klipspringer

God Save the Klip
by Sarah Warren - OU Lynx

Let's take a trip back to 1988. We had a presidential election year - the Democratic convention nominated Gov. Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts for president and the Republicans nominated George Bush for president. We had the end of the Reagan years and the first Bush era. Rap, alternative, and (gasp!) metal music styles were introduced to the mainstream (thanks, Public Enemy and Pixies). We had punk rock and bubble gum pop with the Ramones and Madonna. Kids had Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears, Nintendo… and Norman had the origins of Klipspringer. Just for kicks, guess which of these you won't find at Hot Topic? It wasn't until 1993 that Norman rock band Klipspringer took over the name, having gone through titles such as Soul Shaker, Nowhere Band, and Lotion. Klipspringer also went through various members and tragedies, though the original two members - Ty Kamm (vocals and guitar) and Matt Babich (bass) are both still full-time members, along with newer members Alan Hiserodt (drums and vocals) and Chris Bourland (keyboards).

"I was thumbing through the dictionary and randomly putting my finger down and reading the words in the vicinity. On about the third try I landed close to Klipspringer," Ty Kamm said of the band name. "When I read the word we all thought it sounded cool, but had no idea what it was. We thought it sounded like a mechanism in a gun or something. When I read the definition: A small hoofed African mammal with large ears, a leaper, a jumper; we all said, 'that's it, let's rock!' It's also a character in The Great Gatsby, a hard drinking piano player I believe, so that clinched it." I don't know much about African wildlife, and I'm ashamed to say that I haven't read The Great Gatsby, but I am here to tell you about what's currently in my CD player - a CD I picked up at a show hosted by Guestroom Records a few months ago. Klipspringer has recently released their latest album, My Knee Hurts and are definitely still rockin'.

Music has the amazing ability to be addictive, sexy, euphoric, enchanting…much like the Ramones said, sometimes I just wanna be sedated - by good music. Much like popping in a Ramones CD, Klipspringer has the ability to give me a goofy smile and a bobbing head. Songs like "My Face is Melting", "Losing My Lighter" and "You Dance (Like Steve Buscemi)" (all from the album My Knee Hurts) make me smile no matter what mood crosses my path. "For myself," Ty said, "from making music I hope to create a body of work that would be somewhat of a contribution to society, even if it's just to make a few people laugh or feel good for a little while, something to show what I did with my time here on Earth."

Now the sound. If you're curious, like I was, Ty's personal musical influences are: the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Jam, the Police and Kiss. He said the band as a whole has probably been influenced the most by: the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Ramones, the Pixies, Zappa and Ween. The content of their songs is very much all the sex, drugs, and rock and roll you could wish for, showcased in tracks like "She Just Wants To" (Me Knee Hurts) - which I'll leave up to you, readers, to figure out the word(s) that follow that line - and "I Like Beer" (Sleepwalking and the Married Virgin). With all their pop-punk major-key high energy, they pull off a great live performance. It's no surprise that these guys have the loyal fans that they do - their shows promise a good evening, and if a good evening isn't had at a Klipspringer show, it has to be the result of either being incarcerated (before or after the show) or in a coma - both of which could possibly be the aftermath of a really good time. Just to qualify that, I've haven't actually witnessed either.

Klipspringer saw their beginnings along with other talented Norman bands around the same time, one of those being The Flaming Lips. I was curious to know about their most memorable performances, given the legendary time (musically speaking) of Norman that it was, so I asked Ty. "The most memorable good performance was opening for Ween a few years back. Great guys and quite the partiers," he said. "The most memorable bad performance was opening for the Flaming Lips the night they got signed to Warner Brothers (1992 or 3?) at Rome (in Stubbeman Village). It was Barry's [former guitar player/singer] first gig ever and we fell on our face. We sucked! The second strum of the first song his guitar fell to the floor and we never recovered. We made them look like gods! We've always felt partially responsible for helping them getting the deal with Warner Brothers!" - OU Daily

The Klipspringer, a small and stocky African antelope, is known as an oddball amongst other antelope. Similarly, the Norman rock band Klipspringer is well known for being unique among the local music scene.

Formed in 1989 as Soul Shaker by Ty Kamm, Klipspringer started evolving into what it is today in 1993, when it took on its current name.

“We had a lead singer originally,” said Kamm. “To replace him we got another singer/songwriter/guitar player, like me. And when I heard him sing I just thought, ‘Well, hell, I can do better than that.’”

After several more line up changes, due to members pursuing different avenues, Kamm said he was left as the only original member of the band.

Klipspringer now includes Alan Hiserodt, on the drums, bassist Mitch Newlin, and Chris Bourland, the band’s keyboardist and horn player.

The band isn’t just noted for its longevity, but the wide range of music style that the band puts forth in its various releases. On their latest album, “Everyone Kisses Differently,” released on Sprockett Records (a label named after Hiserodt’s deceased dog), one can easily spot songs influenced by everything from metal to modern pop rock.

The band attributes this to their diverse musical backgrounds.

“I know it’s cliché,” said Kamm. “But we all come from different musical styles.”

“I don’t think there’s a genre that I don’t like,” said Hiserodt, with Newlin agreeing. “I like anything that pushes buttons.”

“Influences are tough,” said Kamm. “I was inspired by The Beatles, KISS, The Jam, Queen and the like. But we really don’t sound anything like bands like that.”

Due to their diversity of sound, Klipspringer is often compared to their friends and contemporaries The Flaming Lips. The comparison is also due to the band’s live shows, which currently have the members dressed in priests’ collars and has included all-chrome outfits and yellow rain jackets. But unlike the Lips, Klipspringer has stayed put in the local scene.

