Although high-capacity venues in Bricktown and celebrated clubs throughout the metro have long attracted popular touring bands and established local acts, many musicians and fans have started a sonic siege of the metro's smaller and lesser-known rock clubs.
Success often doesn't come as dollar signs, and what unites these smaller clubs is their owners' belief that their club sounds the best and brings in the best crowds.
"I wanted my club to mirror those kinds of clubs I grew up in: the ones that were always dark and packed with metalheads," said Tony Proctor, owner of Big Papa's Pourhouse said. "That means more to me than money, having people walk away saying, 'Man, that was a cool place! That was a great show!' I can prove it, too, because I'm broke as hell."
Here are just a few Oklahoma City clubs that are on the scopes of hardworking rock bands and fans, but below the radar of many.
Ya-Ya's
5816 S. Agnew
681-2100
Web site
Ya-Ya's features classic rock on Fridays, but Saturdays are reserved for hard rock and heavy metal.
Bora Bora
2415 N. Walker
557-1105
Web site
The club holds a capacity of 300, and owner Mike Overby hopes the slow, but steady entertainment growth of nearby N.W. 23rd Street will help draw crowds.
The Factory
1304 Linwood
370-8779
Web site
The Factory is unique, being a teen-focused and spiritual-based venue run by owners who embrace styles of music that are both positive and edgy.
Big Papa's Pourhouse
5906 S. Shields
537-8136
Web site
The Pourhouse is open Thursday through Saturday and caters to both all-ages shows and the 21-and-over crowd. "Charles Martin
