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Post by lonelysummer on Sept 6, 2021 21:03:42 GMT
Feeling better today, so decided to go to the fair. I just hope we're not packed in there, bumper to bumper, like we were 2 years ago.
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 22, 2021 11:43:57 GMT
The modern Guns n Roses was here last night. (I had no idea, not that I would have wanted to go, to be honest.) They were doing a makeup show from last summer's canceled date, but in a much smaller arena. Xcel Energy Center, where the Wild play, is just over half the capacity of the originally scheduled Target Field, where the Twins play. And what's more, despite slashing ticket prices by half in the final days, only about 11k people showed up.
You have to wonder how much of it is the pandemic and how much is just that this reunion has now been going on for about five years with only one new song to show for it and a relatively small catalogue to begin with.
They did change up the set list a little, including the Velvet Revolver song "Slither," the GnR classic "You're Crazy," the new GnR song "Absurd," and a few covers ("Wichita Lineman" and "I Wanna Be Your Dog").
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Sept 22, 2021 12:15:54 GMT
The Rolling Stones played their first concert since Charlie Watts' death:
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Post by kds on Sept 22, 2021 12:47:10 GMT
The modern Guns n Roses was here last night. (I had no idea, not that I would have wanted to go, to be honest.) They were doing a makeup show from last summer's canceled date, but in a much smaller arena. Xcel Energy Center, where the Wild play, is just over half the capacity of the originally scheduled Target Field, where the Twins play. And what's more, despite slashing ticket prices by half in the final days, only about 11k people showed up.
You have to wonder how much of it is the pandemic and how much is just that this reunion has now been going on for about five years with only one new song to show for it and a relatively small catalogue to begin with.
They did change up the set list a little, including the Velvet Revolver song "Slither," the GnR classic "You're Crazy," the new GnR song "Absurd," and a few covers ("Wichita Lineman" and "I Wanna Be Your Dog").
They're coming to Baltimore in early October, playing the Royal Farms Arena, which has a capacity of roughly 10,000 for a concert. Five years ago, they played Fed Ex Field in Landover, MD, a football stadium. I do think the novelty of the reunion is wearing off, especially when you consider GNR have such a small catalog, so it's not like they can really change up the setlists a ton. I kind of makes me wonder what would've happened had The Beach Boys reunion lasted past one summer. Would they can been able to sustain the interest from 2012 which saw them playing their biggest venues in years, or would they have been playing smaller venues after a few summers?
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 22, 2021 12:51:32 GMT
I kind of makes me wonder what would've happened had The Beach Boys reunion lasted past one summer. Would they can been able to sustain the interest from 2012 which saw them playing their biggest venues in years, or would they have been playing smaller venues after a few summers? I think they would have had to tour less than either Brian's or Mike's bands usually do if they would have intended to keep playing large venues. If fans think they can skip a show because you'll be back within a year, it's hard to fill bigger venues at high prices.
On the other part of the topic, though, they wouldn't share that same issue of catalogue. That is almost a bottomless well.
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Post by kds on Sept 22, 2021 12:55:13 GMT
I kind of makes me wonder what would've happened had The Beach Boys reunion lasted past one summer. Would they can been able to sustain the interest from 2012 which saw them playing their biggest venues in years, or would they have been playing smaller venues after a few summers? I think they would have had to tour less than either Brian's or Mike's bands usually do if they would have intended to keep playing large venues. If fans think they can skip a show because you'll be back within a year, it's hard to fill bigger venues at high prices.
On the other part of the topic, though, they wouldn't share that same issue of catalogue. That is almost a bottomless well.
Yeah, I think maybe touring every other or every third summer might keep the interest higher. That's what the legacy acts who play the biggest venues and charge the most money do. That's true about the catalog, they certainly have more flexibility than GNR have.
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 22, 2021 12:58:28 GMT
Unfortunately the Beach Boys frittered away decades they could have spent capitalizing on their opportunities as a unified act. Obviously a bunch of octogenarians can't make long-term plans for every-third-year tours. Hopefully they feel they made the right choices for themselves--I truly wouldn't wish them personal misery just or the sake of a unified Beach Boys that appeals to fans--as their careers wind down.
