For anyone in the know, why would a tour like this come to Paycom versus BOK besides date availability? I looked at the BOK website and it doesn't look like they have anything scheduled for that date, but that doesn't mean something isn't currently in the works for those dates. And it doesn't look like she has been to Tulsa before. I know on a some bigger tours, acts will go to Tulsa on the front end and OKC on the bankend or vice versa.

OKC is a bigger city and market

OKC is a bigger city and market

I know that, but that doesn't seem to stop a lot of tours from going to Tulsa and not OKC. Just looking at pollstar.com, Nickelback, Jonas Brothers, Aerosmith, Travis Scott and Tim MCGraw are all playing Tulsa and not OKC. On the other hand, Odesza, Adam Sandler, Jeff Dunham, Fall Out Boy and OR are playing Paycom and not Tulsa. Again, just trying to understand why that happens.

I know that, but that doesn't seem to stop a lot of tours from going to Tulsa and not OKC. Just looking at pollstar.com, Nickelback, Jonas Brothers, Aerosmith, Travis Scott and Tim MCGraw are all playing Tulsa and not OKC. On the other hand, Odesza, Adam Sandler, Jeff Dunham, Fall Out Boy and OR are playing Paycom and not Tulsa. Again, just trying to understand why that happens.

I don't have any special insight, but OKC has been a sleeping giant for live music for a long time. Cain's got a lot of street cred with all kinds of tours in the early aughts and then Tulsa opened the new arena. Then, Tulsa got a lot of national pub for its music scene as a a result.

Conversely, OKC's venue situation was quite a mess. Tours would just bypass OKC because there weren't appropriate places to play. On top of that, multiple concert tours had to bypass OKC because Chesapeake / Paycom was already scheduled for Thunder games.

Since the pandemic, the venue situation in OKC is like 100 times better than it was, and it continues to improve. The laws of gravity will eventually take over here, and to Boulder's point, this is just a bigger city than Tulsa.

I went to Sylvan Esso at Jones the other night and I was super impressed by the variety of the crowd, the sophistication of the audience, and how packed the place was. Just about every meaningful show I've been to in the last year or so has been extremely well attended. OKC's concert scene is growing quickly, and this will feed on itself as OKC gets more of a rep with artists as a great place to play.

It sounds trite but when I saw Snail Mail in April, Lindsey Jordan said sincerely that OKC was the best show on their entire tour. I think a lot of artists just have no idea what to expect here so when it's so great like that, they tell other artists.

I've never been more excited about the concert / live music set-up in OKC as I am right now.

I don't have any special insight, but OKC has been a sleeping giant for live music for a long time. Cain's got a lot of street cred with all kinds of tours in the early aughts and then Tulsa opened the new arena. Then, Tulsa got a lot of national pub for its music scene as a a result.

Conversely, OKC's venue situation was quite a mess. Tours would just bypass OKC because there weren't appropriate places to play. On top of that, multiple concert tours had to bypass OKC because Chesapeake / Paycom was already scheduled for Thunder games.

Since the pandemic, the venue situation in OKC is like 100 times better than it was, and it continues to improve. The laws of gravity will eventually take over here, and to Boulder's point, this is just a bigger city than Tulsa.

I went to Sylvan Esso at Jones the other night and I was super impressed by the variety of the crowd, the sophistication of the audience, and how packed the place was. Just about every meaningful show I've been to in the last year or so has been extremely well attended. OKC's concert scene is growing quickly, and this will feed on itself as OKC gets more of a rep with artists as a great place to play.

It sounds trite but when I saw Snail Mail in April, Lindsey Jordan said sincerely that OKC was the best show on their entire tour. I think a lot of artists just have no idea what to expect here so when it's so great like that, they tell other artists.

I've never been more excited about the concert / live music set-up in OKC as I am right now.

I haven't really thought about it that way and that makes sense. I grew up in the Tulsa area and Cain's was like a second home to me. I can't tell you how many concerts I saw there. In three years from 1997-1999 through Junior and Senior year in high school and as a freshman in college at TCC, I think I went to shows once a week and knew the bouncers by name. Then as those acts grew bigger and knew what to expect in Tulsa, they probably moved from the Vanguard to Cain's to Brady to River Parks and then to an arena.

I would love to see what the OKC music scene looks like in ten years after Beer City, Tower, Criterion and Jones get some more notoriety about them. Another place that is little under the radar is Resonant Head. They have a ton of shows coming up through the end of October. Now, they aren't any I have heard of, but the fact that they are booking four shows a week there is pretty impressive. It will only get better when the owners start working on the Opry next door.

