The allure of the concrete jungles in big cities out of state may lure away many Oklahomans, but some of them – particularly the creative types – find their way back home, where their roots have more room to stretch in Oklahoma’s wide open spaces.
“I used to think that living in a bigger city made me more creative, but I don’t think that’s true anymore,” says singer/songwriter Beau Jennings.
“In a bustling, busy city, you can be inspired, but the reality is it takes longer to get anywhere, so it’s harder to get anything done, and that can easily stifle your creativity. So I think in many ways, logistically, it’s much more open and free to make music here.”
Jennings made his way back to Norman to raise a family after living and making music in both Brooklyn and Austin, Tex., and didn’t waste any time in recruiting some of Oklahoma’s most seasoned musicians to form The Tigers in early 2012.
Based out of Blackwatch Studios in Norman, Jennings And The Tigers have quickly become a rock and roll band to be reckoned with, whose live show is guaranteed to have music lovers up on their feet.
Its upcoming debut EP Sweet Action is set for release in February, with a string of shows on a short regional tour through Texas, Kansas and Arkansas in the works shortly after.
Said to channel the energy of early Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and the more modern sounds of Wilco, the Tigers’ upcoming Sweet Action is packed with aggressive and upbeat songs, with a faster tempo than what Jennings has traditionally written and performed live.
“Even though I’ve always loved rock and roll, it’s a little newer for me to perform, and it’s partially because I think that a lot of things are dictated by your surroundings and your environment. Different places have the ability to affect your sound,” Jennings explains.
“You can’t really be a rock band wherever you want to play. When I lived in New York, I found that it’s hard to have your amps and drums set up because everyone is living in such close quarters – so it’s easier being a folk musician in a big city, where you really just need an acoustic guitar to write and play music. In Oklahoma it’s a lot easier to play rock and roll. There’s more room to explore and be loud.”
