Criterion Concert Hall

[Bellaboo]

Any band that can get a two-night stand at Red Rocks should be considered a huge get for the Criterion (assuming that MMJ is actually coming).

Yep, Seating capacity at Red Rocks is around 13,000.

Saw OneRepublic there a few years ago.

[Urbanized]

MMJ sold out Madison Square Garden for NYE a couple of years ago. They did a multi-night stand at Radio City Music Hall a year before that. I had tickets to one of the Radio City shows but ate them (and the airfare) because of work emergency. Also traveled to Chicago to see them a few years ago at Chicago Theater. Saw them in KC at Uptown a Theater and at Brady in Tulsa.

They are EXACTLY the type of band that OKC previously has been able to get. EXACTLY what this venue should hopefully be pulling. Huge get if that is real.

[OKCisOK4me]

Apparently, I don't listen to real music cause I have no clue who MMJ is. I prefer the Metallicas and Avenged Sevenfolds of the world. Thank God for concerts like Rocklahoma...

[Urbanized]

I've seen Metallica too. I don't discriminate; I just like good music. And pre-Black Album Metallica was indeed good music.

BTW, Metallica digs MMJ too...maybe they're just more open-minded than some of their fan base...

[Urbanized]

BTW, sneering about what constitutes "good" vs "bad" has no place in this conversation. The important word is simply "more". Oklahoma City ALREADY gets bands like Metallica, and Pearl Jam, The Who and RHCP, and even Avenged Sevenfold for that matter. We get those shows because we already have venues and promoters who will bring those mass-market bands here.

We also have good small venues who routinely bring great emerging artists, who might play here to a hundred people but one day end up being much bigger. I once saw The Black Keys in OKC with about 50 other people in the audience.

What we have been totally lacking is a good venue/promoter combo who will bring bands who have lots of popularity but not necessarily enough to fill an arena. That can mean acts like Beach House or Interpol or the Arcade Fire or Bon Iver, but can also mean great classic acts who can no longer fill arenas but can still fill a room like this. Pretenders, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan...those shows usually bypass OKC for the Brady or for casinos. This will give us a (great) shot at those shows.

BTW, besides Avenged Sevenfold I have seen every act I just listed, and almost all of them multiple times. I have pretty wide-ranging tastes. I'm just ready to start seeing more of those shows HERE. This is about having more options and catering to varied musical tastes, because one benefit of living in a large city should be having lots of choices and opportunities available to you.

[NWOKCGuy]

Agreed. I love Interpol but always have to go Tulsa to see them. Happy that we finally have a venue that will support them.

[tsou89]

BTW, sneering about what constitutes "good" vs "bad" has no place in this conversation. The important word is simply "more". Oklahoma City ALREADY gets bands like Metallica, and Pearl Jam, The Who and RHCP, and even Avenged Sevenfold for that matter. We get those shows because we already have venues and promoters who will bring those mass-market bands here.

We also have good small venues who routinely bring great emerging artists, who might play here to a hundred people but one day end up being much bigger. I once saw The Black Keys in OKC with about 50 other people in the audience.

What we have been totally lacking is a good venue/promoter combo who will bring bands who have lots of popularity but not necessarily enough to fill an arena. That can mean acts like Beach House or Interpol or the Arcade Fire or Bon Iver, but can also mean great classic acts who can no longer fill arenas but can still fill a room like this. Pretenders, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan...those shows usually bypass OKC for the Brady or for casinos. This will give us a (great) shot at those shows.

BTW, besides Avenged Sevenfold I have seen every act I just listed, and almost all of them multiple times. I have pretty wide-ranging tastes. I'm just ready to start seeing more of those shows HERE. This is about having more options and catering to varied musical tastes, because one benefit of living in a large city should be having lots of choices and opportunities available to you.

This^

[hoya]

I recognize Metallica, Pearl Jam, and the Who. I have no idea who any of these other bands are. Apparently I am not "cool".

