The sound at the Sturgill Simpson show was pretty awful for the first five or so songs. After that it was great. I moved around to different areas to check out the sound dynamics. If you're 10-15 feet from under the mezzanine the crowd chatter from under there is pretty loud (distracting even during the loud songs), but the sound elsewhere was good. All the more reason to work your way into the crowd closer to the stage.
The upstairs bars were both open so there was never a long wait for drinks. The line getting into the venue were pretty scattered and blocked a lot of the street, maybe there needs to be signage or someone directing people where to line up.
Any gripes I have are pretty minor, I really enjoyed it and am glad we have a venue like this now in OKC.

Based on some of the comments about moving around the venue during shows. Is the seating "festival seating" or are there assigned seats per the ticket? I was thinking about going to Allman and would like to know before heading up there. Thanks.

Based on some of the comments about moving around the venue during shows. Is the seating "festival seating" or are there assigned seats per the ticket? I was thinking about going to Allman and would like to know before heading up there. Thanks.

Gregg Allman is reserved seating. Shows like Sturgill Simpson, Disclosure, etc. have all been general admission with no seating.

I thought Sturgill sounded good, especially the band. His vocals were hot IMO, especially when he really got behind it, but I think that was an engineer's choice. They also kind of punched up the mix as the show went along, but I kinda thought that was a choice as well.

As for the other issues some are having, part of it is just that it's a big room serving 3000+ people. It will not be line free or be acoustically consistent at every spot (even a living room isn't). I agree that there could be some things that would be preferred acoustically, but even if it was acoustically dead, it's not going to sound the same everywhere, especially under an eve or against a wall. Anyway, I have been to three shows so far and they have all been different really. I've enjoyed each one more than the last. Part of that is that I think I kind of have it "figured out" now, as far as when/where to get drinks and where to watch the show.

Gregg Allman is reserved seating. Shows like Sturgill Simpson, Disclosure, etc. have all been general admission with no seating.

Since I enjoy non-arena bands I just wouldn't feel right at a seated concert.

a clip from the Disclosure show. was a great crowd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghdsxLs6tsU

I really regret missing this!

Looks like a ton of fun.

It was a lot of fun Pete.. Latch was a low key light show. some of the middle of the set was CRAZY!.. one of the best Light shows I have seen actually.

It was a lot of fun Pete.. Latch was a low key light show. some of the middle of the set was CRAZY!.. one of the best Light shows I have seen actually.

I agree. It was lit...literally!


I started out down on the floor and made my way up to the balcony, which was closed up until just after Honey Dijon finished. When I came in, an OKCPD officer told me they wouldn't be opening it at all. I'm guessing walk-up sales exceeded their expectations because the floor filled up pretty quickly. The balcony was maybe 50% full.


This reminds me, one thing I thought was odd was this. A friend came into town last minute and tried to buy a ticket online Friday afternoon, and the Live Nation website said it was sold out. But we had no problem buying at the box office just a few hours later. And you are correct that with the balcony open, there was still plenty of space. Just thought it was weird and have not experienced that elsewhere.

Has anyone figured out the difference between fees they charge online vs. at the box office? Sturgill was ~$12 for a $30 ticket online... would be really nice to avoid that at the box office.

I think I saw on social media that they have someone in the box office everyday, so you could technically get tickets whenever and avoid the online BS?

I think I saw on social media that they have someone in the box office everyday, so you could technically get tickets whenever and avoid the online BS?

Yes.

Yep, I just wasn't sure if you avoid the entire fee Ticketmaster charges or it's replaced by another fee. I'm assuming that you save a decent amount of $ buying it at the box office.

The Criterion just announced Troye Sivan yesterday. You may have not heard of him but it's another dunk for The Criterion that the younger crowd will enjoy. Just check out the other cities OKC is in company with.

https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13198659_10154220566028923_2875069561809092694_o.j pg

Saw Gregg Allman last night. The room was only about half sold, so they closed the upstairs entirely. It actually improved the sound downstairs, since they closed off the entire upstairs with curtains. I was seated under the overhang and the sound was actually pretty good, though when I stepped out from underneath it became much fuller. Booze was only tough to get during set change, when everyone tottered to the bar for a vodka and Ensure cocktail.

Incidentally, Allman himself sounded pretty great.

So, was the entire downstairs area pretty filled?

And everyone was seated, correct?

