What is a “Christian band”? I’m sure I don’t know the answer, and in many ways the phrase has been nothing short of a plague upon music since it was coined several decades ago—giving Christians an excuse to listen to inferior music, and giving non-Christians an excuse to write off superior music before they’ve heard it. When alt-metal band Flyleaf took the stage at the Tulsa State Fair (at a concert sponsored by 104.5 The Edge), however, they didn’t seem at all interested in answering, or even considering, the question.

But more than anything, it shows that Flyleaf is a band to watch, a rarity in both circles it inhabits: a metal band that understands that darkness for darkness’ own sake is just camp, and a “Christian band” that understands that the light can’t be seen until you give it your darkness to shine in. They’re a band who can put on a show that is a work of art unto itself—taking you to the highest of highs and the lowest of lows (often within a single song)—and can still rock as hard as anything. I’m sure music snobs will be tempted to write them off because of their commercial success, their pop sensibilities, or—yes—their thing for that controversial Jewish carpenter, but that would be a huge mistake. When their long-foretold second album launches, I’ll be first in line.

With a brand new arena in the mix South Tulsa was looking for a way to make a statement in response to the new BOK Center in downtown Tulsa. The Spirit Bank Center chose a great act to open its doors and flex it’s muscle. The arena, which will play as host to the Oklahoma 66’ers NBA developmental league team, welcomed “That lil’ ole band from Texas” to the stage on Sunday night.

With openers Blackberry Smoke the night was set for a transport through time that would have made Marty McFly’s head spin.  The Georgia rockers tore through 45 minutes of straight ahead Southern based rock and roll. The lead and rhythm guitarists had several guitar changes and looked as though they had stepped right out of 1973 onto the stage, but were able to capture the audience attention and fire up the crowd with catchy hooks and party style lyrics. At one point lead singer Charlie Starr stated, “We ain’t gonna talk about politics tonight, I would rather sing about a good lookin’ woman anyway!” This led into the song “Sanctified Woman” which was the stand out tune of the night for the band and got the crowd set for ZZ Top.

ZZ Top took to the stage after a 20-minute intermission and had the intimate crowd eating out of their hands with “Under Pressure”. The boys were in great form as they synchronized their way to their LED lit mic stands.  Gone were the spinning guitars and dusty looking outfits of the 80’s.  The band looked fresh and new in all black with white guitars. Frank Beard’s drum kit was immense and highlighted by a double base set up with silver skulls, with a gold crown shaped backdrop, which doubled as a front video screen.  The stage was stripped down with a massive video screen, and white cabinets. Billy Gibbons took to the mic and quickly pointed out that “this place is brand new so, let’s go back to 1972!” Which was met with thunderous applause. Dusty Hill shared lead vocal duties on many of the bands set list of songs. Both voices were crisp with no signs of road weariness.

Gibbons and Hill reached deep into their songbook and pulled out some lesser known tunes like “Jesus Just Left Chicago” and “Been Waitin’ For a Bus”, then managed to squeeze in covers from Muddy Waters, Willie Brown, Elvis Presley and Jimi Hendrix, the latter of which they had toured with in the early days. The scraggly looking bearded ones did a great job with “Hey Joe” and “Jailhouse Rock”.  

ZZ did a great job of drawing the crowd in with movement and incredible guitar work by Gibbons, easily one of the most underrated guitarists out there today. As well as with old standbys “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide”, “Cheap Sunglasses”, and “Just Got Paid”.

Of course no ZZ Top show would be complete without the early MTV video hits of “Legs”, “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Gimme All Your Lovin”. These were backed up on the giant screen with original video clips from the era, in which Gibbon and Hill used their custom furry white guitars.

With over 40 years of catalog to use, the 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees played through it as though they had seen the attendees ahead of time. There were all walks of life in the room from those with no facial hair at all to those who looked like stunt doubles for the band.  The show ended with “LaGrange” and “Tush” as the bands encore songs. These guys show no signs of slowing as they are currently working with Rick Rubin to produce new material, “the same three guys” for all these years.

As stated earlier it was a great show to break in a new venue and ZZ didn’t disappoint the 4000 plus people in attendance.  The venue did have some noticeable inconveniences, the security checkpoint may have been thought out a little better, as well as lighting on the stairways, but overall it will make for a fantastic arena and serve to draw some acts that will desire a smaller intimate audience. 

