Concert Ticket Shams

So my buddy was bitching about not being able to get Lady Ga Ga tickets on the pre-sale. I know, I know that should be celebrated but for some reason my friend really wants to go. So what gives. Larry is the ticket king for goodness sake. Never gets shut out. What gives?

Larry's problem is increasingly becoming the defacto situation in the concert industry. Artists don't want to appear greedy so they work back channel deals with TicketBastard and Live Nation to hold back huge amounts of tickets for them to re-sell on Stub Hub and other services. No real surprise. They make like the ticket industry is the problem. The problem is greedy artists who want to charge more for tickets but can't due to public opinion. They make their money either way and the real fans lose. How else can Stub Hub list tickets before they go on sale to the general public.

Will this ever change? Probably not. Nobody has the heart to legislate and then prosecute. There are too many other issues of injustice to deal with in 2009. This one just hits home more for some of us.

Check out this link...

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=11469165

It highlights what happened with "good guy" Keith Urban's show in Nashville.

We need to do something. Is there a politician that cares. Hey Chuck Schumer how 'bout you do something?

Bruce Springsteen - Down to the River

There's not a whole lot to say and there is so much that needs to be said. The performance of The River is a fan's dream. The rockers roared but it was the more introspective numbers that killed for me. Fade Away, Stolen Car and Drive All Night were jaw dropping. Why they don't make it into the set more often is confounding. The Price You Pay was another that was just amazing.

The rest of the set really rocked. Atlantic City > Badlands > BTR > 7 Nights to Rock just took it to another level. Sweet Soul Music was a blast. The rest of encores were predictable but that is forgivable considering how great the set was. Two special, special nights of music. When is the next tour?

Wrecking Ball (with Curt Ramm)
The Ties That Bind
Sherry Darling
Jackson Cage
Two Hearts
Independence Day
Hungry Heart
Out in the Street
Crush on You
You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)
I Wanna Marry You
The River
Point Blank
Cadillac Ranch
I'm a Rocker (with Curt Ramm)
Fade Away
Stolen Car
Ramrod
The Price You Pay
Drive All Night
Wreck on the Highway
Waitin' on a Sunny Day
Atlantic City
Badlands
Born to Run
Seven Nights to Rock
* * *
Sweet Soul Music (with Curt Ramm)
No Surrender
American Land (with Curt Ramm)
Dancing in the Dark
Can't Help Falling in Love
Higher and Higher

A note to Bruce...Sunny Day & Wrecking Ball need to never make it in to the set again. My only quibble and it is a small one.

I made it to 5 shows this tour + the Hall of Fame show. Thanks to Bruce and the Band for some great music. Enjoy the break, you all deserve it.

Thanks for the pictures Larry!

Fade Away


Stolen Car


Ramrod


Sweet Soul Music

Bruce Springsteen - A Wild Garden Night

Last night was a treat for the fans. The Wild, The Innocent, and the E. Street Shuffle was played straight through last night for the 1st time. Kitty's Back burned and Incident > Rosie , NYC was just amazing. What a great show. While some of the song choices look a little predictable, there was an energy last night that kicked the whole show up a few notches. And I love Human Touch, great song from perhaps his worst album. Elvis Costello guested on Higher and Higher. Can't wait for The River tonight.

Thundercrack
Seeds
Prove It All Night
Hungry Heart
Working on a Dream
The E Street Shuffle (with Curt Ramm & horns)
4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
Kitty's Back (with Curt Ramm & horns)
Wil Billy's Circus Story
Incident on 57th Street
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
New York City Serenade (with Richard Blackwell, the Sam Bardfeld Strings, Curt Ramm & horns)
Waitin' on a Sunny Day
Raise Your Hand
Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?
Glory Days
Human Touch
Lonesome Day
The Rising
Born to Run
* * *
Wrecking Ball (with Curt Ramm)
Bobby Jean
American Land (with Curt Ramm and Sam Bardfeld)
Dancing in the Dark
Higher and Higher (with Elvis Costello, Richard Blackwell, Curt Ramm & horns)


I could live without Sunny Day, Bobby Jean and Glory Days, but the crowd eats it up.

Richie Havens - Boulton Center 11/6/09

I saw Richie Havens at the Boulton Center in Bayshore, NY last night. He was his usual gracious self. Getting a bit older but the voice is still wonderful. He may ramble a bit and tell the same stories every time (but with some variations) but it is still a great night. He did a little Q&A before the encore and told his Woodstock story. Great fun.

This Weekend Is Gonna Rock

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND TO PERFORM FULL ALBUM SEQUENCES AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN IN NEW YORK CITY11/3/09

Special programs announced for this weekend's Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band shows at Madison Square Garden

On Saturday, November 7, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle in its entirety for the first time.

On Sunday, November 8, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform The River in its entirety for the first time.

The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle was originally released in 1973 and The River was originally released in 1980. They now join Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, and Born in the USA as albums that Bruce and the Band have performed in their entirety during their Fall tour.