Wednesday 19 Jun
 
 

Kanye West — Yeezus

Try as you might, but there’s no escaping Kanye West. Turn on the TV, radio, computer — hell, take a stroll downtown and you might see his mug projected on the side of a building. It’s an undeniable fact of life in 2013: Kanye West is bigger than Buddha, Krishna and The Beatles (today, anyway) and he’ll be the first to let you know about it.
06/18/2013 | Comments 0

John Moreland — In the Throes

With the soul of a poet and the look of a Sons of Anarchy extra, Tulsa’s John Moreland has been gifted the sort of gravely, booming voice that does Bruce Springsteen proud and a similar understanding of the universal human experience. It’s made for some fantastic records — both as a solo artist and with his dissolved Black Gold Band — and In the Throes is his best yet.
06/19/2013 | Comments 0

Jumpship Astronaut — Lights Burn Out

Oklahoma has never been the haven for electronic rock music that it is for country, folk and, as of late, psychedelic pop, but from the sound of Lights Burn Out, Oklahoma City upstart Jumpship Astronaut seems intent on changing that.
06/12/2013 | Comments 0

Various artists — Reaching Out

Like so many Oklahomans, the local music scene has responded with generosity and grace in the wake of last month’s tragedy in Moore. In the weeks since, droves of local musicians have banded together for benefit concerts and radio marathons to raise funds for the relief effort, and with extraordinary results.
06/04/2013 | Comments 0

Progress in Color — Get Well

It’s been a long, bumpy ride for Glenpool’s Progress in Color, which saw a record deal with Epic evaporate before even one record could come of it, but it’s led the outfit to where it was supposed to be.
06/04/2013 | Comments 0
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Music

Ox rocks


While other siblings rumble, Sam and Ray Ashford rock — as the local band of brothers known as Oxford Town.

Mia Cantu June 27th, 2012  

Oxford Town
6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday
Jazmo’z Bourbon Street Cafe
100 E. California
bourbonstreetcafe.com
232-6666

Making music comes naturally to Oklahoma City brothers Sam and Ray Ashford, who made it official by s tarting a band together in 2009. With big choruses and mellow verses, Oxford Town has been described as garage blues with a hint of grudge.

A reflection of their shared musical taste, their band name is taken from the title of a Bob Dylan classic. The brothers are inspired by not only Dylan, but Tom Petty, Lou Reed, The Beatles, Nirvana, Counting Crows, The Strokes and The White Stripes.

Sam Ashford, 20, who sings lead and plays guitar, is a student at ACM@ UCO. Ray Ashford, 16, who plays the drums and sings vocals, attends Edmond Memorial High School.

The sibs have written around 45 songs, splitting the work of writing music and lyrics equally. The pair has no problem collaborating in order to produce originals that work. (Their current EP, Between Your World and Mine, wa

s released on iTunes last fall.)

With only two band members, they’re careful to write and record tracks that are easy for them to replicate for live audiences.

“We have to both be really on the ball when we’re playing live,” said Sam Ashford, “because if one of us makes a mistake, it really shows.”

Example: While playing a show at Paseo Underground, one of Ray’s drumsticks broke. He had to use his hand to drum until he could make a quick run for a backup.

The Ashfords hope to form a career doing what they love, which is something they’ve been doing for a long time. Ray even saved $250 at age 6 to buy his first guitar, on which he strummed the songs of Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison while standing atop his parents’ coffee table.

“I think that we have music that people really enjoy, and it’s important to us to just share that,” said Sam Ashford.

Oxford Town can be heard around town at such venues as Jazmo’z Bourbon Street Cafe, Nonna’s Purple Bar, The Shack, UCO Jazz Lab and various arts festivals.

 
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