{"id":481,"date":"2006-07-17T17:44:04","date_gmt":"2006-07-18T01:44:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/archives\/2006\/07\/17\/less-than-sold-out\/"},"modified":"2006-07-17T17:44:04","modified_gmt":"2006-07-18T01:44:04","slug":"less-than-sold-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/2006\/07\/17\/less-than-sold-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Less Than Sold Out"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jets Overhead\/Acrobat
<\/strong>Green Room\/Montreal-Thursday 6\/29
Gross: $256
Sold\/Capacity: 36\/100<\/p>\n

Mmm…\u00c2\u00a0 Seems that I don’t have too much influence.\u00c2\u00a0 I raved about this act, word didn’t seem to get to Montreal!<\/p>\n

But maybe the point is different.\u00c2\u00a0 If you’re not actively building your touring base, since the guys in this band are really managers, then nobody cares.<\/p>\n

In other words, SOMETHING has got to start the momentum.\u00c2\u00a0 And if you’re on an indie label and don’t tour…despite the Internet, you’re just not gonna make it.\u00c2\u00a0 Unless, maybe, you’re the new Beatles.<\/p>\n

Will Hoge\/Joe Grass
<\/strong>Green Room\/Montreal-Monday 6\/26
Gross: $135
Sold\/Capacity: 19\/100<\/p>\n

Shit.\u00c2\u00a0 To be honest, I’ve never been to a gig with this few people.\u00c2\u00a0 They tell me there’s a buzz on this act, but it appears Hoge’s not far from a day job.<\/p>\n

I keep hearing how great a music town Montreal is.\u00c2\u00a0 Maybe they only support their own acts.<\/p>\n

David Ford
<\/strong>El Mocambo\/Toronto-Thursday 6\/22
Gross: $234
Sold\/Capacity: 32\/300<\/p>\n

Illustrates that being a major label priority don’t mean shit.\u00c2\u00a0 The major can get you on TV, maybe on terrestrial radio, but can they get people to come see you live?\u00c2\u00a0 Doesn’t appear to be the case, especially if there’s little traction in the TV\/radio area.\u00c2\u00a0 Seems like we’ve burned out the audience’s curiosity.<\/p>\n

Bob Schneider<\/strong>
Schuba’s\/Chicago-Monday 7\/10
Gross for two shows: $5,840
Sold\/Capacity: 292\/370<\/p>\n

I think this is pretty damn good.\u00c2\u00a0 Especially considering the fact that it was a Monday night.\u00c2\u00a0 In other words, this guy has fans.\u00c2\u00a0 Even though he’s never put out a hit record, never even put out a record with any real traction.\u00c2\u00a0 But many see him as the real deal, especially in Texas, and based on the above numbers, word seems to have spread.<\/p>\n

Deliver to a core like this and they tell EVERYBODY!<\/p>\n

Legendary Pink Dots
<\/strong>House of Blues\/New Orleans-Tuesday 6\/27
Gross: $1,362
Sold\/Capacity: 121\/400<\/p>\n

I guess they’re just not that legendary.<\/p>\n

Carl Palmer Band
<\/strong>Martini Ranch\/Scottsdale, AZ-Tuesday 6\/27
Gross: $4,308
Sold\/Capacity: 209\/420<\/p>\n

I’m stunned THIS many people came out.\u00c2\u00a0 Decades after his heyday.\u00c2\u00a0 I mean Ginger Baker had that Air Force thing, RIGHT AFTER Cream and Blind Faith, but that died pretty quickly.\u00c2\u00a0 In other words, people don’t believe the drummer is the guy responsible for the hits.\u00c2\u00a0 Not since Buddy Rich anyway.<\/p>\n

The Plimsouls\/Lysa Fores
<\/strong>El Rey Theatre\/Los Angeles-Friday 6\/23
Gross: $6,830
Sold\/Capacity: 311\/800<\/p>\n

The fans were a MILLION MILES AWAY!<\/p>\n

Yes, the Plimsouls were one of the legendary bands of the L.A. new wave explosion.\u00c2\u00a0 It seems that the people involved in that movement, who went to Madame Wong’s the first time, are now home changing diapers.<\/p>\n

Nothing seems to stick except classic rock.<\/p>\n

Robin Trower
<\/strong>Theatre of Living Arts\/Philadelphia-Saturday 6\/24
Gross: $20,709
Sold\/Capacity: 734\/850<\/p>\n