Everyone was indeed seated. Downstairs seating was probably 80-85% full. More than a thousand I would think. Fewer people fit with chairs vs SRO, of course. I was actually glad on some level that it was a crowd of about that size, because I was interested in seeing how the place would feel for a crowd of that size, and I think it was fine.

Booze was only tough to get during set change, when everyone tottered to the bar for a vodka and Ensure cocktail.

Haha. Nice.

Good to hear it worked with a partial room set up. Certainly makes the venue versatile. Hopefully, they can make it work financially with those numbers and not have always have to book 3000+ draws for it to be worth opening the doors. Obviously, they want capacity every time, but if they have some breathing room they can take more chances.

Did they sell as downstairs only or did they have to relocated people?

They sold the whole room, but ended up closing off the balcony with barricades and relocating people when they came through the door. They characterized it as a request of the band due to number of tickets sold. I was one who was relocated; I had front row seats on the middle riser in the back but was relocated to floor on left side of stage, under overhang.

They sold the whole room, but ended up closing off the balcony with barricades and relocating people when they came through the door. They characterized it as a request of the band due to number of tickets sold. I was one who was relocated; I had front row seats on the middle riser in the back but was relocated to floor on left side of stage, under overhang.

I didn't look that closely at the size of the risers when I was there for MMJ, but it didn't seem like they had enough room on each level of the riser for chairs and legroom in front, but I guess they do?

So was there an uptick in the surrounding establishments post concert business?

I didn't look that closely at the size of the risers when I was there for MMJ, but it didn't seem like they had enough room on each level of the riser for chairs and legroom in front, but I guess they do?
They do. They are a lot deeper than they appear to be at first glance.

So was there an uptick in the surrounding establishments post concert business?

Not sure about after Gregg Allman. I think a lot of those people were up after their bedtimes. ;)

That said, every industry person I've talked to around BT/DD has seen good business off of Criterion shows.

First time here, Deftones show was good, great venue.

HUUUUUUUGE Announcement today:

Dave Chapelle coming to the Criterion on 6/12/2016...

I'm almost more excited for this than I was for the Deftones.

he was hilarious when i saw him at rose state a year and a half ago!

Cool.... I'm going to see Ralphie May in Addison on the 10th. Might as well go see Dave Chapelle on the 12th and totally cause my face to cramp up from laughing too much that weekend!

HUUUUUUUGE Announcement today:

Dave Chapelle coming to the Criterion on 6/12/2016...

I'm almost more excited for this than I was for the Deftones.

Woah. That is huge.

Don't know if I had mentioned this but they had a tentative deal for Jay Z to do two nights for the grand opening of the Criterion.

For some reason it fell through and they ended up going with Third Eye Blind.

You may remember, Ben Rector was the first show but Third Eye Blind was the official grand opening event.

Jay Z at a place that small?? That would have had people from all over. Third Eye Blind is not bad by any means, but that's an entirely different universe. I'm sure they'll continue to try for huge shows like that. And in the mean time they've already done a great job in their first 6 months of bookings.

Saint Motel is out on tour now I wish they could squeeze OKC in

Saint Motel is out on tour now I wish they could squeeze OKC in

They played at ACM@UCO last year. Not sure if they could fill up the Criterion just yet.

Jason Isbell announced for September 12th.... That's a good pickup for the Alt-Country crowd.

The Head and The Heart announced for October 4th. Not sure who that is, but I'm sure someone knows them.

Just got better.... Lucero will be opening for Isbell on September 12.

Going to be an awesome show!

Jay Z at a place that small?? That would have had people from all over. Third Eye Blind is not bad by any means, but that's an entirely different universe. I'm sure they'll continue to try for huge shows like that. And in the mean time they've already done a great job in their first 6 months of bookings.

It's pretty common for Live Nation to do something like that for a brand new venue they are booking bands for. Bring in a huge name for a smaller venue to kick it off. I think they do it with every House of Blues opened up.

They just announced that Chappelle is their first sold out show.... Glad I got my tickets on Friday!

Just got better.... Lucero will be opening for Isbell on September 12.

Going to be an awesome show!

Now you have my attention!

The Head and The Heart announced for October 4th. Not sure who that is, but I'm sure someone knows them.

They are an amazing band. This song is maybe my favorite song of all time with an Oklahoma reference:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iSQGWpy0qY

I highly recommend checking them out.

Glad to see Jason Isbell and Head and the Heart both playing there, definitely two shows I'll hit up. Both of them put on really good shows, too.

Dave Chappelle has added a second show.

Ditto the Head and the Heart. Amazing band.

