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ACID BATH Live in Oklahoma City

Acid Bath’s recent performance at the Criterion in Oklahoma City marked their striking return after nearly thirty years, maintaining an authentic sound reminiscent of their heyday. The intense show garnered enthusiasm from both longtime fans and new listeners, showcasing their heavy musical style and engaging live dynamics while honoring their late bassist, Audie Pitre.

Robert K
3–4 minutes
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Acid Bath live in Oklahoma City at the Criterion.

For nearly thirty years, Acid Bath felt more like folklore than an active band. A myth spoken about in trading circles and seen in the back-page merch ads of magazines like Metal Edge and Metal Maniacs.

I caught them last year at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans on the inaugural re-birth tour, and again this year at the Criterion in Oklahoma City.

First things first, a big thank you to Zack Simmons for letting me photograph the show.

All photos by Robert Kipness – @straydog.media

Acid Bath Social links

A quick warning to anyone planning to attend: Acid Bath’s lighting setup is extremely intense. If you have epilepsy or any sensitivity to strobe effects, exercise caution, as the lights could potentially trigger an episode. Lots of bright white strobing effects.

A live concert scene featuring a band performing on stage, with a large, distorted video screen displaying abstract imagery in the background.
A band performing on stage with dramatic lighting, featuring two musicians playing electric guitars in front of large amplifiers.

What makes Acid Bath’s return remarkable is how natural it feels. This doesn’t sound like a band awkwardly revisiting old material for a paycheck. It sounds like they picked up exactly where they left off, with Zack Simmons and Shane Wesley stepping in on drums and bass for Jimmy Kyle and the late Audie Pitre.

The Louisiana sludge lords returned to stages in 2025 with an intensity that surprised even longtime fans. Sold-out rooms packed with generations of listeners. Old-school doom heads standing beside younger fans who discovered the band through TikTok and streaming algorithms.

What makes the comeback remarkable is how authentic it sounds and much it sounds like they never left. Dax Riggs no longer attacks every vocal with the same feral scream he had in the ’90s, but the tradeoff is a darker, more haunted performance style that actually suits the material. Couple that with Sammy taking over for most of the screams, creating a genuinely vicious live dynamic.

A lot of longtime fans wondered whether Dax would ever return to this material at all. Beyond the tragic passing of bassist Audie Pitre, Dax had been open for years about avoiding harsh vocals to preserve his voice for his later work. Anyone unfamiliar with his post–Acid Bath projects — Agents of Oblivion, Daisyhead & The Mooncrickets, Deadboy & the Elephant Men, and his solo material — should absolutely dive into them.

Musically, Acid Bath still sounds massive. Sammy Duet and Mike Sanchez continue to deliver the suffocating riffs and eerie melodic shifts that made the band so unique in the first place. None of the chemistry feels forced or manufactured for reunion-tour nostalgia. It feels genuine.

Shane Wesley’s bass tone cuts through beautifully in a live setting, adding an extra layer of heaviness beneath the chaos. Shane is also no stranger to bringing the heavy as he also plays bass for New Orleans legends CROWBAR.

Zack Simmons, who also is the drummer for another massive Louisiana band GOATWHORE, has been on the skins since the reunion tours started. Zack attacks the kit with precision and force and does the songs justice while adding in his own unique style of playing.

A musician with long hair and a beard playing an electric bass guitar on stage, illuminated by soft lighting.
A guitarist performing on stage, wearing a black t-shirt and playing a black guitar, with Marshall amplifiers in the background.
A musician with long hair and a beard playing a black electric guitar on stage, illuminated by dramatic lighting in a concert setting.
Two male musicians performing on stage; one is singing into a microphone while the other plays an acoustic guitar.
A drummer performing on stage with illuminated drum kit featuring the logo 'ACID BATH'. Colorful visual effects are seen in the background.

It was surreal watching a younger generation of fans erupt the moment the opening riff of “Bleed Me an Ocean” hit, chanting every lyric word for word. That same energy exploded again during “The Blue,” with painted faces screaming “ACROSS YOUR FACE” back at the band.