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Bilateral trade with the U.S. amounted to $56.9 billion in 2005. American exports to Taiwan reached $22 billion, with a relatively modest $34.55 million of that coming from Oklahoma. But there’s certainly room to improve that data.

Oklahoma remains a major agricultural producer, even in the increasingly competitive (and integrated) world economy.

As Dr. Vince Orza pointed out in a speech to members of the Associated Builders and Contractors last week, the Sooner State is not only booming in the energy sector, agri-business has enjoyed a solid surge in prices and profits in recent months.  Taiwan is the 5th largest importer of agricultural good from the United States, and procured millions of metric tons of grain and millions of leather pieces from the U.S in both 2006 and 2007. Oklahoma shared in those sales. Taiwan-Oklahoma trade expansion should be a priority for both.

The recently-elected government of Taiwan invited this writer and other reporters to visit the island Republic for a national conference focused on island entrepreneurs and trade opportunities, and to attend the "double 10" celebrations on Thursday and Friday. "Double 10" commemorates the mainland China origins of Taiwan’s liberties.  On October 10, 1912, Dr. Sun Yat-sun and his allies declared a Republic and displaced the ancient imperial regime of China.

Later, nationalist elements were pressured off the mainland by communists, leading to an exodus of the nationalist army and its supporters.  After the decades of authoritarian rule that followed, Taiwan gradually transformed into a true multi-party democracy, proving that representative government can work in an Asian context.  Taiwan has now had two peaceful transfers of presidential power, the most recent bringing the Nationalist Party (the Kuomingtang, or KMT) back to power under Ma Ying-jeou.

He was scheduled to visit the Taiwan Business Alliance Conference on Tuesday; visitors hope also to see Vice President Vincent Siew, who was Taiwan’s premier when I interviewed him 10 years ago.  In various high-tech and computer sectors, there are scores of undeveloped opportunities for mutual benefit between Taiwan and Oklahoma.

Despite great differences in culture and tradition, Taiwan with its vibrant political system is the Asian nation most like ours, and not only in economic terms.  This week’s "family values" conference in Taiwan is designed to support greater respect for elders, and make elementary school children more appreciative of their country’s history.  Speaking of education, modest forms of school choice are percolating on the island, already one of the most educated nations in the world.

Taiwan, like Oklahoma, is a relatively young "state."  We just celebrated our centennial. The Republic of China will celebrate its first 100 years in 2012.  And, as with us, there are political growing pains.  Immediate past President Chen Shui-bian is embroiled in a serious scandal involving apparent financial chicanery that only ended when he left office last spring.  The China Post, Taiwan’s largest English-language daily newspaper, editorialized Sunday that Chen not only violated his oath of office, "but also abused his position of power to enrich his family members and himself."

All of this — the good, the bad and the ugly — gets a full airing in the country’s news media.  Freedom House’s 2008 ranking listed Taiwan as having the freest media in Asia for the second year in a row. That gets it a global ranking of 32nd, while China’s state-controlled media comes in 181st out of 195 countries.

Taiwan and mainland China continue to have troubled relations, despite deep economic connections.  For Taiwan’s part, President Ma got good news this week when the U.S. government approved a major multi-billion sale of advanced weaponry; arms Ma said are purely defensive.  His spokesman told reporters on Saturday, "A strong defense and peace in the Taiwan Strait are necessary for Taiwan’s prosperity."  Among those praising the sale is U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe of Tulsa, co-chairman of the Senate Taiwan Caucus and a firm friend of the country.

In the Crown Heights neighborhood where I live in midtown Oklahoma City, the pineapple is a sign of "welcome" or hospitality.  Here in Taiwan, where it is an important agricultural cash crop, the luscious fruit is considered a sign of prosperity.

This week, the confluence of those ideas seems apt. In facing an ever-challenging future, people in both Taiwan and Oklahoma should welcome prosperity.

About the Author:

Since 2002 Patrick B. McGuigan has regularly contributed commentaries and news stories to Tulsa Today, and previously served as our state capitol editor.  He is the managing editor for The City Sentinel, an Oklahoma City weekly paper and continues as a contributing editor for Tulsa Today.

Additional Photo Information:  Photo #3 shows the 1,644-foot-tall Taipei 101 building, home to the Taiwan stock market.  The building boasts the world’s fastest elevator, from zero to the 89th-floor observation deck in only 37 seconds moving speeds that exceed 36 miles per hour.