Last Updated on May 9, 2023, 9:53 PM | Published: May 9, 2023
OKLAHOMA CITY — Between rampant severe weather and tornadoes, political shenanigans timed for the end of the legislative session, and school-aged kids suddenly running amok everywhere in the middle of the day, the month of May gives us plenty of reasons to be stressed and angry.
Fortunately, it also tends to kick off the summer concert season with a bang, as festivals pop up all over town, the hottest national tours swing through, and locals start hitting some of the best stages harder than ever, catering to crowds hungry for some hard rock relief.
From punk to prog to grunge to indie, whatever brand of rock gets your head banging and fists pumping, OKC stages have just what you need to make it through May.
Inferna & Intersect – 89th Street – Thursday, May 11th
Prepare to blow off all the steam and shake off all the aggression you can with some of the most brutal, intense punk rock you’re likely to find this side of 1980s England.
OKC hardcore leaders Inferna and Austin’s Intersect have joined forces for a new split EP, and they’ll be celebrating its release this week by crashing the gates at 89th Street.
Inferna’s sound is already not for the faint of heart, with a crushing wall of guitar distortion, unrelenting D-beat propulsion, and singer Hellray’s throat-shredding shriek, but with the band’s venomous opposition to a number of recent political moves throughout the state, you can expect this show to be particularly powerful.
For tickets and info, visit 89thstreetokc.com.
Coheed & Cambria – The Criterion – Sunday, May 14th
If you’re not already familiar with one of the 21st century’s greatest cult bands, then consider this your primer:
Iron Maiden, Thin Lizzy, and Rush all had a baby (don’t ask how) and it was abducted by aliens and raised in space.
More specifically, Coheed & Cambria (just Coheed for short) have been merging prog-rock, new wave, emo, and power metal with a continuously unfolding sci-fi/fantasy storyline for more than 20 years now, and racking up a ravenous fanbase all the while.
Whether or not you have any interest in the convoluted space-opera of their lyrics, Coheed offer one of the very best and most energetic rock shows around, and the current tour that they’ll be bringing through The Criterion this Mother’s Day is a special one.
As part of their “Neverender” tour series, in which the band performs one of their cult classic albums in its entirety, honing in on the sci-fi story context, they’ll be presenting their album “No World for Tomorrow” in full.
The original 2007 studio album was recorded with Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who tragically and unexpectedly died just over one year ago, so expect this retrospective to also be a heartfelt tribute.
For tickets and info, visit criterionokc.com.
Big Weather, Gentlemen Rogues, Lunar Division – Blue Note – Friday, May 19th
It’s set to be a stacked Friday night at Blue Note as some of OKC’s most earnest, straightforward rockers are joined by Gentlemen Rogues (also hailing from Austin.)
Big Weather and Lunar Division represent a couple of the city’s best straight-up rock acts, and getting them together on a bill promises a night so packed full of endlessly catchy melodies that you won’t even know what to hum on your way home.
Lunar Division’s 2022 LP “Phantom” celebrates its one-year anniversary this week, meaning it’s a perfect time to revisit the track “Rays,” featuring what remains one of the most effortless catchy rock choruses OKC has produced in awhile.
Big Weather frontman (and music scene mainstay) Chase Kerby also just announced that he’s officially stepping down as director of Arts Council OKC’s Art Moves program after five remarkable years bringing arts performance all over the city, so come out on the 19th and give him the sendoff he deserves.
For tickets and info, visit okcbluenote.com.
Plain Speak, LABRYS, Brotherboy – Resonant Head – May 27th
What better way to check out OKC’s newest venue addition than with a trio of some of the best indie acts the scene has to offer?
Plain Speak and LABRYS both rank among the very best recent acts in OKC, with impeccable indie songwriting and hooks for days, and they’re both perfectly suited to the dreamy, pseudo-psych vibe of Capitol Hill’s brand new Resonant Head.
Joining the party are dream-pop newcomers Brotherboy, fresh off a spot at Festival of the Arts and a midday Main Stage breakout at Norman Music Festival.
Resonant Head is shaping up to be a serious stage to watch, as well as a major step in bringing the city’s scene down south to the reemerging Capitol Hill area.
For tickets and info, visit resonanthead.com.
Brett Fieldcamp has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for nearly 15 years, writing for several local and state publications. He’s also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.