“We used to always think, ‘Man, we need to move to Austin. We need to move to Seattle,’” said Kamm. “But then The Flaming Lips proved that you don’t have to move anywhere if you’ve got the music to back it up and you work and market yourself well.”

Having been around as long as they have, they’ve seen the ups and downs of the Norman music scene.

“There are great bands in Norman and there’s great music being written in Norman,” said Hiserodt. “The biggest problem in Norman is that there’s nowhere to play. You’ve got two spots to play right now and neither one of them holds more than a hundred people or so. We need a 500 plus venue in this town, badly, and I think it could be supported.”

Aside from venue complaints, the band members agree that Norman is running strong right now and they enjoy their popularity here.

“Our CD release party was a definite highlight for me,” said Newlin. “That was probably the best show that I’ve played since I’ve been back playing again in a band.”

The line for Klipspringer’s release party was out the door, said Hiserodt.

Hiserodt said more out-the-door lines should be expected from Klipspringer. The band is already well into work on a new album, due next year.
- Nate Williams - OU Daily Aug. 23 2007

Klipspringer

Bricktown Live
OKC, OK
March 23, 2005

By Vix (SugarBuzz Oklahoma City Correspondent)
SugarBuzz Magazine
Photos by Trix
(SugarBuzz Oklahoma City Photo Journalist)

I didn’t know what to expect when Trix told me she had heard we needed to check out Klipspringer. I had heard of them but not HEARD of them. So I took off on Good Friday (yea quit coloring eggs) and headed to meet Trix and Kel to see Klipspringer.

I could hear the band playing outside the club. GOOD SIGN and with a flash I was in and headed to where my buds were sitting at ground zero. I was a little late and the band had already started but according to Trix it was the fist song. YAY.

This is a different thing to see, A 5 piece band with a chick as lead guitar. That’s fuckin cool! Klipspringer was rockin out when I settled in to take it all in.

This band has a unity you don’t see too often. A lot of bands just throw together whoever can play and works out the kinks later in hopes to have something decent come out of it. You can tell this band plays together a lot. And they are good at what they do. They are all about their music and don’t try to get you with an ostentatious look to distract you from the fact that they really aren’t that good. They ARE good. And it makes it worth the time to get out to see them.

The songs range from strait on pop type rock to some funky tunes that make you giggle. There is diversity about the band that makes them not only fun to watch but you walk away amazed that this band does what they do …and do it so well.

The set was wicked long and that was a pleasant surprise since they were the opening band. In my honest opinion they shoulda been the headliner, BUT in this town the best slot to play is the fist or second. People get antsy here by midnight and tend to become venue nomadic

As I told you, it was a long set. And I thought it ended too soon. Klipspringer is out of Norman Oklahoma and from what I heard getting ready to tour Australia? Holy fuck if that’s true then WAY TO GO!! They are probably the best thing to come outta that dank town since The Flaming Lips. They have 3 CDs out now and currently, I believe recording another one. This band is a definite must see. This is everyone’s type of music and that makes them just downright fuckin cool.

Klipspringer is:
Ty Kamm- Vocals & Guitar
Matt Babich- Bass
Kristen Reed- Lead guitar & Vocals
Alan Hiserodt- Drums
Chris Bourland- Keyboards

Check em out on the net and get the CD “My Knee Hurts!”

www.klipspringer.net

MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/klipspringer

Well that’s it for this addition…
Vix in OKC signing off
“Peace Fuckers!”
- SugarBuzzMagazine.com

Klipspringer

Bricktown Live
OKC, OK
March 23, 2005

By Vix (SugarBuzz Oklahoma City Correspondent)
SugarBuzz Magazine
Photos by Trix
(SugarBuzz Oklahoma City Photo Journalist)

I didn’t know what to expect when Trix told me she had heard we needed to check out Klipspringer. I had heard of them but not HEARD of them. So I took off on Good Friday (yea quit coloring eggs) and headed to meet Trix and Kel to see Klipspringer.

I could hear the band playing outside the club. GOOD SIGN and with a flash I was in and headed to where my buds were sitting at ground zero. I was a little late and the band had already started but according to Trix it was the fist song. YAY.

This is a different thing to see, A 5 piece band with a chick as lead guitar. That’s fuckin cool! Klipspringer was rockin out when I settled in to take it all in.

This band has a unity you don’t see too often. A lot of bands just throw together whoever can play and works out the kinks later in hopes to have something decent come out of it. You can tell this band plays together a lot. And they are good at what they do. They are all about their music and don’t try to get you with an ostentatious look to distract you from the fact that they really aren’t that good. They ARE good. And it makes it worth the time to get out to see them.

The songs range from strait on pop type rock to some funky tunes that make you giggle. There is diversity about the band that makes them not only fun to watch but you walk away amazed that this band does what they do …and do it so well.

The set was wicked long and that was a pleasant surprise since they were the opening band. In my honest opinion they shoulda been the headliner, BUT in this town the best slot to play is the fist or second. People get antsy here by midnight and tend to become venue nomadic

As I told you, it was a long set. And I thought it ended too soon. Klipspringer is out of Norman Oklahoma and from what I heard getting ready to tour Australia? Holy fuck if that’s true then WAY TO GO!! They are probably the best thing to come outta that dank town since The Flaming Lips. They have 3 CDs out now and currently, I believe recording another one. This band is a definite must see. This is everyone’s type of music and that makes them just downright fuckin cool.

Klipspringer is:
Ty Kamm- Vocals & Guitar
Matt Babich- Bass
Kristen Reed- Lead guitar & Vocals
Alan Hiserodt- Drums
Chris Bourland- Keyboards

Check em out on the net and get the CD “My Knee Hurts!”

www.klipspringer.net

MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/klipspringer

Well that’s it for this addition…
Vix in OKC signing off
“Peace Fuckers!”
- SugarBuzzMagazine.com