Ten Questions with Red City Radio

Red City Radio is an OKC-based post-hardcore / punk rock / “Grizzled Pop” band that will be releasing a new EP on Eyeball Records tomorrow, June 13 (with a CD release show at The Conservatory). This interview was conducted via email with RCR guitarist/vocalist and long-time member of the OKC underground music scene Paul.

Dave: How did the band get together? What is the history of the band?

Paul: By accident really, a guy, who turned out to share a number friends with me, named Ryan Healy moved next door. We started playing guitar, drinking whiskey, just basically hanging out, and ended writing some songs that we both thought were good enough to share with an audience. We hooked up with Dallas by posting a drummer wanted thread on a forum. A little later we found our first bass player. Played a couple of shows. Ryan left to concentrate on Radio Deception. We then found Garrett the same way I found Dallas. Played some more shows recorded a split ep with Barry Johnston of The City and Skyway. Toured. Toured some more. Parted ways with Justin (original bassist) and invited Jonothan of Anchors for Arsenal to become the bassist/ fourth vocalist (he had previously filled in for Ryan on guitar for a couple of show after he left the band)Toured (some more). The rest is details…

Dave: You have a new CD coming out. What is the story behind the album?

Paul: It’s 5 song e.p. called The Sons And Daughters Of Woody Guthrie. We recorded it with Stephen Egerton at Armstrong in Tulsa. It’s kind of our tribute to our home state and the music scene that at times has been difficult but ultimately fulfilling. We love Oklahoma and we consider this our gift to it.

Dave: How did the split CD Western Hymnals with Streets of Thieves come about?

Paul: When we first started playing shows we were looking for some other bands to book some local gigs with. Our mutual friend John Hart (he does our shirt and all the silk screened posters) introduced Brad Blanco (now our roadie extraordinaire and 5th RCR member) and myself and we all became fast friends. They went to Enid to record with Barry at about the same time we were discussing going into the studio. We loved the sound they were getting so we went to the same place. Since both of us only recorded three songs we figured our powers combined would make for a better and more marketable product. That and who better to share a cd with than you best friends.

Dave: Who are your favorite bands to play with? If you could open up for or tour with any band, who would it be?

Paul: Oooh a two parter. Well, to the first part, I’ll say our band philosophy has always been and will continue to be “anytime anywhere with anyone” so I’ll let that be our answer. To the second part I’d say all us would literally poop our pants if we could share a bill with The Gaslight Anthem and The Avett Brothers.

Dave: How did you get connected with the record label that you are working with? Are you happy with the label? Are there any particular labels that you would like to work with in the future?

Paul: We hooked up with Eyeball by chance. Dallas met Alex Eyeball at the AP party at SXSW and handed him some final mixes of our latest cd. About a month later he started contacting us and next thing you know we had an agreement. Really, it was just luck…and some good songs. We haven’t really worked with the label long enough to express an opinion about our working relationship but I will say that Alex seems to be a genuine, honest and all around good dude. As far as other labels, I’ll say that we look forward to working with ANYONE who feels as passionately about distributing our music as we feel about playing it, the rest is just numbers.

Dave: Your music reminds me a lot of Hot Water Music (based on what I’ve heard from the Western Hymnals CD). Are you comfortable with the post-hardcore / emo label? How do you describe your music?

Paul: In a word…no. To me those are two completely separate terms. Sure they share a few stylistic similarities but to say they are deserving of being joined by a backslash is a bit shortsighted and ignorant of music history (no offense Dave). With that said we don’t consider ourselves either of those genres. In fact I don’t think any of us could tell you exactly what we play specifically. We know it’s punk based. Other than that who knows? We’ve been compared to Jawbreaker, Braid, Hot Water Music, Off With Their Heads, American Steel, Small Brown Bike, The Broadways, and recently newsok.com compared us to Bruce Springsteen. These are flattering comparisons but they are so varied (IMO) that they cancel each other out. So we just refer to ourselves as “Grizzled Pop” and leave it at that.

[Note: Paul makes a good point here. In this day and age emo and post-hardcore are two very distinct genres, but that wasn’t always the case. All of the early and classic emo bands were also post-hardcore bands (Rites of Spring, Embrace, Fugazi, Sunny Day Real Estate, Jawbox, Hot Water Music, etc.) and it is those bands that I think of when I hear the word emo (what can I say…I’m old).]

Dave: What do you write about? Do you have any type of song writing process?

Paul: Whatever we’re feeling at the time. Sometimes it’s political/societal, sometimes it’s personal, sometimes it’s just an observation of moment witnessed at a bar on a clear night. Our process, if you want to call it that, is someone has an idea, a melody, a chord progression, or even a complete song, and we collectively work on it until it ends up completely different than when we started. Everyone has a say. Every idea is at least tried. And to buck the cliché, too many chefs can make better soup.

Dave: Do you have any plans to tour in support of the new record?

Paul: We have a 23 day west coast toured booked starting with a tour kick off July 10th with Balthazar at The Conservatory. That happens to be Nikoli Tesla’s birthday for those of you who are into electric motors and magnetically powered hover craft.

Dave: What do you think of the music scene in Oklahoma? How do think it has changed over the years? What OK based bands do you think are worth checking out at the moment?

Paul: The music scene in Oklahoma is a tough discussion. It ebbs and flows. I have had the benefit of seeing it grow then whither then come back stronger. What it doesn’t lack, however, is the ability to spawn truly phenomenal music. It’s funny that today I hear a lot of people harp on the lack of this and that. But they don’t have the benefit of our experience. As you and a lot of people know, we didn’t used to have clubs that were all ages. Or any that would book local bands or even touring punk acts. We had to make it happen ourselves. At legion halls or sub shops or houses or anywhere that would open its doors and let a bunch of kids in. Today there is so much more than even ten years ago that it’s frankly remarkable. I still think the best is yet to come and I hope our and other’s success will trickle, wait, strike that, cascade down to the next bands in line. There are so many amazing bands deserving of every cent they earn, every clap they hear and every piece of press that come their way. Right now my favorites are John Moreland and The Black Gold Band, Over Stars and Gutters and The City and Skyway. I expect huge things from all of them pretty soon. And the great thing is all I have to do is go out tomorrow and I very well might have another to add to that list.

Dave: Any final thoughts?

Paul: Thanks for taking the time for this interview. I love your blog and I wish I saw you out more although I understand how fatherhood could get in the way of that. Cheers. See you soon.

Read more of Dave Brown’s interviews and thoughts on his political and culture blog, Oklahoma Lefty.