...

Since the pandemic, the venue situation in OKC is like 100 times better than it was, and it continues to improve. The laws of gravity will eventually take over here, and to Boulder's point, this is just a bigger city than Tulsa. ...

Actually, the pandemic has nothing to do with it. It started when Criterion, Tower and Jones were built/remodeled, back in 2016. Those and the booking organizations kickstarted it all.

I don;t think he's saying the Pandemic had anything to do with it, he's only using it as a timeline marker noting when things finally started to gel because the venues have been open for a while. Back in 2016 when they opened, it was still very cheap pickings in OKC for concerts (remember Criterion was empty for so long. ..) but now (or since the pandemic) the venues are known and "mature" so there's more action overall in the city.

I haven't really thought about it that way and that makes sense. I grew up in the Tulsa area and Cain's was like a second home to me. I can't tell you how many concerts I saw there. In three years from 1997-1999 through Junior and Senior year in high school and as a freshman in college at TCC, I think I went to shows once a week and knew the bouncers by name. Then as those acts grew bigger and knew what to expect in Tulsa, they probably moved from the Vanguard to Cain's to Brady to River Parks and then to an arena.

I would love to see what the OKC music scene looks like in ten years after Beer City, Tower, Criterion and Jones get some more notoriety about them. Another place that is little under the radar is Resonant Head. They have a ton of shows coming up through the end of October. Now, they aren't any I have heard of, but the fact that they are booking four shows a week there is pretty impressive. It will only get better when the owners start working on the Opry next door.

I’m also gonna have to agree with resonant head. I went to a concert there a few weeks ago and it’s a pretty chill small venue. I’m not sure there’s anything else to compare it too.

Actually, the pandemic has nothing to do with it. It started when Criterion, Tower and Jones were built/remodeled, back in 2016. Those and the booking organizations kickstarted it all.

Ugh. You are exhausting. I didn't say the Pandemic was the reason. It seems to have metastasized since the Pandemic. But, thanks for weighing in.

I don;t think he's saying the Pandemic had anything to do with it, he's only using it as a timeline marker noting when things finally started to gel because the venues have been open for a while. Back in 2016 when they opened, it was still very cheap pickings in OKC for concerts (remember Criterion was empty for so long. ..) but now (or since the pandemic) the venues are known and "mature" so there's more action overall in the city.

Thank you. That is exactly what I was trying to say.

Anyone trying to say the OKC music scene was anything noteworthy on a regular basis, with critical mass, prior to the pandemic must have been living in a different city than I was.

So, yes, when you throw in random places like Resonant Head, the reopening of Blue Note, Beer City, and more, it's obvious that there is a critical mass of live music right now, post-pandemic, that exceeds anything in memory for OKC.

Tool announced for Feb 3 at Paycom. Really excited to finally see them here.

Turnpike Troubadours and Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit at Paycom was announced for 1/19 and 1/20 with presale starting tomorrow. Presale password is CHIPPINGMILL.

Tool announced for Feb 3 at Paycom. Really excited to finally see them here.

I've never seen them, but I know my brother has, so I thought "finally" was strange to say, so I checked, and yes, they've been here before: 1992, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010.

I've never seen them, but I know my brother has, so I thought "finally" was strange to say, so I checked, and yes, they've been here before: 1992, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010.

Apologies for the lack of context. I became a legit fan post that 2010 concert. I was going to see them in June 2020 at Paycom but it was eventually canceled. I have seen them in 2019 in Tulsa and 2022 in Dallas. So just glad to see them in my home city.

Apologies for the lack of context. I became a legit fan post that 2010 concert. I was going to see them in June 2020 at Paycom but it was eventually canceled. I have seen them in 2019 in Tulsa and 2022 in Dallas. So just glad to see them in my home city.

Gotcha, and yeah, I remember my brother being bummed about that cancellation...

OKC adjacent Midwest City is hosting Tommy Emmanuel at the Hudiburg Center on the campus of Rose State College November 29, 2023. He is a truly phenomenal and entertaining guitarist that many people do not know about.

FWIW that venue is a really nice place to see a show, for those who haven’t been.

Tool announced for Feb 3 at Paycom. Really excited to finally see them here.

I've never had the chance to see TOOL and it will have to stay that way. Over a hundred for nose bleed!

