Cheyenne
Beau Jennings – Guitar, Piano, Vocals
Heath Fisher – Drums
Josh Harper – Guitar
Elliott Walker - Bass
Listen to ‘The Whale’
www.myspace.com/cheyenne
Who is filling out this survey?
Beau Jennings
What was your/the band's reaction when told you were picked to showcase at Dfest?
I was at work checking my e-mail when I found out. So most likely I continued sitting at my desk, blinking my eyes and slouching in my chair as I forwarded the email to the rest of the guys in the band. We’re a very corporate band.
Have you showcased at Dfest before? If so, what was it like? If not, what are looking forward to most during your live set?
We have not showcased at Dfest before. We’re looking forward to being part of what seems to be a great Tulsa tradition.
Is there a headlining act that you're going to drop everything to see (The Roots, Paramore, All-American Rejects, etc.)? If so, which one(s)?
The Roots should be a great show for sure. I just hope our set (or my solo set on Saturday, hint hint) is not conflicting with it. I’d hate to compete with those guys!
What are 5 indie/unsigned/local bands performing this year that you would recommend to a complete stranger as 'must see'?
1. Ryan Lindsey – best buddy of ours and Cheyenne collaborator
2. Sherree Chamberlain – fantastic voice and writing
3. Rainbows Are Free – good time rockin’ dudes
4. Callupsie – more good time rockin’ dudes
5. Vandevander – the hardest rockin’ dude of them all
Do you have plans to attend the conference portion of the event? If so, who are you most wanting to see? If not, why?
Our manager Larry White works closely with Martin Atkins and definitely I look forward to finally getting to hear Martin speak. He gave us his DVD last March at SXSW. It was very bizarre at first but it started to make sense after a while.
Where and when was your band formed, and how?
We formed in Norman back in 2003. We’ve had various incarnations ever since but once we moved to Brooklyn in 2005 we really began to have a serious lineup and become a serious band.
Are you released/will you release an album this year? If so, what's the album title, if you've chosen one?
We released "The Land Rush" EP and "The Whale" full length album in June and December of last year. I am releasing my first solo album "Holy Tulsa Thunder" in July of this year. They have different names but are all part of the same general effort.
How do YOU describe your sound to people who haven't heard your music?
Cheyenne is an American rock 'n’ roll band.
How do YOU describe your live act to people who haven't seen you perform live?
We have a lot of fun when we play, and we make it a point to see that others in the crowd do as well. We are excited about our songs and hope others feel the same.
What's the most quirky, funny or intolerable aspect of your music?
There are no intolerable aspects to our music. In fact our music is very accepting towards everyone and everything - white melodies, black melodies, gay melodies. Our music is also very green.
What's the most quirky, funny or intolerable aspect of your current member lineup?
Our lineup, as opposed to our music, is a different story unfortunately. We are very intolerable people. Being a former Broken Arrow Tiger myself, I am not very tolerant of Heath’s background as a Choctaw Yellowjacket. And at times it seems like Josh could be more sensitive toward Elliot and his Arkansas heritage.
Where is the oddest place that you've found inspiration for a song, and which song was it?
We actually found a lot of inspiration in Oklahoma after we made the move to Brooklyn. There was a lot of mythology and history that I suppose we had taken for granted. Once we were gone it was easier to look at those things and see them in a new light. I think it's also easy to begin to ask a lot of questions about what defines you when you’re in a new or challenging situation, as New York can tend to be.
What does your band name mean? Or, why do you prefer being a solo artist?
I’d spent time in Wyoming during college and it's where I wrote some of the first songs that would later be recorded for our first full length album. I lived near the town of Cheyenne and when I moved away from there I felt like the name conjured up enough imagery while leaving enough to the imagination. A good balance of details and mystery.
Are you going to be rich and famous because of what you've learned from, and the opportunity to play at, Dfest? In other words, what are you expecting to gain from this experience?
I am in fact planning on becoming rich and famous after Dfest. Mostly though I look forward to coming back to downtown Tulsa and forming some good solid musical memories there. I grew up in Tulsa but moved away before I was old enough to go out and see live music. All that happened for me in college in Norman. Tulsa is truly home for me so it will be a blast.
Have you attended Dfest before as a music fan? If so, what was the most fun? If not, what are you most excited about?
Never have been to Dfest before but I am most excited about being part of a growing event that Tulsa can be proud of.
Will you use the public toilets (port-a-johns)?
If I eat enough corn dogs and drink enough beers then I believe I will be using the port-a-johns, yes.
In 10 words or less, describe Dfest for someone who is completely unfamiliar with the event:
I’ve never been there but let’s go together.
|
|
