We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Talking Oklahoma Blues

by Joel T. Mosman

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    When a tornado destroys the home of an Oklahoma man he finds himself looking for help as he encounters the many problems facing many Oklahomans today. Home destroyed, fired from his job, overcharged by the doctor, and called a “vagrant” by police when they find him on the street with nothing. When he finds himself in jail he decides in may just be for the best.

    Talking Oklahoma Blues was written by Joel T. Mosman of the band Oklahoma Uprising and produced at the T. Hodge Lodge.

    http://www.oklahomauprising.com

    http://www.thodgelodge.com

    “You can talk about politics or righteousness but what are you going to do about it? The channel is all you're going to change watching TV screens.” -Joel T. (Oklahoma Uprising)

    Oklahoma Uprising is a roots rock band led by Oklahoma songwriter Joel T. Mosman. Their songs cover themes from comeuppance to community, and other issues by way of allegorical storytelling. Oklahoma Uprising is a musical movement for our Oklahoma.

    During the Summer/Fall of 2017, Mosman and his band will be releasing a series of EPs that represent their catalogue of studio recordings. The first single Armed & Dangerous is a ballad about a family legacy of standing up to injustice. “It was inspired by a story my Mom told me about my grandpa.” Mosman said. “I took a few pieces of the story and just made up the rest.” Armed & Dangerous will be released May 26th, 2017 followed by their EP Bridges & Borderlines on June 24th, Mosman’s solo EP on September 15th, and the second Oklahoma Uprising EP Valley of the Wolves in November.

    All songs were produced at the T. Hodge Lodge Studio in Shawnee, Oklahoma and at the home of the band's drummer Zach Wiederstein. “When we started the band, I just wanted to make good music. As the songs began to reveal themselves, I realized that a lot of them were about my struggle to become a better person… and how I’m always failing at it!”

    The releases started as a series of songs emailed back and forth between Wiederstein and Mosman. “I would have an idea and send it to Zach. A couple days later he would put some drums on it a send it back my way.” Mosman said. “Pretty soon, we had so many tracks we didn’t know what to do with them. So we polished them up and decided to release them.”

    “I can't stay dedicated to a single genre” Mosman said in a radio interview on Lakes Country 102.1FM. The genres on the songs move from rock to folk, to blues, and even bluegrass. John Souders of The WAFTI SHOW describes the song Talking Oklahoma Blues as a “Woody-Guthrie-Bob-Dylan-esque ditty...which follows the trials and tribulations of a man whose home is wiped out by a tornado and ultimately winds up finding himself in jail.” The song Being Meat follows a bluesier feel, playing with different metaphors of a struggling underdog. As Evan Jarvicks of Cellar Door Music Group puts it: “a fun little idea that concludes with ‘It's hard bein' me’ in the final verse, adding a slight gravity to the concept without being the least bit dramatic about it.” Other songs include Get Up which is an arousing rock tune meant to inspire the listener to not just “talk about love...hate...change” but to “Get up!” and DO something about it.

    In addition to fronting the band, Mosman is a freelance writer, video blogger, promoter, and associate at T. Hodge Lodge, Inc. (Stage and studio production). He is also family and community oriented and an active citizen who maintains a line of communication with legislators, and other community leaders.

    Zach Wiederstein, the band’s drummer, percussionist, and songwriter, was born and raised in Shattuck, OK. Zach is a physical education teacher and football coach. Travis Lyon, the band’s bass player, is a father, math teacher, basketball coach and adjunct professor from Cherokee, OK. Wiederstein and Lyon met Mosman in 2007 while playing in a Red Dirt Country band when Mosman joined as a guitar player. “I was always really happy they let me tag along with them” Mosman said “I’ve always looked up to them musically. They're just all around good dudes!” The band eventually parted ways but Wiederstein and Mosman continued to make music until 2016 when they invited Lyon to join them again to form the band ‘Oklahoma Uprising’. (In addition to the trio, there are many other performers that sit in regularly)

    Oklahoma Uprising prides themselves on being a versatile, professional band that is easy to work with. Mosman is available for solo performances, or as the frontman for a three, four, or five piece band. They tailor their music to fit whatever venue or environment they are playing. Their musical spectrum includes Americana, Singer-Songwriter, Roots Rock, Folk, Blues, and Alternative Country. Oklahoma Uprising has been described as ‘Woody Guthrie with a rock band’. Songwriting influences include Sturgill Simpson, Tom Waits, and Gillian Welch. Musical influences include the Drive-By-Truckers, The Band, and Reckless Kelly.

