An Oklahoma band will be sticking to their roots by playing at Rocklahoma 2026. The event, celebrating its 20th anniversary September 4 - 6, has more than 40 bands playing in the lineup.
One of the bands consists of Tulsa boys. Seven Foot Monkey has been a band for almosttwoyearsandconsists of Devon LaCore, vocals, Jason Creason, guitar, Tim Sadler, bass and Tre Barnes on drums.
LaCore said the name is more than just a name, it’s personal.
“It’s a personal concept I have operated through most of my life,” LaCore said. “I am exactly 6ft tall, the idea is a constant maintained awareness that there’s more to me than just this skin and bone, that there’s more to all of us than that. I believe it’s important not to reject our dual nature, what we don’t see impacts what we do see, in deeply meaningful ways. I pitched the name to the guys with little to no explanation, it had a ring to it, here we are a couple years later.”
LaCore said that they’ve played multiple campground stages over the years, but this will be their first time playing on a main stage. He said playing for Rocklahoma is a dream come true.
“[Iam]SUPERSTOKED,” he said. “As a kid growing up in Oklahoma, it’s really one of the only big festivals around. So it will be a milestone experience to walk across that stage at ROK with memories of imagining it as a kid. Very blessed.”
Most musicians travel with their gear and instruments, but LaCore said he tries to bring comforts of home when possible. One of those items is his significant other and their dog.
“I always enjoy it when my lady and our dog come with me,” he said. “They say you know true love when someone amplifies an experience you’ve had a thousand times, just with their presence. So, that’s a beautiful thing I don’t take for granted.”
He said he is also always “hunting for a smoothie king” nearwheretheyplaybecause it is one of his “few obsessions.” He also said the band almost always has a bottle of Jameson.
LaCore said his musical influences tend to lean toward nu metal. He attributes American Head Charge, Cameron Peacock, Maynard James Keenan, Dave Williams - the original singer of Drowning Pool, Donald Carpenter from Submersed and Brett Hestla from Dark New Day. He also said Chester Bennington from Linkin Park and Ivan Moody from Five Finger Death Punch have each had an impact on his love of music.
He said one of his favorite bands he’s ever performed with was Motograter. Moody wasn’t part of the band that time, but LaCore said it was still one of his “top memories as a performer.”
Even though LaCore said he feels like he’s too new to give advice, he does have some advice for any up and coming artists.
“I never feel qualified to answer this question, every band situation has vastlydifferentdynamicsand situations, different goals,” he said. “It’s like giving a stranger advice. To give real advice that actually helps someone, you really should have at least semi intimate knowledge of who they are and what situation or situations they are faced with and what they have faced in their past. Otherwise your advice candomoreharmthangood.”
“I think the only tip I could give is to make sure the connection and therefore the music is priority one,” he continued. “We all know within us when we connect with something meaningful, or are presented with a meaningful experience, you can feel it and learn what it feels like. Keep striving for that. Keep that filter clean, stay connected to that thing within you, that pushes you to write the music and put the time in.”
“Use that as your compass, not trends, not other peoples espoused opinions on what works or what does not. That’s all fluff that clogs your filter, makes it harder to connect to the part of you that is uniquely gifted to create something meaningful sonically. If you don't properly respect the muse, it will not commune with you.”
“Regardless of your position asaband, if you aren’tdoing some form of that in your own way, you’re on borrowed time and any connection will be shallow at best. That comes across to listeners, and affects interpersonal dynamics in the band. Priorities. Pre-orientation. Where are you already facing? Where are you already aiming?”
“You’re the only you that has or will ever exist as exactly you. You are the only personwhocancreateexactly what you can create. That is uniquely true for each of us. So take it seriously, and give that gift proper respect” “By nature of gifts, life can take it away at any time. So know how blessed you are to be a part of something transcendently larger than you. It should humble you as long as that filter is clean. Know who you are, and you’ll know where you should or should not go, do or should not do. Read your compass, mind your filter, and keep going.”