Comments on: Take Me Back to Tulsa

Take Me Back to Tulsa

Kelly Tulsa — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:39:50 -0800

A remarkably diverse group of legendary musicians have graced the stage of Tulsa's Cain's Ballroom over the years: Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, the Sex Pistols (one of seven stops on their one and only 1978 U.S. tour...the hole in the drywall left by Sid Vicious' fist is still backstage), the Ramones, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Blondie, The Talking Heads, U2, Ani DiFranco, Elvis Costello, Snoop Dogg, Morrissey, Beck, Wilco, to name a few. A documentary featuring Costello and several other artists who've played there is in the works, with proceeds supporting music education in Oklahoma and the upcoming Cain's Ballroom Museum. Cain's was recently named one of the top 10 live music venues in the U.S. From 1935 to 1942, Cain's was home to Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys, who popularized western swing music with weekly dances and a national radio show.

By: fishmasta

fishmasta — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:02:49 -0800

I remember seeing George Clinton & P-Funk there when I was younger. Blew my 9 year old mind...

By: Fritz Langwedge

Fritz Langwedge — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:07:34 -0800

If Sid Vicious punched a hole in the drywall, it must be flimsy stuff indeed.

By: Navelgazer

Navelgazer — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:05:40 -0800

God I loved that place in high school.

By: Navelgazer

Navelgazer — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:06:41 -0800

Also - first post after joining six years ago? Congratulations.

By: wierdo

wierdo — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:26:24 -0800

Cain's even has A/C now! Seriously, though, Cain's and the Brady Theater have provided an anchor around which to develop a pretty neat almost urban area. Quite a change for Tulsa.

By: midmarch snowman

midmarch snowman — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:30:25 -0800

You forgot to mention the spring loaded dance floor! That was such a point of pride for the girl giving our 6th grade class a tour of down town Tulsa.

By: immlass

immlass — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:52:34 -0800

I've always heard good things about Cain's from friends in Tulsa. Glad to see it getting some love. (Also much love for the Bob Wills shoutout.)

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:36:38 -0800

Speaking of Bob Wills and Tulsa, it'd be a crime to not include this number. You named your post after it, after all!

By: Ufez Jones

Ufez Jones — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:46:20 -0800

I've only been once since the expansion/remodel but Cain's is definitely one of my all-time favorite venues. I feel like I half lived there in high school. My favorite memory is from a Social Distortion/Supersuckers/Southern Culture on the Skids show in early '97 when a (seemingly very hammered) Mike Ness filled time between songs by pointing at the various portraits of old C&W/Swing artists that hung around the dance floor and shouting (paraphrasing here, it was a long time ago)

"You all think you know punk rock? You don't know shit about punk rock. If you don't know these motherfuckers hanging on the wall here, don't even fucking talk to me about punk rock. These guys are punk fucking rock".

To be fair, he kinda had a point.

By: Bunny Ultramod

Bunny Ultramod — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:02:50 -0800

I was hoping this was the same Caine from Caine's Acrade, and it was all made of cardboard.

By: midmarch snowman

midmarch snowman — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:18:21 -0800

A write up on the Sex Pistols in Tulsa from a very fine independent paper here.

By: I Havent Killed Anybody Since 1984

I Havent Killed Anybody Since 1984 — Thu, 10 May 2012 05:30:23 -0800

Last April I flew from Dallas to Tulsa to see Ratatat perform at Cain's. Easily the best concert I've ever been to, and Cain's was a much better venue than I had envisioned when planning the trip. I had no idea that Cain's had such an extensive and interesting history, and look forward to this documentary. Thank you for the post, Kelly Tulsa.