Stryper played at the Diamond in 2016, I think it was. They are doing a tour this year, would love to see them play at the Criterion some time!

You can see them, just not at the Criterion! Just announced:

Stryper
Diamond Ballroom
October 14, 2018 7:30 PM

The calendar on the Criterion site says they have NO events scheduled for August or September...is that really true??

The calendar on the Criterion site says they have NO events scheduled for August or September...is that really true??

I can't access Twitter right now but they recently posted something along the lines of: "We miss you OKC. When are we going to see each other again?" I started cracking up. Kind-of on you, Criterion, wouldn't you say? I can't tell if its an admission that they're not booking anything or if they're blind to the fact that their lack of bookings is abnormal.

I know they announced a couple of shows recently but it wasn't anything I wanted to see so the dates slip my mind.

I can't access Twitter right now but they recently posted something along the lines of: "We miss you OKC. When are we going to see each other again?" I started cracking up. Kind-of on you, Criterion, wouldn't you say? I can't tell if its an admission that they're not booking anything or if they're blind to the fact that their lack of bookings is abnormal. they also posted that on Instagram. I was reading the responses and criterion was responding t them.. until someone said.. " we are seeing Killer queen there".. .ummm

Was browsing http://oklahomarock.com/shows and saw these in Tulsa that I thought would've been great if they were at the Criterion:

The Roots
The Decemberists
Borns w/ Twin Shadow
Emmylou Harris
Gary Clark Jr.

Death Cab for Cutie (http://www.criterionokc.com/event/1797723-death-cab-for-cutie-oklahoma-city/)

Death Cab for Cutie (http://www.criterionokc.com/event/1797723-death-cab-for-cutie-oklahoma-city/)

NOW we're talking!!

Huge get.

go figure I have a wedding in dallas that night. Been wanting to see them for a long time

They're also playing at Cain's in Tulsa on a different night...

They are up to 10 events for 2019. Is that really good?

They are up to 10 events for 2019. Is that really good?

Better than they've been doing, at least.

They are up to 10 events for 2019. Is that really good?
pretty much everyone has voiced how low their booking rate is and no 19 shows isn't good. The latest posts were just saying the Death Cab was a good get.
I think everyone agrees they need more

Odd mix for upcoming shows in 2019 - all rap or folk/country except for 1 comedian, 1 R&B/Soul, and 1 pop/rock.

https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8489241/knitting-factory-criterion-okc-new-virginia-beach-nightclub

New booking agent picked up The Criterion. They formerly booked for The Norva in Norfolk, VA and The National in Richmond, VA. Both are really great venues that book tons of great shows, on par (and sometimes better) with Cain’s offerings.

https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8489241/knitting-factory-criterion-okc-new-virginia-beach-nightclub

New booking agent picked up The Criterion. They formerly booked for The Norva in Norfolk, VA and The National in Richmond, VA. Both are really great venues that book tons of great shows, on par (and sometimes better) with Cain’s offerings.

Good to hear. Probably anybody could do better than the previous booking agent (before the Criterion they did the Wormy Dog which wasn't exactly a draw for world-class shows).

^^^ I think it was the same group that failed miserably for the Tower before getting kicked out of there, they really shouldn't be in the booking business. Very good to hear about the new group, wondered about one of the shows saying "Knitting Factory Presents", thought that was interesting, didn't know they did anything besides NYC...

Cool. Original Knitting Factory on Houston used to be my hang.

Hozier announced today. so perhaps this new booking agency is gonna come through

I bought tickets for Citizen Cope at the Diamond... I’m not a a fan of that venue... It’s a shame it wasn’t booked at the Criterion.

Had to go to Tulsa a couple of weeks ago for CHVRCHES, Criterion would've been perfect. Would've been much easier to swallow a 1-hour set (great set, but too short) without having to make a road trip...

Huge get. Bon Iver on April 3rd.

https://www.facebook.com/CriterionOKC/photos/a.1576944589242450/2269200933350142/?type=3&theater

Now we're talking.

Also just announced Vampire Weekend August 16th!

These are some really big gets for OKC. These are all shows that would normally pass through up at Cain’s, BOK, or Brady. Bon Iver is only playing in 8 cities on this tour. The fact that OKC got one is amazing. The changes made at the Criterion recently, along with the addition of the Tower and Jones Assembly to the market, could really push OKC past Tulsa as the music capital of the state. They may continue to get more arena shows, but OKC could dominate by picking up all these slightly smaller acts.

The changes made at the Criterion recently...
Can you elaborate on this?