Acid Bath Live
Acid Bath Live

Both times I’ve seen Acid Bath, they’ve been a no-nonsense band and have kept the banter between songs to a bare minimum. Outside of dedicating “Venus Blue” to Audie Pitre, a brief dedication to us with “Dead Girl,” and Sammy shouting out a friend in the crowd with Dax making a joke about it, the band kept things moving with almost no interruption between songs. It gave the performance an even heavier atmosphere. All business, no wasted motion.

For a band that once seemed permanently buried, Acid Bath’s return has been a long-overdue awakening of doom.

I hope you enjoy the photo Gallery, set list, and full audio from the show below.

Set list courtesy of @_spooky_spice_

Black Sabbath
– intro –
Tranquilized
Bleed Me An Ocean
Venus Blue
The Bones of Baby Dolls
Dead Girl
The Morticians Flame
– Old Skin –
New Death Sensation
Graveflower
Paegen Love Song
The Blue

Acid Bath Live

Please do not rip this audio and attempt sell it.

Acid Bath Live in OKC Gallery

Acid Bath Live
Acid Bath Live
Acid Bath Live
Acid Bath Live
Acid Bath Live
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A musician with long curly hair and a beard plays a black star-shaped electric guitar on stage, while colorful lights create a vibrant background.
Acid Bath Live
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A guitarist performing on stage in black and white, with long hair and a t-shirt, holding an electric guitar in front of multiple amplifiers.
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Acid Bath Live
A musician playing an electric guitar on stage, captured in silhouette against a background of stage lighting.
A musician with long curly hair and a beard plays an electric guitar on stage, illuminated by blue lighting.
Acid Bath Live
A singer performing on stage with a microphone, wearing sunglasses and a casual outfit, with dark lighting and smoke effects in the background.
Two musicians performing on stage with electric guitars, dramatic lighting, and amplifiers in the background.
Two musicians passionately playing electric guitars on stage with guitar amplifiers in the background and colorful lighting effects.
Two male musicians performing on stage with electric guitars, surrounded by amplifiers and dramatic lighting.
Two guitarists performing on stage with dramatic lighting and fog, featuring Marshall amplifiers in the background.
Two male guitarists performing on stage, with Marshall amplifiers in the background, captured in black and white.
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A male vocalist passionately singing into a microphone on stage, illuminated by dramatic lighting with a smoky backdrop.
A male vocalist passionately performing on stage with a microphone, while a guitarist plays beside him, surrounded by a smoky atmosphere and prominent amplifiers in the background.
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A black and white image of two musicians performing on stage. One singer is holding a microphone, while the other, in the background, plays an acoustic guitar.
Silhouette of a guitarist holding a pointed guitar against a colorful abstract light display in the background.
A male singer performing on stage with a microphone, wearing sunglasses and a black t-shirt, with guitar amplifiers visible in the background.
A musician playing a black guitar on stage, with a blurred colorful background and stage lights.
A drummer performing on stage with a drum set featuring a large bass drum labeled 'ACID BATH'. The backdrop displays colorful, abstract visuals, enhancing the energetic atmosphere.
A male singer holding a microphone, wearing sunglasses, with soft lighting and a focused expression.
A musician with long hair playing an electric guitar on stage, captured in a black and white photo.
A musician wearing sunglasses performing on stage, holding a microphone with a focused expression, illuminated by soft stage lighting.
A musician with a beard and long hair performs on stage, holding a black electric guitar in a dramatic pose. The background features out-of-focus lighting and amplifiers.
Silhouette of a guitarist performing on stage with dramatic lighting in the background.
A musician passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, with long curly hair and a notable beard, focused on his performance amidst dramatic lighting.
A guitarist with long hair and a beard, wearing a black t-shirt, performs on stage holding a black guitar shaped like a star under green ambient lighting.
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A stage setup featuring a drum kit and amplifiers under a blue-lit backdrop with a large skull graphic displayed on a screen.
Two drummers performing on stage, with illuminated drum kits and colorful lighting in the background.
A vibrant stage setup featuring a large digital screen displaying a colorful abstract image of a skull, illuminated by colorful lights.
A drummer performing on stage with a dramatic light backdrop, featuring a swirl of smoke and visual effects.
A vocalist stands on stage with a microphone, while a drummer plays in the background. The band 'Acid Bath' is illuminated by green stage lights.
