Beau Jennings and R.R. Williams release “Embers” - Out April 3
by zoe
Oklahoma music lovers rejoice! Beau Jennings and R.R. Williams are igniting an anthemic, gritty, hook-driven song of hope and brotherly bonds. Their new track “Embers” is out April 3.
For anyone who has been a fan of Jennings’ music, this track is quintessential Beau Jennings, perfectly Oklahoman, perfectly witty, and maybe a little realistically pessimistic.
You can hear this in the opening line of “Did the dream get away? Did the good road end? Did you wake up this morning defeated again?”
It’s a question that may sound familiar to fans of Jennings’ songs, where he often poses these big-picture reflections. But this new track carries something else, something that has always been present in his work but burns especially bright here: hope.
With “Embers,” Jennings and Williams lean into their shared love of rock and roll, the kind built on the stubborn belief that even in burnout, the embers are worth tending.
The chorus drives that sentiment home with the lines, “We play guitars with our friends, and that’s as good as it gets. Everybody’s here, and everybody’s trying to get to the heart, to keep it alive, and the light only burns for so long.”
It captures the spirit of the track, finding beauty in something temporary and making the most of the moment. It’s a song that may resonate with anyone who takes in every Oklahoma sunset, who takes the scenic route, who savors every sip of life.
Written by Jennings, “Embers” is the second release in an ongoing collaboration between the two fixtures of the Oklahoma music scene.
Musically catchy and built on driving guitars, “Embers” merges Jennings’ gift for melody with Williams’ punk-bred urgency, resulting in a sound that is playful yet intense.
“I don’t know that either of us has ever fit neatly into one Oklahoma scene. But I think when we write together it feels right. I think ‘Embers’ is mostly about staying focused on what you value most through successes and failures.”
-Beau Jennings
There’s a sense of connection and brotherhood that gives “Embers” its emotional weight, this feeling that the two artists really understand each other.
“We’re on the same page about what makes a song matter.”
-R.R. Williams
At its core, the track is about showing up for each other, continuing to perform, write, and create, and holding onto the fragile bonds that keep things going when the sparks start to fade.
As the song puts it, “I know you’ll burn forever in a song.” That is exactly what this track accomplishes.
This song feels like a third inning, a half-drunk dive bar beer, a smoke path on a firework, a slightly cracked open door, the traces of something urging you to make it last.
“Embers” will be available on all streaming platforms April 3, 2026.
An Ode to Straight Edge for Alcohol Awareness Month
by Granny Anarchy
Straight edge, sometimes abbreviated as sXe, X, or XXX, arose as a reaction to (and subculture within) the hardcore scene of the 1980s. The term came from a 46-second Minor Threat song called “Straight Edge.” (Like many others, the song was not originally meant to be an anthem but was misinterpreted.) Frontman Ian MacKaye is generally considered to be the progenitor of the sXe movement. Straight edge was a rejection of substance abuse and other excesses which seemed to be standard within the punk scene.
Punk music arose in the 1970s as alienated youth reacted to oppressive conditions and stagnating opportunities. Punk was antiauthoritarian, individualistic, and as artsy as it was antic. However, a large chunk of it never broke completely away from a pervasive rock and roll mindset of substance use and abuse.
Straight edge - birthed in the early 1980s - focused more on affirming life and unity. It denied decadence, stripping down to essentials while amping up speed, shouting, and the opportunity to stomp and stagedive in adrenaline-fueled communal catharsis. sXe was emotional release and visceral therapy for bands and fans.
Those who were straight edge chose to avoid alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drugs - often also forgoing caffeine, prescription medication, and other “vices.” Some sXers also promoted progressive ideals such as anarchism, anti-capitalism, anti-fascism, feminism, animal rights, and veganism. To be straight edge seemed, largely, to obtain self-actualization through clean living and positive lifestyle choices and relationships.
StraightedgeembracedanXsymbolmarkedonthebackofthe hands.VenueswouldoftenplaceanXonunderageattendeesto preventthemfromorderingdrinks;sXersadoptedandflauntedthis emblemtoshowthattheywerewillfullyandproudlyabstainingfrom alcoholandothersubstances.
Therehasbeendichotomyandcontroversyinstraightedge.While sXemayhaveprovidedapositivealternativetopeerpressure, substanceabuse,andself-harm,itsdemographicwaslargelywhite andmale.Somebegantobecomehomophobicandmorejudgmental, bothofthosewho“brokeedge”andthosewhowerenotsXersinthe firstplace.Suchrigid“hardliners”wereshunnedinthe1990sandas straightedgebecamemorewell-known,diversityincreased,allowing aninfluxofattitudesandopinions.
