Punk Revival in Tulsa - Horse Tells All
Interview and Shoot ★ Photos via Ania Hoefer, creative direction and writing via Shaughnessy Hoefer ★ @aniascaptures / @shaugnessyrxse
Grunge, the angst-filled, gritty rock movement of the early '90s, has made a comeback, particularly in the post-pandemic era, where its themes of alienation and self-reflection feel more relevant than ever. Some may argue that the Punk genre and scene is clawing its way out of the capitalism-ridden hole the subgenre unfortunately fell into; and Ultimately, I agree.
So many local scenes are seeing a so-called “punk revival” which is bringing more talented rock bands, not only punk, out of the alleyways. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, the local music scene has been growing as each year passes. Sure, there is a lot of country and red dirt rock as you’d expect, but there are more punk, shoegaze, and grunge bands coming about.
Recently, I had the chance to talk to a local progressive grunge band based out of Tulsa. Horse, who’s name is easily remembered, plays mostly around the Tulsa and OKC scene. Ania and I were even able to catch their show at Noisetown, in Tulsa. They are avidly talented, passionate, and so much fun to watch live. Some photos features all four members, and some feature three due to scheduling conflicts, but each member of the band brings a special vibe to the band that just coexists so well. We talked about leaving behind genres, inspirations, and the impact of local scenes. Using my creative liberty and bouncing ideas off of the band, we also ended up with some sick pictures that capture the essence of 90’s grunge, highlighted by the beautiful downtown area of Tulsa.
A Conversation with Horse
Shaughn: First of all, what is everyone’s name and instrument?
O: I’m Owen, I play lead guitar.
Ch: I’m Chaz and I play the drums
Co: I’m Coda, I play bass
M: I’m Maggie, I’m lead vocals and rhythm guitar.
S: How long have you been a band?
Ch: Mm, about two years.
O: Nah, two and half
M: With current lineup, like five months.
S: Cool! At what age did you all pick up your instruments?
O: I was in sixth grade, so like 13.
Ch: I kinda had drums around my whole life but I started taking them seriously when I was
around 17.
Co: I started at 15.
M: I started guitar when I was 14, and I started singing about two years ago.
S: Alright, how would each of you describe your music in two words?
O: I mean, we’ve always defined ourselves as like a progressive grunge band.
S: Sure, but if you could use any two other words?
O; Oh, two other words?
M: I think we’re all very passionate, so I would say that word.
Co: Think about feeling, Don’t think about genre, think about feeling.
M: I mean we’re all friends and we really enjoy doing it together.
S: The power of friendship jokingly
O: Yes. Friend and Power.
S: Friend and Power?
O: Yes.
Laughing
Ch: I think Horse’s music has always been kind of in it’s own bubble. In a way that it wasn’t focused on genre in the beginning, which I think has helped culture it’s unique sound. And I’ve really enjoyed playing with them. But two words? Man...
Co: Bubble Aquatic
Ch: Bubble, Aquatic, and Red. Venetian.
S: Okay! Who are your biggest inspirations? It can be personally, or for the whole band.
O: We all really like Tool.
M: Definitely some Deftones sounds.
Ch: Alice in Chains as well. That was a big one in the beginning.
M: For sure. For me, Layne Staley is like one of, if not, my biggest vocal inspiration. And Maynard James Keenan. I love his rhythmic approach.
Co: My Bloody Valentine.
Ch: Slowdive has been a huge influence on me lately. I have to throw Rush in there too as a drummer thing. And Danny Carey, I’m kinda like a knock-off version of him. And there’s always other types of genres that I pull from like jazz and stuff for my songwriting approach.
S: Cool! How has the Tulsa/OKC scene impacted you guys?
O: Every show we play is different, it’s never the same. We play with a lot of different genres, you know like Midwest emo bands, some shoe gaze stuff, what not. I feel like all of those genres kind of help define us with being around them and everyone influencing each other.
S: So it’s kinda like a good accumulation?
Ch: I’ve always looked at it and bounced off of it and stuff. There’s a lot of artsy bands, and there’s a lot of punk in Tulsa. I think that’s an underrated thing. There’s a lot of fast, almost early punk sounds coming out of Tulsa right now.
S: I was actually going to ask about that! Do you guys think that there’s kind of a punk revival in Tulsa?
M: We are so punk inspired. Like that is one of my biggest inspirations. Early punk especially.
Ch: I got into that probably from Thrash. Then I started listening to some of that Late 70’s - Early 80’s goth stuff.
Co: There’s a lot of good punk bands in Tulsa. I went to a ‘Flash Point’ show like a year ago and they were really good.
Ch: ‘Academy Order’ was cool too.
S: Speaking of other local bands, what bands do you recommend?
O: Definitely ‘Velvetine’
Ch: ‘Velvetine’. I have no bias there. At all. (Chaz plays guitar/keyboard for Velvetine)
M: I really liked ‘Unit 14’ when we saw them. We just played with them.
Co: Probably ‘Morris Village’.
M: ‘Lone Gun, No Motive’. Oh, and ‘Saber Tooth’.