    “If it seems like the song was a no-brainer to write and perform, that's a testament to the casual performances, which gloss over the high level of artistry that is actually present here.” -Evan Jarvicks, Cellar Door Music Group

    “...a band fronted by the town's own ‘Woody Guthrie troubadour’” -Justin Fortney, Red Brick Nights

    “Their love of Oklahoma culture and values fuels their involvement with their fans, students and the people on the fringes.” -Tahlequah Daily Press

    “Events of the last few years inspired him to form a band, Oklahoma Uprising, and write a song he calls "Talkin' Oklahoma Blues". Joel performs this Woody-Guthrie-Bob-Dylan-esque ditty for us in the Tower Studio, which follows the trials and tribulations of a man whose home is wiped out by a tornado and ultimately winds up finding himself in jail.” -John Souders, WAFTI SHOW

    Oklahoma Uprising: Oklahoma Music. Oklahoma Community. Oklahoma Spirit.

    For music, videos, merchandise, show schedule, news and blogs, join the Oklahoma Uprising at OklahomaUprising.com!
    ... more
    Purchasable with gift card

      $1.29 USD  or more

     

about

Hard times fall on a regular Oklahoman but he finds out that jail time may be the best option for him.

lyrics

Well the mouth of Oklahoma is dry
It begs a drink from the stingy skies so the clouds whip it up like a cheap cocktail
With bits of broken 2x4s, some cedar trees, and dresser drawers
Come barrelling like a freight train through the back door
Now, I ain’t got no ‘fraidy hole because I’m broke like Henry Dave Thoreau
And my ‘Walden Pond’ is just a dried up hole

Since my house got blown away I went to work to get my pay
But the boss man wasn’t nowhere to be found
They said “He’s at the barber shop” (to cut his hair and cut my job)
“Just take a little off the side” he says
“Because it’s all about that bottom line and squeezing sweat from every dime
Us upper-crusters got to eat some too! Well, some of us do…
The rest are just robots that feed on greed”

I saw the doc to ease my pain and he gave me 16 pills a day
The he said he had to go because he had a date
His date was the prescription rep and he said
“Don’t forget to read the side effects and if you can’t read I got something for that too!”
I said “What do you mean Hooked On Phonics?”
He said “Ha! Ha! Hooked on SOMETHING!”

He left with that drug company woman
and I asked the receptionist how much I owed them
She started running numbers into a machine
She said “$500 for the doctor fee and another $500 for the klozopine
And another $100 just because you had to ask”
I said “That’s fine, here’s my health insurance”
She said “Insurance? Oh honey, they cancelled you as soon as you walked in the door!”

I left that place I was half berated and the other half was plum sedated
So I forgot what I was mad about in the first place
I fell asleep in the parking lot and got called a ‘vagrant’ by the cops
And they hauled me off to finish my nap in a jail cell
I woke up in a courtroom with a judge screaming across the room
Saying what a bad, bad man I’d been
I said “Yes sir, your honor, that’s no joke if by ‘bad’ you mean I’m busted, broke
And homeless with a mile of debt to boot!”
I said “If you put me in a jail cell I guess that would be just as well
Because I’d have more there than I do right here right now!”
So they locked me up and the warden said “Welcome home!”

So thanks America for the cot in this nice hotel of hard knocks
Your tax dollars keep the bills paid around here
But your money would be much better spent if it don’t let that next tornado get
Another life and home in its path
Good luck with that!

credits

released June 10, 2017
Written, performed and recorded by Joel T. Mosman
Produced by Joel T. Mosman and Travis Hodge

www.thodgelodge.com

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Oklahoma Uprising Guthrie, Oklahoma

Alternative Country band fronted by singer/songwriter Joel T. Mosman. Lyrics about overcoming adversity rise up through raw electric guitars as a symbol of Mosman’s journey from self-destruction to self-actualization. Artistic influences include Leon Russell, Jason Isbell, Reckless Kelly, and Son Volt. Oklahoma Uprising is about the fight against existential hardship within and without. ... more

contact / help

Contact Oklahoma Uprising

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like Talking Oklahoma Blues, you may also like: