NEWS
9/13/18
9/10/18
ESTER DRANG Returns with First New Music in 12 Years
Celebrated post-rock band Ester Drang will release a new EP, “The Appearances,” October 26, 2018, on Oklahoma City independent record label Clerestory AV. The Appearances will be released on vinyl, CD and digitally, and will be the band’s first release in 12 years.
Original members Bryce Chambers (songwriter and multi-instrumentalist) and Kyle Winner (bass) have returned for the band’s reformation, with Ester Drang’s signature lush, atmospheric sound bolstered by Tommy McKenzie (NET, Stardeath and White Dwarfs) and Hank Hanewinkel III (Nuns, Native Lights).
“The Appearances” is a half hour of the expansive, effects-laden songcraft on which Ester Drang built its dedicated following, but it also demonstrates marked growth—developed over time spent in interim bands, on the road as a quartet with English rock band Echo and the Bunnymen and through a long recording process both at Chambers’ home studio and in sessions across the country—for a band in its second era.
Chambers credits the Bunnymen tours for sparking the Ester Drang flame after such a long hiatus. He described working on the new music as “like seeing an old friend that you haven't seen in years. Just a rush of old memories come back, and you sit a while, catch up on life and become friends yet again.”
In addition to the new lineup, a number of notable musicians with Oklahoma connections appear, including: James McAlister (founding drummer of Ester Drang who has worked with Sufjan Stevens, St. Vincent, the National and more), cellist Jon Paul Pope and Nathan Price of BRONCHO.
“I've been a fan of Ester Drang since their first record release show in 1999,” said Clerestory AV owner Chris Stellman. “They were the first local band I saw break out of the Oklahoma music scene and receive acclaim on a national level. I knew they'd been playing some shows again after a long hiatus, and I and reached out to Bryce about working together. I was thrilled when he replied about doing an EP. I honestly think this is the best music they've ever made, and I'm honored to be working with them.”
The track list includes “The Union,” originally released in July 2017 as a pre-tour single, and a cover of influential shoegaze band Starflyer 59’s “2nd Space Song.” Ester Drang will perform a release show for “The Appearances” in Oklahoma City on October 27, with additional dates to follow.
"The Appearances" is available for preorder on vinyl (transparent blue vinyl and transparent orange vinyl, both limited to 250 copies.) and CD here.
Press inquiries: ClerestoryAV@gmail.com
9/7/18
Excited to share this track from Samantha Crain and John Calvin Abney's split 7", OKAY Vinyl Series Volume 1.
I'm not exaggerating when I say this is the most beautiful song this label has ever released, and trust me -- it sounds even better on vinyl. Enjoy the music, and preorder here.
8/6/18
It's with great excitement that we announce the OKAY Vinyl Series: a collection of limited-edition split 7" records celebrating some of the finest talent in Oklahoma and beyond.
Vol. 1 will be released September 28 and features new songs by Samantha Crain and John Calvin Abney. John and Samantha are artists in the truest sense; they represent what is best about our local music scene, and it's a tremendous honor to be working with them for this project. Offerings by Oklahoma artists Husbands, Tallows, and Beau Jennings, as well as Texas-via-Oklahoma band Lord Buffalo, are slated for future volumes. Concerts celebrating each release and more bands for future volumes are to be announced.
All tracks to date have been recorded with Scott Johnson and Dustin Ragland at Stowaway Recording in Oklahoma City’s Deep Deuce neighborhood. Photographer Ryan Magnani has shot black-and-white photos for the project as well, and all the records will be pressed on colored vinyl, creating a visual continuity throughout the run of the OKAY series. There is no A-side or B-side; rather, each artist receives equal billing and one side of the jacket art.
Preorder Volume 1, or subscribe to Volumes 1-4 here.
7/29/18
Missed Cheyenne's once-in-a-lifetime reunion show at Norman Music Festival? No worries! Our bud Nathan Poppe captured some fantastic footage... check our MEDIA page for three rad tracks.
Oh, and if you like Cheyenne, and the people who are in and have been in Cheyenne, you're gonna like what we have planned... stay tuned.
4/13/18
I Am Haunted, I Am Alive is out now! All preorders have been shipped. If you're in Oklahoma you can find copies at both Guestroom locations (Norman and OKC). Remember, all LPs include download card for Cheyenne Songs, which features covers covers of the bands' songs by 26 artists including John Moreland, BRONCHO, Travis Linville, Samantha Crain, Husbands, Tallows... and so many more.
A special thank you to everyone who has helped support this release, including Nathan Poppe who wrote a really rad article about the project, and Ryan LaCroix / KOSU / The Oklahoma Rock Show, who dedicated 2 hours of their radio show to Cheyenne Songs!
Oh! And check out this beautiful video made by our friends at Old Blood Noise Endeavors of Beau performing "Boats & Black Waves".
3/13/13
Cheyenne's Beau Jennings recently sat down with friend/writer/musician Becky Carman to answer some questions about the history of Cheyenne, the vinyl reissue of I Am Haunted, I Am Alive, and the covers album Cheyenne Songs.
You can read the interview here.
3/5/18
Over the next few weeks we'll be sharing some covers from Cheyenne Songs. We really loved Student Film's take on one of our favorite Cheyenne tracks "The Whale". Keep checking back for more covers as we get closer to the release date.
Cheyenne Songs is available as a digital download exclusively with the purchase of I Am Haunted, I Am Alive.
2/12/18
We are very excited to announce the track list for Cheyenne Songs, the collection of Cheyenne covers that will be included as a download with purchase of the I Am Haunted, I Am Alive LP. This album contains some of the absolute best and most talented artists around, and we're thrilled and honored to have them involved in this project. The only way to get these songs is to buy the record, which is available for preorder now (and going fast...)
