1977, maybe? During a semester break, a gang of us, mostly Edison classmates, met at a small club in a strip mall in east Tulsa. Word had gotten around town that hometown hero Dwight Twilley would be playing an unannounced show.
But Twilley would play after the regularly scheduled out-of-town act, The Autumn People. I think it was a power trio: Spinal Tap minus the talent. All I remember was leather fringe and hair and loud music. And a very bored, impatient audience.
At the end of their set, it was dead. Silent. Then after about five seconds, Walt Kleinecke stood up, clapped three times and gave the Autumn People a very derisive cheer: “Rock and roll!! Woo!!”
It was the only noise in the place except pinball machines and clinking beer glasses.
Autumn People: “Alriiiiight, Tulsa! You want more?!”
Not no, but hell no.
We got the obligatory rock encore anyway.
At the end, in the Big Finale, the Autumn People unleashed some kind of pyrotechnics. Imagine setting off fireworks in a small, low-ceiling strip mall. It’s a miracle the acoustic ceiling tiles didn’t catch fire, but the tiny venue filled with that acrid stage-smoke that makes your lungs burn.
No contest. The Autumn People. The absolute worst.
Sorry I don’t remember who else was there, but Walt’s solo standing-O was unforgettable.
Tulsa Edison Class of 1974 Reunion Weblog 
My worst concert would have to have been the Sex Pistols at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa in 1978. So maybe their music wasn’t really my style – other reviewers were legitimately impressed – but what stood out for me was the incredible volume of that wall of sound. There was some poor security guard standing on the floor in front of one of the speakers, and you could read his stress. Sweat dripping down his face, a wild look in his eyes. I’m not sure even ear plugs would have been enough to save his hearing. In any event, we didn’t stay long. My ears still ring.
At the time I was back from college and wanted to attend the Sex Pistols concert but couldn’t get my friends to go so I didn’t bother….I guess it’s just as well based on your description and what I remember reading about it in the paper later on.
Didn’t make it to either of those, but I’ve tried to remember from time to time who went with me to Jimi Hendrix at the Civic Center. He died in September 1970 so we would have only been 14, unless I took an older woman. An event we no doubt had little awareness of the broader “experience” besides the music. Who could it have been?
I remember seeing his name on the electronic marquee at the assembly center, but I really didn’t have a clue who he was. Yeah, I’m pretty envious. Especially if you were with an older woman.