Re: Chappelle - missed out on tickets before the sellout...got 3rd row center for the second show!

Saving Abel announces for August 11th

Dang, Band of Horses and Local Natives, two of my favorite bands, are touring this fall and playing at Cains but not here. Hoping we can pick up at least one of them between now and then.

Both put on excellent shows. Hoping to see them again, but not against going to Cain's if not.

I didn't realize Isbell was playing BOK a couple days before. He should be a massive show for the Criterion but I wonder if that will hurt ticket sales.

I didn't realize Isbell was playing BOK a couple days before. He should be a massive show for the Criterion but I wonder if that will hurt ticket sales.

I know who he is, but not a fan of country music, but if I were to see a big named band, I would prefer to see them in a smaller, more intimate setting than an arena show. I have seen Michael Buble four times. The first was at the Civic Center and it was easily the best. The next three were at the Ford Center, BOK in Tulsa and then The Peake a few years later.

I know who he is, but not a fan of country music, but if I were to see a big named band, I would prefer to see them in a smaller, more intimate setting than an arena show. I have seen Michael Buble four times. The first was at the Civic Center and it was easily the best. The next three were at the Ford Center, BOK in Tulsa and then The Peake a few years later.

Oh I'm with you 100%. I just think the BOK show was announced first. I imagine everyone who is a fan went out and bought tickets for that show. I would have but I was traveling and missed the announcement. I would much rather see him in a smaller venue, especially with his style of music. Still should be a good crowd regardless.

Oh I'm with you 100%. I just think the BOK show was announced first. I imagine everyone who is a fan went out and bought tickets for that show. I would have but I was traveling and missed the announcement. I would much rather see him in a smaller venue, especially with his style of music. Still should be a good crowd regardless.

Got it. Again, I am not a fan, but I understand what you are saying. I once went to two Blue October shows, one in Tulsa and one in Dallas on the same leg of the tour and saw a lot of people at both shows. I could see massive fans going to both as they could see him in a big setting and then a setting 1/4 of the size.

Got it. Again, I am not a fan, but I understand what you are saying. I once went to two Blue October shows, one in Tulsa and one in Dallas on the same leg of the tour and saw a lot of people at both shows. I could see massive fans going to both as they could see him in a big setting and then a setting 1/4 of the size.

This is my plan. Saw him at Caines last year and that is probably the ideal venue. I was glad he is playing in Oklahoma again when the BOK show was announced but was lukewarm about such a large venue. I'm curious to compare his show at BOK v. the Criterion.

widespread panic last night - sound was just about perfect. pot smoke haze was a little much, though... thought it was a non-smoking venue?

widespread panic last night - sound was just about perfect. pot smoke haze was a little much, though... thought it was a non-smoking venue?

Definitely less haze than when they play at the Brady. I thought the sound was much better than My Morning Jacket. Amazing show and good people watchin lol

LOL not hard to have better sound than that MMJ show.

LOL not hard to have better sound than that MMJ show.

I know. Was a shame since they are an awesome live band.

Indeed. One of the best I've ever seen live, and based on sheer quantity of shows seen, that's saying something.

Definitely less haze than when they play at the Brady. I thought the sound was much better than My Morning Jacket. Amazing show and good people watchin lol

there was a girl in the balcony that was dancing like one of those inflatable arm-flailing tube things you see at a car dealership. she was into it!

there was a girl in the balcony that was dancing like one of those inflatable arm-flailing tube things you see at a car dealership. she was into it!

Parts of the language in the clip (and the entire show) are NSFW, but reminded me of this scene from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia...


https://youtu.be/jLdNObRoZpg?t=30

(not sure why it didn't embed)

ahh, sweet dee...

Good show and crowd. I was concerned about turnout after WSP's show at the Zoo last June encountered "unforeseen circumstances" which usual means weak sales. A friend told me the drummer od'ed but I've never seen a news reports so it's a mystery. Don't know if it was capacity but doubt the fire marshal would have wanted much more humanity in the place. Are WSP panic shows ever nonsmoking? Glad to see no official people harshing anyone's mellow which I have at Allman Brothers shows at the Beacon in NYC. The place is industrial but the sound is good unlike the Events center and in the last month I haven't had to travel to see Greg Allman and WSP. Gives one hope. Keep on keepingon.

When was the last time you were at the events center? I've been to a couple of shows there since the remodel and the sound has been excellent. At least as good as any Criterion show I've been to; and much better than several.