MORGAN

STILLWATER, Okla. – Morgan Reynolds’ voice is like a siren’s call, capable of beckoning sailors from miles away.

The deep vocals that lead her band, Morgan, are sometimes sweet and angelic but more often described as sultry and seductive.

In head-to-toe black apparel, Reynolds jokingly calls herself the “queen of the underworld” – her edginess evident in even her dog’s name, Voodoo. But Reynolds reigns over the jazz, blues and rock band with only generous warmth, laidback practicality and a touch of satire.

All Morgan members carry with them the same sense of easygoing; though Reynolds says the group is its “own case of weird.” The group is composed of Reynolds, lead singer; Victor Denny, lead guitarist; Dave Grounds, bass guitarist; and Wayne Bovenschen, drummer.

Stillwater’s hidden gem will take summer in stride with a steady schedule of Oklahoma performances. Morgan will perform at 8 p.m. on June 4 & 18 at Gatsby, 8 p.m. on June 10 at Zannotti’s Wine Bar, and 7 p.m. on June 23 at Iron Monk Taproom.

“Our gigs are more like concerts than they are like background music,” Reynolds said. “We tend to demand attention.”

Morgan caters to its crowd, playing a spectrum of music that will appeal to anyone, Grounds said.

“A lot of what we do is improvised,” Denny said. “I never play the same guitar solo. It keeps it fresh and it keeps it fun.”

The group performs covers from every decade and originals from Morgan’s 2014 EP, Light the Match, that Reynolds wrote with her signature darker twist. The music samples many genres and time periods, and might be easier understood with a Venn diagram, Grounds said.

“I like to tell stories in my songs,” Reynolds said. “… I like to do strange juxtapositions of things like a happy sounding tune with a dark theme or a happy theme with a dark tune…”

Although Reynolds’ powerful vocals might initially captivate audience members, the band’s level of musicality will keep them in grasp. The band is composed of seasoned and educated musicians.

Reynolds received her bachelor’s degree in music from Oklahoma State University. Along with singing, Reynolds plays several instruments on-stage including guitar, piano, flute and saxophone.

“Our camaraderie, I think, comes across to the audience as well,” Reynolds said. “We’re all pretty relaxed on stage. And if you’re relaxed on stage, then your audience is relaxed.”

Morgan will create a promotional video this summer on its website to confirm the depths of its talent.

“I think it’s pretty cool that I get to play with these people,” Denny said. “I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you hear.”

Head to www.morganband.com for more details. - Currentland

The soul infused folk/Americana music and melody is immediately
engaging. Along with the memorable hook and mystical premise the
song stands out beautifully. It’s a true pleasure to hear this level of
songwriting - C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S - & good luck with your songs
and music. I hope that we’ll hear more from you in the years ahead.
Keep writing songs! - Great American Songwriting Contest