These are some really big gets for OKC. These are all shows that would normally pass through up at Cain’s, BOK, or Brady. Bon Iver is only playing in 8 cities on this tour. The fact that OKC got one is amazing. The changes made at the Criterion recently, along with the addition of the Tower and Jones Assembly to the market, could really push OKC past Tulsa as the music capital of the state. They may continue to get more arena shows, but OKC could dominate by picking up all these slightly smaller acts.

So based on getting these two shows between now and August, do you think the TIF funding was a wise use of funds for this venue?

Can you elaborate on this?

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=39227&p=1057426#post1057426

So based on getting these two shows between now and August, do you think the TIF funding was a wise use of funds for this venue?

Not exactly, but look at the improvement in both quality and quantity of shows now compared to previously. Its night and day. Not perfect yet, but it is improving.

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=39227&p=1057426#post1057426
Thanks, Travellers. Forgot about that post.

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=39227&p=1057426#post1057426

And probably most so, this statement from them:

"Oklahoma City is a good music town, and it's bigger than a city like Tulsa, but it gets less shows. We want to change that," Poe tells Billboard.

So based on getting these two shows between now and August, do you think the TIF funding was a wise use of funds for this venue?

The new booking agency is up to 5 bigger shows that are exclusive to the state and in the case of Bon Iver, 1 of 8 cities. Arguing over the mechanisms used to fund the venue is a different conversation. I’m just excited a venue is starting to show its potential after 3 years of disappointment.

Yeah, between the acts they've announced recently and the new booking agent, it definitely seems like this venue has turned the corner. Fingers crossed...

The new booking agency is up to 5 bigger shows that are exclusive to the state and in the case of Bon Iver, 1 of 8 cities. Arguing over the mechanisms used to fund the venue is a different conversation. I’m just excited a venue is starting to show its potential after 3 years of disappointment.

Hopefully this positive development will continue.

https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8489241/knitting-factory-criterion-okc-new-virginia-beach-nightclub

New booking agent picked up The Criterion. They formerly booked for The Norva in Norfolk, VA and The National in Richmond, VA. Both are really great venues that book tons of great shows, on par (and sometimes better) with Cain’s offerings.

OMFG how did I miss this? Incredible news for OKC. Knitting Factory was literally my favorite hang space in NYC. That we're getting this kind of curated programming for the Criterion is what we have hungered for.

Excited about the upcoming announced shows.

The new booking agency is up to 5 bigger shows that are exclusive to the state and in the case of Bon Iver, 1 of 8 cities. Arguing over the mechanisms used to fund the venue is a different conversation. I’m just excited a venue is starting to show its potential after 3 years of disappointment.

I wouldn't call the 3 years a complete disappointment. Just thinking off the top of my head how many awesome acts I've seen in the first 3 years it's existed, and I'm actually quite happy with all my experiences at the Criterion. Seeing Disclosure, The xx, Glass Animals, Dave Chappelle, Troye Sivan, Dashboard Confessional, Taking Back Sunday.... are all acts/artists I didn't think I'd ever see in OKC. 4 of the artists/groups I mentioned are from the UK or Australia and every single one mentioned praise for OKC in their shows. I'm just glad the Criterion is having a steady stream of announcements; let's hope it stays consistent!

I was at that Dashboard/TBS show at the Criterion. Incidentally I've also seen them both in OKC at different venues. TBS as Bricktown events (opened for AAR) and Dashboard at Zoo Amp. Definitely preferred them at Criterion.

I wouldn't call the 3 years a complete disappointment. Just thinking off the top of my head how many awesome acts I've seen in the first 3 years it's existed, and I'm actually quite happy with all my experiences at the Criterion. Seeing Disclosure, The xx, Glass Animals, Dave Chappelle, Troye Sivan, Dashboard Confessional, Taking Back Sunday.... are all acts/artists I didn't think I'd ever see in OKC. 4 of the artists/groups I mentioned are from the UK or Australia and every single one mentioned praise for OKC in their shows. I'm just glad the Criterion is having a steady stream of announcements; let's hope it stays consistent!

That's what I meant by disappointment. I was at 4 of those shows. They were all great. It was all the dead space between shows. You'd have a couple weeks here and there with a group of really good shows and then months with nothing on the books. It seems like their new booking is trying to fill up the calendar a bit more with quality shows. I'm really hoping this keeps up and we get the music venue we've been wanting for quite some time.

