Tulsa Band CLIFFDIVER On Facing Adversity, New Music And More

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CLIFFDIVER, a punk-rock, emo-pop band made up of members from the Tulsa area, joined Tess Maune on The Porch to talk about their journey so far.

The group of musicians grew up in the Tulsa area, graduating from Owasso High School, Metro Christian, Claremore High School and Union High School.

The band performed at the Cain's Ballroom in December for the first time in over a year after one of its members suffered a life-threatening injury.

CLIFFDIVER bassist Tyler Rogers was driving the band to their show in Las Vegas when a link of chain crashed through his side window, slicing into his neck and puncturing two arteries.

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"Something that tragic, that quick, can happen to anyone. So live every day. Love everyone. Do what you love doing, whatever it takes," he said.

His bandmates have been right there with him during his road to recovery, admiring his strength and resilience to get back on tour.

TESS: So you all formed the band CLIFFDIVER in 2018. Tell us who CLIFFDIVER is and what your music is inspired by.

JOEY: CLIFFDIVER is a collection of all of us. We really like to talk about mental health, and about life in your 30s, and growing up in the Bible Belt and what that means to us now. And we just like to try and help people. That's really all CLIFFDIVER is.

TESS: The band was in an accident six months ago, where you were on I-44 headed to Vegas for a show and a link from a chain crashed through the window and punctured two of (Tyler's) arteries. And some of your bandmates say it's a miracle you survived. But you were back on tour a month later. How has that changed your life? And your music?

TYLER: It's been incredible really. After the accident now I feel like this is like a bonus life for me. So being able to travel with all of my best friends, do what I absolutely love doing is a dream come true.

TESS: What is touring like with seven people?

BRIANA: It's a lot of fun. And it can be very stinky. That would be on the comment card. But we actually, after the accident, we went on our longest tour ever, which lasted about a month which took us cross country and it was incredible. It gave us a new lease on life but just touring, each other, the music we make, and the gratitude that we have to be able to do what we do.

TESS: Absolutely. So you all played at the historic Cain's Ballroom just last month, your first time back in Tulsa in about a year. What was it like to be back in your hometown?

MATTHEW: It was incredible. I mean, we all grew up in Tulsa so we dream of playing Cain's and headlining Cain's one day. So it was definitely a dream come true. Shout out Cain's. Thank you for the hospitality. Shout out the Racks. It's a great shop here in town that gave us some clothing for the event too. So yeah, it was a good time.

TESS: What's ahead for 2024?

DONY: So we are recording in between like February and March. And we're working on a new album and couldn't be more excited about it.

CLICK HERE for more about CLIFFDIVER.