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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Home · Articles · Music · Music · A history of Violence
Music

A history of Violence


With just a year in business, local eardrum-busters Sonic Violence make music that’s not just good — it’s Sonic good.

Joshua Boydston July 3rd, 2012

Sonic Violence with Speedy Ortiz and Chud
9 p.m. Saturday
Opolis
113 N. Crawford, Norman
opolis.org
820-0951
$7

creditcaitlin+lindseycredit: Caitlin Lindsey

Some band names perfectly match their sound. Consider The Beach Boys, Slayer and, now, Oklahoma City’s own Sonic Violence.

“I like the idea of musical violence, like an amp punching you in the face,” lead singer and founding member Leon Manson said. “That’s the direction we wanted to go in.”

Previously a member of Moon, Manson began collaborating with drummer Donald James about a year ago, eventually adding bassist Ed Schotter and guitarist Brandon Wilson, both ACM@UCO classmates, into the fold.

Although originally intending on a dreamier, shoegazer sound like My Bloody Valentine, the band’s name soon took hold.

“As we started playing, we saw all these other influences like Radiohead and Dinosaur Jr. start to arrive,” Manson said. “It kind of turned into this noise-rock deal. We’re just going with whatever feels right.”

Like those cited acts, Sonic Violence tends to get loud.

Really loud.

“I recommend bringing earplugs,” Manson said. “People have definitely been shocked by how loud it is.”

Recent turns at ACM@UCO Rocks Bricktown and Norman Music Festival have been the public’s first real listen, and the band is already armed with a heavy arsenal of songs, despite just recently hitting its first birthday and releasing only an EP thus far.

“Everything just clicked really fast,” Manson said. “We just got along so well as far as songwriting goes, and it’s been this creative explosion. It comes natural to us.”

Resoundingly, people have embraced the Violence and the ringing in their ears.

“A lot of people like it. What we’re doing and trying to do is different from a lot of what’s going on,” Manson said. “Oklahoma’s music scene is really eclectic and diverse, and we are weird people and wanted to do something weird.”

Sonic Violence will release another EP this fall, but no solid plans exist for a full album. When that debut comes, rest assured it’ll be all killer, no filler.

“We’re picky and somewhat maniacal about our work,” Manson said. “If something isn’t perfect, we probably won’t ever release it.”

 
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