Criterion Concert Hall

[pure]

From their Facebook....awesome stage setup. I'm sure a young Alice Cooper would have something to say about the seats setup.

[OSUMom]

This concert was not handled well. They closed off the sides after selling tickets for those seats. After being told at the door that we needed to go wait in a line to get an 'upgrade' in our seats we waited until minutes before the concert to be given our choice of limited view tickets. When we asked for our money back it took another 45 minutes.

Sucked. Not good for a new place.

[TheTravellers]

This concert was not handled well. They closed off the sides after selling tickets for those seats. After being told at the door that we needed to go wait in a line to get an 'upgrade' in our seats we waited until minutes before the concert to be given our choice of limited view tickets. When we asked for our money back it took another 45 minutes.

Sucked. Not good for a new place.

Glad I saw him with Megadeth in Tulsa many years ago instead of going to see this show and dealing with that. Isn't this the 2nd or 3rd time they've FUBARed a seated setup? Seems like they've slowly figured other things out, but the seating fiascos need to be fixed before they have another seated show.

[jarrington00]

It sounds like the management of this place is falling on it's face.

I expected this place to have more than two decent shows a month but they barely have two shows a month period.

I sure hope they can shack off this slow and messy start.

[OSUFan]

Just to add some perspective, I've been to two shows and they've both been amazing experiences.

[Urbanized]

^^^^^^^
I've been to seven and they have all been overwhelmingly good. Like everybody, I am also anxious to see more bookings, but understand there is a process. I'm still very optimistic.

[Easy180]

Just to add some perspective, I've been to two shows and they've both been amazing experiences.

Same here. Enjoyed the My Morning Jacket and Widespread Panic shows very much. Great venue.

[Bigrayok]

I wonder if the Fire Marshall had something to do with it? You missed a good concert.

Bigray in Ok

[Anonymous.]

Really wish the box office was open at least until 6pm. Getting there before 5pm on weekdays is extremely difficult. I guess I will try and get down there when there is an active show and buy tickets to future shows.

[Roger S]

I'm all geared up for the Lucero/Jason Isbell show tonight!

Going to make for a rough Tuesday but I survived a Sunday night Lucero show in Dallas a few months back that saw us getting back home after 2 AM.... So I think I'll survive.... lol

[OkieHornet]

oh yeah, forgot that's tonight. hmm... maybe i'll go - don't have a ticket yet, though.

saw isbell at bricktown music hall 2 years ago and he was fantastic. that was a last-minute show when the willie nelson show he was opening for at the zoo got canceled the day of.

[Roger S]

Great show by Lucero and Isbell & the 400 Unit last night!

Decent crowd for a Monday night show. Small, but vocal, Lucero crowd there and while I'm not real familiar with Isbell's work since the split with Drive By Truckers (I did purchase his album Southeastern last week). Some of his songs with DBT are some of my favorites and he played Decoration Day and Never Gonna Change. So I was pretty happy and would definitely go see him again.

Realized when I got home last night that I have now seen Lucero open for the Drive By Truckers and a former Drive By Trucker.

Isbell also remarked during his set that he really liked The Criterion.

[Timshel]

I echo BBQ's sentiments regarding the show last night. Lucero was good and Isbell was stellar as always. He also talked up the venue on Twitter after the show, saying: "Love the venue. We'll be back!""I don't take these venues for granted. So many hot tiny sticky rooms over the years. I loved them too, but I'm amazed at all this. Truly."

[Roger S]

He also talked up the venue on Twitter after the show, saying: "Love the venue. We'll be back!""I don't take these venues for granted. So many hot tiny sticky rooms over the years. I loved them too, but I'm amazed at all this. Truly."

Gotta think positive comments like this from an artist can only help them draw more great bands to the place.

[OkieHornet]

glad i decided to go - great show! the sound was fantastic and crowd was really into it.

isbell said during the show that he really liked the place - a great room for rock-n-roll.

[Pete]

I'm still troubled by the lack of bookings, especially considering we're through the summer now.

Still not that much on the future schedule.

[Swake]

I'm still troubled by the lack of bookings, especially considering we're through the summer now.

Still not that much on the future schedule.

I was looking at concerts to come and check the place out and there are only 7 shows booked through the end of the year? None of them are something I would go to. I've only heard of two of them.

The Brady and Cains have 54 shows through the end of the year, and much better bands as well, including Bob Dylan at The Brady next month.

The Criterion needs someone better to do the bookings.

[OSUFan]

The concert was amazing last night.

As for the bookings, to me it is concerning but I also have no idea on how the music business works. Most of the acts they have booked thus far have been top notch so I assume (or hope) there is probably a very legit reason why the schedule is a little empty.

[OKCisOK4me]

I was looking at concerts to come and check the place out and there are only 7 shows booked through the end of the year? None of them are something I would go to. I've only heard of two of them.

The Brady and Cains have 54 shows through the end of the year, and much better bands as well, including Bob Dylan at The Brady next month.

The Criterion needs someone better to do the bookings.

I mean it's a brand new venue. Certainly according to a calendar year and new tours, the gap will be filled in.

[ljbab728]

I echo BBQ's sentiments regarding the show last night. Lucero was good and Isbell was stellar as always. He also talked up the venue on Twitter after the show, saying: "Love the venue. We'll be back!""I don't take these venues for granted. So many hot tiny sticky rooms over the years. I loved them too, but I'm amazed at all this. Truly."

He may really feel that way about the Criterion and I hope he does. I just still have a distant memory in my mind about going to see a Liza Minnelli concert many years ago when she basically said the same thing about the State Fair Arena. I still chuckle about that.

[sooner88]

I figured the shows would pick up as we got into the fall. There have been some solid shows booked, but not with the frequency that i expected. Hopefully 2017 will see a full booking of shows.

[Urbanized]

I think the challenge right now is probably to get booking agents to consider Oklahoma a two-stop state. Meaning they are a limiting factor right off the bat. Once you decide Oklahoma only rates one tour stop, it's pretty easy to see how a booking agent would bet on Tulsa over OKC, since right now Tulsa has such a great record of supporting live music (thanks in part to OKC folks driving up the highway and bolstering their numbers).

It's a bit of a chicken-or-egg situation; once Criterion has a strong track record of sales, the bookings will come more easily. And, like I suggested above, perhaps booking agents will start considering Oklahoma a two-stop state. That might take a little bit.

[mark]

i'm sure there's also a lot of okc folks like myself who rarely make the trip to tulsa but would go if the show was in their backyard

[ljbab728]

An interesting booking of an international star and he's not going to Tulsa.

http://www.troyesivan.com/tour/uscanada

We were included in a 20 city tour of major markets in the US and Canada.

[Bullbear]

Yup I thought this was a good get back when it was booked.. looking forward to it.
did anyone see Head and the heart last night?. .wanted to go to that but had other commitments.