One needn’t be a member of high society to mingle over cocktails in an urban loft decked out with the finest vinyl and audio gear that money can buy. Thanks to ListenUpOKC, a casual all-ages lounge in Oklahoma City’s Automobile Alley district, anyone can keep up with the Joneses, especially those named Quincy, Davy, and Norah. By placing sound fidelity at the forefront of its design, the bar achieves an audio experience so rich that listeners can and do hear their favorite music artists as never before.
“ListenUpOKC is, for audio, like the difference between watching a movie on a 50-inch TV at home versus seeing it in a big Dolby theater,” Jay Shanker, creator of ListenUpOKC, said. “It’s really mind-blowing.”
All elements of the space — the decor, the gear, the layout — work together to transform the 3,000 square-foot. room at 712B N. Broadway Ave. into a sonic haven for passive visitors and discerning listeners alike. The interior design brings a linear flow to the elongated space, progressing from drinks at an informal bar to a cluster of cocktail and banquet tables to vintage upholstered seating and coffee tables to the turntable and sound system. Bins of vinyl records flank the walls leading to ListenUpOKC’s centerpiece, a luxurious pairing of Klipsch Klipschorns and JBL Sovereign Twos. Stereotypically, the glory of such gear would serve to attract audiophile fawning while losing touch with more casual, less technically consumed music fans. Shanker and his team, however, trounce any suggestion of elitism.
“We shy away from the term ‘audiophile,’ which can sound snooty (and expensive),” Shanker said. “We’re providing a space where anyone who loves music can connect, reflect, rediscover what it means to listen and celebrate together, and it seems to be working.”
It is fitting to its name that ListenUpOKC’s growing patronage comes more from its proliferative word of mouth than its visibility. Tucked away in a second-floor loft above Ash Cigar Lounge and Saj Lebanese Cuisine, the business is easy to miss on a strip known for eye-catching signage. While LED signs scroll from the upstairs windows and standing displays inform the entrance below, they are most likely to be noticed by pedestrians rather than motorists. As online reviews like to say, the place is a hidden gem, but it may not be a secret for much longer.
This growing reputation has netted the attention of major tastemakers like Alexander Mickelthwate, music director of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, who periodically gives previews of upcoming repertoire by playing recordings over the house system and offering exclusive, in-person commentary. Platinum-selling rock band Hinder picked the space to host its inaugural Holiday Hangout listening event in December. Rising Hindi hip-hop producer Sun Deep holds a monthly music production show-and-tell networking event called Beatmakers Monday. The diversity of these illustrious endorsements is not happenstance, as the bar caters to any conceivable music taste.
Boasting thousands of vinyl records, ListenUpOKC’s collection comprises both Shanker’s private stash and a for-sale public selection, the latter of which comes courtesy of a partnership with local record store Monkey Feet Music. Furthermore, the music selection is practically endless since the sound system also accommodates CDs and streaming services. While this allows for versatility, it also proves practical by allowing music fans to hear new physical releases without breaking any factory seals.
“To be frank, new records are expensive,” Shanker said. “It makes sense for us (as well as many of our patrons) to first access new music from streaming services.”
While house policy doesn’t allow guests to bring and play their own vinyl for liability reasons, one need not be in control of the music selection to ensure a great time. ListenUpOKC curates fun theme nights based on genre, current events, or word games. Past programming has included a Motown night, an a capella night, a night of artists with plant-related names (Kate Bush, Guns & Roses, etc.), and a night of bands with numerical names (U2, The 1975, etc.). Sometimes, though, this lightheartedness takes a step back for tribute nights to the recently passed away like Jeff Beck and Burt Bacharach. Whatever the occasion, the space is equipped to meet the mood.
“We know we’re just scratching the surface in making ListenUpOKC a hub for creative networking among music lovers of all tastes, ages, and interests,” Shanker said. “We’re working to bring more performers in for curated evenings of their own recorded music and the music of their musical heroes. Talks have begun about a monthly Jazz 101-styled listening party with a host-curator sharing insights into jazz history.”
ListenUpOKC is not limited to music, either. The list of prospective event nights goes on to include non-musical recordings like spoken word and stand-up comedy. The space can also be rented for a variety of private events, which is a natural move given its vibe.
“Patrons tell us they feel like they are guests at a great party when they visit,” Shanker said.
The social element is foundational to ListenUpOKC. Conceived in the wake of COVID-19, it is a direct response to social distancing. Conscious of those times, it provides an intentional platform for shared, in-person music listening, as if to swear off ever taking it for granted again. Even the loft’s casual mingling, while seemingly incidental, is an important piece of the experience’s design. From the listening area’s cozy living room feel to the bar’s socially lubricative libations, the space offers a dynamic spread of ways for world-weary visitors to connect under the umbrella of great music.
If the passion behind the project is not already evident, it is worth recognizing that everyone working here still holds down a day job. This is how they are choosing to spend their spare time, and while this currently limits normal operating hours to Wednesday through Saturday evenings, that window of time seems ample for the moment. The loft best complements the neon glow of its district at night, after all, and ListenUpOKC is adept at seeing its niche in the bigger scene of the city.
“Auto Alley is an artery for downtown’s vitality,” Shanker said, “and we are here to warm the blood in that artery a bit.”
Visit listenupokc.com