From I Am Haunted, I Am Alive
1 Chase Kerby – You Were The Sound
2 Sherree Chamberlain – Houses
3 Jeff Richardson - I Learned About Drugs From A Textbook
4 Brine Webb – Say the Answer Slowly
5 Travis Linville – Boats & Black Waves
6 BRONCHO – Anymore
7 LABRYS – A Long While
8 Kyle Reid – That Word Long Written Down
9 Young Weather – The Prose and Not the Poetry
10 Le Salaud et la Salope - The Prose and Not the Poetry
11 Chad Copelin – The Virginian (Remix)
12 Samantha Crain – Believe and Escape
From The Whale
13 Student Film – The Whale
14 Ben Kilgore – Broken English
15 John Moreland – Big Weather
16 Tyler Hopkins – That Was the Ghost
17 Sam Billen – Cimarron River
18 Cameron Neal (of Horse Thief) – The Curtain
19 Becky Carman – This is the Fashion
20 Tallows - The Army Marching Past
21 SLEBS – Cotton Beach
From Kings County
22 Husbands – Bad Times
23 Klipspringer – Monster Trucks
From The Land Rush
24 Wynn Walent – As Long As I Can
25 Evil Natives – Write It Down In Red
26 Jared Deck – I’ll Be Gone
27 M. Lockwood Porter - Horsepower
2/2/18
We've been keeping this one a secret for way too long... We are excited and honored to be releasing Cheyenne's debut album I Am Haunted, I Am Alive for the first time on vinyl.
But that's not all... Making the release even more special is Cheyenne Songs, a collection of covers by Oklahoma music heroes including John Moreland, BRONCHO, Samantha Crain, and Travis Linville. Download of this digital album will be included with purchase of the vinyl. This pressing is limited to 200 copies. You can preorder here. Read more below...
Cheyenne's classic album I Am Haunted, I Am Alive to be reissued on vinyl April 13, 2018
Led by songwriter Beau Jennings, the Norman-based americana/indie-rock band Cheyenne helped pioneer Oklahoma's burgeoning original music renaissance in the early 2000's. Cheyenne's debut album I Am Haunted, I Am Alive was originally released on Kansas City based label The Record Machine in 2005, and became an instant classic within the Oklahoma music scene and beyond, eventually being named one of Oklahomarock.com's top 10 records of the 2000's. Clerestory AV is proud to now make Haunted available for the first time on LP through a limited edition pressing of 200 copies on 150-gram clear vinyl. The record has been remastered for vinyl by TW Walsh, and includes a full color inner sleeve showcasing stunning original artwork by Jamison Hunt.
Included as a special bonus with the record will be a digital download of Cheyenne Songs, a collection of covers by friends of the band including John Moreland, BRONCHO, Samantha Crain, Travis Linville, and over 20 others, with a full track list to be announced soon. This collection is currently available exclusively with purchase of LP.
PRESS:
“If you combine the breathy, deep vocals of Pedro The Lion's David Bazan with the wistfulness of Sufjan Stevens, you might get Cheyenne's Beau Jennings... Jennings differs by approaching the singer/songwriter sphere from a frontier-Western perspective, addressing themes of spritituality and heartache during times of turmoil.” - Magnet Magazine
“His influences are varied: he tells stories like Tom Waits, ask questions like Bob Dylan and sings like Jeff Tweedy. But Jennings is better than the sum of his parts, and Cheyenne has just raised the bar for musicians and audiences alike...” - Fran Magazine
“Beau Jennings...sure does not disappoint. [Cheyenne’s] ability to make accessible countrified pop is authentic, with or without the slick production; although the production on I Am Haunted, I Am Alive is damn near flawless... We’ll let’s see, Conor has Nebraska, Sufjan has Michigan, maybe Jennings has Oklahoma?” - Silence Magazine
1/13/18
Lord Buffalo Live on KUTX
Check out this sweet video of Lord Buffalo performing "Saxifrage" from their new LP. You can also find a performance of a new song "Halle Berry".
12/13/17
Praise for Lord Buffalo
As we wrap up an incredible release month and gear up for an exciting new year, we wanted to thank those who have shared kind words about the new Lord Buffalo album. We're proud of how it came out, and are glad you liked it too! Thank you for supporting independent artists and labels. If you still haven't heard the record yet, check it out!
10/27/17
Lord Buffalo will be performing a series of record release shows in Texas and Oklahoma. Check out the dates below, and go see them if you can! (above image by Chris Castro)
November 15 - Austin, TX - KUTX.org (live on-air at 2:30PM CST)
November 15 - Austin, TX - The Swan Dive (with Sun Machine, Marijuana Sweet Tooth, Jesse Wooten) | TICKETS
November 16 - Dallas, TX - Armoury DE (with Natural Anthem, The Angelus)
November 17 - OKC, OK - Capital City Barber Shop (with Beau Jennings) | TICKETS
November 19 - Austin, TX - Waterloo Records
10/6/17
"Lord Buffalo’s self-titled LP is mesmerizing, an impassioned and startling work that successfully translates the dangerous beauty of the deepest parts of the West into a musical experience."
- ovrld.com
Check out ovrld.com for a great review of Lord Buffalo's new album, out November 17.
More news coming soon, including tour dates... Until then, preorder the new album on CD, LP, or deluxe bundle here.
9/11/17
CAV007. Announcement trailer below. We couldn't be more thrilled about this. Pre-order now!