Still I am a dream away
TWICE REMOVED FROM YESTERDAY!<\/em><\/p>\n

Robin Trower was a minor player in the latter-day classic rock scene.\u00c2\u00a0 Oh sure, he was in Procol Harum.\u00c2\u00a0 But he didn’t even come to dominate until "Home" and "Broken Barricades".\u00c2\u00a0 Then he went solo and despite having no Top Forty hits, got to the point where he could fill arenas.\u00c2\u00a0 And all these years later, people still want to see him.<\/p>\n

In other words, they want to see the guitarist, but not the drummer (i.e. Carl Palmer).<\/p>\n

Funny how guitar-based music can tour forever, there’s a demand for it, and studio concoctions, made with electronic instruments have a relatively brief shelf life.<\/p>\n

Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk<\/strong>
Commodore Ballroom\/Vancouver-Wednesday 6\/28
Gross: $7,810
Sold\/Capacity: 775\/990<\/p>\n

I wouldn’t have bought this show in a million years.\u00c2\u00a0 Yet it turns out Vancouverites were eager to see this guy who despite having a famous name and a link to the Stones never really made it as an individual act whatsoever.<\/p>\n

God, maybe Ivan got airplay in Vancouver…\u00c2\u00a0 You never know, it IS a foreign country.<\/p>\n

Or, could it be that Vancouver’s a great music town?<\/p>\n

Los Lonely Boys\/Jonah Smith<\/strong>
Theatre Of The Living Arts\/Philadelphia-Sunday 6\/25
Gross: $17,995
Sold\/Capacity: 642\/1,000<\/p>\n

I guess we shouldn’t expect much from their new album…<\/p>\n

Oh, don’t tell me it’s a regional issue.\u00c2\u00a0 These guys were banged all over MTV.\u00c2\u00a0 But could it be that despite the Grammy nom. and all the hoopla, this supposedly credible act has almost no fans and its members are closer to day jobs than music careers?<\/p>\n

Macy Gray
<\/strong>9:30 Club\/Washington, D.C.-Tuesday 6\/20
Gross: $16,240
Sold\/Capacity: 406\/1,200<\/p>\n

It’s over.\u00c2\u00a0 Done.\u00c2\u00a0 Finito.<\/p>\n

She’s meaningless.<\/p>\n

Representative of the new paradigm.\u00c2\u00a0 Run ’em up the charts, make a lot of noise, but the public has stopped paying attention.\u00c2\u00a0 Shit, ROBIN TROWER sold more tickets than Macy Gray.<\/p>\n

Les Claypool\/Rasputina
<\/strong>The Vic\/Chicago-Wednesday 6\/14
Gross: $31,152
Sold\/Capacity: 1,298\/1,400<\/p>\n

Bottom line, Les is cool.<\/p>\n

And if you don’t know that, you’re just not paying attention.<\/p>\n

Startlingly, despite no press profile whatsoever, Les has fans and they STILL CARE!<\/p>\n

Joe Jackson\/Raul Midon
<\/strong>Avalon\/Hollywood-Friday 6\/23
Gross: $32,627
Sold\/Capacity: 954\/1,403<\/p>\n

Well he sold out in New York.\u00c2\u00a0 And Somerville\/Boston.\u00c2\u00a0 And did ninety percent in Chicago.<\/p>\n

I guess if you heard that guitar riff opening "Look Sharp" you had to see him ONE MORE TIME!<\/p>\n

Funny how Elvis Costello gets all the press and Joe’s been forgotten.\u00c2\u00a0 But, as the above illustrates, NOT BY THE FANS!<\/p>\n

That’s the story of today’s world.\u00c2\u00a0 The cognoscenti say one thing is hip and the public says another.\u00c2\u00a0 In other words, DON’T BELIEVE THE MAINSTREAM PRESS!<\/p>\n

Daryl Hall & John Oates
<\/strong>Villa Montalvo\/Saratoga, CA-Monday 5\/19
Gross: $111,005
Sold\/Capacity: 1,719\/1,750<\/p>\n

On a MONDAY NIGHT?<\/p>\n

Tell me it’s not about the venue.\u00c2\u00a0 Boomers LOVE to go to this winery\/place.\u00c2\u00a0 and it’s not like they were giving the tickets away, they were $75 and $45.\u00c2\u00a0 Then again, compared to other living legends…<\/p>\n

