After compounding weeks of unreal concert offerings, the slate cools just a bit this week. But there are still some stellar shows to catch all the same. A Tennessee band with Norman ties, a tribute to one of Oklahoma’s own, and a dude who really loves siamese cats rank among the highlights in this week’s collection of Oxford Karma concert picks.
In the Valley Below and Kopecky
Thursday, June 18
The Vanguard | Tulsa
Echo Park duo In the Valley Below had a breakout hit with “Peaches,” touring with Cold War Kids and White Lies because of it. Kopecky (formerly known as Kopecky Family Band) put out its sophomore LP, Drug for the Modern Age , earlier this year and boast the nephew of Norman mayor Cindy Rosenthal.
Teenage Bottlerocket with The Copyrights and Little Kicks
Thursday, June 18
89th Street Collective | Oklahoma City
How often do you get the chance to see Wyoming’s best twin brother-led punk band?
Smashing Pumpkins with YB and Katie Cole
Friday, June 19
Brady Theater | Tulsa
’90s alt-rock God, wrestling producer, and pet magazine cover model Billy Corgan returns to Tulsa with his ever-revolving cast of players, known collectively as Smashing Pumpkins. He’ll perform a stripped-down, acoustic-meets-electro set before launching off on a bigger (read: louder) national tour with Marilyn Manson in July.
Team Nightstand with Weak Knees
Friday, June 19
Soundpony | Tulsa
Not a bad way to wrap up an evening with Smashing Pumpkins than with ’90s college rock-skewed Oklahoma City outfit Weak Knees and New Wave, Norman indie-poppers Team Nightstand.
Foy Vance with Ryan McMullan
Saturday, June 20
Opolis | Norman
All the way from Northern Ireland, folk artist Foy Vance is accustomed to playing for tens of thousands on his extended runs with folk-pop megastar (and Taylor Swift’s BFF) Ed Sheeran. Get to know this mustachioed songwriter in a more intimate setting with fellow Irishman Ryan McMullan.
Roger Miller Tribute Show
Saturday, June 20
The Plant Shoppe | Oklahoma City
Catch some of Oklahoma’s youngest and most talented songwriters (Jerrod Beck, Blake Burgess, Sarah Reid, Rachel Brashear, and more) remember the immense legacy of one of the finest Okie musicians there ever was: Roger Miller.
Deus Eyeslow with Militant Mindz and TornUp
Monday, June 22
Dope Chapel | Norman
Check the future of Oklahoma hip-hop with the killer team-up of Deus Eyeslow (who put out their latest LP Home in May) and Militant Mindz (behind the similarly strong offering Parallel$) with DFW export TornUp along for the ride in the DIY art space.
Antagonistas with An Atomic Whirl and Death Mask
Tuesday, June 23
Dope Chapel | Norman
Things are bound to get weird in this audio-visual explosion, featuring Oklahoma City noise-rock supergroup Antagonistas (members of Shishio and assorted Tape Gun artists) and An Atomic Whirl, an experimental shoegaze outfit, half of which hails from Japan. Artist and Dope Chapel figurehead Eric Piper will perform as Death Mask.