A guitarist performing on stage with an electric guitar, illuminated by dramatic green lighting, with large amplifiers in the background.
Acid Bath Live
Two musicians performing on stage with electric guitars, surrounded by amplifiers and dramatic lighting.
A live band performing on stage with a large distorted video screen in the background displaying psychedelic graphics.
Acid Bath Live
A rock band performs on stage with colorful lighting and large amplifiers in the background. The lead singer holds a microphone while two guitarists engage with the audience. Fans with raised hands are visible in the foreground.
Acid Bath Live
A lead singer performing on stage in front of colorful visual projections, with amplifiers in the background and band members visible.
Acid Bath Live
Silhouette of a musician holding a guitar with colorful bokeh lights in the background.
Stage setup for Acid Bath concert featuring large amplifiers and a prominent LED screen displaying the band's name with dramatic lighting.
Black and white image of a musician playing an electric guitar on stage, with a focused expression and long hair, in front of amplifiers.
Musician performing on stage, playing a guitar with a focused expression.
Musician playing the bass guitar on stage with blue lighting and a focused expression.
A guitarist playing an electric guitar on stage with colorful lighting in the background, creating a vibrant concert atmosphere.
A musician playing an electric guitar on stage, illuminated by purple lighting, with curly hair and a beard. The musician is wearing a graphic t-shirt and has tattoos visible on their arms.
Acid Bath Live
A musician with long hair and a beard playing an electric guitar on stage, illuminated by blue lighting.
A singer performing on stage under blue and purple lighting, wearing sunglasses and holding a microphone, looking upwards.
A musician performing on stage, singing into a microphone with a passionate expression, set against a dark background with stage lighting.
A guitarist performing on stage with long hair, holding a black guitar in a dramatic lighting setup. Amplifiers are visible in the background, with visuals projected behind.
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A musician with long hair and a beard, playing a bass guitar on stage with closed eyes. The background is softly lit, creating a dramatic atmosphere.
A singer performing on stage, silhouetted against purple lighting, holding a microphone and expressing intense emotion.
A musician playing an acoustic guitar on stage, seen from the side with a purple background.
A person with long hair and a headscarf looks upwards, holding a microphone, against a backdrop of digital distortion and artistic overlay.
A musician with long hair playing an acoustic guitar on stage, illuminated by soft lighting.
A male vocalist singing into a microphone on stage, while a guitarist plays behind him in low light conditions.
A musician playing an acoustic guitar on stage, with long hair and a focused expression, illuminated by stage lights.
Drummer performing on stage with a vibrant psychedelic backdrop and drum kit featuring a prominent logo.
A musician playing electric guitar on stage, wearing a black band T-shirt and performing under colorful stage lights.
Acid Bath Live
A drummer performing on stage, surrounded by drums and cymbals, with a blurred light display in the background.
A rock band performing on stage with colorful visual effects in the background, featuring a guitarist and a vocalist in the foreground, as fans raise their hands in excitement.
Two guitarists perform on stage against a backdrop of Marshall amplifiers, with smoke and dramatic lighting enhancing the concert atmosphere.
Acid Bath Live
A metal band performing on stage with dramatic lighting and visual effects, featuring musicians playing guitar, drums, and singing. Amplifiers and a large banner with the band's name are visible in the background.
Silhouetted guitarist performing on stage with long hair flying in the air, surrounded by smoke and dramatic lighting.
A band performing live on stage with dramatic lighting and amplifiers in the background, creating an energetic concert atmosphere.
A live rock band performing on stage with electric guitars, drums, and amplifiers, against a dynamic light backdrop.
A live performance by the band Acid Bath, featuring musicians on stage with instruments, including guitars and drums, illuminated by stage lights and a visual backdrop.
Silhouettes of four musicians performing on stage with electric guitars, in front of multiple amplifiers, during a live concert.
A live band performing on stage with electric guitars, surrounded by amplifiers, and a dynamic light display in the background.
Acid Bath Live
A rock band performing on stage with guitarists in silhouette against a vibrant backdrop, Marshall amplifiers visible in the background.
Acid Bath Live
A rock band performing live on stage with dramatic lighting and visual effects in the background.
Acid Bath Live
Silhouette of a guitarist performing on stage in front of amplifiers with stage lights illuminating the background.
