase these beans around town, online and at the LEAP warehouse on Fridays. Over the last eight years, participating artists have received a combined total of over $66,000. It seemed like a lovely little dream that could just keep percolating. In early 2024, the Starkeys brought in their two full-time employees as part owners: Kiona Millirons and Hannah Mhamedi. This had been their plan for a while, and they were delighted to realize they could make it happen sooner than anticipated for their small, tight-knit team.

The players

Hannah already had 10 years of experience in the coffee business when she came on as an employee at Stella Nova, which led to getting to know Kari; their shared love of all things coffee provided an easy connection. On a visit to Morocco to see Imad (before their eventual marriage and his move to the United States), Hannah brought a mug to gift Kari. That mug that now enjoys a place of pride at the shop became the catalyst for a friendship beyond their professional pleasantries, eventually landing Hannah a job at LEAP.

Kiona Millirons also came to LEAP through a relationship with Kari forged in their deep commitment to Oklahoma City’s arts community. Kiona was a successful working artist in OKC while also serving as founder and executive director of Oklahoma City Girls Art School, providing visual art classes to underserved girls and young women. The trajectory of her life was forever altered just before Christmas 2018 when her younger sister was shot and killed in her car outside her job as a supervisor of a public library in North Natomas, Sacramento.

Kiona spent the next three and a half years working through the trauma of the violent loss of her sibling while also navigating the sudden, unexpected launch into a fight for justice and the ensuing trial. As Kiona put it when we spoke recently, “I just needed a job where I could show up and focus on one true thing. Roasting gave me an escape from the mental energy of the trial. It takes a completely different kind of focus and energy; this role provided a livelihood, an escape and a group of people who could accept me where I was.”

The twist

Stella Nova had been an important part

of the business’ success. With four locations, the locally owned and operated chain was the roastery’s largest account. In December, Stella Nova announced it would be donating its four cafés to Not Your Average Joe, a local nonprofit that employs students and adults with disabilities in coffee shops around town. In addition to owning and operating the coffee shops, Not Your Average Joe also roasts its own beans. It didn’t take long for the accountant-turned-roaster to do the math: Without its biggest bean buyer, there was no way to make the numbers work. Kari and Eric would not be able to keep all their employees. Even the best salesperson couldn’t have made up the difference; part of the social contract of being a coffee roaster in a small city is a tacit agreement not to poach customers. And though LEAP has an enviable book of business that includes local favorites such as The Red Cup, Full Circle Bookstore and Scrambl’d, the orders are simply smaller. Several high-end restaurants also rely on LEAP’s perfectionistic tendencies: The Hutch on Avondale, The Gilded Acorn and Patrono all serve LEAP’s coffee, but their volumes are even smaller.

The plot thickens

before presenting the plan to Kiona. Hannah beamed a little when she told me, “We presented an offer to buy the entire business outright.”

Kari reflected that pride as she picked up the thread: “A full-price offer, fair market value, full stop.”

The deal moved quickly from there. An additional down payment by the Mhamedis brought Imad on as a full partner. Kari and Eric were able to act as the bank for the remaining sale price, no financing required.

When the deal closed, Hannah told me, “It was a quick decision for us. It was an easy step to take because so many things had been leading up to it,

lining it up for us.”

Enter a potential buyer with the pocketbook to purchase LEAP outright. Once again, Eric put on his accountant hat and set to work. Understandably, the employees, now part owners, were growing more nervous with each cup of coffee. What would the deal look like? How would the Artist Series fare under new owners? Their port in a storm — would it hold? Truth be told, Kari and Eric had similar fears, as well as an almost preternatural need to take care of their people.

Third act

Eric sent the proposed offer from the potential buyer to Hannah to review. As she pored over the offer, she realized there might be an opportunity to keep LEAP in the family. She talked to Imad, then made an offer to Eric and Kari

The Artist Series will continue to earn dividends for its creators while new Artist Series beans will be released with Kiona at the helm, an artist continuing to help other artists. With Hannah managing the business side and Imad working to keep the specialized equipment running smoothly, the little roastery that could will get to keep on keepin’ on.

Kari and Eric have also created their own catbird seat. It’s hard to imagine any two people better suited to be roasters emeritus — retired, at least from the day-to-day of the sourcing and roasting of coffee beans, yet still available to provide their gentle guidance. They’ve already signed up to cover vacations, sabbaticals, sick leave — all the leaves, really. It feels like they won’t ever be far, at least until Hollywood comes calling for Eric or Kari dreams up another leap of faith for the dynamic duo to pursue. Visit leapcoffeeroasters.com.

Kari and Eric Starkey are all smiles at LEAP Coffee Roasters. | Photo provided

Kiona Millirons, Hannah Mhamedi and Imad Mhamedi stand with of one of LEAP’s two coffee roasters. | Photo Julie Porter-Scott

One of LEAP’s two coffee roasters | Photo Gazette/file

& DRINK

Breakfast and brunch

If you roll out of bed craving a little bit of everything, don’t sleep on these breakfast and brunch spots around the OKC metro. The early bird gets the best seat at brunch, so check to see if you need reservations.

By Lauren Thomas-Martin with provided and Gazette / file photos

Hatch Early Mood Food multiple locations hatchearlymoodfood.com

Get your Hatch fix at one of six locations across Oklahoma, including the Will Rogers International Airport. Hatch offers familiar breakfast and brunch dishes from steak and eggs to strawberry arugula salad, omelettes and sandwiches. Its full-service bar options include coffee cocktails, mimosas for the table, mocktails and macchiatos. Start with the Loaded Tumblers — crispy hash browns topped with bacon and chives then covered in smoked cheddar Hollandaise.

Sunnyside Diner

multiple locations eatatsunnyside.com

Sunnyside Diner’s extensive menu expands the brunch basics with inhouse baked goods and meatless twists on classic favorites. The French toast, pictured here with peanut butter and chocolate chips, is made with brioche baked at Sunnyside Bakery. Grab a chicken-fried meatless Impossible patty with two eggs and two sides and follow it up with a fresh-baked cinnamon roll topped with double espresso glaze and served warm in a mini cast iron skillet.

Neighborhood JAM

multiple locations thatsmyjamok.com

Along with classic breakfast dishes, Neighborhood JAM boasts a hefty twopage gluten-free menu that features omelettes, pancakes and French toast, acai bowls, sandwiches and neighborhood favorite The Heap: hash browns covered with cheese blend, two eggs your way, your choice of meat, avocado, pico, cotija cheese, chives and toast. Find your JAM at one of the four OKC area locations, Norman, Tulsa and coming soon to South OKC.

Scrambl’d

1742 NE 23rd St., Suite A scrambld23rd.com 405-900-5972

If your brunch vibe is more after-party than morning after, head to Scrambl’d on the Eastside. Regulars enjoy its fresh take on the classic mimosa, Henny Given Sunday, adding Hennessy to OJ and sparkling wine. It’s menu ranges from deep-fried French toast with cream cheese anglaise, powdered sugar and caramelized apple to blackened salmon salad with cherry tomatoes and lemon aioli salad dressing.

Aurora 1734 NW 16th St. shinewithaurora.com 405-609-8854

The Plaza District’s Aurora serves standard brunch fare alongside tacos, wraps, pesto pasta and the eponymous Aurora Bowl: Green Goddess cucumbers, labneh, baba ghanoush, aleppo chili, heirloom tomato, Castelvetrano olives, pickles, pickled radish, sport peppers, eggs, sourdough toast and feta cheese. If you can’t escape Aurora’s magnetic pull, it’s also open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday.

Waffle Champion multiple locations wafflechampion.com

Waffle Champion’s sandwiches can be ordered with hot chicken, migas and chorizo, bacon, egg and cheese, or Florentine with scrambled eggs, garlic, spinach, mushroom, marinated tomatoes and goat cheese sauce. If brunssert (the combination of brunch and dessert we just made up) is what you’re craving, grab an apple pie waffle with cinnamon baked apples, bourbon caramel and streusel topped with a scoop of Blue Bell Ice Cream from one of its two OKC locations.

Cheever’s Cafe

2409 N. Hudson Ave. cheeverscafe.com 405-525-7007

Before Cheever’s Cafe became an Uptown destination for comfort favorites, the historic building was home to the Cheever family flower shop for decades. The display case is now full of desserts and the staff are busy tending to taste buds. Cheever’s chicken-fried steak with jalapeno cream gravy and brunch potatoes gives an old classic a kick, and the All Nighter cocktail featuring coffee-infused bourbon, cinnamon-vanilla syrup, black walnut bitters and cream will have you buzzing in a couple ways.

ARTS & CULTURE

Dancing psychedelia

Oklahoma City Ballet’s Shorts production features music from world-famous OKC band The Flaming Lips.

By Jo Light

Oklahoma City Ballet’s upcoming production, Shorts, brings together three distinct works that showcase different facets of contemporary dance in a single evening. While each piece stands on its own for its unique styles and compositions, together, they create a program designed to appeal to both longtime ballet enthusiasts and newcomers to the art form.

But that’s not the only draw of Shorts Oklahoma City Ballet fans are also getting a world premiere set to the music of hometown heroes The Flaming Lips. This marks the first time a professional ballet company has collaborated with the rock band, creating a one-of-a-kind intersection of classical dance and contemporary music.

The program showcases two other pieces: Stephanie Martinez’s vibrant work “Otra Vez, Otra Vez, Otra Vez,” bringing rhythmic dance and a Latin flair to the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., stage. This short will contrast with George Balanchine’s “Divertimento No. 15,” a neoclassical piece performed in a more traditional ballet style.

Oklahoma Gazette chatted with the company’s artistic director, Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye, to discuss this ambitious triple bill that should hopefully have ballet traditionalists, contemporary dance enthusiasts and psychedelic rock fans intrigued.

To start, we wanted to learn more about how these three diverse pieces came together and what audiences can expect from the eclectic spring program.

“When making a triple bill performance, it’s important to create a full meal of different things so that there’s something on the menu that everyone can latch onto,” Jolicoeur-Nye said.

He said the program is educational as much as it is, hopefully, a draw for new ballet fans.

“For dance lovers and people who know the history of dance, an iconic ballet like Balanchine’s ‘Divertimento No. 15’ really speaks to them,” he said. “But potentially the majority of people don’t know Balanchine in Oklahoma, or if you’re not familiar with dance, and that might not be a draw for you to buy tickets. When I was thinking about The Flaming Lips, I thought, first of all, I really love when organizations collaborate locally.”

If there’s one thing that Okies are good at, it’s supporting other Okies. And in terms of music stars, you can’t get any more local than The Flaming Lips.

“And with them being from Oklahoma City, I saw it as a great way to influence people who might not be familiar with dance, or maybe they’ve never bought a ticket before, to come and see the company,” Jolicoeur-Nye said.

Do You Realize

You know The Flaming Lips, right? Oklahoma City’s very own psychedelic rock band? At the very least, maybe you’ve spotted Wayne Coyne’s shock of gray hair moving through the city’s favorite haunts. (I saw him at Cafe Kacao once.)

Since coming together in the 1980s, the group has continued to gain notoriety through the decades with its vibrant performances and alt-rock approach to music, but now its reach extends into a new artistic atmosphere: ballet, for the first time ever.

This marriage between rock and ballet pushes against traditions that have kept the two bodies of art largely separate. While some companies have certainly dabbled with more recent music, The Flaming Lips’ experimental sound represents a dramatic shift from the orchestral scores that typically accompany professional ballet company performances.

At the time I called Jolicoeur-Nye, The Flaming Lips portion of the show, “Do You Realize,” was still in its infant stages, the choreography about to be finished the next week with a first round of rehearsals forthcoming. The band has been involved in the prep work, with Coyne as a collaborator giving JolicoeurNye feedback on his early ideas.

“It’s been a fun process so far,” Jolicoeur-Nye said.

The whole thing started with an idea pitched to the band’s longtime manager, Scott Booker, and one of the band members, then eventually to Coyne.

“We ended up chatting with Wayne, and I gave him a list of songs and some ideas that I was having about the work, and he was really interested and eager, so we kept putting one foot in front of the other.”

The Flaming Lips are known for extravagant, often surreal live shows with neon lights and lasers, fog, confetti, and unconventional props and sets. The stages often look more like Alice in Wonderland or The Wizard of Oz than anything else. The band reimagines and expands what music and performance can be.

Here’s an example: When we were still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group famously pulled off its “Space Bubble” show at The Criterion, performing in giant socially distanced balls. (2021 was certainly a time.) The show made an international splash.

Coyne is a frequent collaborator with artists around the world. In 2018, he created a giant installation called “The King’s Mouth” at the Santa Fe location of the collective Meow Wolf.

The Flaming Lips’ local art complex, The Womb, later became the home base for OKC’s spinoff of Meow Wolf, Factory

Obscura. In 2023, an enormous painting Coyne helped create with Damien Hirst was a CODAawards Top 100 winner.

All this is to say that as you imagine such an explosion of art, color and light, you might wonder what fans can expect from the band’s team-up with Oklahoma City Ballet.

“Well, if you’ve ever seen a Flaming Lips concert, you can know that Wayne is pretty whimsical and out there with his ideas,” Jolicoeur-Nye said. “So I think we just want to match the essence of what The Flaming Lips bring to the stage.”

Jolicoeur-Nye was hesitant to give too much away about the show’s look and feel ahead of time.

“The audience can expect to really experience that essence of The Flaming Lips,” he said. “And I told the designers, our lighting designer and set designer and costume designer, that I would like this ballet to resemble a rock concert. What can we do to build this fusion between a rock and roll concert and a theater ballet?”

Some members of the Oklahoma City Ballet’s team are also fans, and it means a lot to Jolicoeur-Nye that Oklahoma City locals are helping build the ballet with a band that has stayed close to home for years.

“Our director of production, Megan Buchanan, has been a Flaming Lips fan since the ’80s,” Jolicoeur-Nye said. “She’s designing all of the sets and concepts. … She’s been pretty instrumental in coming up with the essence of this ballet.”

To Jolicoeur-Nye, this is a combination of rock fantasy and dance that makes perfect sense.

“For me, it’s kind of like cooking. When you take really great food from influences from two countries and fuse them together and you have a really great piece of fusion food, it’s kind of like that … the rock and roll aspect mixed with the ballet dancing that we do, to try to fuse those things together and make something new and interesting.”

The Flaming Lips portion of the Shorts program will close the show as its big finale.

Divertimento No. 15

The opener, however, is Balanchine.

Even if your ballet knowledge is limited to The Nutcracker during the holidays, you probably have heard the name George Balanchine at some point. It’s not dramatic to say the Russianborn choreographer who became an

American dance icon revolutionized the entire art form. He began dancing at age 10 and started choreographing in his teens. Pushing the boundaries of modern ballet with his distinctive neoclassical style, Balanchine produced an astonishing 465 works throughout his career, according to New York City Ballet.

In 1934, Balanchine came to America and co-founded the School of American Ballet and, in 1948, legendary New York City Ballet.

“Divertimento No. 15” is a ballet set to Mozart’s score of the same name — and the only time Balanchine choreographed a work to the composer. The ballet premiered in May 1956 at the American Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, Connecticut, and is widely considered to be one of Balanchine’s masterpieces.

Jolicoeur-Nye chose the work strategically.

“I think it’s supposed to be a juxtaposition to the kind of gritty contemporary work, so that it’s sort of a palette cleanser,” he said.

While Balanchine choreographed in a way that challenged some ballet norms during his time, with more extreme extensions and positions with visible tension, his work remained rooted in classical ballet and its intricacies.

“I just think it is iconic of the Balanchine style,” Jolicoeur-Nye said of the piece. “I think it really represents the neoclassical style and what New York City Ballet was doing in the time. And it’s elegant. It’s technically challenging.”

Balanchine taught his dancers to be fast and athletic, so much so that their heels hardly touched the ground as they moved expansively across the stage. I asked what else makes “Divertimento No. 15” so unique.

“What makes Balanchine work stand out is just the musicality,” he said. “The musicality is so palpable in his work, and I think that’s what I love about doing Balanchine. It also challenges the dancers to move really quick.”

“Otra Vez, Otra Vez, Otra Vez” “Otra Vez, Otra Vez, Otra Vez,” choreographed by Stephanie Martinez, is the second piece of the program. It is classified as an Afro-Cuban work and is the second-most recent of the program, premiering in 2019.

“I think it’s got an Afro-Cuban kind of essence, but it really is an eclectic work,” Jolicoeur-Nye said. “It loosely

Oklahoma City Ballet teamed up with Wayne Coyne to develop the third act of the Shorts program. | Photo provided

is based off of Picasso’s The Old Guitarist from the Blue Period.”

On her dance company’s Instagram page, PARA.MAR Dance Theatre, Martinez likens the work to the sensation of “sonder,” when you realize that the people you see daily are living complex, full stories of their own alongside you, though you might not always be aware of it.

Martinez is a Chicago-based choreographer who has worked on more than 70 ballets. Classically trained, she often combines different forms of dance in each piece for a singular take on contemporary choreography and bold, diverse dance. In 2019, The Chicago Tribune called her a “chameleon.”

The label fits an artist who continuously transforms herself and her work, adapting to different companies, dancers and cultural influences while maintaining her artistic voice. Her ability to shift between styles while creating cohesive, compelling work places her among today’s most versatile choreographers.

In “Otra Vez, Otra Vez, Otra Vez,” dancers undulate between more traditional poses and contorted modern shapes, punctuated by swinging hips and assertive flourishes. One section finds a dancer paired with a dark hat as an initial partner, the ticking of a clock the musical accompaniment to the dancer’s twists, leaps and kicks until vocals (and another dancer) join them in a sensual duet.

Speaking of the backing, JolicoeurNye said the music is just as important to the experience of “Otra Vez, Otra Vez, Otra Vez.” He called out Chavela Vargas, a Costa Rican-born Mexican singer who was known for her soulful renditions of Mexican ranchera music, specifically.

“It’s sort of like this raspy Latin blues sound that’s just so earthy, and you can’t help but want to move to it,” Jolicoeur-Nye said. “And [the piece is] also mixed with classical music. And so it takes you on a little bit of a — not just an emotional and visual journey, but also a journey of sound.”

I wondered how he arrived at the decision to include the unique piece in the program.

“I presented this ballet in Arkansas, the company I used to run there,” he said. “And I remember going through the process of those rehearsals and watching the dancers latch on to the nuance and the details and the essence of this piece and really attach to the music and also connect with each other.”

Indeed, the piece will find dancers communicating with each other in seductive and intimate pairings and trios as they tell their wordless stories.

“And I just thought [Martinez’s] work is so authentic and honest,” he said, “and it’s something that you can really dive into the fabric of the movement and how it seeps into the music.”

Dancers’ perspective

Having chosen the three pieces and now at the point of putting the performance together, part of what motivated Jolicoeur-Nye’s ordering of the program was a consideration for the company and

what they wanted (and required, actually, to do their best).

“One would think that you would want to go ‘Otra Vez’ and then a nice, clean Balanchine, and then The Flaming Lips, and kind of do cookie, cream, cookie,” he said. “But the challenge for the dancers, they have to be really placed in the Balanchine work. And when you do something like ‘Otra Vez’ and you’re moving around and noodling and exploring your joints, and then you have to tighten back up and do a more classical work, that’s the opposite order of what the dancers prefer.”

I, with my two months of adult ballet and no other dance experience, thought that sounded very sensible.

“They’d like to just get the stiff stuff out of the way and then cut loose,” Jolicoeur-Nye agreed.

I asked Jolicoeur-Nye about the other ways the dancers have responded to the stylistic diversity of these pieces.

“Well, for them, I think the diversity is what they love,” he said. “They love to be challenged and move out of their comfort zone.”

Each piece in the Shorts program offers its own test of their skills.

“You have something like ‘Otra Vez’ that’s kind of gritty and authentic … it gives me the feeling of a smoky bar, I suppose, and so they can find a side of themselves in that movement,” Jolicoeur-Nye said.

Even the traditional, more familiar setup for “Divertimento No. 15” has its technical hurdles.

“And then the Balanchine, it’s just deceptively difficult,” he said. “It looks light and effortless, but it really demands extreme control and speed and delicacy and musicality.”

While the night’s grand finale will seemingly be a bit more carefree and less classically structured, the fact that it is new choreography and a premiere to The Flaming Lips are enough of an undertaking.

“I think with The Flaming Lips one, it really is just supposed to represent the joy of dance. And I think with The Flaming Lips one, I’m taking them a little bit on a journey … [a] dreamlike, nonlinear journey through different stages of life, struggle, reflection, rebellion, acceptance, and all of this done through kind of fun and trippy music. So I think the dancers can just sort of let go and enjoy the dance.”

Performances of Shorts are 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 9; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 11. Single tickets range from $20 to $103 and are available now through Oklahoma City Ballet and Civic Center box offices. Call Oklahoma City Ballet at 405-848-8637 or visit okcballet.org.

Shorts

7:30 p.m. Friday, May 9

7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10

2 p.m. Sunday, May 11

Civic Center Music Hall

201 N. Walker Ave.

okcciviccenter.com | 405-594-8300

$20-$103

ARTS & CULTURE

Following the light

By Greg Horton COMMUNITY

Thirty years after Oklahoma City’s darkest day, the feeling that remains after the initial weeks of horror and shock is hope.

The blast from the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing found Polly Nichols in a northwest corner office on the third floor of the Journal Record building, where she worked as the executive director of a nonprofit. The office was just across the street from the federal building, so the blast was devastating, collapsing the ceiling, rolling through the walls and creating projectiles of shattered glass, one of which caught Nichols in the neck, nicking her carotid artery.

“I was on the board of Integris at the time,” Nichols said, “and I could still speak even though the glass had damaged one of my vocal chords. So when they loaded me in the ambulance, I asked the EMT to take me to Integris. He said, ‘Lady, you don’t have that kind of time.’”

The memories of the “day of darkness” are vivid for Nichols, as they are for many of the survivors and family members who waited hours or days to hear that their loved ones were alive or that their bodies had been recovered. This is the 30th anniversary of the bombing, and while three decades is objectively a long time in the context of a life, when looking back on trauma, time compresses and the moment is relived in the retelling, so the survivors experience many of the emotions they felt that day.

The theme for this year’s commemoration is Day of Darkness, Years of Light, and the survivor stories here begin in horror and end in hope, and much of that hope is embodied in the children and grandchildren who suffered terrible losses that day or who would hear the stories years later of parents and grandparents they never met.

Nichols is fully aware of how narrow her chances were on that ambulance

ride; it’s one of the reasons she asked for Integris. Dr. William D. Hawley, a thoracic surgeon at that hospital, was one of only about 60 physicians in the country who could do the work necessary to save Nichols. He happened to be at Saint Anthony’s that morning to visit a friend who was scheduled to have surgery. He saw Nichols being wheeled down the hall, accompanied by a general surgeon. He realized his specialty would increase the odds of a successful surgery. Outside that serendipitous set of circumstances, Nichols might not have survived to experience the years of light, an ever-present reality for her.

“Right after the bombing, everyone seemed to need to know someone who was involved,” she said. “They wanted to hear the stories, to know the people involved, to understand what had happened. It was overwhelming for me at first, because I felt like I couldn’t give that much to so many, but now it’s one of my favorite parts, and my life has been different than it would have been because of the people I’ve met and talked to along the way.”

People light

Nichols remembers all the medical staff who helped her that day and in the short recovery that followed. Many of the other survivors and family members tell similar stories of first responders, Secret Service agents, clergy, mental health professionals, neighbors, family, friends, doctors and strangers, all eager to help, to be useful, to unbreak what was shattered. It was a collective goal to push back the darkness and reaffirm our shared humanity in an outpouring of love, support and hope.

Clint Seidl, now of Shawnee, lost his mother, Kathy Seidl, an investigative assistant with the Secret Service, in the bombing, but the family waited three days to hear that awful news.

“I was in school (second grade) when my dad came to get me,” Seidl, a firefighter and owner of CS Plumbing, said. “He’d been out of town working when a family friend called and told him what happened. We went to my aunt’s house in Midwest City, and we camped out there for three days. Two Secret Service agents cooked and cleaned for us while we waited. When we got the news that her body had been recovered, I went downtown with my dad, and we identified her body.”

Seidl said it didn’t take long to adjust to his new life, one without his mother.

“After the funeral and all the information about what happened, you’re

thrown into a new routine and lifestyle. I saw the changes super fast, so I realized that this was my life now.”

That life included speaking engagements, interviews with journalists like Katie Couric and inclusion in the 169 Pennies campaign, a grassroots fundraising effort to build the OKC National Memorial & Museum. Seidl’s victim impact statement was also the last one presented during the sentencing phase of Timothy McVeigh’s trial.

“Ultimately, my dad had to read it for me because of a defense objection to me reading it,” Seidl said.

The overexposure of some of the children who lost parents led them to avoid the annual commemorations — Seidl said he’s not sure he’ll be at the 30th — and some even avoided researching or reading about the bombing, even as the amount of information available online grew with the expansion of the internet.

“My grandparents went to the memorial services every year — they’d lost their daughter — but I only went the first couple years and then stopped until my grandparents asked me to go with them to the 20th anniversary. I haven’t been back since. I got my fill of information as a kid. I probably went to D.C. 20 or more times, so I stepped back from all of it. As an adult, I got back into some research because I was curious about motives.”

Seidl’s four children, ages 18, 15, 11 and 4, and his two jobs occupy most of his time now. The 24-hour shifts firefighters work means he sometimes gets zero sleep before heading off to a plumbing gig. His oldest son, the 15-year-old, rodeos, so they spend a great deal of time on the road, traveling to events. Perhaps there is hope in the reality that the bombing and the tragic loss of his mother doesn’t occupy his mind constantly; his life has largely been lived in service to his community as a firefighter and to his family as a father and husband. That is certainly redemption of a sort.

Focus on children

Children played multiple roles in the Murrah bombing and its aftermath. Those who died in the daycare constituted our most anguished memories and indelible images of the horror that unfolded. Grown men wept as they carried tiny bodies from the wreckage, which itself served as a metaphor for what happened to the interior and exterior lives of the parents who lost their children that day and the dreams would haunt them for years after. How do you reckon with the slaughter of our tiniest and most innocent family members?

Children have always been the victims of violence, and they have served as touchstones of change — “do it for the children” is a too common refrain — but they have also been living memorials of hope, imbued with possibility, and so not just memorials, but also promises of a better future, a rebuilt city and families with a will to move forward.

Kylie Nicole Scott Williams turns 30

this year. Her father was Scott Williams, a salesman for William E. Davis & Sons Food, who was making a delivery to the childcare center when the bomb exploded. Her mother, Nicole Williams (now Flick) delivered her three months to the day later. The name Kylie had been chosen before her father’s death, and Scott was included as an homage to him.

Kylie would eventually be diagnosed with sensory integrative dysfunction, which means she has cognitive and emotional issues, including difficulty managing anger, emotions and skills like reading and writing. Her mother is more succinct: “Kylie is turning 30, but she’s still about 4 or 5 emotionally and developmentally.”

The morning of the bombing unfolded normally for Nicole — a message from Scott that he was stopping by the Murrah Building for a delivery, and work as usual — until a young man walked into the office and told her the federal building blew up.

“I panicked and started paging Scott,” she said. “I called the number we were instructed to call and left my office number. I couldn’t leave after that, because they’d be calling that number with updates. But at the end of the day, I knew he wasn’t alive. I told my coworkers and family that he’d have found a way to let me know if he was OK.” A week later, she received notification that his body had been found in the daycare. His chair in the memorial is with the children’s chairs for that reason.

Kylie’s special needs would eventually make it impossible for her mother to work outside the home.

“I was able to work for about seven years,” Williams said, “but Kylie would start off loving a day center, but a change would set in shortly after she started. She can be a lot, so I’d start getting phone calls asking me to come get her. I had to resign to stay home with her.” Williams remarried and took the Flick family name when Kylie was 7. She has two sons from the second marriage, ages 20 and 21. Flick said Kylie and she

Clint Seidl lost his father in the explosion.

| Photo provided

Kylie Nicole Scott Williams and her mother stand next to Kylie’s late father’s chair at the Oklahoma City Memorial. | Photo provided

ARTS & CULTURE

continued from page 19

always talked openly about her father, but “her maturity and understanding are very limited.”

Kylie was the subject of intense curiosity in the years following the bombing. Reporters — some credible, some not — looking for a story sought out interviews with children like Clint Seidl and Kylie Williams, and it’s easy to understand why. The emotional impact of the bombing on the children and the emotional impact of the children on readers and viewers made for a more compelling story, but it also drove some reporters to behave in ways questionable or outright unethical.

“I’ve had to be very cautious about who I talk to and who I let Kylie talk to,” Flick said. “Early on, we had a very bad experience with Star Magazine, where a reporter turned a simple phone call asking about Kylie into a full story that I didn’t give my permission for. A KOCO reporter was kind enough to help me get a story out to not buy the magazine, because I didn’t want people to think I’d sold Kylie’s story.”

Kylie finds ways to learn about the father she never knew. Family stories help. The wedding video of Nicole and Scott was a particularly emotional bridge that generated an awareness that she would likely never marry. Flick had never watched the video and never went to the

museum before Kylie became interested.

“The past two years, she’s really been asking questions about her father,” Flick said. “We have a family friend in Tuttle she talks to when she’s upset. He’s been very helpful. When we finally went through the museum, there is that moment when you feel the shudder from the explosion, and she asked, ‘Is this when my daddy died?’ I didn’t want to go, but a friend convinced me I’d regret it if I wasn’t there for her first time through.”

Kylie participated in the Memorial Marathon last year, running the 5K with the family friend, and this year, she’ll be joining her grandmother in the 5K. She

provides a constant reminder of the day of the bombing, but Flick is quick to point out that Kylie is also very much like her father in an important way: “She brings hope and life to everyone she meets.”

Bridging generations

Kylie and Clint are the first generation of children impacted by the bombing. The second generation is now tasked with carrying the story forward. Kari Watkins, president and CEO of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, speaks passionately about the importance of the task.

“This is a new generation, and these memories will fade if we don’t take time to remind people of the stories,” she said. “It’s important to take time to stop and remember, take the 168 seconds of silence to remember what we’ve lost, but also to acknowledge how far we’ve come. We take time to figure out how to unify ourselves, so it’s important to note that we don’t want to remember without teaching.”

The educational component is familiar to anyone who has taught across generations. Each successive generation forgets key components to their parents’ wars and tragedies: WWII, Vietnam, Desert Storm, the Murrah bombing, 9/11 — all create the need to tell the stories, to remind the listeners, to emphasize the cost of violence, but to buttress hope for healing and new growth too.

Polly Nichols becomes emotional quickly when speaking of her granddaughters, Addison (18) and Megan (16) Starling. The girls have always shown an interest in the bombing and their grandmother’s story. She tells them how much she hated the Survivor Tree at first, the sad, bedraggled survivor that is now a symbol of growth and vitality. She reminds them it’s the roots that make it what it is, not what it looked like then. She wants them to dig down and find the roots of their stories and their path forward.

Megan, a sophomore, is also a Girl Scout. She is working on her Gold Award, the equivalent of the Eagle Scout for boys.

“She’s working on a new Scout badge for her capstone project,” Nichols said, voice full of pride and emotion. “It’s a long process, but she’s determined, and it’s an idea she came up with on her own. The badge will be for girls who learn about the bombing and visit the Memorial.”

It’s impossible not to find the light in stories like that. Yes, we suffered a day of darkness, but we have lived into the light ever since, so we take time to mourn the losses, remember the victims and educate new generations. But we also indulge in hope because we have rebuilt, and something beautiful stands on the grounds of what was, for a few months, a horror show.

Visit memorialmuseum.com for information about the museum

Kari Watkins | Photo provided

ARTS & CULTURE

Political pulse

Local podcasters’ international success is fueled by sharing what they’ve learned as political minorities in a red state.

By Emily Graham

If you didn’t already know, you’d probably never guess that our very red state is home to a left-leaning podcast that has surged in popularity during Donald Trump’s second term as president.

Co-hosts Angie Sullivan and Jennifer Welch launched the I’ve Had It podcast in 2022 as a place to humorously vent about their petty grievances. Think annoying public displays of affection and rule-breakers in grocery store express checkout lanes. It wasn’t until a highprofile male podcaster advised them to stay away from talking politics that they added in rants on national current events.

Since then, they’ve interviewed former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Kamala Harris and a slew of pop culture figures, all while making their own national media appearances. Next up: a self-help book to be released in May.

While you may not be familiar with their podcast, you may know Sullivan as an Oklahoma City family law attorney and Welch as the owner of local Jennifer Welch Interior Design. Or you may recognize them both from their time as Bravolebrities in Sweet Home Oklahoma (2017) and Sweet Home (2018). Like those reality shows, their podcast is driven by

their friendship, humor and strong opinions, and it’s gained a wide audience.

Fearless females

Welch describes I’ve Had It as a podcast for “free thinkers, people who traffic in facts, have a sense of humor and are interested in what’s going on in the world of politics.” This year’s guests include comedians Chelsea Handler and Roy Wood, Jr., self-help author Mel Robbins and several U.S. congressional representatives and senators.

The co-hosts’ colorful language earns the show an explicit rating on audio podcast platforms. From its beginnings, the show has had more listeners in cities like Sydney, Australia, and large U.S. cities than in their home state.

The longtime friends don’t hold back while advocating for human rights, social justice and reproductive freedom on hourlong I’ve Had It and a second podcast launched in December 2023. On IHIP News, they cover recent national events in two 15-minute installments each weekday, often using video clips, media headlines and social posts as a jumping-off point. In recent episodes of both shows, they’ve described Trump as a “white trash con

and an audio-only version. On YouTube alone, they have more than 600,000 subscribers.

From her experience living here, Welch knows that when a red state is led by a blue executive branch, its people are protected from the worst political impulses that further marginalize people.

“But now, Trump is every bit as crazy as [State Superintendent of Public Instruction] Ryan Walters,” she said. “It’s really terrifying.”

While Oklahoma residents tend to vote red, the pair rarely meet critics in their daily routines in our purple city. As Sullivan shared in an appearance on The View, in Oklahoma City, she often meets fans who whisper their encouragement to her.

“Everywhere I go, I will have someone lean into me and say, ‘Keep doing what you‘re doing. Thank you for making us look better,’” Sullivan said. “I think it gives us the perspective of ‘This is needed.’ People need to know that just because this is what the power of the government is doing, that we do not have to sit by and watch discrimination on an institutional level.”

Welch rarely encounters critics in her real life, saying that internet bullies are much less likely to say the same things in person. But she admits to being discouraged when the state continues to elect politicians whose policies have proven to make us a bottom-five state.

“It weighs on me,” Welch said. “I don’t know if it’s the Fox News effect or if it’s evangelical Christianity, but it definitely keeps people from advancing.”

“Patriots, gaytriots and theytriots”

Guests often express surprise that a popular progressive podcast hails from Oklahoma. While the pair didn’t set out to create an “Oklahoma podcast,” it has helped broaden the perspectives people across the country have of the Sooner State.

