In the heart of Oklahoma City’s Downtown Automobile Alley entertainment district sits a loft-like hideaway for recorded music enthusiasts and cocktail connoisseurs alike. The SoundBar, the city’s premier vinyl listening bar, opened in 2023, offering a unique fusion of nostalgic audio listening experiences and contemporary nightlife. It’s also the brainchild and evening retreat of Jayaram’s Oklahoma City-based entertainment law partner Jay Shanker.
After decades spent representing entertainers and artists in Los Angeles,Jay returned to his hometown of OKC with a passion for music, a trove of artifacts picked up on his international travels, and a vast record collection. Looking for a space to share these records–and connect with clients, friends, and fellow vinyl aficionados– he decided to create a new OKC hangout in the vein of the listening bars that have swept across the globe from their birthplace in Tokyo, moving into a vacant loft space in a century-old downtown warehouse building.
A Needle Drop into Nostalgia
Upon entering The SoundBar, visitors are immediately transported to an era when record albums were meant to be held, liner notes read, album art admired and music experienced intentionally rather than as background noise. Great recordings and the artists who made them take center stage.
In addition to the 2,500-foot main room, a rear storage space has been converted to a vintage stereo sales room and semi-private listening lounge coined the “Speakeasy” where up to 20 guests at a time can play or stream a spontaneous playlist among old and new friends.
The Sonic Experience
What sets The SoundBar apart from typical bars is its commitment to audio quality, catering to patrons who prefer album sides to singles and vinyl over CDs or streaming. On a nightly basis, the room fills with sound from speakers by Klipsch, JBL and Tekton Design, all driven by gear from the likes of McIntosh, Vincent, Cary, Emerald Physics, Bel Canto, Rega, Music Hall and Technics. The systems have been meticulously matched to reproduce the warm, rich tones that vinyl enthusiasts cherish, and are operated with devotion by SoundBar’s music-loving staff.
The venue’s collection spans over 12,000 vinyl records across all genres, and it continues to grow through thoughtful acquisitions and occasional donations from patrons who share Jay’s passion.
Headline Events
Open four nights a week, the bar features themed playlists that change every evening. One night’s listening selection might focus on a particular artist, genre or record label, or involve a creative mélange of musical themes like “A Night Of Great Sax”; or highlight artists or bands whose names contain modes of transportation, bodies of water, body parts, cities or states, or particular colors. There’s a monthly New Release Friday; a monthly Saturday celebrating Birthdays of the Month (for patrons and artists/composers), regular “Celestial Jukebox” evenings (you pick, we play), and engagement with music programmers from KGOU. Programming offers both familiar sounds and opportunities to discover something new.
Learn more about SoundBar–or plan your own visit at https://thesoundbarokc.com/
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