“Krishnacore”(Shelter,CroMags)allowedanimalrightsadvocatesto setupaHinduspiritualframeworkthatsupportedtheirsXepositivity. StraightedgebandswithBlack(SoulGlo)andfemale(Gather) membersappeared,aswellassXerswhoareLatino,LGBTQ,and more.Straightedgehasspread acrosstheglobe,withmusicians fromavarietyofcountriesand backgrounds.Almostallofthese modernbandsandfansstillshare aninterestinsimple,minimalist style,cleanliving,andprogressive ideologyincluding anti-establishmentarianism andanimalrights.
[Image via the Oklahoma Underground Music Archive]
Low-stakes Oscar takes Part Two!
Last month, I reviewed some of this year’s Best Picture nominees, and at the time there were a few I hadn’t gotten around to yet. But great news: I’ve now seen all of the Best Picture nominees, and the Oscars have wrapped, so we have the full results. Yay!
If you need a refresher on my earlier takes, here are the TL;DRs:
For “Marty Supreme,” which ultimately picked up no awards: “Uncut Gems, but make it ping-pong.”
For “One Battle After Another,” which picked up several awards, including Best Picture: “The most I’ve enjoyed Leonardo DiCaprio in a while.”
For “Sinners,” which also picked up several awards and may have had an even broader cultural impact than any other film: “My second favorite recent movie with Jack O’Connell as a villain.”
For “Sentimental Value,” which won Best International Feature: “Ouch. That hurt.”
And for “Bugonia,” which left empty-handed: “The cinematic version of ‘haha no…unless.’”
The ones I hadn’t seen at the time were “The Secret Agent,” “Hamnet,” “Frankenstein,” “Train Dreams,” and “F1”. I’ll be real, I don’t think anyone wants to hear my thoughts on “F1” because I’m not really the audience. But I will say I think it’s wild it was up for editing at all, considering how many cuts there were per scene. Anyway, moving on…
“The Secret Agent”- I was really impressed with this film. It definitely helps if you’ve seen last year’s film “I’m Still Here,” which gives some context for the 1970s Brazilian political landscape. It might be a bit confusing without that background. Overall, I was really taken by Wagner Moura’s performance and felt completely gripped by the plot.
TL;DR: If I had leg, I’d kick you.
“Hamnet” - Jessie Buckley was a frontrunner for her performance from the start, and it’s so deserved. This story follows William Shakespeare and his wife (played by Buckley) as they grieve a family loss (keeping it spoiler-free-ish). It is completely gut-wrenching. I feel like there is always at least one nominee each year that just rips your heart out and stomps on it. That is “Hamnet” this time around.
TL;DR: This movie is the reason I heard someone suggest adding a juvenile performance category to the Oscars. Shoutout to Jacobi Jupe.
“Frankenstein” - I didn’t hate this movie as much as some other people did. I didn’t love it either, but as someone who is a fan of Mary Shelley’s novel, I think it delivered pretty much what I expected. It’s a slow build, but once the story shifts into the monster’s perspective, played by Jacob Elordi, it really starts to ramp up. I was especially impressed by Oscar Isaac’s performance as Dr. Frankenstein, even if he may have been overacting just a bit. And of course I’m always a sucker for Mia Goth. Overall, I thought the film was really beautiful.
TL;DR: I loved when Jacob Elordi performed “Sword of Damocles.”
That’s a Rocky Horror joke, if you didn’t pick up on that
“Train Dreams” - If you’re looking for the emotional catharsis you get from “Hamnet” but want something with a slightly more hopeful ending, this is the film for you. It explores grief in a similarly complex way, but where it differs is in one particular cinematic montage that doesn’t necessarily take you out of that grief so much as gently setting you beside it and at peace with it. It is also one of the most visually stunning films I have seen in a while.
TL;DR: I didn’t think I would emotionally connect to a movie about some guy, but here we are.
