Okilly Dokilly! Ned Flanders-Themed Metal Band Set To Take Arizona, And The Internet, By Storm
When it comes to heavy metal bands, there are dozens of different sub-genres — black metal, death metal, nu metal, thrash metal, to name a few — but one Arizona band has started their own sub-genre that they’re calling “Nedal.” The band is called “Okilly Dokilly,” and they’re the world’s first Ned Flanders-themed heavy metal band.
The five-piece Phoenix, Arizona, area band even dress the part, sporting Ned Flanders’ characteristic green sweater, pink button up, grey slacks, and moustache. But how on earth does a Ned Flanders-themed metal band even come into being? Okilly Dokilly vocalist Head Ned offered up the story behind the formation of the Simpson-esque band, saying he and the band’s drummer, Bled Ned, were shopping in a convenience store when the idea came to them.
“Myself and our drummer were in line at a grocery store, entertaining ourselves by coming up with really cutesy names for really hardcore, brutal bands. The name Okilly Dokilly came up and was very funny to us. We ran with it. I contacted a few friends [fellow band members Red Ned, Stead Ned, and Thread Ned] and here we are. Most of us have played in other bands around our hometown. This is definitely the heaviest sounding project any of us Neds have done.”
The music itself is as Ned Flanders-themed as the band name. The band’s Facebook page explains it pretty straightforwardly. “[M]ost of our songs are direct Ned quotes,” and on BandCamp.com, Okilly Dokilly offers up four demo songs: “They Warned Me,” “Press Destruct Button,” “Nothing At All” — an homage to the Simpsons episode where Ned’s ski suit makes him feel like he’s wearing nothing at all (nothing at all, nothing at all) — and “All That is Left,” which is, according to the band, “our homage to the Leftorium, and the bridge is entirely left handed puns.”
If your curiosity is piqued, you may be wondering what a Ned Flanders-themed heavy metal band actually sounds like. According to Head Ned, it fits smack dab in the middle of the other Simpson-themed metal genres.
“Not as fast as Bartcore, and a little cleaner than Krusty Punk. Not as heavy as Homer J.ent. Nedal is a happy medium in the Simpscene.”
What could possibly be the long-term goals for a Ned Flanders-themed metal band? Do they want to make it big, headlining arena shows one day? In reality, Head Ned says, “this is all just an over-the-top attempt at getting Matt Groening’s autograph, even if it comes on a cease and desist letter.”
If you’re in or around the Phoenix, Arizona, area, you can catch Okilly Dokilly in their first-ever live show on at The Trunk Space on September 5. If you’re not anywhere close to Arizona, you can listen to the demo of the world’s first Ned Flanders themed metal band over at BandCamp, and check out the band’s Facebook page for more info and to keep up to date on future shows.
[Image Credit: Header — Facebook / Okilly Dokilly, Body — MusicFeeds]