Yes, believe it or not, Hall & Oates are legends.<\/p>\n

Pick your era\/track.\u00c2\u00a0 Early, like: "She’s Gone"\/"Rich Girl".\u00c2\u00a0 Or late, like: "Method Of Modern Love".\u00c2\u00a0 Or right smack dab in the middle.\u00c2\u00a0 With not only "Private Eyes" and "I Can’t Go For That" but my personal favorite, "Kiss On My List".\u00c2\u00a0 And shit, what about that keyboard intro to "You Make My Dreams"??<\/p>\n

These guys have gotten a bum rap.\u00c2\u00a0 Who knows why.\u00c2\u00a0 Daryl’s arrogance or John’s moustache?\u00c2\u00a0 But it appears despite having NO profile, people still care.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, they sold out the Kodak in L.A. two days later.<\/p>\n

10cc<\/strong>
Christchurch Town Hall\/New Zealand-Saturday 6\/17
Gross: $7,514
Sold\/Capacity: 210\/2,190<\/p>\n

Pitiful.\u00c2\u00a0 Absolutely pitiful.<\/p>\n

And to think they’re one of my favorite acts ever.<\/p>\n

But they were too smart for the room.\u00c2\u00a0 People didn’t get the jokes on their first album masterpiece, and didn’t see that the DELECTABLE "Things We Do For Love" was WRITTEN to be sappy!<\/p>\n

With demand like this I guess I won’t be seeing them in L.A…<\/p>\n

Bo Bice
<\/strong>Mead Theatre\/Dayton, OH-Friday 7\/07
Gross: $16,365
Sold\/Capacity: 652\/2,319<\/p>\n

"American Idol" mania?<\/p>\n

No, that’s a TV show.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s got NOTHING to do with music.<\/p>\n

Ashlee Simpson\/Ashley Parker Angel<\/strong>
Mud Island Amphitheatre\/Memphis-Friday 6\/23
Gross: $47,137
Sold\/Capacity: 1,257\/4,000<\/p>\n

An utter fucking disaster.<\/p>\n

Nobody cares.\u00c2\u00a0 Nobody thinks she has any talent.<\/p>\n

As for television’s power to rebuild careers…\u00c2\u00a0 Didn’t Ashley Parker Angel have his own show on MTV?<\/p>\n

Seems that all the old rules don’t apply.\u00c2\u00a0 Exposure and hits don’t make people want to see you live, don’t make fans.<\/p>\n

But we knew Ashlee was worthless.<\/p>\n

Then WHY do we have to continue to hear about her?<\/p>\n

That’s how out of touch the media is.<\/p>\n

(Meanwhile, this gig is no isolated event.\u00c2\u00a0 This show did less than fifty percent in Oklahoma City, Baton Rouge and the Woodlands, in Texas.\u00c2\u00a0 Isn’t this the heart of the country that BELIEVES in this pap?<\/p>\n

I guess not.<\/p>\n

Rob Thomas\/Jewel\/Toby Lightman
<\/strong>Northrop Memorial Auditorium, Minneapolis
Gross: $161,526
Sold\/Capacity: 3,027\/4,522<\/p>\n

This is not an anomaly.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s actually a good date for this tour.<\/p>\n

God, couldn’t they add ANOTHER star?\u00c2\u00a0 Just to prove the point that NO ONE CARES about these oversold early century paint by numbers\/play by the rules artists?<\/p>\n

Rob and Jewel were SO oversold that the mere mention of their names makes people barf throughout this great country of ours.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, Rob is no Phil Collins.\u00c2\u00a0 If he wants ANYBODY to care, he’s got to get back together with Matchbox 20 (yes, I said "20", like I’m supposed to pay attention that you’ve changed the name to "Twenty"??)<\/p>\n

Vince Neil\/Ratt<\/strong>
St. Pete Times Forum\/Tampa-Friday 6\/30
Gross: $57,372
Sold\/Capacity: 1,495\/4,690<\/p>\n

Let this be a lesson to all you individuals with the overinflated egos.\u00c2\u00a0 People only care about the BAND, the ORIGINAL band, if you’ve had no solo hits.\u00c2\u00a0 They want Motley Crue with both Vince and Tommy Lee.\u00c2\u00a0 Nothing less.<\/p>\n

As for Ratt…\u00c2\u00a0 Guess it ain’t going to go round and round much more, especially with founding member Robin Crosby dearly departed.<\/p>\n