Saw the Roosevelt and Touch Sensitive show tonight. Fantastic shows. Great little venue and super nice employees. Will be going back for Small Black in December.

Janet Jackson with Nelly at the Paycom July 26th.
Not Tulsa.

I’m excited about Janet! Almost went to see her in Albuquerque years ago; then almost got tix for her in Dallas last year. Just had to be patient. :D

I guess the run is over. There have been like, 15 tours announced in the last 2 or 3 weeks that are either skipping Oklahoma entirely, or going to Tulsa or Winstar or Durant.

Rock shows, in particular. Announcing large summer tours, going to Rogers. Just upsets the heck out of me.

FWIW that venue is a really nice place to see a show, for those who haven’t been.

It generally is, but it seems like the seats are pretty cramped. Not a lot of leg room.

BOK Center must have taken it personally. They are announcing shows left and right.

^^^^^^^^
Just bought tickets for Heart/Cheap Trick. Third row center, BTW. :cool:

Creed, 3 Doors down, Mammoth and Finger 11 coming to the Paycom on 11/2.

Surprised Sammy Hagar/ Loverboy tour is skipping Oklahoma

Both KFOR and Fox 25 have reported on something I hadn't noticed.... the Zoo Amp has announced ZERO concerts for 2024.

Website is down. Phone line is dead.

https://kfor.com/news/local/its-very-concerning-will-the-okc-zoo-amphitheatre-hosts-concerts-this-summer/

https://okcfox.com/news/local/okc-zoo-amphitheaters-silent-summer-raises-concern-among-local-businesses-adventure-district-cream-dispensary-oklahoma-city-concerts-music-venue-summer-spring-concerts-musicians-music-diversity-lineup

Could the Zoo take that area over for expansion?

Could the Zoo take that area over for expansion?

If the new amphitheater gets built near Yukon, this land will 100% go back to the Zoo for expansion.

Both KFOR and Fox 25 have reported on something I hadn't noticed.... the Zoo Amp has announced ZERO concerts for 2024.

Website is down. Phone line is dead.

https://kfor.com/news/local/its-very-concerning-will-the-okc-zoo-amphitheatre-hosts-concerts-this-summer/

https://okcfox.com/news/local/okc-zoo-amphitheaters-silent-summer-raises-concern-among-local-businesses-adventure-district-cream-dispensary-oklahoma-city-concerts-music-venue-summer-spring-concerts-musicians-music-diversity-lineup


Could the Zoo take that area over for expansion?

Management and Operation Agreement with SL OKC Zoo, LLC (SaveLive) for the Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheatre.
Dwight Lawson presented the SaveLive agreement. SaveLive was the top proposal. Their management has placed
listening to the wants and needs of the local neighborhoods as a high priority. They have researched sound barriers
and pledged a significant capital improvement plan.
MOVED. Moved by Trustee Heather Ross. Seconded by Trustee Jon Trudgeon.
AYES: Trustees Vicki Howard, Jon Trudgeon, Pama Palmer, Heather Ross, LaShawn Thompson, Aimee Salalati,
Dustin Fredrick.


I believe that improvements are underway .. and the first concert should be in august

Drake

Drake

I saw many people were triggered by the mayor stating that Drake was the top grossing concert in OKC history. Not sure why it's just statistics and a fact. two sold out shows the 2nd grossing even higher than the first nights record setting show. Good on him!

I saw many people were triggered by the mayor stating that Drake was the top grossing concert in OKC history. Not sure why it's just statistics and a fact. two sold out shows the 2nd grossing even higher than the first nights record setting show. Good on him!I don't get why anyone would be triggered by the first show setting a gross revenue record only to be broken by the next night's show. I think it's great! And I can't name a Drake song. People get worked up over the weirdest stuff.

I don't get why anyone would be triggered by the first show setting a gross revenue record only to be broken by the next night's show. I think it's great! And I can't name a Drake song. People get worked up over the weirdest stuff.

Triggered because of the cost of tickets.

Triggered because of the cost of tickets.

Which is probably why the concerts broke records. It doesn't really matter if you break records or not, they will keep being broken because ticket prices will keep going up (or more shows will be added to the same venues, or larger venues will be played, it's never really an apples-apples comparison that takes all those factors into account), so the "highest-grossing tour" of one year could be passed by another tour the next year that sold exactly the same amount of tickets, because the ticket price on the second year's shows will be more than they were before, so they'll make more money. It's not really that meaningful.

