ENTERTAINMENT BUZZ
Time to get your lips split twice
By Chris B . Critter
10 | www . thecurrentbuzz . net
ENTERTAINMENT BUZZ
TULSA , Okla . – The Current Buzz readers will have two opportunities to catch regional favorite band Split Lip Rayfield touring in support of their new album . On Thursday , March 30 , Split Lip plays Tulsa ’ s Cain ’ s Ballroom a landmark venue downtown . The next night Friday , March 31 , the band is at George ’ s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville , Ark . These two historic venues have a long history with this band and their fans and the shows are not to be missed .
Split Lip Rayfield is a jamming bluegrass band with a style and attitude unlike any other acoustic group . Punk and heavy metal influences combined with hillbilly instrumentation to yield a sound that has become a favorite across the four state area and beyond . Their music has even been featured on “ Squidbillies ” the animated television series from Cartoon Network ’ s late night Adult Swim . Along with their aggressive approach and technical proficiency , Split Lip Rayfield also crafts great songs with a storyteller ’ s narrative skill . Whether the songs are dark character sketches , tales about drinking , vehicle breakdown woes or crimes of passion , the songwriters in Split Lip always tell a compelling story and weave an interesting tale .
Split Lip Rayfield have their roots in towns Wichita and Lawrence , but many area music fans know them from their association with the Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival held in Winfield , Kansas . Since their earliest days Split Lip Rayfield has been associated with the jams taking place on “ Stage Five ” and other makeshift campground unofficial stages . This style of bluegrass is different than the traditional approach , and Split Lip Rayfield have influenced many other bands over their nearly two decades together .
SLR has just released On My Way , their first studio album in over eight years and follow up to their 2008 album I ’ ll Be Around . The band ’ s recent years have all been somewhat shadowed by their founding member and guitar player Kirk Rundstrom ’ s death from cancer in 2007 . The Split Lip Rayfield documentary film “ Never Make It Home ” began as a concert film , but after Rundstrom ’ s cancer diagnosis the film became about his final journey .
As could be expected , the band has been moving at its own pace since Rundstrum passed . They have had to deal with that loss personally and the change in their sound musically . While Rundstrom will always be missed , the band ’ s efforts since his passing continue to be high quality endeavors . On My Way is a fine record , creative and energetic and a very proper addition to the band ’ s catalog . Keep up with everything Split Lip Rayfield and grab their new record from their website www . splitliprayfield . com .
The Tulsa show features up and coming local band Vagittarius as opening act at Cain ’ s , while the Fayetteville event has some additional happy hour acts , Big Uns and Bill Dollar & Loose Change playing on the George ’ s lounge stage . Cain ’ s Ballroom is an all ages venue , whereas George ’ s is age 18 and older to enter . Both shows have reasonably priced tickets $ 10- $ 12 . Get Cain ’ s Ballroom info on their website www . cainsballroom . com and seek George Majestic details via their own site at www . georgesmajesticlounge . com .
Wanna win tickets to see the show at Cain ’ s Ballroom on March 30 ? Be sure to befriend and follow ‘ The Current Buzz ’ on Facebook for details on how to win two ( 2 ) general admission tickets to experience Split Lip Rayfield at Cain ’ s !
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