The shows have long had listeners who self-identify as members of the rainbow community, but it wasn’t until they met many of them on tour that they understood how strongly the show resonates with gay and transgender fans. The tour had stops across the U.S.; an appearance at New York Comedy Festival; and shows in London, Toronto and Vancouver.

“In every single stop we had were these young members of the LGBTQ+ community who had been bullied by their community, by their town, by the churches, by their families, and they found a sense of belonging with us,” Welch said.

Many of them are blue dots in red states, hungry for alternative political perspectives. Welch said some feel a real sense of connection to the co-hosts with accents and ages similar to their parents, relating to them as an aunt or a mother.

New release

In their upcoming book Life Is a Lazy

Susan of Sh*t Sandwiches (Hanover Square Press), Sullivan and Welch take a more personal approach. They author alternate chapters on how they were raised, the history of their 30-something-year friendship and marriage and divorce. Hanover Press set the release date as May 27, making April a great time to place a preorder.

“We use anecdotes from our personal lives to say, ‘Here’s something we really screwed up on, what was difficult about adulthood, and here’s what we learned about it,’” Welch said.

Sullivan writes about her experience of being raised religious then deconstructing her faith as an adult, while Welch describes her experience of not being religious while living in the buckle of the Bible belt. They cover career successes, parenthood and how addiction has touched their lives.

Welch admits that she’s questioned if this spring is the best time to release this kind of personal book as Trump lays waste to the federal government. She determined it is “because human suffering and problems of addiction and problems of marriage and problems of personal growth continue. And if anything, will be exacerbated by the serious political position that he’s put us in.”

Progressive message

Do the podcasters have a message for progressives during the dark timeline of Trump’s second term?

“The one thing that this second Trump term has done is eliminate the left versus right. For me, it’s the Nazis against the people who want democracy,” Welch said. “It’s the autocrats against people who want liberty.”

While she saw some paralysis when the new president came into office, she now sees local and national resistance building. She urges Oklahomans discouraged by the way national politics is trending to stay engaged. She said we still have agency over the news and political opinions we take in, and “we the people” still have power.

“Let’s keep going,” she said, “because what they’re doing — taking away Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, all of this — is going to disproportionately hurt a poor, red state like Oklahoma more than it is a blue state.”

Visit ivehaditpodcast.com.

left to right Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan | Photo Kiley Josey

ARTS & CULTURE

Downtown up

By Benjamin Thomas SPORTS

Oklahoma City Thunder playoffs could bring an extended season of excitement for downtown.

The NBA playoffs have long brought energy to downtown Oklahoma City, as player banners hang off tall buildings, local shops decorate their storefronts in Thunder colors and restaurants host watch parties. But this year’s playoff season feels a bit different for Kristen Vails.

“This could be a historic run for the Thunder with how good they have been playing; that’s pretty exciting to think about,” said Vails, director of place management for Downtown OKC, a nonprofit that advocates for a vibrant downtown district.

Fans of each NBA playoff team have dreams of a deep playoff run that ends in a championship. But those dreams feel more like reality this year in Oklahoma City.

for fans to get ready.” Details aren’t public yet, but Vails said it will be a unique experience that will offer fans a chance to buy apparel and prepare for games.

Downtown OKC will also provide many small businesses with items to decorate their windows and stores.

“Obviously, downtown benefits from games all season long,” Vails said. “But during the playoffs, local shops especially benefit from customers that are looking to show their city pride. Overall, the excitement of the playoffs kind of brings people out to celebrate more with their dollars, which is great for the economy.”

There won’t be a large outdoor watch party during the games. But the team will host Thunder Up in the Park before each game at Scissortail Park across the

one of nine teams to reach that mark. The Thunder also set a new franchise record for wins.

The team has developed a reputation as a high-chemistry squad, drawing attention for its teamwide post-game interviews. That closeness was featured in a new AT&T national commercial as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams show up to a photoshoot all wearing the same outfit.

“At AT&T, we confidently guarantee our network,” the commercial’s narrator says. “What we can’t guarantee is you and your teammates being too connected.”

street from the arena. The event features live music, a beer garden, inflatable games and other interactive exhibits.

The Thunder enter the playoffs as the top seed in the Western Conference and the betting odds favorite to win it all, according to most odds makers.

If the Thunder were to reach the NBA Finals, it would also mean 10 more weeks of the basketball season and a significant boost for downtown’s restaurants, shops and hotels.

Vails said Downtown OKC will be working with the Thunder in mid-April to set up various “pop up opportunities

Last year, the team also hid Thunder lunch boxes around the city with merchandise inside.

“It’s just an energy like no other that happens in Oklahoma,” Thunder Vice President of Broadcasting and Corporate Communications Dan Mahoney said.

Historic season

This year is the team’s 12th playoff appearance during its 17 seasons in Oklahoma City, making the Thunder just

On the court, GilgeousAlexander has emerged as one of the favorites to win the league’s Most Valuable Player award after averaging nearly 33 points a game, the best average in the NBA.

“SGA is incredible,” Bill Simmons, founder of the sports site The Ringer, recently said on The Dan Patrick Show. “He is having, I think, one of the best scoring seasons in the history of the guard positions.”

Painting the town

One of the signs that the playoffs are back are the dozens of businesses around the city and in downtown that paint their windows in Thunder colors and phrases.

Melissa Griggs-Hendricks and Candace Chao, two local artists who have worked with the Thunder for several years, do much of that painting.

“I really love doing this work, and we get to meet a lot of people in the community,” Griggs-Hendricks said.

She said it’s common for people to see them working and yell out in Thunder cheers or to compliment her work.

“People see us painting the windows,

and they yell out,” Griggs-Hendricks said. “We kind of get heckled with kindness.”

The windows include phrases like “Let’s Go Thunder” and “We heart OKC.”

Griggs-Hendricks said the decorations around town go beyond the basketball team and bring a heightened sense of civic pride.

“I feel like it’s a great way to bring the community together, even people who aren’t huge basketball fans ... they just love that there is something so wonderful in their community going on that they are proud of,” Griggs-Hendricks said.

Studying crowds

The playoffs will also allow Downtown OKC to collect more data on who visits the downtown district. For the past year, the organization has been using software from Placer AI, which uses cell phone data to study movement patterns.

“We are able to tell how many people come downtown, how many people come to events, and we can break it down by visitors, employees and residents,” Vails said. “It’s a pretty cool platform, but we are just now getting used to using it, and this will be our first playoff season to really collect this type of data.”

Vails said the data will help plan for future playoff seasons and advocate for specific infrastructure based on the needs that emerge.

Vails is looking forward to multiple months of more Thunder basketball and warmer weather that will bring more people downtown, not just to watch games at the arena, but to gather at restaurants and bars.

“I’d encourage folks to make an effort to watch the game out of your home and with your community because nothing beats cheering with the room full of fellow fans,” Vails said. “There’s going to be a lot of ways to bring the playoffs into everyday life with school, work, home and community; folks can be looking for these downtown pop-up activations on ways to plug into that.”

Visit downtownokc.com.

Melissa Griggs-Hendricks and Candace Chao | Photo provided

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ARTS & CULTURE

Remembering the bombing

A new streaming docuseries details the horror and legacy of the Oklahoma City federal building bombing.

By Phil Bacharach

Odds are that most Oklahomans over the age of 40 can tell you where they were when they heard that the Oklahoma City federal building had been bombed. It is also fair to presume that anyone under 40 has no recollection of it whatsoever, provided they were even born before April 19, 1995.

As someone who extensively covered that tragedy and its aftermath as a reporter for this publication, I have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that an entire generation likely has no connection to the bombing. Like many Oklahoma Citians of a certain age, the moment I learned of the explosion remains painfully vivid — in the same way President Kennedy’s assassination is stamped into the collective memory of Baby Boomers and the preceding generation.

The bombing had an indelible impact on me and defined a big chunk of my life. Consequently, my watching a documentary on the subject, no matter how wellcrafted or sensitively told, tends to dredge up an array of emotions. But it is important for us to remember, especially considering that so many Oklahomans — and Americans, for that matter — weren’t even born when a 26-year-old drifter named Timothy McVeigh ignited a truck bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The deadliest act of homegrown terrorism in U.S. history killed 168 people and grievously injured hundreds more, all because they happened to work for a government that McVeigh had come to hate.

Shannon, among the first firefighters to the bomb site, recounts how a dazed woman in the rubble grabbed him by the collar and said, “‘Young man, there are babies on the second floor.’ She shook me and said, ‘You’ve gotta get up there and get those babies. There’s a daycare center.’”

Particularly riveting is the detailing of a bomb scare that occurred a little more than an hour after the blast, when someone spotted what appeared to be a second explosive; it eventually proved to be a dummy belonging to a law enforcement agency housed in the building. A stampede of people at the scene (including me) rushed away in terror. One Day in America juxtaposes that panic with Downs’ gut-wrenching ordeal when her rescuers were forced to evacuate.

The criminal investigation takes center stage in the second episode, “Manhunt.” Right out of the gate is a gripping account from former state trooper Charlie Hanger. He stopped McVeigh in Noble County some 80 minutes after the bombing for not having a registration tag. McVeigh volunteered to Hanger that he was armed, adding, “My weapon is loaded.” The trooper drew his gun. “So is mine,” he answered.

Bud Welch, whose 23-year-old daughter Julie died in the bombing. Knowing how Julie had been against capital punishment, Welch publicly opposed the death penalty for McVeigh. The bomber was executed in the summer of 2001, four months before his monstrous act would be eclipsed by the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Also worth seeing … In addition to the National Geographic series, two excellent documentaries, Oklahoma City (streaming on Kanopy) and An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th (available on Max), weave McVeigh’s radicalization into the broader context of anti-government extremism.

Oklahoma City, produced in 2017 for PBS’ American Experience series, burrows into the chilling rhetoric that inspired the bombing. “It wasn’t the start of the war,” McVeigh tells his biographers in an audio recording. “It was a counterattack. The war had already been started.”

Writer-director Barak Goodman methodically builds the case that McVeigh was no anomaly, but the inevitable product of fears and resentments that began with the farming crisis of the 1980s. Economic collapse spurred a desire for scapegoats, and that need was effectively exploited by white supremacist groups.

The 30th anniversary of the bombing this month seems a resonant time to reflect upon or, in the case of younger Oklahomans, learn about the darkest day in our state’s history. A trio of documentary films available for streaming explores what led to the bombing, how the state and nation responded, and what lessons we can take away from it. That last point feels particularly urgent. If anything, the anti-government vitriol that spawned McVeigh has metastasized into the mainstream.

One Day in America

Earlier this month, National Geographic unveiled Oklahoma City Bombing: One Day in America, a three-part docuseries now streaming on Hulu and Disney. It is an exceptional work that employs interviews and archival footage to tackle the horror and ramifications of April 19, 1995. The first and most compelling episode, “Explosion,” expertly conveys the chaos unleashed at 9:02 a.m. that morning. Director Ceri Isfryn focuses on a handful of firsthand accounts, most notably Edye Raines, whose sons Chase and Colton were among the 19 children killed; Amy Downs, a survivor who worked for Federal Employees Credit Union; KWTV Channel 9 anchor/reporter Robin Marsh; and Oklahoma City FBI Special Agent in Charge Bob Ricks.

The filmmakers make the smart decision to let information unfold bit by bit, replicating how investigators and reporters experienced that day. Mike

As with the first episode, “Manhunt” benefits from a treasure trove of rarely seen archival footage that ranges from everyday workplace life inside the Murrah building to the treacherous wreckage that greeted first responders. Behind-the-scenes video offers a glimpse inside the KWTV newsroom the morning of the bomb blast. In one remarkable moment, a news producer takes a phone call from a viewer who said April 19 was the two-year anniversary of the siege on the Branch Davidian cult compound.