Higher prices for everything is just a thing. ALL concert tickets are way more than they were pre COVID. My wife and I, being in our 60s, still love REO Speedwagon, KANSAS, Journey. STYX, etc. You could get tickets to all that era of bands at the Zoo or casinos for $30 to $40 four years ago. Now tickets to those bands are $70, $80 or more. Plus online fees. REO is coming to Lucky Star in May and general admission tickets are $39. I couldn't buy 2 fast enough. I'd have been buying them doing handstands but I would break something. I can't see everything today regularly being adjusted for what things cost before some time.

If a show is sold out the tickets were market rate, regardless of the face value. Arguably, tickets to a sold-out show are BELOW market rate.

OKC Zoo Amphitheater announces new management, 2024 summer lineup coming soon: https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2024/03/20/savelive-taking-over-management-okc-zoo-amp-summer-2024-shows/73033649007/

OKC Zoo Amphitheater announces new management, 2024 summer lineup coming soon: https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2024/03/20/savelive-taking-over-management-okc-zoo-amp-summer-2024-shows/73033649007/

as i posted here https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=47718&p=1261495#post1261495

as was voted on in Jan ... and evaluated last summer

I saw many people were triggered by the mayor stating that Drake was the top grossing concert in OKC history. Not sure why it's just statistics and a fact. two sold out shows the 2nd grossing even higher than the first nights record setting show. Good on him!

My daughter went last night and enjoyed herself. And her ticket wasn't cheap, her ticket was $171 and it was in the 300 section. She said some people went both nights, just because. But also, this was the only Drake concert in the region this tour season. His show schedule didn't include Dallas, Tulsa, and no cities in Arkansas, Kansas, or even Colorado. So there were a lot of people from out of state who bought tickets as well.

https://drakerelated.com/pages/tour

This week's Drake shows are a great example of why having a new state-of-the-art arena owned by the city is a positive. There has been a lot of younger people in town for the show that have never been to OKC. If you want young professionals to want to live here someday, this is how you do it.

I went to The Tower last night for Adam Ant and The English Beat. It was a great show. Ant's backing band was outstanding - 3 guitarists and 2 drummers, so a ton of bass. Dave Wakeling with the Beat put on a great show too.

Flaming Lips at the Zoo on 8/30, 8/31, I believe. Yoshimi album 20th anniversary tour, should be interesting, haven't seen them in 8 years.

Flaming Lips at the Zoo on 8/30, 8/31, I believe. Yoshimi album 20th anniversary tour, should be interesting, haven't seen them in 8 years.

I went to this show in Tulsa last June. It was fantastic. I've seen them four times and they still put on a great show.

I went to this show in Tulsa last June. It was fantastic. I've seen them four times and they still put on a great show.

Saw them starting literally 30 years ago, last time I saw them was at the Criterion in 2016 right after they opened, the time before that was their Hallowe'en show at the Zoo a few years before that, glad this one at the Zoo is going to be in warmer weather!

Disappointed in a few artists that are bypassing OK completely, yet hitting multiple cities in TX, KS, MO, etc.

Sofi Tukker played Jones last year and it was incredible, but nothing on this tour. Lucius played here a few years ago at ACM@UCO and was also incredible, but nothing for years. Neil Young and Crazy Horse (can't remember last time he played here, but he's been here with CH before, long ago, when I saw him, and maybe with other bands/solo since then) playing in Dallas (and maybe Austin) on their recent tour, but nothing here.

Neil Young has cancelled at least two Dallas shows. May not be touring much longer.

General mood in the industry seems bearish this year. Sounds like there is some price fatigue and things are returning to the mean after a couple of years

Why some major artists are suddenly canceling shows, and in some cases entire tours (https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/concert-ticket-sales-why-are-artists-canceling-shows-tours-prices-rcna154558)

Basically sounds like too much saturation with too expensive ticket prices.

Neil Young has cancelled at least two Dallas shows. May not be touring much longer.

Last part is true, which is why it'd be nice to see him, didn't know the show was cancelled/postponed (as well as Austin). Sounds like they were cancelled due to lightning threat, which never showed up. Same thing happened to us at the Lana Del Rey show way back when it was Starplex - Courtney Love played (which I didn't care about), then because some lightning was happening many miles away, they erred on the safe side and cancelled Lana's part, while we were all standing there seeing blue sky for miles and seeing nothing on radar on our phones. Tons of pissed-off people, me included. But the whole thing down there with Neil seems weird, with all the dates moving around, didn't know all that went down...

