Criterion Concert Hall

[TheTravellers]

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...

[AnguisHerba]

Huge get. Bon Iver on April 3rd.

https://www.facebook.com/CriterionOK...type=3&theater

[Timshel]

Now we're talking.

[TeeDub2]

Also just announced Vampire Weekend August 16th!

[RaRaRyan]

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.

[HangryHippo]

The changes made at the Criterion recently...

Can you elaborate on this?

[Jersey Boss]

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?

[TheTravellers]

Can you elaborate on this?

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.ph...26#post1057426

[jonny d]

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.

[HangryHippo]

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.ph...26#post1057426

Thanks, Travellers. Forgot about that post.

[HOT ROD]

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.ph...26#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.

[RaRaRyan]

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.

[SEMIweather]

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...

[Jersey Boss]

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.

[soonerguru]

https://www.billboard.com/articles/b...each-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.

[midtownokcer]

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!

[shawnw]

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.

[RaRaRyan]

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.

[TheTravellers]

Huge get. Bon Iver on April 3rd.

https://www.facebook.com/CriterionOK...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?

[Bullbear]

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.

[TheTravellers]

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...

[Bullbear]

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.

[OSUPeterson]

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.

[TheirTheir]

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.

[midtownokcer]

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.