O.K. - ProfilesArchive

About Me

"O.K." founded in 2002, is Alabama-based guitarist William Barnes's (of the early 90's southern, college, jazz rock phenomenon "Far South Movement") instrumental, electronic, urban, hard-rockin', funk-fusion "collective-quintet," that has been assembled to explore an intellectual and spiritual study of technology, story-telling, culture, society, timeless themes, classic composers and rythem sections, harmony, melody, dance, and militant groove. The group tells stories and makes subtle social commentary through use of modern hip-hop and jazz-fusion arrangements of classic songs and original compositions navigated through booty-shake beats by aggressive instrumentalists. "O.K." finds Barnes reunited with lifelong friend and band mate, bassist Freddie Smith (Far South Movement, Blues Old Stand) who provides the low-end foundation for a rich pallete filled out by available members of the region's "post-urban-jazz-swamp-hop-rock" elite. Open minds, open hearts, and open ears recommended. Updates to be announced at any second. ............................................................ ............................................................ .......................... "Deep South, anti-hate, anti-class, pro-equality, pro-love, combustible crunk machine that is currently barrelling through juke joints and music halls across America's Southland stimulating dialogue and attempting to medicate the deep wounds still lingering from the civil rights era...and offering a hopeful outlook on life in general, despite the ever increasing bizarreness and sureality of modernity." ............................................................ ............................................................ ........................ "Bitches Brew meets Fela Kuti, meets Jerry Garcia, meets Duane Allman, abducted by Donlad Fagen, spanked repetitively by James Brown, "hot-boxed" by The Wailers, beat up by The Meters, rescued by Squarepusher, crushed up & smoked by George Clinton, and then finally healed by Kirk Fanklin." ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/27/2005
Band Website: coming soon
Influences: Blues, Funk, Hip-Hop, Be-Bop, Hard-Bop, Post-Bop, Fusion, Free-Jazz, Rock n' Roll, RnB, Grooves, Melody, Harmony, Bootsy, Rythm, Space, Grace, Innovation, Freedom, Vibrations, Gospel, Drum&Bass, House, Swamps, Farms, Humidity, Poverty, Acid Jazz, Acid Rock, "the Neighborhood"
Sounds Like: We hope to sound like any combination of the following: Wayne Krantz, Clifford Gilberto, B.B. King, Tribe Called Quest, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Grateful Dead, Meters, Wailers, Parliment, J.B.'s, M.G.'s, Weather Report, Sonic Youth, Coltrane, George Benson, George Duke, George Clinton, LTJ Bukem, Allmans, Cream, Band of Gypsies, Stereolab, Busta Rhymes, Jimmy Smith, Flecktones, Peacemakers, Steely Dan, Tonex and the Peculiar People, D.J. Logic, Wu Tang, Radiohead

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My Blog

Live DVD being edited, look for release soon.

Trying to finish DVD documentary by christmas. The film will largley center around the january 19th 2006 performance at Bailey's Pub in Birmingham. "O.K.- Alive In Birmingham: A Boot...
Posted by O.K. on Tue, 05 Dec 2006 01:54:00 PST

big jam this weekend

emory univ has been rescheduled for the 18th and chatanooga is still tba, but this saturday will rock at bailey's pub in Birmingham O.K.: http://www.myspace.com/okgruvssean nowell- effec...
Posted by O.K. on Fri, 06 Oct 2006 01:21:00 PST

Tracks from City Stages Festival Now In The Player

This is pretty much the whole show, myspace allows 41 minutes, and thanks to being cut short, our set was only 42 minutes...so I guess it kind of worked out.Set List:Introduction>Two By Sea> &nbs...
Posted by O.K. on Tue, 20 Jun 2006 08:54:00 PST

About these new tracks

sean nowell-tenor sax, lonnie jones-alto sax (1st 3 songs), luther harris-drums, matt slocum-keyboards, freddy smith-bass guitar, william barnes-guitar, drum loops&samples. 1. celebrate? (wh...
Posted by O.K. on Thu, 25 May 2006 05:07:00 PST

""O.K." is currently operating at 45% capacity, but hope is on the horizon. "

O.K. is simply an experiment...sometimes it works, sometimes it gets a little hairy....it was started first in order to get the rythem section strategies oiled out, and it's worked...I'm about to put ...
Posted by O.K. on Tue, 23 May 2006 11:26:00 PST

Mastering live shows from the past 2 years and planning tour

we're working hard behind the scenes at the moment. trying to get all of our shows from the past few years up on the internet. also working on a documentary concert about the group and try...
Posted by O.K. on Thu, 16 Mar 2006 06:32:00 PST

William Barnes interview tonight on 90.3 WBHM 6:30

Local public radio show Tapestry is doing a a show and interview about W. THE BARNES tonight. I'll put up a link to their site tommorrow. William Barnes interview tonight on 90.3 WBHM 6:30...
Posted by O.K. on Thu, 19 Jan 2006 08:45:00 PST

January shows with guest soloist Sean Nowell

Oh yeah....Jan. 21st in Atlanta, look for more dates with Sean in Birmingham and surrounding areas in late January. Sean is the man and titrates our music with just the right blend of sophistica...
Posted by O.K. on Mon, 28 Nov 2005 11:04:00 PST

Christmas Shows in Montgomery and Bham almost confirmed.

Annual Holiday shows at 1048 in Montgomery soon to be confirmed, and some Birmingham shows will be too. 1048 is where we grew up playing and always provides the right atmosphere for an inspired ...
Posted by O.K. on Mon, 28 Nov 2005 11:01:00 PST