Tulsa is from Massachusetts, not Oklahoma, and the misleading nature of the band’s name is echoed in the dreamy vagueness of its tunes. Working toward grand truths without approaching them head on, Tulsa takes a roundabout, reverb-drenched path to musical enlightenment. Both live and on record, the band reaches fascinating sonic plateaus of rich, unexpected sound. Tulsa recently played at the Great Scott in Allston MA with friends Deer Tick, the Wonderful Spells, and Mean Creek. Each band brought a differently enjoyable sound to the stage. As bland as hipster fashion has become, indie music still has style to spare.
Deer Creek Doesn't Suck (Blood)
The Great Scott is a small venue that puts almost as much focus on the bar as the stage. Mostly dark and lit largely in red, the Great Scott was brightened by Christmas lights and seasonal cheer for Tulsa’s December 22 show. Hipsters in holiday sweaters crowded the room, and those who didn’t raid the closets for reindeer garb showed their wintry spirit with lumberjack plaid. The Great Scott’s funky ambiance was further enhanced by random decorative objects ranging from a yellow lava lamp to a flying frog hung from the ceiling. This is the kind of place that can show you a damn good time, particularly when several PBRs are involved. From Deer Tick to Tulsa, the evening was enjoyable both for the variety of music showcased and the competence with which it was played.
Blood-sucking deer ticks should generally be avoided, but the bad Deer Tick definitely infused more life into the Great Scott crowd than it sucked out of them. Chris Ryan on (often upright) bass and Dennis Ryan on laid-back drums complement frontman John McCauley’s whiskey-tinged voice (which rings older than his mere 21 years) and bright guitar stylings to make for some seriously down-home country songs. Reminiscent of Two Gallants, or maybe Townes Van Zandt without the years of real hard living, Deer Tick won over the crowd with solid play and a fun sense of humor. Their attempted Beatles cover morphed into a mock Dave Matthews Band tune, then turned into Tony Bennett’s “Because of You.” The Providence, Rhode Island, band closed with a cover of “La Bamba”—an unexpected but somehow appropriate choice.
Dive into Mean Creek with the Wonderful Spells
The Wonderful Spells and Mean Creek (both Boston bands) were sandwiched between Deer Tick and Tulsa just as the Oklahoma panhandle is sandwiched between Texas and Kansas (okay, maybe that’s a stretch for East Coasters). Looking like the younger brothers of the Strokes, the Wonderful Spells paired shaggy hair with vests, open collars, tight pants, and a load of dramatic harmonies. The band’s already-mumbly lyrics were further obscured by loud playing, but the sense of the songs usually took a backseat to the beat anyway. Hipster-danceable and radio ready, the Wonderful Spells put on an authentic hipster act that’s as polished as it can be without coming off as too precious. The volume sometimes drowned the nuance, but at times that’s how you need it to be to have a good time.
Mean Creek took a more direct approach to rocking, and were perhaps the most straight-up set of the night--no gimmicks or goofiness. The band’s guitars strode seriously alongside strong, clear lyrics, and a bit of harmonica lifted the noise into a bluesier realm. Though the band’s singer looked a little bit like Mr. Bean, his expression was sufficiently concentrated to avoid comparisons with the BBC star. The energy wasn’t high, but the band played a tight set of competent roots rock, further showcasing the wide variety of independent music options in Boston.
Tulsa Takes the Stage
Tulsa finally took the stage soon after Spoon’s “You Got Yr Cherry Bomb” played over the speakers during the band’s soundcheck. These two terrific band couldn’t be much more different: Spoon’s all about the easily enjoyable upbeat pop hooks, while Tulsa’s laidback style leaves more effort of appreciation to the listener. The waves of reverberating sound that Tulsa create can make it seem like the band’s not working too hard, but if you make a point to listen between the lines, Tulsa’s subtle successes are revealed. Layers of music mesh together to create an overwhelming whole that it’s up to the listener to discern.
The band’s guitar work evokes memories of moments from My Morning Jacket to Sunny Day Real Estate to Galaxie 500 to Band of Horses. With a rough-hewn voice that ranges from sweet to scary to sardonic, lead singer Carter Tanton has been compared to Neil Young. Despite the sometimes-hatted stylings of both singer-songwriters (Tanton wore an impressive Russian trapper style hat at the Great Scott gig), Carter isn’t quite Neil. Still, Tulsa’s echoing styles creating a haunting effect that’s hard to ignore and even harder to forget once it begins to ring deep in your mind. Check out the band’s latest album, I Am Submerged, for more demure yet tortured delights.
Tulsa was great, but Deer Tick, the Wonderful Spells, and Mean Creek were all impressive, too. Boston’s got a solid indie scene that seems poised to rock the nation soon. Check out the bands’ MySpace pages (linked above) for a more complete sense of their sounds, and see 'em live if at all possible.