Paul Simon<\/strong>
Plain Dealer Pavilion\/Cleveland-Thursday 6\/29
Gross: $145,165
Sold\/Capacity: 2,531\/4,719<\/p>\n

I know, I know, Simon’s the one with all the talent.\u00c2\u00a0 Then why do we like Garfunkel so much better?<\/p>\n

Paul comes across as an arrogant prick.\u00c2\u00a0 And whether he is or is not, he should do some rehabilitation in the press.<\/p>\n

I used to be a big fan and I don’t care.<\/p>\n

And obviously, despite Paul being one of the most talented writers of the last fifty years, most other Americans don’t care either.<\/p>\n

Gretchen Wilson\/Rivers Rutherford\/Blaine Larson<\/strong>
Merriweather Post Pavilion\/Columbia, MD-Sunday 6\/18
Gross: $96,480
Sold\/Capacity: 2,218\/10,000<\/p>\n

A one hit wonder.<\/p>\n

Is she an individual or a tool of the industry?<\/p>\n

Seems like the latter, even though she made it appearing the former.<\/p>\n

Have you seen the video for "California Girls"?\u00c2\u00a0 Has it struck you that she appears to be EXACTLY what she’s deploring?\u00c2\u00a0 Thin and buff and…just like someone from Hollywood?<\/p>\n

She’s out of touch.<\/p>\n

Counting Crows\/Goo Goo Dolls\/Augustana
<\/strong>Sleep Train Pavilion\/Concord, CA-Sunday 6\/25
Gross: $260,967
Sold\/Capacity: 5,792\/12,500<\/p>\n

The bad hair tour.\u00c2\u00a0 God, shave Duritz’s and Rzeznik’s heads and let them start over.\u00c2\u00a0 Is that really what they’re selling, coifs?<\/p>\n

Counting Crows owe their career to T-Bone Burnett.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s a testament to his talent that based on the success of ONE album, this many people want to see them.<\/p>\n

As for the Goo Goos…\u00c2\u00a0 Punk band sells out and loses fan base.\u00c2\u00a0 Has hits, but can’t even headline its own tour.<\/p>\n

As for the third act…is that a Counting Crows TRIBUTE band?\u00c2\u00a0 As in "August and Everything After"??<\/p>\n

Bruce Springsteen with the Seeger Sessions Band<\/strong>
DTE Energy Music Center, Clarkston, MI-Saturday 6\/17
Gross: $582,374
Sold\/Capacity: 8,035\/15,274<\/p>\n

Let me put this in perspective.\u00c2\u00a0 Four days later, at the exact same venue, the GIN BLOSSOMS outsold Bruce.\u00c2\u00a0 Sure, tickets were a fraction of the price, but what should Bruce be charging anyway, isn’t he a man of the people, doesn’t he have ENOUGH money?<\/p>\n

Then, a night after the Gin Blossoms, PAT BENATAR outsold the Boss.<\/p>\n

Hate to tell you this, but Bruce Springsteen is a B-level artist.<\/p>\n

Oh, he’s TALENTED, has made some great records, but he’s no Bob Dylan.\u00c2\u00a0 And, he hasn’t put out a good record since "The Streets Of Philadelphia".<\/p>\n

And now, even the fans have had enough.\u00c2\u00a0 Oh, they came back to see the E Street Band, but that’s all they’re interested in, nostalgia, and the grosses for those original band shows were declining too.<\/p>\n

Sure, this is a hefty number.\u00c2\u00a0 I just want to state that the ink the Boss gets IS NOT COMMENSURATE with the size of his fanbase.<\/p>\n

People under the age of twenty five, THIRTY, truly don’t give a shit.<\/p>\n

Oh, I love that he takes a stand against Bush.\u00c2\u00a0 I loved seeing him do "Jungleland" at the Bottom Line.\u00c2\u00a0 I have such fond memories of "Candy’s Room".\u00c2\u00a0 But after he sold out and made a commercial album with "Born In The U.S.A." I had my suspicions.\u00c2\u00a0 And he’s never done much to dissuade me that he’s lost his way.<\/p>\n

Now was the time for originals, not covers.<\/p>\n

People believe in Neil Young.\u00c2\u00a0 Somehow, fans adore Bruce, but they just don’t believe in him the same way anymore.<\/p>\n

