The Current-July 2008 Feature Story 1

All-American Rejects and 120 other Acts Diversify Tulsa

By Regan Henson

Not long ago, maybe sometime around the end of the last century, music fans from around these parts who wanted to experience a true music festival featuring national and regional acts were forced to drive at least four hours to Dallas or maybe Kansas City to hang out with the hippies at Lollapalooza or the metal-heads at Ozzfest. If country is more your speed, well, Nashville has an annual festival, and it’s only about three day’s ride horseback to the east. My, things have sure changed in Currentland.

Fresh off last month’s Country Fever and just a couple weeks after Rocklahoma, fans lucky enough to live right here in northeast Oklahoma can welcome one more festival, and this one might just beat all the rest. Smack in the heart of downtown Tulsa, the seventh annual Diversafest Music Conference and Festival kicks off at the end of the month, and if you’ve been waiting for a crowd that features less in the way of ten gallons hats or eighties mullets, then this is the one for you. With well over 120 acts covering every musical genre imaginable, you’re bound to find something you love, even if you are into topping your mullet with a ten gallon hat, which, come to think of it, is not too far-fetched.

As you may have guessed, Diversafest is all about diversity, from the acts onstage to the people in the crowd. This year’s festival will continue a trend started last year when Oklahoma City’s Flaming Lips headlined by bringing another internationally known local band when Stillwater’s own All-American Rejects back to their home state. Getting AAR (as the cool kids call the band) to come to D-Fest (as the even cooler kids call the festival) was a coup of sorts for organizers, as the band has recently cancelled its dates on the Warped Tour to continue work on the follow-up to 2005’s platinum-selling album, Move Along. But the boys from AAR will be playing a handful of dates with Bon Jovi and will be back in their home state, to the good fortune of D-Fest crowds.

Formed in 2001 by Tyson Ritter and Nick Wheeler, the Stillwater band quickly gained a reputation among local and regional fans for their energetic stage show and upbeat sound.
Following their self-released EP, Same Girl, New Songs, and a brief tour of the mid-west, the band was signed to Doghouse Records which released their self-titled debut album in 2002. With respectable, if not earth-shattering, record sales, the band was well on its way to stardom, mostly on the strength of the ultra-catchy single, “Swing, Swing.” Following the release of the album, the band toured relentlessly, leaving little time for recording, which led some fans and critics to believe the band was little more than a one hit wonder. But the doubters were soon proved wrong.

The summer of 2005 saw the release of the band’s follow-up, Move Along, which brought them critical praise and their strongest record sales to date, with over two million copies sold and a trio of high charting singles, including “Dirty Little Secret,” “It Ends Tonight” and the title track, which went on to win “Best Group Video” at the 2006 MTV Music Awards. All three songs received heavy rotation on modern rock radio, further cementing their place as superstars in rock music.

Now, as they work on the next step in their already wildly successful career, the boys in AAR will be stepping out of the studio and onto the main stage at D-Fest to share their love of music and performing for fans who’ve been following their rise from wide-eyed teens dreaming of rock stardom to true modern rock heavy-hitters. But, as I mentioned previously, AAR is only one of 120+, and there is plenty more for other tastes.

If I were to tell you that a trip to D-Fest would allow you the opportunity to see one of the “20 Greatest Live Acts in World,” would that be something you’d be interested in? Well, in 2003, that is exactly the distinction that Rolling Stone Magazine bestowed upon The Roots. This Philadelphia hip-hop, soul, jazz, experimental rap group has been wowing crowds for the better part of twenty years. In addition to releasing eight critically acclaimed albums, this band has performed onstage with the Dave Mathews Band and as the backing band for Jay-Z and appeared in a number of films and DVDs, including Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, in which they performed as a group and as the backing band for many of the other acts. This is definitely one band you don’t want to miss.

If you’re more into the jam band thing, then you’ll want to check out the Disco Biscuits. Another Philly band, these guys play a style that blends prog-rock/fusion with a jam band sensibility. Their unique sound has won them a rabid fan base at various shows and festivals, including Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo.

But if balls-out hard rock is all you care to hear, well, you’ll still be in the right place when veteran rockers Clutch hit the stage. These Maryland natives have been making ears bleed since the early nineties. Although their sound has evolved some over the years, they still know how to bring the rock. And if that’s not enough for you, Helmet, Paramore, Phantom Planet, Zappa Plays Zappa and Ghostland Observatory are among the bands scheduled to appear. As the name suggests, Diversafest truly has something for everyone.

In addition to the festival, a two day music conference will be held featuring a tradeshow, music clinics, music panels and much more. The Diversafest Music Conference and Festival will take place July 25-26 at Tulsa’s historic Blue Dome District and Crowne Plaza Hotel. Conference hours are from 11am to 6:30pm both days and festival hours are 4pm to 2am both days. Two day festival tickets are $33.50 advance or $45 walk-up. Conference badges, which allow access to both days’ festival and conference, are $100 advance or $150 walk-up. To purchase tickets or for ticket information, go to www.dfest.com or www.okctickets.com.