Huge get. Bon Iver on April 3rd.

https://www.facebook.com/CriterionOKC/photos/a.1576944589242450/2269200933350142/?type=3&theater

Went to this last night and it was good, but there was something weird that I'm wondering about. We usually go to the left corner of the balcony 'cos wife is 5'2", so the floor's pretty much not an option, and normally all the lights up there are turned out when the show starts. At Bon Iver, they left the back corner lights on (about 7-8 in the left corner, and 4-5 in the right corner. After talking to a security person, a beer girl, a barback, and a cop (3 times), I finally found out that the cop talked to the GM and she said it was a band request. This was really annoying to about 20% of the upstairs crowd, no idea why anybody would ask to leave the lights on up there, they're so damn bright, it was almost like daylight in those corners, and spilled out way into the bleachers. Anybody ever seen that happen at any other shows there?

I was upstairs in middle of bleachers for Bon iver and noticed the corner lights on.. I assumed it was for safety as those corners are where staircases were located but I had never noticed them on before during a show. I would find it odd that it was a band request but who knows. I did think the bon Iver show as stellar however. I can see how the light would be distracting if you were close to those corners though.

I was upstairs in middle of bleachers for Bon iver and noticed the corner lights on.. I assumed it was for safety as those corners are where staircases were located but I had never noticed them on before during a show. I would find it odd that it was a band request but who knows. I did think the bon Iver show as stellar however. I can see how the light would be distracting if you were close to those corners though.

Ha, you were probably 20 feet from us, we were on the left center bleachers about 4 people from the end (we usually get in the left side corner, front row, but those were taken already). The lights have *always* been off during every show I've been there, which was confirmed by the beer girl and the cop, and if the GM says it was a band request, have to believe her. Never have seen any safety problems in the staircases at any show I've ever been, just was like a movie theater door left open beaming light in (even though his light show was pretty bright, it was still distracting as hell). If I was on Twitter or Facebook, I'd post something there directed at him asking WTF, and wife said "You're not using my Facebook account for that", oh well...

yah you'd have had to be pretty close to where I was.. left bleacher middle right at isle. lol
yah I never remember those lights on at other shows nor do I ever remember the staircase being too dark to navigate as I think there is still some low level lighting on them. having those BRIGHT house lights on is too much.
it was great hearing them be so very complimentary of our city.

So I have a question. Im going to the Death Cab concert on Sat and it will be my wifes and I first time at the criterion. We have GA tickets, so are we limited to just the floor? Ive not been in here, so I have no idea how packed the floor gets and if my wife could see the stage (5'0"). Any tips or ideas on the best place to try and be for the concert? I'm assuming the GA is bascially just pit, so once you get in there, you can never get back out and in for a drink.

Based on past shows I've been to, 75% of the balcony is GA with the stage left corner reserved for VIP tickets. If you get there early enough you should be able to get a good spot up there.

So I have a question. Im going to the Death Cab concert on Sat and it will be my wifes and I first time at the criterion. We have GA tickets, so are we limited to just the floor? Ive not been in here, so I have no idea how packed the floor gets and if my wife could see the stage (5'0"). Any tips or ideas on the best place to try and be for the concert? I'm assuming the GA is bascially just pit, so once you get in there, you can never get back out and in for a drink.

The balcony is the best place IMO. I've been to multiple shows and the balcony is my go-to because the view is much better from up there. There are risers and some rails (which creates a better sense of space) between the rows, so unless you're stuck behind a gargantuan, you and your wife should still be able to see pretty well. There are also two bars upstairs, which usually makes for a shorter wait time for drinks.

So I have a question. Im going to the Death Cab concert on Sat and it will be my wifes and I first time at the criterion. We have GA tickets, so are we limited to just the floor? Ive not been in here, so I have no idea how packed the floor gets and if my wife could see the stage (5'0"). Any tips or ideas on the best place to try and be for the concert? I'm assuming the GA is bascially just pit, so once you get in there, you can never get back out and in for a drink. GA is entire downstairs and upstairs with exception of a smallish VIP area if they have that.. your best bet for her to see it to go upstairs. the upstairs has risers. you are still standing but it steps up so that you can see over the people ahead of you. I'd head up there first and find a good spot.

Based on past shows I've been to, 75% of the balcony is GA with the stage left corner reserved for VIP tickets. If you get there early enough you should be able to get a good spot up there.

Yep.

Floor's not too much of a pit, but yeah, hard to get back in once you get out, and your wife wouldn't be able to see anything (it's hard for me to see much from the floor unless I'm near the back/side and I'm 5'9"). I'd suggest the balcony along the front row - security keeps the rails/walkway clear in front of the bleachers, and since your wife's short, the view from the front row of the balcony is the best place (my wife's 5'2", so I'm in the same predicament). The bleachers in the balcony are pretty highly stepped, so even if you don't get front row, she should be able to see pretty well. Upstairs bars aren't as crowded as the floor one either.

