A/E: Pillar of Norman's music scene

Nov. 17—Students from ages 7 to 70, audiences in Campus Corner bistros and musicians needing festival leadership all know about Wess McMichael's skills.

He's a guitarist, singer/songwriter, teacher, businessman, performer and community organizer who operates McMichael Music studio (wessmcmichael.org), 230 Alameda Avenue in the heart of historic downtown Norman. McMichael currently plays a few residencies including a regular Monday 7-9 p.m. show that has no cover charge with his band the Ravens at Othello's Italian Restaurant, 434 Buchanan Avenue.

"If the weather's nice we perform out on the patio," McMichael said. "I have a different featured artist every week. It's local musicians with some from OKC. Sometimes I have guests who come out of the crowd to play in the second half of the show. We have a lot of fun."

It's a popular series with a long run. They play blues, jazz and folk, hosting performances by Jay Wilkinson, Mike Satawake, Susan Herndon, AJ Harvey, Alan Orebaugh and Chebon Tiger.

"We have a really good rhythm section with bass player Steve Tillman and Steven Walker on drums," McMichael said. "They played in Uncle Zep. I know so many talented musicians and it's just fun to get a collaborative thing going. Usually we switch off, I'll do a song and they do a song. Depends on who it is and what instrument they're bringing. It really stretches you because we may be playing jazz and country in the same set. Many vocalists are featured."

McMichael is the spark plug behind the annual Porchfest in August which at four years old is among Norman's newest live music festivals. This year it included over 20 bands at 13 residential addresses within walking distance of each other in the Miller Historic District. That's the picturesque neighborhood southeast of the Cleveland County Courthouse.

"I put all that together, calling my musician friends asking if they want to play on a porch for free and they say yes," McMichael said with a chuckle. "This year we had three acts on every porch with no admission charge. It was so much fun and really is a grass roots thing. No corporate involvement or sponsorships. I ask no one for money. It's so easy to put on because people want it to happen."

Photos from 2023 Porchfest depict an idyllic evening of happy attendees and enthusiastic musicians. Homeowners who'd hosted a porch concert had obviously taken pride in their contributions.

"Everybody's goodwill is involved," he said. "It kind of produces itself and I just pull it all together. We blocked off Miller Street this year for safety concerns and the music went from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m."

McMichael has been a professional guitarist for over three decades with significant time spent performing in Austin, Texas, where he resided for six years. He came to Norman in 1996 and immediately started teaching guitar, something he'd been doing since 1988.

"Within the first week here I had 30 students," he said. "I was working at a local music school and started McMichael Music in 2000."

The studio presently has around 200 students studying the instruments you'd expect along with ukulele, viola, voice and mandolin. McMichael's teacher employees include Geoffrey Burch, Justin Dupuis, Randall Coyne Esq., Mike Satawake, Tammy Arce and Keely Brown.

"In addition to piano, Geoffrey Burch also teaches production, which is a new thing," McMichael said. "It's affordable now because you can do your own home recording. It's complicated and he's experienced at writing movie scores. I'm glad to have him here."

McMichael likes teaching and his students help keep him on point with what's new in music.

"I love seeing that sense of wonder when students first start something," he said. "When that beginner's mind is brought to the lesson, it's refreshing and beautiful. Also, teaching the basics over and over helps with my fundamentals. I've seen students grow into being professional musicians which is a real joy for me."

Nearly 30% of the studio's students are adults who find great benefit cognitively and spiritually in learning to play. Older students take longer to grow accustomed to their instrument but generally are focused and disciplined. Young students learn quickly but often lack the ability to focus. The musicians McMichael collaborates with at paying gigs are professionals.

"I have a great respect for anybody who has mastered their instruments," he said. "So many of my friends are great at what they do. The amount of time put in and passion and love for your instrument is beautiful and everybody has something different to say. When musicians of that caliber are put together in a group something magical happens, especially when everyone is really listening. We don't rehearse. The people I play with are so good they can pick up on what's happening in real time which makes it super exciting."

McMichael has seen musical trends such as rockabilly and reggae come and go in Norman.

"Red Dirt is still around to some extent," he said. "I'm really rooting for original music to take off. You can make money as a wedding band playing covers that people have already heard before. But in places like Austin and Boulder they have their own sound and artists. Norman is known for that kind of creativity because of people like Mike Hosty, Camille Harp and Kierston White, so many great musicians who do their own thing here. There's a great heritage of original music in Norman."

In addition to the regular Othello's show, McMichael also plays every Thursday's happy hour with vocalist Chels Renee at Scratch Kitchen and Cocktails, 132 W. Main St. and 1 p.m. second Sunday jazz brunch at Midway Deli, 601 W. Eufaula St.