ListenUpOKC uses vinyl to provide cozy atmosphere for new music discoveries

In downtown Oklahoma City, upstairs above SAJ Lebanese Restaurant, a new bar offers visitors the opportunity to experience a cultural phenomenon that began during WWII in Japan: the vinyl bar.

“Everything’s about love,” said Jay Shanker, the mind behind the music at ListenUpOKC, 712B N Broadway Ave.

Blue eyes over glasses, he leaned against the table in a brown striped suit jacket and gestured to the couches encircling the speakers playing Creedence Clearwater Revival at the far end of the room. Couples and individuals sat talking, laughing, and most of all, listening.

“Go explore!” he said.

Twinkling lights and paper lanterns line the ceiling while records and speakers for sale line the walls. In the center of the bar is an eclectic collection of antique and funky furniture.

On one side of the room, a yellow velvet couch pushed up against the wall sits in front of a coffee table covered in books proclaiming the most influential album covers of all time.

Guests can suggest songs or add albums to the queue. Last Friday’s theme was plants, with examples like songs by Kate Bush, the Cranberries, and the Gin Blossoms.

Shanker, an Yale and NYU grad who spent 40 years in Los Angeles entertainment law, described an “analog versus digital mentality” of the people who visit.

He described the audio equipment as so high quality that aside from missing the snap and crackle of vinyl, most people are not able to tell the difference when they do play music from a streaming service.

“The gear up front is all stellar, high-end audiophile vintage gear,” which proved true just by hearing it. Walking in, the difference is immediately audible, crisp, and clear.

“There’s so little distortion that even when it’s loud, you can sit 10 feet away from the speakers and still have a conversation without yelling or raising your voice. So this is a listening lounge,” he said.

“The goal is you’re coming here to relax, and listen to music, something different from headphones and Bluetooth. and really experience what the artists and their producers want it to sound like,” Shanker said.

It has become “a living room salon or party” for him, a place where anyone can walk in and experience something unique.

The bar itself is home-like, with a charming old white fridge and table setup, and friendly bartenders up for conversation.

All the records in the bar, aside from Shanker’s personal collection, come from a local record shop called Monkey Feet Music, 3801 N Classen Blvd.

“The owner of that shop, and the owner of the other largest record shop in town, probably the two biggest shops in town, we all went to elementary school together in Nichols Hills. I don’t know what was in the water. But that’s sort of a nice, charming aspect of being able to do this at this point in my life with friends,” Shanker said.

“When we moved into the room, it was just a raw brick box,” he said, describing the process of integrating the furniture and textiles draped across the walls that add both style to the room and softness to the audio.

“I’ve been in touch with some guys at the [UCO] Jazz Lab about possibly doing a monthly jazz one here. And even bringing some of the undergraduate, graduate students here just to listen to records, because it’s very different than on the club system. ACM has had some events here as well,” he said.

He continued.

“We’re thrilled to feature artists that want to do a kind of release drop, a party on this system. And really hoping maybe we can do kind of a jazz class with the jazz department from UCO, it might work in the big room. You know, keep it local in Edmond, but we can bring it to the Oklahoma City downtown audience, too,” Shanker said.

“It’s just a creative salon, where people can meet interesting people as if you’ve been invited to a party and who knows who you’re going to hang out with. But I can assure you, everybody here has got a story to tell and music kind of holds them all together or they wouldn’t be here,” he said. Whether you visit for music, drinks, or connections, there’s something here for everyone.

They are open Wed-Sat nights, always looking for new theme ideas, right in the middle of Automobile Alley.