Maggie McClure and Shane Henry of The Imaginaries are on a roll both literally and figuratively. They’re presently in the middle of a 26 date road tour called “Wheels to the Pavement 2024.” The ambitious set of shows includes stops stretching from Florida to Montana in ten different states. The Imaginaries’ first single “Whole Lotta Livin’” from a new LP featuring Okie country superstar Vince Gill on guitar just dropped late last month. Hollywood movie “Reagan” is now in theaters nationwide.
The Imaginaries make an appearance in the film performing as a band in a scene depicting the 4oth president’s inauguration festivities. The Wheels to the Pavement tour is making a stop right here in the band’s home town Sunday as part of the Summer Breeze concert series. The show will be at 7:30 p.m. in Lions Park, 225 N. Webster Avenue. Admission is free.
“We have a little break from the road to be home in Norman then we head out again and will be back at it,” McClure said.
It’s The Imaginaries first big tour since the pandemic.
“It’s been really good and a lot of fun to get back out on the road,” she said. “It’s been a blast to get back out there, play for audiences, travel the country, meet new friends, see old ones and reconnect with people. Also it has been fun to play new material and see people’s reactions to that.”
They’re road warriors in a Honda Pilot with a trailer.
“We’re running and gunning and doing lots of twelve hour drives that have to be recovered from,” guitarist/ vocalist Henry said. “Even though the mileage between gigs looks nuts on paper there is some strategy behind it. The Montana gig included booking a really cool performance at the Red Lodge Songwriter Festival. We knew we weren’t just going all the way to Montana and not play a bunch of gigs in the area. We played our way there and played our way back. It worked out pretty good.”
Typically The Imaginaries perform as an acoustic instrument duo. Sunday’s Summer Breeze show will be atypical.
“That’s going to be full band and rocking, man,” Henry said. “We’ll be playing a high energy 90 minute set with lots of new songs from our upcoming album.”
The new compositions were recorded last year at Alabama’s storied Muscle Shoals Sound Studio including the track with guest guitarist Vince Gill.
“Vince Gill invited us over to their home studio which was an incredible experience,” McClure said. “He played some amazing guitar on our song. We are so grateful just to get to hang out with him. Having him be a part of what we’re doing is really special to us. We look up to him so much. He’s an amazing person and a ten out of ten singer, songwriter and musician. We couldn’t be more excited.”
Much of The Imaginaries’ career along with solo work by both Henry and McClure has been out of state. Hollywood releases, Hallmark TV channel work and over fifty original song placements in shows such as The Hills and The Real World. The pair have even performed a holiday NBA half-time show during a New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. McClure from Norman and Henry of Verden in Grady County remain Okies through and through.
“We were both born and raised in Oklahoma,” McClure said. “No matter what we do or who we work with our Okie roots come through. That’s who we are as people and as musicians. I think the more we do as The Imaginaries the more that comes out. It’s been really fun to explore the roots, folk and rock n roll sides of what we’re doing. We couldn’t be more excited about this new music we’re putting out. “
There are a couple of music videos posted at imaginariesband.com from their “Porch Sessions” series that vividly go to this artistic sensibility. There’s a surfeit of soul and bone chilling power in tunes “Revival” and “You Remind Me” played with other musicians outdoors on a log cabin’s porch.
“Those videos were shot at a place called Cedar Gate over by Kingfisher,” Henry said. “It’s a resort area with cool little cabins. We’ve been filming a bunch of music videos for our upcoming singles. Ninety percent of them have been filmed here in Oklahoma. It’s been fun exploring different parts of the state and film in different settings. We love working with Reagan Elkins.”
Elkins is an award winning filmmaker and director based in Chickasha who operates Intellego Media.
“We love working in Oklahoma and showing off everything our state has to offer,” McClure said.
Henry and McClure both started their careers solo when each was a very young age. As a married couple they’ve successfully learned how to navigate being a creative team.
“The Imaginaries has been a band for about five years,” McClure said. “We’ve discovered what each other is really good at. It’s all about playing to your strengths. Shane is awesome at the recording aspect of things. He knows all about the tech side of what we’re doing.”
Henry is one of the founding partners of thriving guitar pedal company Westerlund Audio.
“He’s a great engineer, has really good ears and knows all the details about gear,” McClure said. “My strengths lay more on the business side. I’m our day to day manager, booking tours and coming up with a strategy, posting on social media, hiring team members and coming up with game plans. We complement each other with these natural strengths, grateful that we’re both good in different areas.”
In a sense 2024 Summer Breeze will be a debut for McClure and Henry.
“This is actually our first time playing the festival as The Imaginaries,” McClure said. “We couldn’t be more excited about it.”