That 51-day standoff in Waco, Texas, between federal law enforcement and Davidian cultists culminated on April 19, 1993, with a massive fire that killed 76 cult members, including more than 20 children. Despite audio recordings that indicate cult members started the fire at the behest of Davidian leader David Koresh, the deadly blaze ignited conspiracy theories of FBI culpability and inspired McVeigh to seek retribution.

“Justice” chronicles how Oklahoma and the nation mourned the tragedy. In contrast to the previous installments, this final episode is a bit less focused, the invariable result of so much material. President Bill Clinton discusses the citywide prayer service held in Oklahoma City the Sunday after the bombing. McVeigh defense attorney Stephen Jones muses on what motivated his infamous client. FBI lead investigator Jon Hersley and others address McVeigh’s eventual conviction and death sentence.

One of the more unique perspectives in “Justice” comes from

A 1992 standoff in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, between federal agents and white separatist Randy Weaver resulted in the shooting deaths of Weaver’s wife and teenaged son. A federal marshal was also killed, but almost immediately, Ruby Ridge became a fulcrum for extremists who believed gun rights were in peril. That anger reached a crescendo with the Waco inferno.

An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th is arguably more ambitious, packing a lot of narrative threads in its 107-minute running time. It is a testament to documentary makers Marc Levin and Daphne Pinkerson that the storytelling remains so cogent. Along the way, An American Bombing offers some fascinating side stories. Of note is how the Murrah federal building had once come to the attention of an Arkansas extremist group from the 1980s called The Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord. (Disclosure: I worked with Pinkerson on a 1996 Bill Moyers’ documentary about the bombing.)

Taken together, these three documentaries tell a story that needs to be told and retold — if only before the lessons of that horrific event are lost to time.

Oklahoma City Bombing: One Day in America is now streaming on Hulu and Disney. | Photo provided KWTV Channel 9 anchor/reporter Robin Marsh in the studio.

CALENDAR

These are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members. For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.

FILM

Grand Tour Portugal’s official Oscar entry and winner of the Best Director prize at Cannes, Miguel Gomes’ entrancing, thrillingly cinematic romance follows a young English couple on parallel journeys across 1918 East Asia. Prices vary. Fri., April 11, 7:30 p.m., Sat., April 12, 7:30 p.m., and Sun., April 13, 2:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, (405) 236-3100, okcmoa.com. APR 11-13

VHS GRINDHOUSE @ BOOKISH It is the future; the year is 2013 and Snake Plissken is back at it! With a superweapon in the hands of revolutionaries, it’s up to Snake to retrieve the weapon and save the civilized world as we know it and he only has 10 hours to do infiltrate a post apocalyptic L.A. to do so!, Presented on original VHS. FREE, Thu., April 17, 7-10 p.m. Bookish: Used Books and Art, 1005 NW 36th St, (405) 5030050, shop-bookish.com. APR 17

Central Park – Frederick Wiseman: Documenting American Life a focus on the famous New York City landmark and the variety of ways people make use of it – running, boating, walking, skating, music, theater, sports, picnics, parades and concerts – while illustrating the complex problems the New York City Parks Department deals with in order to maintain and preserve the park. Prices vary. Thurs., April 17, 7:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, (405) 236-3100, okcmoa.com. APR 17

One to One: John & Yoko An expansive and revelatory inside look at John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s life in Greenwich Village in the early 1970s, this fiml delivers an immersive cinematic experience that brings to life electrifying, never-before-seen material and newly restored footage of John and Yoko’s only full-length concert. Prices vary. Fri., April 18, 8 p.m., Sat., April 19, 5:30 p.m., Sun., April 20, 3 p.m., Sat., April 23, 2 p.m., and Sun., April 27, 12:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, (405) 236-3100, okcmoa.com. APR 18-20, APR 23, APR 27

The Short Films of David Lynch Delve deeper into the labyrinthine psyche of surrealist nightmare-weaver David Lynch with these unsettling, hallucinatory shorts that reflect the origins and evolution of his singular style. Prices vary. Fri., April 25, 5:30 p.m., Sat., April 26, 7:30 p.m., Sun., April 27, 3 p.m. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, (405) 236-3100, okcmoa.com. APR 25-26

COMEDY

Kevin Hart: Acting My Age Emmy and Grammy-nominated comedian Kevin Hart returns to Oklahoma City. His Reality Check tour was the highest-grossing comedy tour of 2022 and 2023. Sat., April 10, 7:30 p.m. Paycom Center, 100 W. Reno Ave., (405) 602-8700, paycomcenter.com. APR 10

Jessica Kirson Stand-up sensation Jessica Kirson brings her high-energy comedy, outrageous characters, and raw honesty to OKC! Seen on The Tonight Show The View, HBO’s Crashing, and more, she’s one of the best in the business. Fri., April 11, 7 p.m. Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St., (405) 708-6937, towertheatreokc.com. APR 11

Gabriel Iglesias World-renowned comedian, Gabriel Iglesias, brings his Don’t Worry Be Fluffy Tour to OKC. Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias is one of the world’s most successful stand-up comedians., Sun., April 12, 8 p.m. Paycom Center, 100 W. Reno Ave., (405) 602-8700, paycomcenter.com. APR 12

Open-Mic Night at Factory Obscura Every first Thursday, Make Oklahoma Weirder hosts a one-of-akind open mic at Factory Obscura’s Wonder Stage. All performers are welcome to take the stage, with a unique theme each month. First Thursday of every month, 7:10-9:30 p.m. Factory Obscura, 25 NW 9th St., factoryobscura.com. MAY 1

Nate Jackson: Super Funny World Tour Catch Nate Jackson bringing the laughs to The Criterion, as he takes the stage for his “Super Funny World Tour.” Door time is subject to change., May 3, 6 p.m. Criterion, 500 E. Sheridan Ave., (405) 840-5500, criterionokc.com. MAY 3

FOOD

Making You Happy for Happy Hour log off work to enjoy awesome specials to unwind, relax, and become HAPPY! Thursdays-Sundays, 4-6 p.m. Twenty6 Lounge, 9622 N. May Ave., (405) 687-8739, twenty6lounge.net. THU-FRI

Sunday Jazz Brunch Enjoy live jazz music in the Great Hall while sipping on a curated menu of sparkling and signature brunch cocktails., Sundays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tellers, 120 N. Robinson Ave, (405) 9006789, tellersokc.com. SUN

Taco Tuesday’s at El Coyote Enjoy $2 off delicious tacos and $5 margaritas, cervezas, and sangrias. Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. El Coyote Bar & Cantina, 925 W. Britton Rd., (405) 849-5218, elcoyoteokc.com. TUE

FUNDRAISERS

Taste of OKC This event unites community leaders around the Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission to create and support life-changing mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Fri., May 2, 6-10 p.m. $250 per person. Oklahoma City Convention Center, 100 Mick Cornett Dr., (405) 606-6300, tasteofokc.org. MAY 2

Reduce the Odds Casino Night this 7th Annual event raises awareness during Sexual Assault Awareness Month presented by YWCA. Enjoy Blackjack, Poker, Roulette, Craps, live music, a photobooth, a cash bar, delicious appetizers, and prizes. $50, Fri., April 11, 6:30-11 p.m. Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association, 420 E. Britton road, (405) 951-3333, ywcaokc.org. APR 11

PERFORMING ARTS

Bris Amiss, the Musical The Jewish Theatre of Oklahoma presents a Reader’s Theatre style performance at of Bris Amiss, the Musical! Babs Goldberg is throwing the circumcision of the century for her new grandson. But when the storm of the millennium hits and everyone cancels... who will make the cut? $25, Sat., May 3, 8 p.m. and Sun., May 4, 4 p.m. Carpenter Square Theatre, 1009 W. Reno, (405) 232-6500, jewishtheatreok.org. MAY 3-4

Dope Poetry Night Experience a place where you can be unapologetically you, a place where your voice and presence matter, a place where you’re accepted and loved, where smiles, laughter, thoughts, and feelings are shared, and it’s all free. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Sign-ups begin at 7 p.m., and show at 8 p.m. First 20 poets. Wednesdays, 7:30-10:30 p.m. Ice Event Center & Grill, 1148 NE 36th St., (405) 208-4240, instagram.com/dopepoetrynight. WED

Last Sunday Poetry Poets gather in the Garden Café to share their work. Meetings begin with a presentation by a featured poet and conclude with a moderated open mic segment. All are welcome. Last Sunday monthly, 2-4 p.m. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, (405) 842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. APR 26

Mother Road Acclaimed playwright Octavio Solis crafts a powerful 21st-century story, a timely successor to The Grapes of Wrath. Nearly 90 years after the Joad family’s journey west, William Joad believes he’s the last of his line—until he meets Martín Jode, a young Mexican American migrant worker descended from Tom Joad. Together, they embark on a life-changing journey along Route 66, tracing the Mother Road back to Oklahoma. $25-$82. April 11-19. WednesdaysSundays. Lyric at the Plaza, 1725 NW 16th St., (405) 524-9312, lyrictheatreokc.com. APR 11-19

The Music of Tina Turner All hail the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Tina Turner’s singular voice and decades-spanning career gave us songs that became part of the soundtrack of our lives. Join the celebration of Turner’s iconic musical legacy! Tickets start at $24, Fri., April 11, 8 p.m. and Sat., April 12, 8 p.m. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., (405) 842-5387, okcphil.org. APR 11-12

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] [Again] See 37 plays, 97 minutes, 3 actors! The cultural touchstone was born when three inspired, charismatic comics, having honed their pass-the-hat act at Renaissance fairs, premiered their preposterous masterwork at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1987. Thursday, April 17, 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 18, 8p.m., Saturday, April 19, 8 p.m., Sunday, April 20, 2 p.m., Thursday, April 24, 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 25, 8 p.m., Saturday, April 26, 8 p.m., Sunday, April 27, 2 p.m., Thursdays-Sundays, 2, 7:30 & 8 p.m. Oklahoma Shakespeare, 2920 Paseo St., (405) 235-3700, okshakes.org. APR 17-20, APR 24-27

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. See this electrifying tribute celebrating the music of the legendary Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. This concert experience takes audiences on a journey of love, tragedy, courage, and triumph. Starring a live band and supreme vocalists, come experience a night of music by one of the greatest artists of all time., $83-97, Sat., April 12, 7:30 p.m. Visual and Performing Arts Center at Oklahoma City Community College, 7777 S May Ave, (405) 682-7595, occc.edu/visual-and-performing-arts-center. APR 12

A Sick Day for Amos McGee Meet Amos, a caring zookeeper who always puts his animals first—until he falls ill. His loyal friends return the favor in this heartwarming tale with giant puppets, laughter, and friendship. $12, Sat., April 12, 2-3 p.m. and Sun., April 13, 2-3 p.m. Oklahoma Children’s Theatre, 2505 N. Blackwelder Ave., (405) 2086200, oklahomachildrenstheatre.org. APR 12-13

A Taste of Ireland - The Irish Music And Dance Sensation Laugh, cry and jig into the night with a production that is Celtic, for this generation. $31-74, Wed., April 30, 7:30-9:20 p.m., OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater, 7777 S. May Ave., (405) 682-7579, occc.edu/visual-and-performing-arts-center. APR 30

The Barker: A Cabaret Feel the heat rise as a cozy evening unfolds with tantalizing burlesque performances, jaw-dropping sideshow acts, and mesmerizing circus feats, igniting the night with excitement and warmth. Tickets start $25, third Friday of every month, 7:30 p.m. Sailor and The Dock, 617 W Sheridan Ave, (405) 816-4250, springproductions.net. APR 18

Theresa Caputo Live: The Experience Have an unforgettable evening of heartfelt connections

Festival of the Arts Oklahoma City’s Festival of the Arts is back for its 59th year! This annual arts festival features art by 144 local and national artists, musical and dance performances, and OKC food favorites. The festival takes place April 24-27 downtown at Bicentennial Park, 500 Couch Drive. Admission is free. Call (405) 270-4848 or visit artscouncilokc.com/festival-of-the-arts.

