November 13, Tulsa, OK, Venue Shrine- Fruition made a stop in Tulsa on their four-week winter tour. Opening the night was local Tulsa legends, The Paul Benjaman Band.

The Paul Benjaman band comprised of Bo Hallford on the electric bass, Andrew Bones on percussion, and Paul Benjaman on lead shredder and vocals.

With heavy influences of Tulsa music from the past, notably, J.J. Cale and Leon Russell, The Paul Benjaman Band is dubbed as “The New Tulsa Sound.” Benjaman and company are an important piece to the puzzle in keeping with the rich tradition of Tulsa musicians from the past and keeping the sound groovin’ for future generations in the Tulsa music community.

The PBB played tunes from their 2015 release, Sneaker, via Tulsa’s independent record label, Horton Records. The set included personal favorites, “Ball and Chain,” “Auburn Plaid,” and “Shake Your Tree.” You can catch the Paul Benjaman Band every Thursday night at The Mercury Lounge Tulsa or at “Paul Benjaman’s Sunday Night Thing” at The Colony, which always includes special guests and an all-star lineup.

Pacific Northwest roots-rockers, Fruition absolutely killed it on The Venue Shrine stage. The Portland, Oregon band is composed of Jay Cobb Anderson (electric guitar, vocals), Kellen Asebroek (piano, acoustic guitar, vocals), Jeff Leonard (bass), Mimi Naja (mandolin, electric guitar, vocals), and Tyler Thompson (drums).

The set included tunes from the band’s acclaimed, Tucker Martine produced 2018 album, Watching It All Fall Apart. They also played songs from their brand new release, Wild As The Night.

Fruition released Wild As The Night, a seven-song collection of new music. The album was recorded at Silo Sound Studio in Denver and captures the band’s mindset as they are on the road touring nonstop. Tyler Thompson says that the album is, “…extremely diverse Americana, with a focus on great songwriting and harmonies.”

OKR writer Kate Beckett had the opportunity to have a Q&A with Fruition member Kellen Asebroek:

1. What was the catalyst for creating Fruition?

Through a serendipitous turn of events around 2008, the three singers discovered that we reeeaaally loved singing three part harmonies together. We simply had to make a band out of it.

2. Do you feel your music fits itself into one genre? Bluegrass/ Newgrass/ Americana or a genre distinct from the rest?

Of what you listed, I’d say Americana is the closest. Anyway, these days I’ve been calling it soul/rock.

3. Who are each of your musical inspirations?

WAY TOO HARD TO CALL as each of us feel such inspiration from artists classic and modern all the time (including each other). There is just too much incredible music history to narrow it down.

4. Is there a favorite song that all of you enjoy performing live together the most? Most challenging?

Brand new material always has a certain magic to it. We’ve been playing “Raining in the City” and “Wild as the Night” the last few shows, and there is just something about the freshness and nerves that comes with new shit that just can't be replicated. You really find the essence of the song in these moments.

5. With so much talent and creativity between all of you, do you find it challenging or easy to incorporate each of your styles/ opinions/ talent into making music?

We have been a band for over a decade and are more in tune with each other than ever. “Challenging or easy” isn’t exactly the spectrum that we are operating on - it’s more of a support and trust and presence system between us. We all know when something is golden and we raise each other up and do our individual and collective best to serve the song each time.

6. What's your favorite pastime while touring?

I like to take aimless walks as much as I can - until I understand whatever city I am in enough to find my way back to the venue. ;)

7. What's your favorite thing about touring/ performing live?

One would be hard pressed to find a more present exercise than performing original music every night. I feel incredibly lucky to get to bare my soul so often. It’s therapeutic and cathartic and I bet a lot of people don’t have access to that kind of release.

8. What one thing, as a band, would you change about the journey(s) that has brought you to now?

Fruition was the first serious project for a lot of us. If I could start over, knowing what I know now, I’d work the social media/internet angle with more finesse and purpose.

9. Credits, shout-outs, just because’s that you'd like us to mention in our write-up?

Just stoked to be coming to Tulsa for the first time. We are all huge JJ Cale fans and pay tribute to him as much as possible - but moreover, are just lucky to be playing our music all over the country.