The Current-Feature Story Jan. 2009

BOK Center Turns it up With Paisley, AC/DC

By Regan Henson

Another year has passed, and here’s to hoping 2009 is better than 2008. Not that it was all bad. Tulsa finally got a world class venue for a wide range of entertainment options when the BOK Center opened. When it comes to our music options, the future is looking awfully bright. Here are a few of the major acts coming to The BOK Center in the first couple of months of the new year.

Now I’m generally not one to disparage an artist with local ties, but Rascal Flatts sucks, Oklahoma boy Joe Don Rooney notwithstanding (that singer sounds like he wasn’t manly enough to get into N’Sync). Luckily, they’ve already come and gone. Now for the real country show. No, I’m not talking about Darius Rucker, although I’m a closet Hootie fan and look forward to seeing him. He’ll be good, but what I’m talking about is a real country music artist, playing real country music. Ladies and gentlemen, Brad Paisley is coming to town.

The truth is, I haven’t always been a huge Brad Paisley fan. Maybe it’s the name. Paisley. Not quite Haggard is it? Actually sounds a little sissified. But a couple of years ago my girlfriend dragged me to a Brad Paisley show and I was hooked. Has the man ever sang a song that didn’t wind up a hit? And what guy can’t relate to songs about choosing fishing over a chick, four-wheelin’ in the mud, and going on an extended whiskey-binge? Plus the dude can flat out play the guitar. He’d better be able to, since his latest album, Play, is almost entirely instrumental. For an artist to release such an album in a genre where the size of the hits are directly proportionate to the number of sentimental clichés in the lyrics, he’d better have chops directly proportionate to the size of his cojones.

On top of all that, the guys got a great sense of humor. Maybe he can be a little dorky, but that kind of adds to his appeal. He’s kind of like the guys from Full House all rolled into one. He looks just like the dad, is a musician like the uncle, and tries to be funny like that other guy. No wonder that show was on so long.

Get ready for the country when Brad Paisley and special guests Darius Rucker and Dierks Bentley play the BOK on Saturday, Jan. 24. Tickets are from $39.75 to $46.75 and can be purchased by calling 1-866-7-BOK-CTR or online at www.bokcenter.com.

Past their prime, you say? Well yes, if you’re talking about General Motors stocks or episodes of The Simpsons, but if you’re talking about AC/DC, then not so much. Like wine, cheese, Twinkees and Jennifer Aniston, these Aussie rockers just keep getting better with age. These guys have been playing variations of a dozen or so songs for 35 years now, which, considering that rock n’ roll years are much like dog years (assuming you fill your dog’s dish with Jack Daniels and Marlboros), would make them around 275 years old.

Not that they haven’t managed to squeeze plenty of livin’, rockin’, rollin’ and even dyin’ out of the years they’ve been afforded. Their original lineup was kind of like the cast from the first season of Lost, with Angus and Malcolm Young in the roles of Jack and Kate and Bon Scott in the role of Sawyer. Just for argument’s sake, we’ll say that Sawyer died at the end of last season and a new character is introduced played by, say, Jason Bateman. Not quite as edgy, but maybe a little more likeable. That’s Brian Johnson. The ever-changing bassist and drummer spots can be like that cute blonde who was killed off a couple of seasons ago or maybe the insufferable Charlie, who was thankfully banished to comic/sci fi conventions in his Lord of the Rings costume. Characters like these are easy to replace, as are, apparently, bassists and drummers.
In spite of this apparent instability, the band managed to become one of the biggest-selling music acts in history, with world-wide record sales of over 200 million. On top of that, their music was used as psychological torture to drive Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega from his stronghold and into the arms of waiting troops. They are also the number one all-time artist played at every sporting event in America. And in terms of creativity, they have managed to use the word hell in more song titles than any artist in history. Plus, every rock station in America is apparently contractually obligated to play either “You Shook Me All Night Long,” “Back in Black,” or “Thunderstruck” at least once an hour.

If you complain about lack of growth with their music, you’re missing the point of AC/DC. The songs might all sound a little similar, but there’s a reason they’ve been around so long. They’re like that old buddy from college who you can always count on to put a smile on your face, even if he only knows one joke. He just needs to know how to tell it right. If you’re looking for growth and maturity from an artist, get a copy of the new Guns N’ Roses CD. I hear it makes a great coaster.

Check out the greatest rock band of all time when they bring their Black Ice tour to The BOK Center in Tulsa on Monday, Jan. 26 at 8pm. Tickets are $91.50 and can be purchased by calling 1-866-7-BOK-CTR or online at www.bokcenter.com.

I honestly hope I didn’t offend anyone with my earlier comments about Rascal Flatts, but if I did, don’t get your panties in a wad. I have good news for you. Get ready…wait for it…Celine Dion is coming! Oh, how much I have to say about Celine coming to play here! But wait, it seems I’m about to reach my word limit. Alas! I suppose it will have to suffice to tell you that Celine will be at the BOK Center on Monday, Feb. 2 at 8pm. Tickets range from $49.50 to $167.00 and can be purchased by calling 1-866-7-BOK-CTR or online at www.bokcenter.com. Now I know what to get my dad for his birthday.