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Going to see one of your favorite artists live in person is a fantastic way to spend an evening. James Taylor, John Mayer, Grateful Dead featuring John Mayer, or Panic At The Disco? Count me all the way in. I’ll even splurge for seats in the lower bowl when it’s someone like that. Maybe even buy a tour shirt if I’m really feeling crazy.
But lately it feels like the only thing my friends want to talk about while at the bar is the next live concert they’re going to. It seems like every weekend I’ve got a friend or close acquaintance going to see some obscure band play and I find myself having to turn down many invitations because I have no idea where all of this money to pay for tickets is coming from. Do people keep slush funds available purely to see live music?
I’ve got people adding me to group chats asking if I want to commit to a concert six months in advance because the tickets are on sale now and there is no time to waste. I don’t like committing to lunch plans more than 3 hours in advance. I’m hoping I’ll get hit by a bus in the next six months so I can go on disability for a year or so. I’m not buying a ticket to a show to see a band that I’ve never heard of.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room for a moment – there are a lot of very talented musicians who are overwhelming on stage. I don’t mean to continue bringing him up, but James Taylor is a revelation on stage.
If you’ve never seen “Fire and Rain” live in concert you haven’t lived a full life. That’s worth the price of admission. But 20 bucks for entry plus the bullshit 15 dollar Ticketmaster or Livenation fee for some guy playing at a dive bar that has one good song on Spotify? Sorry but I’m not wasting an evening and more than likely a hundred bucks on a few rounds of drinks for that bullshit.
It feels like many of you are going to these live shows just to go. You don’t know the band’s music all that well and it’s a deviation from your standard night out so you’re gung-ho about it. And for what it’s worth I think that’s sort of noble. You’re taking a chance on your Friday or Saturday night out to go see a live show from someone who may or may not be very good live. I just think the amount of times that people are doing this is getting ridiculous.
This might be a strictly Chicago thing, too. It feels like there has been a different three or four-day outdoor music festival here in the city every weekend since May, and I know people spending a few hundred bucks on a pass for the entire weekend every weekend. That’s insane, right? Or maybe I’m just an old curmudgeon?
I’ve said before that any live music is good after three or four beers and I stand by that, but I should have been more clear.
When it’s a free show, it’s wonderful. When you’re paying 30 or 40 bucks just to get your foot in the door that ain’t worth it, my friend. Buy yourself a nice stereo system and then smoke enough weed and drink enough booze that you convince yourself you’re actually there. Don’t any of you live music junkies have bills to pay or am I just making significantly less than everyone else? My guess is it’s probably a little bit of both of those things. .
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jduda@grandex.co
More artists need to follow suit with Phish and stream their shows for 10-20 bucks. Color me a boozehound but I’d much rather house 30 White Claws with the guys at home than risk public interaction.
Nugs TV is a game changer for sure.
Sup
Going to see Fleetwood Mac in February. What upcoming concerts does the rest of the PGP community have coming up?
I’d pay upwards of 300 bucks to see fleetwood mac live
How bout you give me 50 bucks and I’ll put together two fat chicks and three old guys who will lip sync and air guitar to the Mac’s greatest hits.
But do you watch tv?
No one watches television anymore.
Keep in mind that Lindsay Buckingham was fired and it isn’t the classic lineup… Still great but a different vibe.
Then I’ll only charge $25.
Just saw Jason Isbell at Red Rocks. Had to fly there and pay for a place to stay. Worth every penny
I went to Whiskey Myers last month and it was the most badass. I’ve got my eyes on Gary Clark Jr in December but havent pulled the trigger yet.
I saw Randy Rogers 2 weekends ago and Casey Donahew a little over a month ago. Seeing Turnpike in a month. Red dirt forever.
Yessir – Gonna pop my Parker McCollum and Flatland Calvary cherries within the next month, and also have tickets for Turnpike in November and REK in December.
Been trying to spread CDB around the greater Cincinnati area for about 8 years. Looks like they put on a great show
To be honest, he didn’t play most of my favorites. However, it was a solid concert. It’s crazy these guys play about every weekend in Texas/OK but don’t venture to the southeast of midwest all that often.