Can’t we see the alienated fuck again?\u00c2\u00a0 The loner with something to prove as opposed to the cheerleader for baby boomer contentment?<\/p>\n

(Meanwhile, Rob Thomas and Jewel couldn’t even equal the sales of the Gin Blossoms or Pat Benatar at this venue.\u00c2\u00a0 Could it be that in the heartland they want to rock, and despite all these death of rock prognostications in the mainstream press, your average red-blooded American still wants to LET LOOSE?)<\/p>\n

Chicago\/Huey Lewis & The News<\/strong>
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion\/The Woodlands, TX-Sunday 6\/25
Gross: $214,169
Sold\/Capacity: 7,878\/15,897<\/p>\n

These alta kachers did almost FOUR TIMES the business Ashlee Simpson did at this same venue.\u00c2\u00a0 AND THEY CHARGED MORE TO BOOT!<\/p>\n

Is Chicago the new James Taylor?\u00c2\u00a0 A summer ritual?<\/p>\n

Or the new Bob Dylan?\u00c2\u00a0 As in they’re on an endless tour?<\/p>\n

These guys are literally laughing all the way to the bank.\u00c2\u00a0 To be able to play music for a living ALL THESE YEARS LATER??<\/p>\n

How many of TODAY’S hit artists will be able to find paying customers anywhere NEAR this number in FIVE YEARS??<\/p>\n

Sammy Hagar & The Wabos\/Michael Anthony<\/strong>
Starwood Amphitheatre\/Antioch, TN-Saturday 6\/24
Gross: $81,221
Sold\/Capacity: 4,579\/17,401<\/p>\n

Can he just hang it up?\u00c2\u00a0 Can we pass the hat, take a collection, and remove this obnoxious guy from the boards FOREVER?<\/p>\n

Nine Inch Nails\/Bauhaus\/Peaches
<\/strong>Tweeter Center\/Mansfield, MA-Friday 5\/23
Gross: $314,881
Sold\/Capacity: 8,622\/19,900<\/p>\n

The downward spiral?\u00c2\u00a0 Or did not that many people care in Boston to BEGIN WITH?<\/p>\n

Trent’s the new Pearl Jam.\u00c2\u00a0 Flying below the radar, doing good business, but playing to fans only.<\/p>\n

His cultural significance?\u00c2\u00a0 About equal to Eddie Vedder and crew…zilch.<\/p>\n

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers\/Trey Anastasio<\/strong>
Germain Amphitheatre\/Columbus, OH-Wednesday 6\/14
Gross: $622,842
Sold\/Capacity: 17,889\/20,000<\/p>\n

Do I laud Trey’s manager, for getting him on this bill, in front of an audience who DOESN’T GIVE A FLYING FUCK?<\/p>\n

Believe me, Trey didn’t sell one ticket to this show.\u00c2\u00a0 Hell, Trey’s fans no longer believe in him.\u00c2\u00a0 They just don’t know what he believes IN!\u00c2\u00a0 They feel he sold them out, just like he did the members of Phish.\u00c2\u00a0 Shit, isn’t there any loyalty?<\/p>\n

Speaking of loyalty…<\/p>\n

How many of the attendees at this show were over forty?<\/p>\n

Not as many as you think.\u00c2\u00a0 Tom Petty IS who the press says Bruce Springsteen is.\u00c2\u00a0 An authentic rocker who’s never sold out, who’s true to his roots.<\/p>\n

People want to ROCK!\u00c2\u00a0 This show is closer to an Eagles date than a Boss date.\u00c2\u00a0 People believe in Tom Petty.\u00c2\u00a0 He can carp about useless radio all he wants, the focus isn’t on the airwaves, but him.\u00c2\u00a0 He’s one of the last originals standing.\u00c2\u00a0 And the public KNOWS IT!<\/p>\n

\n

Data supplied by Celebrity Access\/Billboard.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Jets Overhead\/AcrobatGreen Room\/Montreal-Thursday 6\/29Gross: $256Sold\/Capacity: 36\/100 Mmm…\u00c2\u00a0 Seems that I don’t have too much influence.\u00c2\u00a0 I raved about this act, word didn’t seem to get to Montreal! But maybe the point is different.\u00c2\u00a0 If you’re not actively building your touring base, since the guys in this band are really managers, then nobody cares. In other […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-live-shows","category-music-business"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p96vPs-7L","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=481"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/481\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}