Mid-August 2004 was stacked.

First up, ZZ Top at the Zoo. The opener? Cardboard Vampires, a project fronted by Jerry Cantrell. That wasn’t a long-running act. Limited appearances. That night, they opened for ZZ Top and that was the band assigned to work with. Not a bad shift.

Then August 19.

Soulfly and El Niño at Diamond Ballroom.

486 tickets.

$23.

Heavy package. Solid bill. But 486 in that room feels light. That’s the gamble with metal tours. Some nights explode. Some nights grind.

The very next day, August 20, Robert Earl Keen rolls into Bricktown Events Center. Different crowd. Different vibe.

August 26, Soulfly and El Niño run it back at The Rockwell.

August 27, Headroom at the Diamond Ballroom.

That stretch shows the contrast.

Blues legends. Cantrell side project. Brazilian metal. Latin metal. Texas singer-songwriter. Local hard rock.

Four completely different audiences in eight days.

That’s the booking life.

#HeresTheDealPodcast #ZZTop #JerryCantrell #Soulfly #elNino #DiamondBallroom #ZooAmphitheatre #OKCMusic #MetalShows #ConcertLife #MaxBakerJr #JeffBrownen #oklahoma #oklahomacity

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March 2005.

One week. Four major artists. Zero downtime.

It starts with Robert Plant at Southside Education Center in Tulsa. Friday, March 11. From there, drive him down Route 66 to Oklahoma City for March 13 at Bricktown Events Center. Full escort mode. Shopping stops. Meals. Hosting duties. Rock royalty riding shotgun on Route 66.

Three days off.

Then back at it.

Wednesday at Cain's Ballroom with The Wallflowers.

That night, straight back to Oklahoma City to step into Billy Idol at the Red Cocoanut Events Center. No rest. Drop Billy at the airport Friday morning.

Then immediately roll into Ryan Cabrera at Bricktown Events Center.

That’s the swing.

Legendary frontman from Led Zeppelin. Alt-rock staple Wallflowers. Punk icon Billy Idol. Pop-radio Ryan Cabrera.

Different genres. Different crews. Same driver. Same week.

That’s not a tour.

That’s survival mode.

#HeresTheDealPodcast #RobertPlant #BillyIdol #TheWallflowers #RyanCabrera #Route66 #CainsBallroom #BricktownEventsCenter #TulsaMusic #OKCMusic #ConcertLife #MaxBakerJr #JeffBrownen

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Max Baker Jr. Instagram @bmaddmaxx | Facebook @bmaddmaxx
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Here’s The Deal Podcast Website
https://heresthedealok.com

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https://heresthedealvintagecollectables.com

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Mid-2004 was stacked.

Canadian rock rolling through town. Finger Eleven. Thornley, fronted by Ian Thornley, who previously led Big Wreck. Multiple rooms. Cain’s. Bricktown Live. The Rockwell.

Then August 11.

Zoo Amphitheatre.

Evanescence. Seether. Three Days Grace.

That was a strong bill. Post–“Bring Me to Life” era. Radio heavy. Big turnout.

Three days later, August 14.

ZZ Top at the Zoo.

But behind the scenes is where the real shift happened.

After getting in trouble and not being welcomed on some of the bigger shows, the phone rings. Howard Pollack from Innervisions. Opportunity instead of exile.

“You want to work?”

Runner position at the Zoo.

Not headline status. Not promoter seat. Runner. Drive. Fetch. Handle details. Keep it moving.

That’s how you stay in the game.

From not being welcome to loading in for Evanescence at the Zoo.

You take the job. You prove your value. You rebuild.

That’s the part people don’t see.

#HeresTheDealPodcast #Evanescence #Seether #ThreeDaysGrace #ZZTop #ZooAmphitheatre #Innervisions #ConcertRunner #BehindTheScenes #OKCMusic #MaxBakerJr #JeffBrownen

Like, share, and follow so these stories keep getting told.

Follow & Connect:
Max Baker Jr. Instagram @bmaddmaxx | Facebook @bmaddmaxx
Jeff Brownen Facebook @jeff.brownen

Here’s The Deal YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@heresthedealok

Here’s The Deal Podcast Website
https://heresthedealok.com

Buy Here’s The Deal Vintage & Collectables
https://heresthedealvintagecollectables.com

Get an Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Card
https://medcardsmadeeasy.net

Concert & Event Production Services
https://bakerboyspro.com

Buy Roadie CBD Balm & Oil
https://bakersremedycbd.com