APRIL 24-27 Photo provided

and powerful messages from beyond, as Theresa brings her unique gifts to OKC! Thu., May 8, 6:30 p.m. Criterion, 500 E. Sheridan Ave. (405) 308-1803, criterionokc.com. MAY 8

What the Constitution Means to Me In this hilarious, hopeful and achingly human show, Heidi resurrects her teenage self in order to trace the profound relationship between four generations of women and the founding document that changed their lives. Schreck’s boundary-breaking show breathes new life into our Constitution and explores how the document will shape the next generation of Americans. $22.50-$67.50, April 9-13. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., (405) 951-0000, okcontemp.org. APR 9-13

Women of a Certain Age - A Comedy by Steve Duprey This character-driven comedy explores lasting friendships, female empowerment, and the adoption system through four college friends in their sixties. When one is unexpectedly “gifted” an abandoned baby, they navigate what’s next—for the mother, the baby, and themselves—amid bawdy humor and an unexpected twist. $30, Thursdays $15, April 11-27. Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m., Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. and Sundays, 2 p.m. Carpenter Square Theatre, 1009 W. Reno, (405) 232-6500, carpentersquare.com. APR 11-13, APR 17-20, APR 24-27

OKC Philharmonic World Premiere! Alexander Mickelthwate, conductor, Kirsten C. Kunkle, soprano, Mark Billy, baritone, Canterbury Voices, PATTON: Requiem, STRAVINSKY: The Firebird: Suite (1919), TATE: American Indian Symphony (World Premiere) Tickets start at $24, Sat., April 19, 8 p.m. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., (405) 842-5387, okcphil.org. APR 19

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Bird Walk for Beginners led by seasoned birders from the Oklahoma City Audubon Society. Bring your own binoculars or borrow first-come, first-served basis. Dress comfortably and get ready to immerse yourself in nature! This event involves walking on potentially uneven terrain, prepare accordingly! Sat., May 3, 8 a.m. FREE, pre-registration is required. Mollie Spencer Farm, 1001 Garth Brooks Blvd., molliespencerfarm.org. MAY 3

Coffee & Conversation: Beekeeping in Your Backyard Learn about beekeeping in an urban setting. Local experts will talk about bee biology, including the different types of honey bees and their roles in the hive. They will then discuss the basics of beekeeping, bee safety, and hive maintenance. This event involves walking on potentially uneven terrain, so please prepare accordingly! FREE, pre-registration is required. Sat., May 10, 9-10:30 a.m. Mollie Spencer Farm, 1001 Garth Brooks Blvd., molliespencerfarm.org. MAY 10

Coffee & Conversation: Vegetable Gardening

Local experts discuss how to prepare healthy soil, decide what vegetables to plant and when to plant them, and tend to plants once they are in the garden. This event involves walking on potentially uneven terrain, so please prepare accordingly! FREE, pre-registration is required. Sat., April 12, 9-10:30 a.m. Mollie Spencer Farm, 1001 Garth Brooks Blvd., molliespencerfarm.org. APR 12

Full Moon Yoga at Mix-Tape Led by Beth White of Aether Yoga and Wellness, dig into the offerings of the full moon. Sinking into the atmosphere of the Wonder Room will allow for imagination to spark, and open the heart to receive and expand. This class is for people of any skill level. Participants can explore the full Mix-Tape immersive art experience before the session begins. $25, Sat., April 12, 8-9:30 p.m. and Mon., May 12, 7-8:30 p.m. Factory Obscura, 25 NW 9th St., (405) 367-1578, factoryobscura.com. APR 12, MAY 12

Full Moon Sound Bath Join MARKANNA Wellness for a relaxing sound bath and meditation to celebrate the

full moon each month! Please bring a blanket, pillow and yoga mat for optimal comfort, and comfortable clothing. First-come, first-serve. Please arrive no later than 6 pm. FREE, Sat., April 12, 6-7 p.m. and Mon., May 12, 6-7 p.m. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., (405) 4739618, myriadgardens.org. APR 12, MAY 12

Internal Kung Fu (Tai Chi, Xing Yi, Ba Gua) Class Learn taiijiquan (tai chi), xingyiquan, and baguazhang in an inclusive, judgment-free environment! Improve your balance and coordination, develop strength and flexibility, and de-stress with mindful movement. Every Sunday 10am - 5pm. $15, Sundays. Dolese Disc Golf Course, 5105 NW 50th St., 3477350083, meetup.com/oklahoma-city-internalkung-fu-group/events/bdwpctyfcfbjc/. SUN

Kundalini Sound Immersion Yoga by Tina Hilbert with live music and a sound bath by MARKANNA Wellness. Release, revive, building breath and end with a restorative sound bath. $22.22, first Saturday of every month, 4-5:30 p.m. Studio on Western, 3710 N Western, (405) 524-1489, pilatesonwestern.com. MAY 3

Nature Walk: Native Trees This Arbor Day walk will focus on the beauty and significance of native trees. Learn more about the importance of trees while enjoying the natural beauty of the farm! This event involves walking on potentially uneven terrain. FREE, pre-registration required. Sat., April 26, 9-10:30 a.m. Mollie Spencer Farm, 1001 Garth Brooks Blvd., molliespencerfarm.org. APR 26 OKC Memorial Marathon Witness runners and spectators from across the globe will make their way to downtown Oklahoma City for the 25th Annual OKC Memorial Marathon. A tribute to those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever by the Oklahoma City bombing, the marathon unites locals and visitors in a hopeful mission to celebrate life, reach for the future and honor all who were affected on April 19, 1995., Fri., April 25, Sat., April 26 and Sun., April 27. Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, 620 N Harvey Ave., (405) 235-3313, okcmarathon.com. APR 26-27

TriCord Ruck & Run this event brings awareness and support to Oklahomans whose lives have been effected by trauma. All funds raised will go directly to provide life-changing services for military personnel, veterans, & families. Participate in either the 10K, 5K, or 1 mile fun ruck/run along Draper Point West Lookout. Run or walk, with or without ruck, collect sawg, get to know community members. Food trucks and vendors. $40, spectators FREE. Sat., April 13, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Lake Stanley Draper Trails, 8898 S. Post Rd., (405) 429-9388, tricordranchfoundation.org/ ruckrun. APR 13

Yoga at The OKC Farmers Market yoga with Libb happens during market hours. Four different sessions ranging from beginner to the master yogi. $15, Starts at 9am. OKC Farmers Public Market, 311 South Klein Avenue, (405) 232-6506, okcfarmersmarket.com. APR 12, APR 26, MAY 10

SPORTS

OKC Comets vs. El Paso Tue., April 29, 7:05 p.m. and Wed., April 30, 6:05 p.m.

OKC Comets vs. Tacoma Tue., April 15, 6:05 p.m., Wed., April 16, 11:05 a.m., April 17-18, 7:05 p.m., Sat., April 19, 6:05 p.m. and Sun., April 20, 4:05 p.m.

Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, 2 S. Mickey Mantle Drive, (405) 218-1000, milb.com/oklahoma-city.

Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship Enjoy the premier college softball tournament hosted by Oklahoma City, USA Softball and the Big 12 Conference. Come out and cheer on your favorite team! Ticket prices vary from

$30 to $125. May 7-11. Devon Park Stadium, 2801 NE 50th St., (405) 424-5266, big12sports.com. MAY 7-11

The Wheeler Criterium Cyclists of all levels race on a fast, closed-loop course, creating an exciting experience for riders and spectators alike. Enjoy drinks and tacos and cheer on the racers! FREE. Tuesdays through August, 5:30-8 p.m. Wheeler District, 1801 Wheeler St, (405) 609-2994, wheelerdistrict.com. TUE

VISUAL ARTS

From the Vault: The 80th Anniversary Exhibition See over 150 paintings, prints, photographs, drawings, and sculptures from the Museum’s permanent collection. All of the works are organized by the decade in which they were formally acquired (or accessioned) and grouped thematically to help tell the story of the Museum’s permanent collection. Open through April 27. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, (405) 236-3100, okcmoa.com. TUES-SUN

Art in Bloom this 6th annual exhibit showcases floral sculptures inspired by the Museum’s collection, created by designers from across Oklahoma. Enjoy stunning displays, self-guided tours, and workshops in this vibrant celebration of art and flowers! April 11-13. Admission varies. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, (405) 236-3100, okcmoa.com. APR 11-13

Life in Black and White this exhibit is a compelling group exhibition that explores diverse themes, styles, and, mediums—unified through black-and-white or monochromatic compositions. Curated by Serbian artist Bojan Grof, who is also featured in the show, the exhibition brings together artists with distinct perspectives, emphasizing the power of contrast and nuance. Open through April 26. FREE, Tuesdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. through April 26. 1515 Lincoln Gallery, 1515 N. Lincoln Blvd., (405) 593-1063, 1515lg.com/exhibitions. THU-SAT, THROUGH APR 26

A Colorful Dream This family-friendly experience follows a young girl’s journey through a series of monochromatic fantasy worlds, each meticulously crafted to explore the emotions and symbolism of the full spectrum of the rainbow. Exclusive to the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. Adults, $12; kids (17 & under), FREE. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, 1-5 p.m. through Aug. 10. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., (405) 325-3272, fjjma.ou.edu. THU-SUN

Cowboy Boots: From Roundups to Runways, Presented by Lucchese Bootmaker Visitors will be taken on a journey through time, tracing the evolution of cowboy boots from their 19th-century origins to their modern-day status as a cultural icon. See a rare glimpse into the craftsmanship, history and enduring appeal of these timeless boots. $20. Open through May 5, 10 a.m.5 p.m. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., (405) 478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. FRI-MON, THROUGH MAY 5

Flora, Fauna, & Fungi Nature Themed Group Art Show Celebrate Earth Day with a nature themed art show! Features more than 20 local artists’ works, live music, food and beverages. April 19 to May 11. $10, 7-9pm. Mycelium Gallery, 2816 N. Pennsylvania Ave., (405) 519-6027, myceliumgallery.com. APR 19-MAY 11

Kingdom of David and Solomon Discovered includes three dozen artifacts from the period of the united monarchy in biblical Israel. Presented and funded by the Armstrong International Cultural Foundation in association with Jerusalem’s Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology, Israel Museum, Israel Antiquities Authority and Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Open through May 15. FREE. Armstrong Auditorium, 14400 S. Bryant Ave., (405) 285-1010, armstrongauditorium.org/visit-armstrong/exhibits. TUE-THU

OKCMOA Free Second Sundays Thanks to the generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program, visitors of all ages will receive FREE access to Museum galleries. Second Sunday of every month, 12-5 p.m. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, )405) 236-3100, okcmoa.com. APR 27, MAY 11

Steamroller Print Festival showcasing local and regional artists creating large-scale prints with an industrial steamroller, this unique, interactive experience blends creativity and performance offers visitors a chance to witness the bold art of printmaking up close. Sat., May 3, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Artspace at Untitled, 1 NE Third St., (405) 815-9995, 1ne3.org/ steamroller-2025. MAY 3

HAPPENINGS

LIVE! on The Pawza Join a Plaza block party celebrating furry friends of all kinds! Enjoy Plaza entertainment with your pets—dogs, cats, rats, and more are welcome. It’s the ulti-mutt way to spend a Friday night!, April 11, 6 p.m. Plaza District, 1618 N. Gatewood Ave., (405) 426-7812, plazadistrict.org/event-calendar. APR 11

First Friday Gallery Walk peruse art from over 80 artists with 25 participating businesses for a night of special themed exhibits, refreshments and a variety of entertainment. Fri., May 2, 6-9 p.m. Every first Friday of monthly. Paseo Arts District, 3024 Paseo St., (405) 525-2688, thepaseo.org. MAY 2 Night Market at Scissortail Park enjoy local shopping, live entertainment, and amazing food trucks. Stroll the Promenade and explore Oklahoma’s best small shops, artisans, and entrepreneurs offering jewelry, décor, fashion, candles, plants, and more. Fri., April 11, 5:30-10 p.m. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., (405)

