There exists a particularly famous photograph of illustrious Led Zeppelin guitarist and dark magic-wielding shaman Jimmy Page leaned back in a folding chair prior to one of his band’s legendary early 1970s shows.
Page, unlike 99 percent of people who lean back in folding chairs, was doing so in order to increase the flow of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey down his throat, a beverage he heavily favored before playing cosmic, blistering blues rock solos to sold-out concert venues in the 1960s and ’70s as one can determine by quickly skimming the Google image search returns for “Jimmy Page Jack Daniel’s.”
Alcohol has long been as sturdy a pillar of rock and roll as groupies or the kick drum. It was only a matter of time before somebody decided to try to generate some charity out of it.
Yes, you heard right: Charity. At 7:30 Saturday evening, you can “party for a good cause with Red City Radio and The City Lives” as the billing on the ticket to Boozapalooza says. Oklahoma City venue the Conservatory will host the pair of bands as they vie for the title of Best Musicians Whilst Hammered in an effort to raise money to benefit cystic fibrosis.
Experts from the Oklahoma Gazette and oklahomarock.com will be on hand alongside local musicians to preside over the evening’s activity and ultimately declare a winner. Included are Derek Knowlton of Oklahoma City’s finest live rock band, Pretty Black Chains who play every show like it’s their last.
Red City Radio are my pick to win in a landslide, as their snarling brand of rock and roll sounds like it was already recorded under heavy inebriation. The City Lives has a more polished, airy style, something like mid-period U2 were Bono replaced by a pop-punk lead singer. Sweepers like “Get Out Alive” will be really difficult to recreate as the five band members’ minds’ buckle and sway. As long as Red City Radio keeps the volume cranked up to 11, it’ll be tough to tell the difference between a good performance and a terrible one.
Boozapalooza
Who: Red City Radio, The City Lives, Sirens, BRONCHO and White Girls
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Conservatory, 8911 N. Western Ave., Oklahoma City
Proceeds benefit Cystic Fibrosis Research
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