VENUES
89thStreet
8911NWesternAve(OKC) 89thstreetokc.com
BeerCityMusicHall 1141NW2nd(OKC) beercitymusichall.com
BlueDoor
2805NMcKinleyAve(OKC) bluedoorokc.com
BlueNote
2408NRobinsonAve(OKC) okcbluenote.com
Bookish
1005NW36thSt(OKC) thebookishshop.com
Criterion
500EastSheridanAve(OKC) criterionokc.com
Core4Brewing 7NLeeAve(OKC) core4brewing.com
DiamondBallroom
8001SEasternAve(OKC) diamondballroom.com
FactoryObscura 25NW9thSt(OKC) factoryobscura.com
GrandRoyale 1749NW16thSt (OKC) instagram.com/grandroyaleokc
JonesAssembly 901WSheridanAve(OKC) thejonesassembly.com
OKCider 705W.SheridanAve(OKC) okciderco.com
Opolis 113NCrawfordAve(Norman) opolis.org
ThePetShop 1529LinwoodBlvd(OKC) thepetshopokc.com
Ponyboy 423NW23rdSt(OKC) ponyboyokc.com
ResonantHead 400SW25thSt,SuiteA(OKC) resonanthead.com
Resonator 325EMainSt(Norman) resonator.space
TheSanctuary 1012NIndianaAve(OKC) facebook.com/thesanctuaryok
51stStreetSpeakeasy 1114NW51stStreet(OKC) 51stspeakeasy.com
TowerTheatre 425NW23rdSt(OKC) towertheatreokc.com
TheVenue 1103NorthVilla(OKC) thevenueokc.com
ZooAmp 2101NE50thSt(OKC) okczooamp.com
April calendar
at NMF!
THU
jigitz@BeerCity $$$
Victimof Dpig, A/B Fox @GrandRoyale $
MikeViola@BlueDoor $$
GillianWelchandDavidRawlings@RoseStatePAC $$$
BlackberrySmoke,TRIPPP@JonesAssembly $$$
Recurring Events
Celtic Jam at the Patriarch
Funk at the Blue Note
MONDAY
Open Mic every 2 and 4th Monday at Oklahoma Film Exchange nd
Blues at the Speakeasy
Bluegrass at the Patriarch Jazz at the Speakeasy
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
Experimental Night at Opolis - every 4th Wednesday
Wasted Hours: A Singer-Songwriter Showcase at Grand Royale
Bluegrass at the Speakeasy
Live Music at Johnnie’s on Britton
Open Mic Night at Core4 Brewing
THURSDAY
Song Swap at the Blue Note (usually 1st Thursdays)
Open Mic night at Factory Obscura - 1st Thursdays
DJ nights at Ponyboy
Live Music at Johnnie’s on Britton
Open Mic Night at Bookish
DJ nights at Ponyboy
Live Music at Johnnie’s on Britton
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Celtic Jam at the Banjo Museum - 4th Saturday
Celtic music at Full Circle Bookstore
SUNDAY
Songwriter Sessions - 3rd Sundays at Core4 Brewing
From Our Inbox
A Silly Goose Told Us About:
Album Rec From Zoe
I just need to take a second to give a huge five-star recommendation to an album that came out recently from artist Lala Lala. The album is “Heaven 2,” and it is a work of art. It opens with the lyrics, “Get me out of America; something in the water makes me sick,” and if that’s not a banger of an opening line, then I don’t know what is. This album is existential, dramatic, and painfully universal, perfect for fans of Water From Your Eyes or Jay Som.
Standout tracks include “Even Mountains Erode,” “Arrow,” “Tricks,” and “Scammer,” all of which appear in that exact order on the album’s tracklist.
Listen to Heaven 2
Monthly Collaborative Playlist
This month’s prompt: 4 U
Listen Here:
Next month’s prompt: May Be
Ask for a collaborator link, send us your picks for either playlist, or drop us a line via IG (@MetroSpecialCollections), FB (the OK UMA group & Metro SCR page), or email at Oklahoma.UMA@gmail.com
AMA Roadies Edition
Favorite poem or song lyrics?
I started reading poetry in grade school, and my 1st favorite poet was Robert Frost’s "Aquainted With the Night". Then I fell in love with Langston Hughes due to "The Negro Speaks of Rivers". But "Genius Child" & "Kids Who Die" currently resonate.
In college, I found Adrienne Rich and fell in love with "Storm Warnings." I also like "What Kind of Times are These."
In adulthood I discovered Muscogee poet Joy Harjo. "Remember" is beautiful but my current fave is prob "Who Invented Death and Crows...".
Other current reads are Muscogee poet Jennifer Elise Foerster, Andrea Gibson, and Brenna Twohy.
-Granny Anarchy
There’s a line from Ocean Vuong’s book of poetry “Time is a Mother,” which is simply “how come the past tense is always longer.” Also seconded on Andrea Gibson. -Zoe
I absolutely overthought this I (happily) obsess over words in all forms so I would say generally anything by Amanda Gorman or Rumi; plus many of the lyrics by My Brightest Diamond, Oh Land, Connie Converse, Kaye, Sara Bareilles, Cole Porter, Madam Gandhi, Carole King, Jesca Hoop, and Ana Tijoux. -Jackalope