A silhouette of a guitarist performing on stage in front of large Marshall amplifiers, with colorful lighting effects in the background.
A musician playing a bass guitar on stage with dramatic lighting effects and amplifiers in the background.
A drummer performing on stage with drum kit and cymbals, illuminated by stage lights against a colorful background.
A musician with long hair and a beard plays an electric bass guitar on stage, illuminated by colorful stage lights.
A live performance by the band Acid Bath, featuring a lead vocalist with sunglasses singing into a microphone and a drummer playing in the background. The stage is illuminated with colorful, abstract visual effects.
A drummer performing on stage, with colorful lights and a large screen in the background showcasing abstract visuals. The drummer is surrounded by musical equipment, including a drum set and amplifiers.
Acid Bath Live
Acid Bath Live
A live music performance featuring two male musicians on stage, one playing an acoustic guitar and the other holding a microphone. Amplifiers are visible in the background.
A bald man focused on adjusting equipment on stage, with a guitar neck visible in the background and soft lighting creating a hazy atmosphere.
A drummer performing on stage with a drum set, surrounded by dramatic lighting and visual effects.
Acid Bath Live
A drummer performing on stage with illuminated drum kits displaying the words 'ALID BATH,' surrounded by amplifiers and visual effects in the background.
Silhouette of a drummer performing live on stage, with a colorful background and another band member holding a microphone.
A digital art piece displaying a distorted portrait of a woman in a hood, set against a swirling background of colors and patterns.
Acid Bath Live
A drummer performing on stage, silhouetted against a backdrop of colorful lights and visual effects.
A stage setup featuring several Marshall amplifiers against a smoky, green-lit background with vertical light beams.
A person operating electronic music equipment and multiple laptops in a darkened setting, focused on the screens and controls.
A live music performance featuring a drummer and vocalist on stage, with colorful visual effects projected in the background. Guitar amplifiers are visible on the left side of the stage.
A drummer performing on stage with colorful, abstract lighting in the background.
Acid Bath Live
A black and white image of a live music performance featuring a band on stage. The drummer is visible in the background, with prominent amplifiers beside them. The band name 'ACID BATH' is displayed on the drum set. The atmosphere suggests a vibrant concert with dynamic movement and energy.
A musician playing an electric bass guitar on stage with illuminated amplifiers in the background.
A drummer performing on stage with a black and white backdrop, featuring large drum kits with the words 'ACID' and 'DEATH' on them.
A guitarist passionately performing on stage, headbanging with long hair, in front of large amplifier stacks, captured in black and white.
A guitarist performing on stage with long hair flowing, surrounded by large Marshall amplifiers, with colorful stage lights in the background.
Acid Bath Live
Acid Bath Live
A large crowd of music fans in a concert venue, with various hairstyles and clothing styles, immersed in the performance atmosphere.
A guitarist performing on stage with long hair flipping in the air, surrounded by marshalls amplifiers in the background.
A crowd of concertgoers with various hairstyles and clothing, some holding smartphones, enjoying a live performance under dim lighting.
A heavy metal band performing live on stage, featuring a guitarist and vocalist in the foreground, with a drummer visible in the background. The stage is illuminated with dramatic lighting effects and a large screen backdrop displaying abstract visuals.
Two musicians performing on stage, one gesturing enthusiastically while the other stands beside a row of amplifiers with purple lighting in the background.
A rock band performing live on stage with dynamic lighting, featuring a guitarist, drummer, and vocalist. The background displays a colorful digital screen.
Acid Bath Live
A live music performance featuring a band on stage with colorful lighting effects, including fog and purple hues. Musicians are playing instruments, with a drummer prominently visible in the background.
A person holding a vibrant concert poster for the band Acid Bath, featuring a psychedelic skull design with red and green colors, displaying concert details for May 26, 2018, at the Criterion in Oklahoma City.
A musician performing on stage with visible amplifiers and drums in the background, featuring the band name 'ACID BATH.'

One response to “ACID BATH Live in Oklahoma City”

  1. Chat Pile – Soundtracking a Nervous Breakdown in OKC – DSTRYR MAGAZINE

    […] In the darkest yet silliest corners of Oklahoma City, I found a not so hidden treasure by the name of Chat Pile. I say not so hidden because they’re apparently a well-known band, and only three hours west from me on I-40. I had never heard of them before they were announced as an opener for the legendary band Acid Bath in OKC. […]

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