445-7080, scissortailpark.org. APR 11

Ferris Wheel Opening Day Gather your friends and family for a day filled with scenic views, good vibes, and unforgettable moments. Whether it’s your first ride or your hundredth, there’s no better way to welcome spring than with a spin over the OKC skyline!, Sat., April 12, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Wheeler Ferris Wheel, 1701 S. Western Ave., (405) 655-8455, wheelerdistrict.com. APR 12

Saturday Farmers Market Scissortail Park’s

Farmers Market is a producer-Only market, featuring homegrown, handmade, and locally made products from Oklahoma vendors. Sat., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. through Oct. 25. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., (405) 4457080, scissortailpark.org. SAT

World War II Airborne Demonstration Team to Jump at Altus AFB Air Stampede Air Show

This group of volunteer parachutists will perform a dramatic World War II-style parachute jump bringing to life the legacy of the Greatest Generation. Jumping from the team’s meticulously restored WWII-era C-49 “Wild Kat,” the parachutists will don authentic gear and uniforms to execute a live combat-style static-line parachute demonstration. FREE, Sat., April 12, 9 a.m. Altus Air Force Base, 510 N 6th Street, (580) 481-5110, altus.af.mil/Altus-Airpower-Stampede. APR 12

Skate Night Lace up your skates and get ready to groove in collaboration with Dance Skate 405 for a retro Skate Party (adults only 18+). Roll into the night with funky beats, disco vibes, and nonstop fun. Skate Rental available by Skate Skate Star Skate-$8. Thurs., April 24, 6-11 p.m. OKC Farmers Public Market, 311 South Klein Avenue, (405) 232-6506, okcfarmersmarket.com. APR 24

Wanderlust Spring Pop Up Shops Wanderlust Pop-Up Shops™ returns to the Wheeler Ferris Wheel for its 8th year! Explore over 80 vendors, enjoy local food trucks, and grab a drink from The Big Friendly Beer Bus. FREE. Sun., April 27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wheeler Ferris Wheel, 1701 S. Western Ave., (405) 655-8455, wheelerdistrict. com. APR 27

Wednesday Mid-Week Farmers Market at Scissortail Park located at Hill Pavilion & Promenade in Scissortail Park’s Lower Park, south of I-40 and Skydance Bridge. Wednedays, 6-9 p.m. through Sept. 24. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., (405) 445-7080, scissortailpark. org. WED

Mother’s Day Dessert Cruises Enjoy bite sized desserts and mimosas (cash bar) with mom on Riverboat Cruises. $30, advanced purchase required. Groups of 6 or less. Seating is limited. Sun., May 11, 1 p.m. Oklahoma River Cruises Regatta Park Landing, 701 S. Lincoln Blvd., (405) 702-7755, okrivercruises.com. MAY 11

Submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon the first Wednesday of the month. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail them to listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

Until We Meet Again:

with author

Michael Korenblit

Michael Korenblit, son of Holocaust survivors Manya and Meyer Korenblit, discusses the heartfelt and harrowing story of his parents, from before the Holocaust through their life raising Mike in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

“Until We Meet Again: The Story of Oklahomans Who Survived The Holocaust”

Tuesday, April 8 - 6 p.m. Southern Oaks Library

Monday, April 21 - 6 p.m. Northwest Library

Saturday, May 17 - 2 p.m. Belle Isle Library

“How We Learn From The Past So We Can Truly Say ‘Never Again”

Sunday, May 18 - 2 p.m.

Downtown OKC Library

MUSIC

Top billing

Norman Music Fest headliners include buzz-

Readers of 2024 album-of-the-year lists and Oklahoma Gazette will find several familiar names in this year’s lineup for Norman Music Festival.

La Luz (laluzband.com) — scheduled to take the festival’s main stage at 9:50 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 — made multiple year-end lists for its fifth album News of the Universe. Awarding the album four-and-a-half stars out of five, London’s Far Out magazine said songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Shana Cleveland “turns the world-shattering experience of a cancer diagnosis into poignant observations about the inevitability and universality of decay, approaching the impossible with poise” but added that her “open lyrics and gentle delivery” and the music’s hints of “soft, 1960s psychedelia” create an ambiance that’s “cosmic and cozy all at once.”

OKC’s Jabee (iamjabee.bandcamp. com) is scheduled to share the west stage with Mello Music Group label mate Apollo Brown (apollobrown360.bandcamp.com) at 11 p.m. Saturday, April 26. Detroit producer Brown created the beats for two tracks on Jabee’s The Spirit Is Willing, But the Flesh Is Weak, released in October. Speaking to the Gazette in December, Jabee said the album’s “message is that no matter what, I really want to always strive to do what’s right, but I fall short,” and though his music is not necessarily religious, he said he creates with a higher power and historical perspective in mind: “How is this going to look in the eyes of God? How will this sound in 10 years? How is this going to sound if my kids hear it? How will this sound whenever I’m old when I’m not rapping any more? How is this going to make me feel?” In March, Brown released Elevator Music, an instrumental collection HotNewHipHop called “an immersive sonic experience that captures the delicate balance between refinement and

raw emotion … drawing listeners into moments of contemplation and nostalgia.”

Austin’s Being Dead (beingdead.bandcamp.com) is scheduled to play the main stage at 8:20 p.m. Saturday, April 26. The band’s 2024 sophomore release EELS made several year-end lists including Pitchfork, PopMatters, AllMusic and Paste, which said the band belongs “to a long lineage of subversive pop-rock wizards who are not only capable of writing great songs, but also willing to then keep pushing those songs into interesting, unexpected places,” including “shimmering dream-pop,” “prickly post-punk with echoes of the Beatles,” “candlelit folk” and “wonderfully simple jangle-pop.”

Master of Ceremonies

Tulsa’s Branjae (branjaemusic.com) is scheduled to perform on the main stage at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, April 25. She’s currently working on Master of Ceremonies, a 15-minute short film “centered around mental health” and accompanied by a soundtrack album.

“Making this film has been a challenge,” Branjae said. “I’ve had to live it a little bit because I get inspiration from life and ex-

La Luz | Photo Wyndham Garrett

Branjae | Photo Jill Dawson

EnROLL With It

MUSIC Shop local

See K.O., War Mothershed and other OG-approved OKC-area artists at Norman Music Fest.

By Jeremy Martin

Touting more than 250 acts across three days on stages indoors and out (weather permitting), Norman Music Fest gives visitors a chance to relive the pre-al gorithm days when you found out about new music by just kind of happening upon it. As fans of the continuation of live music as a general concept, we rec ommend wandering around, listening for cool-sounding noises, figuring out who is making them and giving them money to encourage them to keep doing that. But if you prefer a more curated playlist, we highly recommend seeing some of the standout acts we’ve covered in the past few months: Stepmom, Lust Online, Rainbows Are Free and Original Flow & The Wavves are all worth your time and attention.

We’ve also taken this op portunity to catch up with a couple more hometown heavy

The human part OKC hip-hop artist K.O. (sheisko.com), scheduled to perform on the main stage at 8:20 p.m. on Friday, April 25, released

tive: “God gave me style / God gave me grace … I’m the one that’s meant to win the race,” she says, but later reflects, “I gave and gave until there was nothing left for me.” Closing victory lap “Ask Xavier” boasts “My word’s the gospel / Speak the truth / I’m not a savior / Looked in the mirror, set some goals and I obtained them,” but also counts the cost: “I traded all my peace of mind to be the greatest.” In between, K.O. chronicles heartbreaks, disappointments and “Delusions,” rapping in a confident but confessional tone and singing her own emotive hooks. “I just miss the way you used to lie to me,” she sings on “Lie to Me,” which forms a thematic suite about onesided feelings and ill-advised hook-ups with the brief but beautiful torch song “Remember,” eager “Touch It” and bitter “Delusions.” On “I Prayed for Rain,” she seeks spiritual meaning in life’s struggles.

The subject matter may be deeper, but K.O. said her artistic standards have remained consistent throughout her discography.

“The quality of the music never changes,” K.O. said. “I feel like if you find me at album one or if you find me at album 10, this is good music. I think that’s the part that’s not debatable.”

K.O. has performed at Norman Music Fest several times, but this

K.O. | Photo Ryan Cass

LIVE MUSIC

DAILY

Live Blues Music, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

WEDNESDAYS

Amarillo Junction, JJ’s Alley Bricktown Pub. ROCK

Jazz Jam, 51st Street Speakeasy. JAZZ

Jazz Night at the Bradford, Bradford House. JAZZ

Trett Charles, River Spirit Casino Resort. COUNTRY

Vintage Vinyl Wednesdays, El Coyote Bar & Cantina. DJ

Kendrick McKinney Trio, 51st Street Speakeasy. JAZZ

THURSDAYS

Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge Karaoke Night, Dust Bowl. KARAKOE

Music Over Midtown, O Bar. VARIOUS

Open Mic Night, Core4 Brewing. OPEN MIC

FRIDAYS

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

SATURDAYS

Bedlam Live Local Bands, Bedlam Bar-B-Q. VARIOUS

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTURMENTALISTS

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

SUNDAYS

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

No Whiners Aloud, Mojo’s Blues Club. ROCK

Hösty, The Deli. AMERICANA

Jazz Night at the Blue Note, Blue Note. JAZZ

MONDAYS

Live Blues Music, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

The Aints/Bailey Gilbert & Friends, The Deli. AMERICANA

Blue’s Night Jam Session, Othello’s. BLUES

TUESDAYS

Live Blues Music, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Bruce Benson & Studio B, 51st Street Speakeasy. BLUES

Caleb McGee, The Deli. BLUES

WEDNESDAY, APR. 9

Bear Ghost w/ Sarah & the Safe Word and Redwood, Beer City Music Hall. ROCK

Noeline Hofmann, 89th Street. COUNTRY

THURSDAY, APR. 10

Fit For An Autopsy w/ Mugshot & Tracheotomy, Beer City Music Hall. DEATHCORE Subhumans, 89th Street. HARDCORE PUNK

Old Time Cider Jam, OKC Cider Co. OPEN MIC

FRIDAY, APR. 11

Annie DiRusso w/ Raffaella, Beer City Music Hall. INDIE

Young Widows, Resonant Head. ALTERNATIVE

SATURDAY, APR. 12

Shelly Phelps and The Storm at Beam Live, Beam Live. ROCK

Tenkiller with RR Williams and Commander Pilot, 89th Street. AMERICANA

The Cactus Blossoms, Resonant Head. ROCK

Camille Farrell, OKC Cider Co. SINGERSONGWRITER

Call Me Sparrow & Sky Hemenway, Bookish. FOLK

SUNDAY, APR. 13

Nick Shoulders, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY

Round Barn Rendezvous, Arcadia Round Barn. AMERICANA

Tall Tall Redwoods, The Blue Door. INDIE

Pet Symmetry, Resonant Head. INDIE

MONDAY, APR. 14

Strawberry Girls, 89th Street. HARDCORE ROCK Panhandle, Bookish. POP-ROCK

TUESDAY, APR. 15

Austin B. Sweeney, The Blue Door. PSYCHEDELIC ROCK

WEDNESDAY, APR. 16

BOYWITHUKE, The Criterion. ALTERNATIVE

THURSDAY, APR. 17

Neon Boots w/ DJ Payne and Cowgirl KJ, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY

Sister Hazel with Midnight South, The Jones Assembly. ROCK

Andrew Delaney & Dr. Pants, The Blue Door. FOLK

FRIDAY, APR. 18

Caroline Rose at Factory Obscura, Factory Obscura. INDIE

The Guns n Roses Experience w/ Jukebox Hero, Beer City Music Hall. COVER

James Kennedy, Tower Theatre. DJ

JM Stevens, The Blue Door. ROCK

Emily Fenton & Avery Lee, Bookish. FOLK

SATURDAY, APR. 19

Critical Mess w/ Blanca, Raymond Owen, Jack McKenzie, 51st Street Speakeasy. TECHNO

James McMurtry w/ BettySoo, Beer City Music Hall. SINGER-SONGWRITER

Table Rockin’ Blues from Big Train and the Loco Motives!, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Texas Hippie Coalition, Diamond Ballroom. ROCK Earth, Resonant Head.

