ACM@UCO Presents...Tara Dillard

            Students at the Academy of Contemporary Music at The University of Central Oklahoma are taking their education outside of the classroom and bestowing their talents in the new ACM@UCO Performance Lab in downtown Oklahoma City. The two-month-old venue hosted the California-based band Local Natives as their first non-student headliner on October 5^th.  But the Performance Lab host weekly shows by students at no cost and ACM student Tara Dillard and her band were eager to show off their talent.

            Dillard is a musical theatre turned vocal performance major that is trying to find her place in the music world that she knows she belongs in.

            “I’ve been singing my whole life,” said Dillard. “I don’t think I can really tell you when I started. I think it has just always been there. I’ve never known myself not being able to sing or not singing period.”

Dillard playing the keyboard to a Sara Bareilles cover. PHOTO: Courtney Goforth

            As a kid, Dillard let her imagination run wild with future career options, including a ballerina, firefighter and CIA agent, but Dillard knew “there wasn’t really another option. [She] never really wanted anything else.” Dillard has played several shows at the Picasso Café in Oklahoma City and has been asked to return to perform with her band at the Performance Lab. But for every artist, there is always a night that seems to stick out.

            “We played at Nona’s bar last semester and they have a patio on the top floor of it and I really loved being out there,” said Dillard. “It was outside, it was at night, we had the cityscape behind us, and I had my band up there in the corner of it. It had a really cool mood to it and that was actually the first time we played outside of school together so for me that was just a really cool experience to share with them.”

            The band behind the talented Oklahoma-native beauty includes Gabe Nightengale, Dane Alexander, Brett Alexander and Earl Moreno. All of the guys, except for Moreno, were originally paired with Dillard at ACM and eventually they began playing shows as a band outside of the school. Dillard claims that the group’s diversity is what makes them stand out among the other student groups.

            “I would say that we are just all so different and I think we all have been such hard workers,” said Dillard. “These boys have busted their tails for me with practicing with me, collaborating with me, and I think we are all just really driven. I asked them to play and they were just like “Yeah, sure we’ll do it, that’d be great!” and we all have really different personalities but its funny how well we work together.”

Dillard opening the show with a Rilo Kiley song. PHOTO: Courtney Goforth

            Despite the group’s effortless cohesion, Dillard and her band struggle to put a label on their style of music.

            “People ask how we would describe our style of music all of the time and it is still hard for me to answer,” said Dillard. “When you write music, it is hard to explain what it sounds like. But our music is obviously really piano-based, singer-songwriter driven, and I guess it’s fairly mainstream. I am still finding my niche and that will come with more songwriting when I find what I am good at and the traits that a lot of my songs have. Maybe Ill know better myself after that because I don’t really know right now, I am still figuring it out. You guys tell me!”

            On October 29, Dillard will be back at the Picasso Café in Oklahoma City performing alone with her keyboard. For upcoming shows and her latest posts, check out www.taradillardmusic.com.

Dillard getting into an original song inspired by her brother. PHOTO: Courtney Goforth

Listen to some of my interview with Tara answering questions about singing and why she decided to stick with it.


Check out a clip of Tara singing her rendition of "Bluebird" by Sara Bareilles. 

Audio Test

My audio test is right here!

Welcome Guests to Guestroom Records

        Eight years ago, two music-obsessed University of Oklahoma students were busy delivering cheap pizza to hungry college students for Pizza Shuttle when they decided to take their careers elsewhere. In 2002, Travis Searle and Justin Sowers decided they would collaborate and open up a shop in Norman that would satisfy the city of Norman’s musical cravings instead of their taste buds.

        Guestroom Records became Searle and Sowers’ dream come to life in July of 2003. The store opened in downtown Norman, but for a year and half before the opening, they operated a small distribution and door-to-door record shop. The new owners donated their entire personal music collection to provide the first batch of used CDs and records collection, ready to be purchased. The purpose of the store is confirmed on their Web site under the ‘About Us’ section that “Guestroom Records is about getting good music to people who want it.”

         Guestroom puts out a monthly newsletter that provides a timeline of shows that are happening around Norman. Their own record label, Guestroom Records has hosted many in-store performances as well. It also provides the latest releases of albums and CDs that are new in the store, as well as coupons and discounts the store is offering. The Web site posts the same information with the addition of “Employee Picks” where six of the nine employees post their top ten current favorite albums, along with their all-time favorites. The Guestroom team in Norman consists of nine men, who are all confident with what their store has to offer the music lovers of Norman.

        “There is no radio outlet that’s number one- playing music, and number two- one that is advertising shows,” said Guestroom Records manager Will Muir. “Right now the only shows advertised are ones that are happening at the Ford Center, the Diamond Ballroom, or The Conservatory, all of which are in Oklahoma City. So if you’re a Norman resident, or you’re a college student in Norman, you’re more than likely not going to go all the way up there to see a show, especially for some band you don’t really know because you’ve never heard of them because they don’t have a radio outlet here...All you have to do any day of the week is walk by this store and there are flyers for shows.”

        Guestroom provides a relaxed atmosphere for college students or residents of Norman that need to escape through their favorite artist’s lyrics or upbeat tempos. They have created a spot in downtown that is a musical haven from reality, all created from the dream that two Pizza Shuttle employees shared as students. Guestroom has a second location in Oklahoma City and for upcoming shows visit www.guestroom-records.com. 

Guestroom Record's album collection. PHOTO: Courtney Goforth

The area where bands play for in-store performances. PHOTO: Courtney Goforth

Artwork by local artists displayed and sold in the store. PHOTO: Courtney Goforth

Norman's Intimate Community for Your Ears; The Opolis

            The Merriam-Webster Web site defines ‘polis’ as “a state or society especially when characterized by a sense of community” and that definition resonates in the name of Norman’s intimate music venue, the Opolis. Located in downtown Norman, the showground has provided indie tunes for music lovers almost nine years.

            The Opolis is subtitled as a ‘micro venue’ on the Web site and provides the lineup of artists that will be performing among the 13 shows being hosted in the month of October. The Opolis host shows several nights a week and keeps the music community in tune with new and local artists. But, most students who have moved to Norman from out-of-state do not realize the wealth of music that is provided throughout each week and some believe there is no music scene at all.

            “I would argue that there is not a lack of music in Norman,” said Guestroom Records manager Travis Searles. “You can go see live music in Norman, especially if you are 21, every night; every single night. Multiple times a week you have two to five places hosting live music and it’s really just about finding out about it.”

            The Starlight Mints are one of Norman’s own local bands whom some of the members are the brains behind the Opolis.  The band’s Web site describes them as “a group of beautiful pop mutants: four singular musical minds whose love for archetypal pop music and AM radio has provided, over the course of three previous acclaimed albums, a rock-solid foundation for a whole bunch of inspired uniqueness, all baked to perfection under the hot Oklahoma sun. “ Drummer Andy Nunez owns and operates the Opolis, bringing in local and national acts. 

            Yelp.com provides forums for members to post reviews for a variety of businesses; in one review posted by ‘Jake A.’ from Oklahoma City, Okla. gave his opinion of the Opolis.

            “[The Opolis is] the pearl of the Norman music scene,” said the Yelp.com member. “They have great shows from local, regional and national acts, with prices averaging about $10. Depending on the band, there’s always a different crowd; expect lots of hipsters and college kids. They have cheap 3.2 beers and it’s a really intimate little joint. I’ve been to a half a dozen shows there, and will keep going back!”

            The Opolis has become a local community of people who appreciate an affordable live show from talented bands hoping to get their name out. After attending a show, some have regretted not finding out about the Opolis sooner.

            “I first went to the Opolis on a whim to see a band called Red Cortez,” said Oklahoma City resident Kyle Burnett.  “I was really surprised by how intimate the Opolis felt, the smaller venue really lets everyone inside see a great view of the stage and the artists that are performing. To say the least, I was happy I went out to see that concert that night, not only because I was able to experience a unique slice of Norman’s indie and local music scene, but also because I caught a pick thrown by the lead singer. I would recommend everyone to check out, or at least glance at this venue’s lineup to see if a big name band will play in an intimate setting such as the Opolis, it is well worth it.”

            The Opolis is an obvious choice for some unique live music during the week or as a weekend plan. To join their musical family, visit their Web site at http://www.starlightmints.com/opolis.html.

The Opolis on Main St. PHOTO: Courtney Goforth

Hey Mona Eltahawy, let’s talk

             She was introduced as “unapologetic and firm in her beliefs,” and the New York based journalist Mona Eltahawy lived up to those expectations. Eltahawy’s latest blog post entitled “Hey America; I’m a Muslim, let’s talk” was the topic at the “Blogging for Social Change” workshop hosted by the Center for Social Justice in Women’s and Gender Study Program at the University of Oklahoma for students last Wednesday and Eltahawy did not hold back.

            The award-winning columnist and international public speaker on Arab and Muslim issues’ strong beliefs are built on a strong cultural foundation; Eltahawy was born in Egypt and since resided in the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the United States. In the early 90s, Eltahawy decided to become a journalist to report on human rights. Later, in 2005, she began blogging, despite her depiction of bloggers being “nerds in their underwear in their mother’s basements.” But it was on September 11^th 2001 that marked the day Eltahawy became “sick of objectivity” and developed into an opinion writer.

            After making the decision to shift into opinion writing, Eltahawy developed a social media addiction. Twitter, Facebook, news media Web sites such as Yahoo, NY Times and the Washington Post and liberal blogs became a few of her daily doses to satisfy her craving. However, Eltahawy does admit to following more liberal-based journalism as opposed to the contrary because of her own personal views.

            “There is enough things in the world that make me angry,” said Eltahawy. “I don’t have enough anger to waste on things I can avoid.”

            Blogging has its critics, such as any other style of media. But, Eltahawy was asked how she approaches the common issue of credibility that is often addressed in blogging.

            “You have to place it in context. I am never the person to say ‘do not report it’ and ‘sensor it’, said Eltahawy. “Follow as many sources as possible, do not rely on one source. You begin to trust both your instincts and what is out there. Don’t believe everything you read online, but don’t disbelieve it or discount it, look around.”

            Eltahawy is currently teaching a three-weekend course at the university, “Women and New Media in the Middle East.”  The Oklahoma School of International and Area Studies Web site indicates that the course will explore modern history of women’s movements, media dynamics, women’s roles in mainstream and independent media and how women are using new media to challenge authority in the Middle East.

            “Mona’s take on blogging opened my eyes to the power of web 2.0,” said junior Alex Eschbach. “My own blog showcasing my rampant narcissism now seems significantly less important.”

            Eltahawy has faced the adversity that goes along with being a woman in addition to being a Muslim-American. But Eltahawy does not let the critics pull her down from her soapbox.

            “Sometimes I give the middle finger to people when I protest,” said Eltahawy.

            Eltahawy’s stands firm in her beliefs and for that, she is unapologetic.