^^^^ Kinda sideways on topic, but isn't there a Neal Young album that has a live photo from the stage at The Myriad as the cover?

Last time that I recall Neil Young playing OKC was with Crazy Horse in 1991, with Sonic Youth and Social Distortion opening. I was lucky enough to see that show, which was the one and only time I managed to see Sonic Youth.

By the way - and I believe this has been mentioned before in this forum - the cover art for Young's "Time Fades Away" album was supposedly shot inside the Myriad here in OKC:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/B1MKFvGB9OS._SL1500_.jpg

^^^^ Kinda sideways on topic, but isn't there a Neal Young album that has a live photo from the stage at The Myriad as the cover?

Oops, yeah, I was posting about that when you posted this.

General mood in the industry seems bearish this year. Sounds like there is some price fatigue and things are returning to the mean after a couple of years

Why some major artists are suddenly canceling shows, and in some cases entire tours (https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/concert-ticket-sales-why-are-artists-canceling-shows-tours-prices-rcna154558)

Basically sounds like too much saturation with too expensive ticket prices.
The expensive part I agree with at least for us. We're narrow minded in our music tastes. We went to Kansas, REO Speedwagon, STYX, Doobie Brothers, etc. every year as they came to a casino or the zoo every year. Good tickets were $30 plus fees right before the "COVID break". Now tickets for the same shows are $75 or more plus fees. And the bands have fewer original members every year. We don't go anymore.

Myriad didnt have an overhand upper deck like that picture

^^^^^^^^
I’ve thought about the same thing when looking at that pic but I’m not 100% convinced that’s an overhanging deck. I think it’s possible those are just lights or some sort of signage at the top of the back row of seats. I’ve also heard it might be the Philadelphia Forum. What’s inarguable though is that the TRACK “Time Fades Away” was RECORDED live at the Myriad.

Interesting, hadn't ever heard the cover photo was from the Myriad, but it's probably not, sounds like it's from the Spectrum. Here's a couple of links that have someone that's in it mentioning it, and a clearer version of the photo:

https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/a-new-take-on-neil-youngs-time-fades-away.520783/

https://sfae.com/Artists/Joel-Bernstein/Neil-Young-s-Audience-at-The-Spectrum-Philadelphia

1991 was the show I was at, quite interesting to see the Neil fans not be fans of Sonic Youth (and I was the complete opposite, they're great).

My oldest saw the Eagles (what's left of them) a few weeks back in Manchester. He loved the show but the fees nearly killed him. It was an expensive ticket to begin with but then when they add in all the fees, you're paying a whole lot more than you intended. And that's all middle man stuff. The band isn't seeing that money.

Add to that, that more and more bands are using backing tracks live and it really sours you on seeing these shows. Idk if the Eagles use them but many do. I read an article a year or two ago about a band (don't remember who) that had to cancel a show because their laptops were stolen. They had their whole live show on their laptops. When Van Halen played the Texxas Music Fest, their gear was accidentally sent to Chicago. They played the show on rented gear.

Can you imagine paying to go to a live show just to hear pre-recorded audio? You can do that in your car on the radio for free.

Childish Gambino kicks off his 2024 right here in OKC! It will be a great show!

https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/childish-gambino-2024-tour-dates-1235681203/

Childish Gambino kicks off his 2024 right here in OKC! It will be a great show!

https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/childish-gambino-2024-tour-dates-1235681203/

Got GA floor tickets a few weeks ago, looking forward to it, since he may really truly possibly be retiring the name after this.

My oldest saw the Eagles (what's left of them) a few weeks back in Manchester. He loved the show but the fees nearly killed him. It was an expensive ticket to begin with but then when they add in all the fees, you're paying a whole lot more than you intended. And that's all middle man stuff. The band isn't seeing that money.

Add to that, that more and more bands are using backing tracks live and it really sours you on seeing these shows. Idk if the Eagles use them but many do. I read an article a year or two ago about a band (don't remember who) that had to cancel a show because their laptops were stolen. They had their whole live show on their laptops. When Van Halen played the Texxas Music Fest, their gear was accidentally sent to Chicago. They played the show on rented gear.

Can you imagine paying to go to a live show just to hear pre-recorded audio? You can do that in your car on the radio for free.

I saw the Eagles on their Hotel California tour and can tell you they had no pre-recorded audio in Denver. They had a small symphonic section for a few songs and were still very, very good. I could imagine they don't do this at all stops.