Joel T. Mosman & The Oklahoma Uprising

“You can talk about politics or righteousness but what are you going to do about it? The channel is all you're going to change watching TV screens.” -Joel T. (Oklahoma Uprising)

Oklahoma Uprising is a roots rock band led by Oklahoma songwriter Joel T. Mosman. Their songs cover themes from comeuppance to community, and other issues by way of allegorical storytelling. Oklahoma Uprising is a musical movement for our Oklahoma.

Mosman and Oklahoma Uprising have 10 years performance experience at venues like The Blue Note, The Deli, The Wormy Dog, and festivals like Red Brick Nights, Norman Music Festival and the Paseo Arts Festival. Mosman has also appeared for TV and radio performances for the Rise & Shine Morning Show on Freedom 43, Oklahoma Rodeo Opry, Lakes Country 102.1FM, The WAFTI show. Mosman and his band have supported bands including The Damn Quails, Travis Linville,The Dirty River Boys, Frontier Ruckus, and Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy.

During the Summer/Fall of 2017, Mosman and his band will be releasing a series of EPs that represent their catalogue of studio recordings. The first single Armed & Dangerous is a ballad about a family legacy of standing up to injustice. “It was inspired by a story my Mom told me about my grandpa.” Mosman said. “I took a few pieces of the story and just made up the rest.” Armed & Dangerous will be released May 26th, 2017 followed by their EP Bridges & Borderlines on June 24th, Mosman’s solo EP on September 15th, and the second Oklahoma Uprising EP Valley of the Wolves in November.

All songs were produced at the T. Hodge Lodge Studio in Shawnee, Oklahoma and at the home of the band's drummer Zach Wiederstein. “When we started the band, I just wanted to make good music. As the songs began to reveal themselves, I realized that a lot of them were about my struggle to become a better person… and how I’m always failing at it!”

The releases started as a series of songs emailed back and forth between Wiederstein and Mosman. “I would have an idea and send it to Zach. A couple days later he would put some drums on it a send it back my way.” Mosman said. “Pretty soon, we had so many tracks we didn’t know what to do with them. So we polished them up and decided to release them.”

“I can't stay dedicated to a single genre” Mosman said in a radio interview on Lakes Country 102.1FM. The genres on the songs move from rock to folk, to blues, and even bluegrass. John Souders of The WAFTI SHOW describes the song Talking Oklahoma Blues as a “Woody-Guthrie-Bob-Dylan-esque ditty...which follows the trials and tribulations of a man whose home is wiped out by a tornado and ultimately winds up finding himself in jail.” The song Being Meat follows a bluesier feel, playing with different metaphors of a struggling underdog. As Evan Jarvicks of Cellar Door Music Group puts it: “a fun little idea that concludes with ‘It's hard bein' me’ in the final verse, adding a slight gravity to the concept without being the least bit dramatic about it.” Other songs include Get Up which is an arousing rock tune meant to inspire the listener to not just “talk about love...hate...change” but to “Get up!” and DO something about it.

In addition to fronting the band, Mosman is a freelance writer, video blogger, promoter, and associate at T. Hodge Lodge, Inc. (Stage and studio production). He is also family and community oriented and an active citizen who maintains a line of communication with legislators, and other community leaders.

Zach Wiederstein, the band’s drummer, percussionist, and songwriter, was born and raised in Shattuck, OK. Zach is a physical education teacher and football coach. Travis Lyon, the band’s bass player, is a father, math teacher, basketball coach and adjunct professor from Cherokee, OK. Wiederstein and Lyon met Mosman in 2007 while playing in a Red Dirt Country band when Mosman joined as a guitar player. “I was always really happy they let me tag along with them” Mosman said “I’ve always looked up to them musically. They're just all around good dudes!” The band eventually parted ways but Wiederstein and Mosman continued to make music until 2016 when they invited Lyon to join them again to form the band ‘Oklahoma Uprising’. (In addition to the trio, there are many other performers that sit in regularly)

Oklahoma Uprising prides themselves on being a versatile, professional band that is easy to work with. Mosman is available for solo performances, or as the frontman for a three, four, or five piece band. They tailor their music to fit whatever venue or environment they are playing. Their musical spectrum includes Americana, Singer-Songwriter, Roots Rock, Folk, Blues, and Alternative Country. Oklahoma Uprising has been described as ‘Woody Guthrie with a rock band’. Songwriting influences include Sturgill Simpson, Tom Waits, and Gillian Welch. Musical influences include the Drive-By-Truckers, The Band, and Reckless Kelly.

“If it seems like the song was a no-brainer to write and perform, that's a testament to the casual performances, which gloss over the high level of artistry that is actually present here.” -Evan Jarvicks, Cellar Door Music Group

“...a band fronted by the town's own ‘Woody Guthrie troubadour’” -Justin Fortney, Red Brick Nights

“Their love of Oklahoma culture and values fuels their involvement with their fans, students and the people on the fringes.” -Tahlequah Daily Press

“Events of the last few years inspired him to form a band, Oklahoma Uprising, and write a song he calls "Talkin' Oklahoma Blues". Joel performs this Woody-Guthrie-Bob-Dylan-esque ditty for us in the Tower Studio, which follows the trials and tribulations of a man whose home is wiped out by a tornado and ultimately winds up finding himself in jail.” -John Souders, WAFTI SHOW

Oklahoma Uprising: Oklahoma Music. Oklahoma Community. Oklahoma Spirit.

For music, videos, merchandise, show schedule, news and blogs, join the Oklahoma Uprising at OklahomaUprising.com!