Oil Boom was founded in Dallas-Fort Worth Texas by guitarist and vocalist Ryan Taylor and drummer Dugan Connors. From the beginning the group was focused on the essential roots of rock ‘n’ roll. Taylor says that his love for early rock ’n’ roll was especially important in the trio’s development.
“Like a lot of people my age you start with the main classic rock heavyweights and just kind of work your way back and see who they were influenced by," he says. "Inevitably you stumble onto that early rock ‘n’ roll, Little Richard/Chuck Berry stuff and it definitely has an impact on what I do. Sometimes it comes out in real subconscious ways. I definitely try to tap into that if I can.”
Oil Boom is returning to Wichita for the third time and some of that is owed to Taylor’s friendship with Wichita trio Moreland & Arbuckle. He’s written a number of songs for the group in the last decade and his old band, The Rounders, shared more than a few bills with Moreland and Arbuckle.
“Through some connection we got paired with them at the old John Barleycorn’s," he says. "We shared a lot of the same influences. They were super cool and supportive right from the get-go. It’s hard to believe. That’s been, I think nine years ago. As time has evolved we’ve continued to support each other and watch each other grow musically and help each other when we could. It was just kind of a natural thing we fell into. We played a bunch of shows with them back then. I’ve stayed in pretty close touch with those guys since then and just to see the level they’ve gotten to and just to see how much they’ve grown and expanded their sound. They’re working in new influences all the time. It’s really inspiring to me. I think they’re a super great band.”
The group has made a name for itself on the strength of its live shows and songs such as “The Great American Shakedown,” one that has received a universally positive response from fans. Some of the song’s appeal may stem from the truth behind its lyrics. The guitarist had just seen a relationship come to an end and decided to channel that into music.
“I think instead of writing the kind of sad sack feel sorry for myself song, I just tried to add a little bit of humor into that," Taylor says. "I think maybe that’s what people might identify with. But I have no idea.”
It—and several other songs in the Oil Boom catalogue—often inspire audience members to get up and dance. And Taylor says that’s one thing he couldn’t be happier about.
“When you see someone out there enjoying your music on that level it really changes the energy of the performance," he says. "You just kind of feed off that. Anytime I see that I get super excited and I think the whole band … we definitely appreciate that when we see that.”
Oil Boom performs at Lucky’s Everyday on Tuesday evening.
