Norman Music Fest: Rainbows are Free's favorite crowds? 'Really drunk ones'

If you envision five guys frolicking in a big, open field beneath a colorful rainbow, your preconceptions of Rainbows Are Free are completely off base. Think more like a big, open field with a lot of mud, bandanas, illegal substances and giant men with bald heads and ponytails in the middle of their beards head-nodding to heavy metal.

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Rainbows Are Free

Rainbows Are Free intentionally chose a name that disguises their satanic, dark-metal vibe, which could suck in even the faintest of hearts.

“[Our favorite crowds are] really drunk ones,” lead guitarist Richie Tarver said. “We are hoping that a little fear of death will kind of get everyone going.”

The deliciously sarcastic bandmates joke that if they were not musicians, they would be Satan or astronauts, which they were all in agreement with.

“We would spend all day in space, I don’t care how uncomfortable [it is],” the band mates laughed. “We are gonna go for that next summer, I think.”

Rainbows Are Free is a collaboration of Norman natives under Guestroom Records’ label who are all about “heavy devil music.” They claim their main interest is to worship Satan.

However, their friendly banter and potent sense of humor make you want to hang out with them despite mom’s anticipated disapproval.

This is the band’s fifth year to play Norman Music Fest, making them main stage vets.

“[We did it] because they said they would give us money,” Tarver joked. “No, we like to support because we are part of the community. We would maybe do it for slightly less money. We love all of the guys who are doing it and it is a big music festival blocks away from every one’s houses. It makes Norman a pretty cool place for a weekend.”

Courtney Goforth

Courtney is a former staff member of The Oklahoma Daily who worked as Life & Arts Reporter.