What's it all about?
What ever happened to the punk ethic of having cheap rock shows? I know, in the grander scheme of things, the affordability of concert tickets is hardly a blip on the scale of importance regarding world problems
It had occurred to me recently that some of the BIG bands realized that as their audience gets older ... they must have more money, so we will charge them accordingly. I read an article that within the past handful of years, ticket prices for the BIG shows have doubled ... and some more than that
I know about all the conventional defenses for why this must be true ... oh the production, oh the lights, oh the fireworks, the laser show, the inflatable caricatures, the movable bridge, the flying drumkit ... someone's alimony payment ... or even better, someone's retirement account
It's funny but I wonder how it will be soon, when A) you can't go to the local brick and mortar to get ripped off buying music B) you can't see any videos of anyone who is not in the pop charts C) you can't hear anything on the radio that is not targeted to a demographic that is either too young for you or too old ... and worse-est of them all, you can't go to the show because you need more important things like gas in your car, the electric bill/cable/ payment du jour
I would like to see Mr. Joel ... but virtually the whole house is $95, even in the bleeders ... of course, not including the TicketBasterd charges, city surcharge, convenience fee for using the net, etc.
I certainly wouldn't mind seeing the Stones, for probably what will be "the last time" ... I heard this in 89 and 98 ... I'm thinking there won't be a 2013 or 2015 tour, famous last words HA. Anyways, I mean yes, the first 10 rows are $99 bucks ... but the rest of the field is $160 or $350 a seat?!?!?!? ... and I'm not even talking about the super premium seating packages ... err, EXPERIENCES (... yeah whatever) they have for $500, $600 or $700 per person (bring cargo shorts and sneak in your date), I guess for if you don't want to buy tix with the common folk. Yes, there are $60 seats up five sections on the top of the world ... is the best thing just being there? I'm not so sure I know anymore
Costly ... troublesome. It may be time to just give up being a music fan, what really is the point ... at this point