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NEXT WEEK'S QUESTION FOR OUR YOUTH READERS:
What is your favorite thing in the Leader? Any ideas for new features in the Leader?
In honor of Newspaper in Education week, we request responses from readers age 20 and below
E-mail your response to oologahspeaks@sbcglobal.net.
LAKEVIEWS
By John M. Wylie II, Publisher
AGING ROCKERS DRAW WELL FROM OOLOGAH-TALALA
If things seemed a bit quiet around Oologah and Talala Tuesday evening, it was because so many residents were in downtown Tulsa.
From the banker to the pastor and the publisher to the lawyer/rancher, they gathered at the BOK Center to see two music legends, Eric Clapton and Roger Daltrey, prove that age need not diminish ability.
For three glorious hours, seniors were suddenly going back to their college days while the younger fans saw the difference between plain rock music and rock music produced by the geniuses of the genre.
Clapton and Tulsa have a long and storied history together. His voice has deepened and he's dyed his hair and is wearing geek glasses, but his vocals are as haunting or raucous (as the song demands) as ever and his genius as a guitarist remains unchallenged.
Aging rock legends who don't have it any more try to recreate the sounds forged by blending the strengths of the other geniuses who made up earlier bands.
Aging rock legends who still have it do fresh arrangements to fit the talents of those musicians who now surround them. Clapton's traveling ensemble is outstanding, and he's rearranged some classics to showcase their talents, since he no longer has his bandmates from Cream and Blind Faith.
The new version of the Cream classic Badge was perhaps the most notable, but there were many others.
His acoustic set was so moving that the audience was dead quiet except for gasps of pleasure as songs started and sustained applause as they ended.
The electric sets pounded the walls and ceilings, driving even great-grandmas to stay on their feet dancing.
Usually the crowd gets restless early in the set of an opening act. Not Tuesday, but then very few musicians have The Who's Roger Daltrey as their lead-in.
Who fans viewing the disastrous Super Bowl halftime show thought that the heart and soul of the Who had died.
Daltrey and his backup band-no Pete Townsend-showed that the musical heart and soul of the Who is very much alive and was on display for the fans of Oklahoma.
As Clapton did later, Daltrey offered new arrangements of some Who classics to take best advantage of the musicians who now surround him. Other classics came alive in their original form for the enthusiastic audience.
Daltrey also showed depth by doing a blues selection and an Irish number. Though the set lasted almost an hour and fans were anxious for Clapton, they'd gladly have taken some more Daltrey first.
The concert also showcased what the BOK has brought to Green Country-a first class venue that is attracting first class talent and selling out concert after concert. The acoustics are awesome, the facilities are inviting, and earlier glitches in getting fans through the doors smoothly have been ironed out.
My special concern was handicapped seating, and the BOK system is by far the best I've seen in any venue including ones in New York and LA. (The seats are so good that ushers had to chase away some folks with pricier floor tickets who tried to crash the handicapped balcony instead.)
Downtown Tulsa is definitely coming back, and the Tulsa music scene is far richer because of this facility. (So are parking lot owners who are charging up to $40. Best bet: drive a few blocks away where there's on-street parking, wait until after 5, and pull in. The meters shut down, the parking is free, and the walk will be good for you.)
And what about the local folks who attended? Banker Steve Savage is a musician, and son Greg is following his Dad.
Lance Houghtling is a lawyer/rancher/musician and was there with wife Coni, his sister and her husband.
Pastor David Wheeler is an accomplished musician and rock aficionado.
And me? I played a lot of Clapton and Daltrey back in the '70s when I was in radio.
It was a great night!
SENATE REPORT
By State Sen. Sean Burrage
Click here to download.
CHEROKEE CHAT
By Cara Cowan Watts
Click here to download.
OKLAHOMA'S HOUSE
By State Rep. Chuck Hoskin
Click here to download
TAD BIT
By State Rep. Tad Jones
Click here to download
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