Beau Jennings (Cheyenne) with Eugene Francis Jnr

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Beau Jennings may hang his hat in Brooklyn these days, but the subject matter of his carefully crafted songs on his solo debut, Holy Tulsa Thunder, remain tied to his home state of Oklahoma. After releasing two full length records with his New York twang-rock collaboration, Cheyenne, Jennings called upon longtime friend and producer Chad Copelin (Bishop Allen, The Umbrellas) to record this album. All the songs on Holy Tulsa Thunder were recorded live in Copelin's Oklahoma studio, using pianist Ryan Lindsey (Starlight Mints), and the rhythm section of drummer James McAlister and bassist Jeff Shoop (both of whom backed Sufjan Stevens on his Illionois tour). All the musicians grew up around Tulsa, passing hot summer days at Bell's Amusement Park, the demise of which is a recurring theme throughout the ten song record.

Occasionally channeling the energy of young Bruce Springsteen, other times the delicate vocals of Jeff Tweedy, Jennings has quietly crafted an Americana masterpiece with Holy Tulsa Thunder. It's Nebraska through a Being There kaleidoscope. It's a late night requiem for the lost stomping grounds of youth that forever stand tall in our memories. It's a drinking record. Pour yourself a whiskey and give it a spin!

"Hoping to become the next new hot Welsh music export after 'The Stereophonics', Eugene francis is making music that i feel has kind of been slacking of late. Where is all the innovative yet dreamlike, cascading yet elevating, howling singing folktronica? Huh? Multilayered junk shop samples, clattering dusty drums and sweet surreal synths blanket Eugene Francis' empowered voice. A little Patrick Wolf, a little Manitoba - yup his early stuff before the Dick Manitoba lawsuit and the Caribou phoenix-from-the-flames escapade - Eugene Francis is an underground star with a cult following (previously championed by John Peel), ready to spread his tales of optimism and life loving to the masses. Stand up tall whilst being awat with the fairies." - One Week to Live 'An Underground Star with a Cult Following'