We got to Bon Iver before 7:00, which is when the doors were supposed to open, but there was no line outside, so they opened early, and our usual spot of left-side back corner front row was taken already (it was probably half full when we got in), but that was fine this time because of the stupid lighting situation I mentioned. :)

anyone else find it odd they won't let you leave the building with a water bottle you bought from the bar? I don't recall seeing this elsewhere...

anyone else find it odd they won't let you leave the building with a water bottle you bought from the bar? I don't recall seeing this elsewhere...

Yes my wife and I got a chuckle out of this tonight. There always has to be some sort of oppressive nonsense somewhere. Hey, we have full strength beer and legal weed but God forbid you leave a music venue with a bottled water.

And by the way, the balcony was not for GA unless you purchased a balcony ticket. Luckily, some promoter chap inside hooked us up with "Premium Pit" passes, so we were way up front. It was a great way to see the show but was so corporate and weird.

anyone else find it odd they won't let you leave the building with a water bottle you bought from the bar? I don't recall seeingt this elsewhere...
Maybe people attempt to sneak strong drink out in the bottles so rather than check everything they just set a rule.

anyone else find it odd they won't let you leave the building with a water bottle you bought from the bar? I don't recall seeing this elsewhere...

Haven't ever been there, but I'd like to see someone try and stop me.

I saw security man handling some girls and a guy because they had a water bottle in their hand last night. Cause way more issues than the solved. Didn't see anything posted about leaving with water.

That being said, this place was awful and I don't think any band could bring me back. I took people advice and headed upstairs with my short wife. Didn't know that our GA tickets didn't get us to the balcony, but no one stopped us and the staff was clueless about it

The talking was horrific. I've never been to a concert, especially a death cab one, where everyone was just screaming and having conversations about her week or clothes or whatever. Could barely hear the band. The speakers also don't seem to be setup to get music upstairs, the vocals were hard to hear and the sound just wasn't as good as I was expecting. Saw lots of people spilling drinks and being a-holes and staff and security could not have cared less. It was embarrassing.

I know this is partly an OKC crowd issue( which is why we don't deserve nice things yet) but most other venues I have been to would shut the crazy amount of talking down, or announce it or something. Such a let down.

Totally weird to hear about these things. We've been to at least 6 shows there and either the balcony was completely closed off except for the VIP area in the stage left corner, or GA like the rest of the place, have never heard of needing separate balcony tickets just for the bleacher area. Sound is almost always better upstairs than it is downstairs, especially if you're under the balcony, where it's horrible. Could've been the band's sound crew that sucked, since the sound at the Bon Iver show a few days ago was pristine, loud, and crystal clear no matter where you were (we were in the middle balcony a few rows up). Will agree about the talking, seems like there are a lot of people that go there and Jones Assembly just to go/see and be seen instead of to listen to the band, but that goes on everywhere, I was annoyed by it 15 years ago at clubs in Chicago...

Will agree about the talking, seems like there are a lot of people that go there and Jones Assembly just to go/see and be seen instead of to listen to the band, but that goes on everywhere, I was annoyed by it 15 years ago at clubs in Chicago...

Huge problem at the larger Tower shows as well (thinking particularly of the Colter Wall concert I saw there back in December). It's really disappointing and one of the reasons I prefer to just see local OKC/Norman bands in concert. I doubt that it's exclusively an OKC problem, though.

The leaving with drink thing is very standard. In fact, most regular bars have the same rule. You can't leave with any beverage purchased at the establishment. I believe this is to cover themselves from potential fines for people leaving with alcohol. Almost every bar in OKC I have been in, has this rule.

The Racontuers are coming to the Criterion.

I'm so conflicted. Knitting Factory is getting some awesome music (at least for my personal tastes), but based on the show this weekend I could just as easily watch one of their concerts on my phone off youtube while sitting in the middle of the drunken fry and have about the same experience.

I just cant wrap my head around paying money for a show, then just going to screw around or be piss drunk. Like, there are way more fun and much much cheaper places to be drunk and have a conversation with live music. I had other friends that sat on the other side of the balcony area from us and then some on the floor, they said the floor was really hard to hear the music because of all the talking. My friend in the balcony said in her area there wasn't too much talking, but there was a couple who were grinding and lapdancing (probably a first to death cab for cutie) and pretty much cleared the area of people.

I think this may be the point where I've become an old man ranting about the youths on the internet. Time for a cardigan and a deep love of hard candies now :doh::doh::doh:

LOL @ people who go to concerts and don't expect there to be talking, drinking or dancing.

LOL @ people who go to concerts and don't expect there to be talking, drinking or dancing.

Haha, I always think of The Simpsons, and the old man yells at cloud GIF when I see that.