Fall Out Boy first weekend of October
Just saw fall out boy, they are the band that I will throw down the most money to go see, no questions asked
Elton John farewell tour
his double-time jam on Levon literally blew my mind
Very excited to catch The Front Bottoms again in Philly at the Fillmore in December. Fun band and an awesome venue
Same. Except Fillmore in Denver
I’m seeing Fleetwood Mac in November when they hit Vegas. I’ve got that and Ben Howard at Red Rocks coming up.
The Musicfest at Steamboat in January. Got two passes for the girlfriend and I. Really looking forward to this one.
Real jealous on this one, we had everything lined up and one by one all my boys bailed.
Sorry to hear that. Very similar situation with my friends. The weekend before we were 6. Reservation day came and it ended up just being the 2 of us. Good luck next year!
CHRVCHES is in MSP next. Highly debating dropping the $50 to go.
$50 is very steep but Lauren is an angel on earth. Who is opening? I’m a rare concert goer who goes to see the openers.
Been deciding whether it’s CHVRCHES or Leon Bridges this Friday
Shane Smith and the Saints this Friday. $13 ticket before fees so no complaints from me on cost.
The Shaints are a must-see live band
Seen Shane 4 or 5 times now. He rocks out. Great band to see live.
The movie was better.
Corey Smith in December. So so good live. Highly recommend.
The War on Drugs, Honne, and Blood Orange this week
Cody Johnson next month, 2 Ashley McBryde shows in November, and Luke Combs in February.
The Struts in December. It’s a Christmas themed show.
@PaidHourly and I just saw the Mighty Mighty Bosstones at the HoB in Chicago last month, I think it was Frank Turner in Philly at the Fillmore before that. A few of us were at FIDLAR at the Vic last week. Not sure who is next though.
Love Frank Turner shows
I’m 3 weeks away from seeing Fleetwood Mac in Chicago. Bummed about Lindsey but it will be good regardless.
Zhu tonight, ACL and some of its associated late night shows next month
Atmosphere
Pre-Fest is coming up next month. I have yet to see Menzingers live.
Jay Z and Beyoncé at Levi’s next Saturday.
John Mayer, Lenny Kravitz, Counting Crows, Sheryl Crow and some others I can’t remember at Bourbon & Beyond this weekend.
Saw Greta Van Fleet in Boston this summer. Honestly the best, most spiritual concert, I’ve ever been too.
Yeah they’re great. I was their soccer coach a few years ago before they took off. Glad they’re getting big not only nationally but globally. Come from a town of 5000.
I saw Widespread Panic in Nashville a few weeks back. Absolute blast and money well spent!
Solid take. As someone who works in the live event industry, this definitely hits home. You mentioned Ticketmaster and Livenation fees, and those fees are killing the live music experience. It should not cost an extra $15 to order a $20 ticket online. Most of the time, the bands charging $10-20 per ticket are struggling as it is, and rely on touring to keep afloat. When Livenation (read: corporate scum of the Music Industry) slaps on that fee, it scares people away from checking out a new band or just hitting the venue to drink and watch music while paying a little extra than a typical bar cover. I don’t work for Livenation, and they are ruining the experience for almost everyone involved but themselves and their top top clients.
In your last paragraph, with the stereo system and smoking weed, more people are actually doing that. It’s called “couch tour” and you can stream high quality, pro-shot videos of the best live bands in the world (IMO, Phish and bands like them) for just $20 (it varies, but $20 is the average I’ve paid). Certainly a game changer for those who want to experience the music in a comfortable setting with good buddies. For music fans, it’s the same as watching a sports game. I recommend it one of these weekends.
Keep up the good work!
I’ll pay to go to one-two concerts a year, just if I want to see someone I love coming to town. Otherwise, unless it’s free or a reasonable cover at a bar I’m probably gonna pass.
I just can’t bring myself to spend more than $70 on a concert ticket, and even then, it better be Foo Fighters, RHCP, or someone huge. My friends dropped $140 for Metallica in the nose bleeds, and that show isn’t until next year… I’m sorry, but no human on earth is worth that.
Nope. Cannot get behind this. Literally the only dates my husband and I have been on in the last six months have been shows.
Spent a lot of money on Moon River festival in Chattanooga last weekend and it was worth every penny. Bad take