PSYCHEDELIC ROCK

SUNDAY, APR. 20

Willis, 89th Street. INDIE

MONDAY, APR. 21

The Moss, Beer City Music Hall. INDIE

WEDNESDAY, APR. 23

Judah & the Lion, The Jones Assembly. INDIE

While She Sleeps x Bury Tomorrow w/ Vended, Beer City Music Hall. METAL

THURSDAY, APR. 24

Black Mountain, Resonant Head. METAL

Corey Kent: The Black Bandana Tour, The Criterion. ROCK

FRIDAY, APR. 25

Fleshgod Apocalypse & Ne Obliviscaris w/ Vomit Forth, Beer City Music Hall. METAL

Crow and Gazelle (Mike McClure & Chrislyn Lawrence), The Blue Door. ACOUSTIC

Wynn Williams, 89th Street. COUNTRY

Me Like Bees, Resonant Head. ROCK

Dexter and The Moonrocks, The Criterion. ALTERNATIVE

SATURDAY, APR. 26

Debí Tirar Más Fiestas — Bad Bunny Party w/ DJ Erick Jaimez, Beer City Music Hall. DJ

Tech N9ne, Diamond Ballroom. HIP-HOP

FRAMING HANLEY, 89th Street. ROCK

Mad Honey As genre descriptors go, “dream pop” is maybe more nebulous than most, and OKC’s Mad Honey embrace the amorphousness on 2024’s Discordia. While 2023’s Satellite Aphrodite orbited closer to the effects-laden guitar and ethereal vocals familiar to fans of sleepy-time standard-bearers My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins, Discordia is a gleefully art damaged and digitally distorted lullaby to count electric sheep to. See Mad Honey open for likeminded Los Angelenos Dummy, whose 2024 album Free Energy supercharges shoegaze with electronic experimentation and ambient field recordings. OKC alt rockers Photocopy share the bill. The show starts 8 p.m. April 28 at Resonant Head, 400 SW 25th St. Tickets are $15. Visit resonanthead.com.

MONDAY, APRIL 28 Photo provided

Vs Self, Resonant Head. INDIE Jeff Fierro, OKC Cider Co. ROCK

SUNDAY, APR. 27

Good Neighbors, Beer City Music Hall. INDIE Studio House, Resonant Head. ROCK Heathen Revival, OKC Cider Co. METAL

MONDAY, APR. 28

Disturbed, Paycom Center. METAL Dummy, Resonant Head. INDIE

TUESDAY, APR. 29

MIKE, Resonant Head. HIP-HOP

WEDNESDAY, APR. 30

Big Train and the Loco Motives, Hollywood Corners. BLUES Yo La Tengo, Tower Theatre. ALTERNATIVE

Get The Led Out, Tulsa Theater. HARD ROCK Upchuck, 89th Street. INDIE

THURSDAY, MAY. 1

Mat Kearney with Augustana, The Jones Assembly. INDIE

Open Mic Night at Mix-Tape, Factory Obscura. OPEN MIC

WORK IT! ‘90s/2000s R&B and Hip Hop Night, Beer City Music Hall. HIP-HOP Nitida, Resonant Head. PUNK

FRIDAY, MAY. 2

AngelMaker w/ Humanity’s Last Breath, Psycho-Frame, and The Gloom In The Corner, Beer City Music Hall. METAL

EXODUS with Havok and Misfire, Diamond Ballroom. METAL

Brother Moses, Resonant Head. INDIE

SATURDAY, MAY. 3

Husbands w/ JW Francis, Beer City Music Hall. INDIE

Johnny Manchild and The Poor Bastards, Resonant Head. INDIE

TUESDAY, MAY. 6

Sierra Ferrell Shoot For The Moon Tour, Criterion. COUNTRY

Sierra Ferrell, The Criterion. COUNTRY

WEDNESDAY, MAY. 7

Joywave, Beer City Music Hall. INDIE

ROLLING QUARTZ Stand Up Tour, 89th Street. ELECTRONIC

Future Islands, Tower Theatre. POPJulien Baker & TORRES, Tower Theatre. COUNTRY

Tigers Jaw, Resonant Head. INDIE

THURSDAY, MAY. 8

The Toxhards, Resonant Head. ROCK

FRIDAY, MAY. 9

Future Islands, Tower Theatre. POP

Katy Perry, Paycom Center. POP Being Dead, Resonant Head. ALTERNATIVE

SATURDAY, MAY. 10

Joshua Ray Walker w/ Mallory Eagle, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY

Soulja Boy, Tower Theatre. HIP-HOP

Hiroya Tsukamoto, The Blue Door. FOLK

Samantha Crain, Resonant Head. FOLK

Morrissey, The Criterion. ALTERNATIVE

SUNDAY, MAY. 11

Round Barn Rendezvous, Arcadia Round Barn. AMERICANA Tropa Magica, Resonant Head. ROCK

MONDAY, MAY. 12

Beach House Live 2025, Criterion. POP New Orthodox, Maddie Razook, Tim Buchanan Band, Bookish: Used Books and Art. SINGER-SONWRITERS

TUESDAY, MAY. 13

Cheerleader Roadkill, Resonant Head. PUNK

Alison Krauss & The Union Station, The Criterion. COUNTRY

Live music submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon the first Wednesday of the month. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail to listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Homework: Which of your previous bests are you primed to surpass? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Life is asking you to be a source of generosity and strength for the people and animals in your sphere. I hope you will exude maximum amounts of your natural charisma as you bestow maximum blessings. Soak up the admiration and affection you deserve, too, as you convey admiration and affection to others. Here’s a secret: The more you share your resources, help, and intelligence, the more of that good stuff will flow back your way.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Ceramicist Jun Hamada says that trying to force harmony into her art leads to sterile work. “The most beautiful pieces come from the moments I stop trying to make them beautiful,” she notes. “They emerge from embracing the clay’s natural tendencies, even when they seem to fight against my intentions.” I recommend her approach to you in the coming weeks. Your best results may emerge as you allow supposed flaws and glitches to play an unexpected part in the process. Alliances might benefit, even deepen, through honest friction rather than imposed peace. What will happen when you loosen your attachment to enforced harmony and let life’s natural tensions gyrate?

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini-born Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959) was a prolific architect who orchestrated many daring designs. Among his most audacious experiments was a project to build a house over a waterfall in Pennsylvania. “It can’t be done!” experts said. But he did it. Before he was ready to accomplish the impossible, though, he had to spend months studying the site’s natural patterns. I bring this to your attention, Gemini, because I believe you are ready to consider your own equivalent of constructing a house over a waterfall. Prepare well! Do your homework!

CANCER (June 21-July 22): In the early phase of his illustrious career as a photographer, Edward Weston (1886–1958) cultivated a soft-focus,

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romantic style. But he ultimately converted to stark, uncompromising realism. “The camera,” he said, “should be used for recording life, for rendering the very substance and quintessence of the thing itself.” If there is anything about you that prefers warm, fuzzy illusions over objective, detailed truth, I suggest you switch emphasis for a while. If you like, you can return to the soft-focus approach in June. But for now, a gritty, unsentimental attitude will be essential to your well-being.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Here’s my mini-manifesto about change, just in time for a phase when change is most necessary and possible for you. 1. Real change is often a slow and subtle process. There may be rare dramatic shifts, but mostly the process is gradual and incremental. 2. Instead of pushing hard for a short time, you’re more likely to change things by persistently pushing with modest strength for a sustained time. 3. Rather than trying to confront and wrestle with a big problem exactly as it is, it’s often more effective to break the seemingly insurmountable challenge into small, manageable pieces that can be solved one at a time through simple efforts.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Textile artist Mei Zhang wondered if the synthetic dyes she used on her fabrics were limited. Might there be a wider variety of colors she could use in her creations? She discovered that her grandmother, using age-old techniques, had produced hues that modern dyes couldn’t replicate. “The most sustainable path forward,” Zhang concluded, “often involves rediscovering what we’ve forgotten rather than inventing something entirely new.” I recommend that counsel to you, Virgo. The solution to a current challenge might come from looking back instead of pushing forward. Consider what old approaches or traditional wisdom you might call on to generate novelty. Weave together fresh applications with timeless principles.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The moon rises about 50 minutes later every day, and always at a slightly different place on the horizon. The amount of light it shows us is also constantly in flux. And yet where and

how it will appear tomorrow or ten years from today is completely predictable. Its ever-changing nature follows a rhythmic pattern. I believe the same is true about our emotions and feelings, which in astrology are ruled by the moon. They are forever shifting, and yet if we survey the big picture of how they arise, we will see their overall flow has distinct patterns. Now would be a good time for you to get to know your flow better. See if you can detect recurring motifs. Try to develop more objectivity about how your precious emotions and feelings really work. If you do this correctly, you will deepen and enhance the guiding power of your precious emotions and feelings.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Research reveals that interludes of productive uncertainty may strengthen our brain’s neural pathways—even more so than if we consistently leap to immediate comprehension. The key modifier to this fortifying uncertainty is “productive.” We must be willing to dwell with poise in our puzzlement, even welcome and enjoy the fertile mystery it invokes in us. Neurobiologist Aiden Chen says, “Confusion, when properly supported, isn’t an obstacle to learning but a catalyst for understanding.” These ideas will be good medicine in the coming weeks, dear Scorpio.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Persian American author Haleh Liza Gafori translates the poetry of 13th-century Sufi mystic Rumi. One of their joint books is titled *Gold*. She writes, “Rumi’s gold is not the precious metal, but a feelingstate arrived at through the alchemical process of burning through layers of self, greed, pettiness, calculation, doctrine—all of it. The prayer of Sufism is ‘teach me to love more deeply.’ Gold is the deepest love.” That’s the gold I hope you aspire to embody in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. You are in a resplendently golden phase when you have more power than usual to create, find, and commune with Rumi’s type of gold.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The coming weeks will be an excellent time to reframe the meaning of “emptiness” in your life. To launch your quest, I will

CAT-TRACTOR

PLUMBING CHECKS: I’ll stare into your bathtub drain until the problem fixes itself.

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remind you that quiet interludes and gaps in your schedule can be rejuvenating. Sitting still and doing nothing in particular may be a good way to recharge your spiritual batteries. Relieving yourself of the pressure to be endlessly active could be just what you need to open up space for fresh possibilities.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): There was a time, many years ago, when I consulted a divinatory oracle every day of my life. Sometimes it was the Tarot or the I Ching. I threw the Norse runes, did automatic writing, used a pendulum, or tried bibliomancy. Astrology was always in the mix, too, of course. Looking back on those days, I am amused at my obsession with scrying the future and uncovering subconscious currents. But employing these aids had a wonderful result: It helped me develop and fine-tune my intuition and psychic powers—which, after all, are the ultimate divination strategy. I bring this to your attention, Aquarius, because I believe you now have an enhanced power to cultivate and strengthen your intuition and psychic powers.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The fovea is the part of the eye that enables sharp vision. Humans have just one kind of fovea, which gives them the ability to see clearly straight ahead. Eagles have both a central and peripheral fovea. The latter gives them an amazing visual acuity for things at a distance. This extra asset also attunes them to accurately detect very slow movements. I suspect you will have a metaphorical semblance of the eagle’s perceptual capacity in the coming weeks, Pisces. You will be able to see things you wouldn’t normally see and things that other people can’t see. Take full advantage of this superpower! Find what you didn’t even know you were looking for..

Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes /daily text message horoscopes. The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.