[elitespy]

Yeah, I wasn't saying these are bad gets just underwhelming to me personally because I really had no idea who these bands were besides Kirk Franklin. It's awesome that people who are into MMJ might be able to go see them here and not have to drive to Dallas and Tulsa. Hopefully other bands that usually would stop in Dallas or Tulsa might make their way through here.

[Pete]

I'm really hoping between the Tower and Criterion we start to pick up some of the great 80's and 90's acts that still tour, like the Psychedelic Furs, B-52's, Human League, Berlin, English Beat, Matthew Sweet, Howard Jones etc.

I've seen them all in smaller venues in L.A. and all were fantastic and super fun concerts.

[jccouger]

I just want some decent electronic acts to come here.

[shawnw]

And here I thought I was the only Matthew Sweet fan in Oklahoma...

[Pete]

Would be fun to get some of the big DJ's like David Guetta, Tiesto, Avicii, Afrojack, Calvin Harris, Axwell...

[jccouger]

Would be fun to get some of the big DJ's like David Guetta, Tiesto, Avicii, Afrojack, Calvin Harris, Axwell...

Amen.

I'd really even be fine with some of the lower card guys coming.

Domestic stars like Pretty Lights, Griz, Dillon Francis would be great. They tour America more often & we almost always get passed over. I'm going to see Savoy in Tulsa @ Cains at the end of the month and hardly anybody knows about them.

[baralheia]

Would be fun to get some of the big DJ's like David Guetta, Tiesto, Avicii, Afrojack, Calvin Harris, Axwell...

Personally, I'm pining for Above & Beyond, but any of those would be a huge get for OKC!

[jccouger]

Personally, I'm pining for Above & Beyond, but any of those would be a huge get for OKC!

I need some group therapy.

[Pete]

And here I thought I was the only Matthew Sweet fan in Oklahoma...

Not anymore!

I saw him at the El Rey in Los Angeles which is well smaller than even the Tower and it was awesome.

[jccouger]

Can anybody find a list of which artists Live Nation is associated with? All I can find is that they are connected to 280+ artists but can't find exactly whom.

[BDP]

Not anymore!

I saw him at the El Rey in Los Angeles which is well smaller than even the Tower and it was awesome.

Love that place! I'd actually love it the Tower kind of went with the vibe, plush design, raised seating or booths along the walls, etc.

And I'd be one of the first in line for a Matthew Sweet show.

[OkiePoke]

Amen.

I'd really even be fine with some of the lower card guys coming.

Domestic stars like Pretty Lights, Griz, Dillon Francis would be great. They tour America more often & we almost always get passed over. I'm going to see Savoy in Tulsa @ Cains at the end of the month and hardly anybody knows about them.

Pretty Lights would be awesome, along with Dillon Francis. Or one of the top dj's in the world. I just saw Hardwell and he was excellent.

[Urbanized]

I'm really hoping between the Tower and Criterion we start to pick up some of the great 80's and 90's acts that still tour, like the Psychedelic Furs, B-52's, Human League, Berlin, English Beat, Matthew Sweet, Howard Jones etc.

I've seen them all in smaller venues in L.A. and all were fantastic and super fun concerts.

Agree 100%. New Order, Pet Shop Boys, The Cult...

[shawnw]

Oh hey, the Cult will be at the Brady in March.... :-P

[Urbanized]

^^^^^^
Exactly.

[Pete]

It would be so awesome to be able to walk or at least Uber to these events and also give your money to locals and thus invest in the local music scene.

Starting to get excited about all this.

[Mike_M]

Wow Kirk Franklin is a throw back.

He fell out of mainstream way back, but he's still super active and influential in the urban music industry. Probably doesn't move the needle if you aren't into Christian music, but he's definitely legend status and his shows are super high energy. He doesn't really have to tour to sell albums so he usually only hits large markets or historic venues. This is low key a really good booking for the Criterion. I bet it easily sells out.