S.Reidy release show
On Friday, July 28, S. Reidy put on an album release party at Grey Owl in Norman. S. Reidy is a rapper based in Norman, OK.
The album that he was releasing is called SECRET ALBUM with 9 tracks. It was originally put on Spotify on June 16, 2023.
Two openers were on before S. Reidy, Stepmom (solo) and Jabee. Stepmom is a self-described Orchestral Dream Punk band and Jabee is a rapper.
I entered Grey Owl early and was greeted by Reidy’s fiancé, a photographer named Austin and another journalist named Doug. We all mingled as people started pouring in.
An old classmate of mine came in. They got to see the show for free because they had tattooed Reidy’s symbol “Star man” on their arm.
As Lindsay from Stepmom began setting up, the man of the hour came in and went straight to get his first of many cups of black coffee.
Once everyone had paid the ten-dollar ticket fee, Reidy introduced Stepmom and the set began.
Stepmom has such an amazing voice. She knew how to capture the crowd with her songs about love, heartbreak, and melancholy.
She performed one of my favorite songs “Your Elbows.”
Looking around there were so many smiles and heartfelt moments from the crowd. After every song, people cheered and clapped. Doug at one point yelled, “Don’t upstage the main act!”
Once Stepmom ended her set she thanked the crowd and Reidy for having her perform. The crowd went back to mingling and Stepmom disappeared.
Next up was Jabee and I have to say, what a performance. He rapped about what it is like to be a black man in a red state. The crowd was more serious with Jabee’s set, simply because of the serious topics he was rapping about.
My favorite part of Jabee’s show was when he decided to freestyle. He started off by getting the crowd to give him topics so that he had a basis to freestyle with.
Reidy’s fiancé started first by shouting out “gummy worms.” “Lightbulb” and “East Side pizza” were also suggested.
Jabee started off his freestyle with “I feel good, I feel great,” getting the crowd to repeat after him.
His words flowed effortlessly. Once the set ended everyone cheered and dispersed to their corners once again.
I looked over to see that Kat Lock, a pop-rock musician, had come to show her support. She was busy doing Reidy’s eyeliner before his set.
At this point, I’m pretty sure Reidy was on his third cup of coffee. He announced that he would be going on in ten minutes and then ran to the bathroom to get changed into the most iconic outfit I have seen.
He stepped out in a iconic track suit, with his symbol Star Man on it.
I watched as Reidy asked the baristas to turn the lights off for him. He moved to the front and started playing the beginning of his first song.
Pausing it on and off. . Telling the crowd that by time he turns around they better all be upfront.
Reidy really knows how to get the crowd hyped and what to say to captivate people. Reidy’s fans are very loyal and know almost every word to his songs.
He started out with some of his old music and made his way to his new SECRET ALBUM.
An album fueled by darkness and made into light; an album that has a sense of community around it. Throughout my life I have been part of music scenes across other areas and nothing compares to the local scene here. It is a supportive community that really wants what is best for people and to me, that is the true definition of what it means to be “punk.”
If you want to check out S. Reidy, his Instagram is @sdotreidy and his Spotify is S. Reidy.
My favorite song off his new album is “WEDDING RINGS.” At the end of his set, Reidy talked about community, how you won’t find something like what the Oklahoma music scene has anywhere else, which is so true.
