Comments on: Rock and roll all night

By: Anthony

Anthony — Tue, 13 Jul 2004 00:48:43 +0000

The proper comparison for Arena Rock shows isn’t folk club shows, or even small-club rock shows, it’s (American) football games. Are you treated better or worse at a rock show than at a football game in the same stadium? Unfortunately for the music promoters, one can argue that baseball games are also a legitimate comparison, and for regular-season games, the price of baseball is much better than of rock shows. Small-club (and medium-sized venue) events should be compared across genres – are you charged more or treated worse when it’s a rock show as opposed to rap, or folk, or spoken word, or a movie? I don’t really have answers to these questions, because my tastes are limited and I’m not likely to go to a football game or a rap or rock concert.

By: Charles Kuffner

Charles Kuffner — Mon, 12 Jul 2004 14:20:55 +0000

Ginger says: “For $100, you’ve eaten, seen good music, and had drinks. Maybe you’ve bought a CD.” That C-note easily covers at least two people, in my experience. Hands down, the Duck is the best place to see live music in Houston. I actually like the Woodlands Pavilion, but I liked it a lot better when lawn seats were $15. At $28 a head, I want a covered seat. And since when were blankets forbidden? If that’s a new rule, they’ll never see my money again.

By: laura

laura — Sun, 11 Jul 2004 21:28:39 +0000

I hate clubs where you have to stand. I have not been to a big arena show in years (um, Guns N’ Roses with Metallica, I think?). Happily, these days most of the bands I want to see are in theaters around 2,000-5,000, and those places do tend to treat you pretty well and not to be outrageously expensive.

By: duaneg

duaneg — Sun, 11 Jul 2004 17:35:30 +0000

In British usage the audience “goes to a gig”, however “gigging” (sp?) is something only musicians do.

By: godoggo

godoggo — Sun, 11 Jul 2004 04:11:02 +0000

yes, they can

By: Scott Spiegelberg

Scott Spiegelberg — Sat, 10 Jul 2004 22:29:03 +0000

I strongly disagree with the idea that gigs are expensive, at least compared with other live entertainment. I’m uncertain about British usage, but on this side a gig is a job for a musician, not a show to see. So the musician can say that he went to a gig, but the audience can’t say they went to a gig.

By: Lawrence L. White

Lawrence L. White — Sat, 10 Jul 2004 17:02:26 +0000

As far as the old man among the nation’s youth thing, that’s why I catch Guided By Voices every time they tour. I know there’s at least one other guy in the room who’s my age.

By: Ginger

Ginger — Sat, 10 Jul 2004 14:22:26 +0000

I have never understood why people go to see shows at the big arenas in Houston when they can go see great stuff at the Duck. Not only is it cheaper, but the music is good, and the venue is fantastic (top 10 national folk venue). For $100, you’ve eaten, seen good music, and had drinks. Maybe you’ve bought a CD. And we’ve been to the Knitting Factory and the Bowery Ballroom since we moved to NYC, and we’re older and crankier and tireder than you, so I’m not sure it’s an age thing. I hated getting ripped off before I turned 30.

By: JP

JP — Sat, 10 Jul 2004 06:34:44 +0000

If you’re willing to spend 98 bucks to go see Kid Rock, you probably deserve to get ripped off.

By: Nabakov

Nabakov — Sat, 10 Jul 2004 05:22:23 +0000

The sex and drugs are great but I could do without the rock and roll.

By: Shamhat

Shamhat — Sat, 10 Jul 2004 01:29:15 +0000

“Fortunately I am also a classical and jazz fan so I can still see live stuff.” Yeah, pay $40 cover each and eat the overpriced dinner quickly, because the set only lasts 45 minutes and if you want to stay it will be another $40.

By: duaneg

duaneg — Sat, 10 Jul 2004 01:20:04 +0000

I’ve been going to a lot of gigs recently—just got back from one an hour ago, actually (Jimmy Cliff, who was amazing). While each act obviously has a certain core constituency, I’ve been really impressed with the diversity at all of them. Bands like The Von Bondies and The Datsuns seem to have plenty of middle-aged and older fans, while Buddy Guy and Jimmy Cliff certainly have lots of young admirers. I strongly disagree with the idea that gigs are expensive, at least compared with other live entertainment. Sure, big stadium shows might be over-priced and joyless, and frankly you couldn’t pay me to see Kid Rock, but I had a great time seeing the Chillis play Hyde Park and have seen a couple of good gigs at Wembley. Medium sized venues are good if you are prepared to get there 15-30 minutes early and queue for a place at the front. Tonght I was front row centre stage at the Shepherds Bush Empire, watching an amazing musician play an incredible show, all for £18. There is nothing like being a metre away from a band playing an intense gig. The standing around can be a bummer, but there are usually cool people to chat to. At the very least it is always amusing checking out the fashion amongst the younger crowd. Live music is a wonderful thing. Find yourself a good intimate venue, preferably local, then watch the listings. Talk to the people who work there and get recommendations. Look up the acts you’ve never heard of on the ‘net. Of course it really helps if you live in a place like London.

By: norbizness

norbizness — Sat, 10 Jul 2004 01:05:19 +0000

Yes, but the Cynthia Mitchell Woods Pavilion will always be a source of fond memories for me, including getting baked with all ages at the epic Procol Harum / Jethro Tull concert back in the day. Personally, I say we levy an additional 25% dumbshit tax to people who want to go to Kid Rock in the first place.

By: agm

agm — Sat, 10 Jul 2004 00:43:50 +0000

Hail fellow Houston resident. I’d agree with Mark on this one. The only show I’ve gotten to seen in Houston is Annie Lin, but back home I saw a lot of jazz, classical, mariachi, pretty much anything in town other than rock. They were usually much more enjoyable, especially in a group, because in those environs it’s actually plausible to sit together and, god forbid, actually be able to hear the music or each other (not to mention being able to hear at all afterwards).

By: djw

djw — Fri, 09 Jul 2004 23:28:13 +0000

In Seattle, a loosening of draconian liquor laws has allowed bars to start doing all ages shows as long as they are over by a certain time (10:00, mabye 10:30). If you don’t mind being surrounded by an even younger crowd, this certainly helps. When I go to a regular show, I buy my ticket, ask the bouncer when the band or bands I want to see are coming on, get a hand-stamp and head for a nice, comfortable pub where I can read a book or chat with friends over a few beers. Standing in a crowded sweaty room is fine for 1-2 hours, but a bit taxing for any longer than that. This approach generally works well. Now, if we could just get smoking banned, we’d be all set.