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Post by kds on Sept 22, 2021 13:03:09 GMT
Unfortunately the Beach Boys frittered away decades they could have spent capitalizing on their opportunities as a unified act. Obviously a bunch of octogenarians can't make long-term plans for every-third-year tours. Hopefully they feel they made the right choices for themselves--I truly wouldn't wish them personal misery just or the sake of a unified Beach Boys that appeals to fans--as their careers wind down. At the end of the day, it was probably the right choice to remain separate, even if it stinks for the fans. But, if Mike and Brian (or probably more accurately Jacqueline and Melinda) can't see eye to eye, it's probably better for them personally to do what they've been doing. There's something to be respected about that choice, especially when you hear stories of how miserable the guys in Motley Crue (one example) tend to be.
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 22, 2021 13:08:52 GMT
Somewhat contrary to popular opinion (I think), I agree with you. Imagine if you were forced into a job with people you HATED because some other people liked you in that job. Regardless of whether "it's for the best," if you don't enjoy it, you don't enjoy it. It's your life, and it's short. Don't waste it on doing what some third parties want you to do.
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Post by kds on Sept 22, 2021 13:25:28 GMT
Somewhat contrary to popular opinion (I think), I agree with you. Imagine if you were forced into a job with people you HATED because some other people liked you in that job. Regardless of whether "it's for the best," if you don't enjoy it, you don't enjoy it. It's your life, and it's short. Don't waste it on doing what some third parties want you to do. Yep, plus, at this point, they don't owe us anything. All things considered, we were pretty lucky that we got what we got in 2012. I do wonder if they'd had more competent management sooner, that maybe some of the personal issues could've been ironed out, but who knows? For what it's worth, they seem to be in good hands now, and it that just yields archival releases and a (hopefully definitive) documentary, so be it.
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Post by lonelysummer on Sept 22, 2021 19:43:15 GMT
I don't know about the size of venues - up here, they played the Chateau St. Michelle Winery, which seats about as many people as the Puyallup Fair. What was different was the ticket prices. Usually, we can see Mike's BB's at the fair for $30 (cheap seats). At the winery, cheap seats were around $70. The only thing I feel cheated out of with the current configuration is getting to see Al Jardine. The man still sings great, and it's sad that he can't be a part of Mike's touring band. I don't feel like I am missing anything by not seeing Brian. I've watched the You Tube videos of his recent shows, and honestly feel sorry for him, sitting there, talk/singing his way through songs he's lost interest in, in physical pain, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else. Mike's group may not have been very good back in 1998/99, but they've sure upped their game since then. Fall is here, and with covid cases still on the rise, I won't be going to any shows the rest of the year. Outdoors was fine, but I don't want to be packed into some small theater with a bunch of people, side by side.
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Post by kds on Sept 22, 2021 19:51:46 GMT
I actually meant to mention Al in my post earlier today. But, I always felt like Al was like the kid in the divorce between Mike and Brian, kind of caught in the middle. He tried the Friends and Family thing, which didn't last long. He doesn't have enough cache to really do anything other than the storytellers shows at really intimate venues. Luckily, he's in Brian's band, which gives him a chance to play and sing in front of respectable crowds while doing some heavy lifting that Brian can't do anymore.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Sept 22, 2021 22:45:05 GMT
I actually meant to mention Al in my post earlier today. But, I always felt like Al was like the kid in the divorce between Mike and Brian, kind of caught in the middle. He tried the Friends and Family thing, which didn't last long. He doesn't have enough cache to really do anything other than the storytellers shows at really intimate venues. Luckily, he's in Brian's band, which gives him a chance to play and sing in front of respectable crowds while doing some heavy lifting that Brian can't do anymore. I just wanted to throw this in here...You know, Al could make a go of it with the "family and friends" thing if he was willing to be an opening act, or in very selected cases, the headliner. Al has enough connections, and importantly Brian Wilson/Beach Boys' connections, where he could assemble a band/singers and perform a very enjoyable 40-45 minute set - as an opening act. And he could, of course, choose who he would like to open for. The question is, does a legend (and I'm not being sarcastic) who is in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, and who is personal friends - and in the same band for years! - with Brian Wilson, Mike Love, etc. want to accept being...NOT the headliner. There's a very good chance, and here's hoping that's not in the near future, where Al might have to make that decision.
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Post by kds on Sept 23, 2021 12:09:42 GMT
I actually meant to mention Al in my post earlier today. But, I always felt like Al was like the kid in the divorce between Mike and Brian, kind of caught in the middle. He tried the Friends and Family thing, which didn't last long. He doesn't have enough cache to really do anything other than the storytellers shows at really intimate venues. Luckily, he's in Brian's band, which gives him a chance to play and sing in front of respectable crowds while doing some heavy lifting that Brian can't do anymore. I just wanted to throw this in here...You know, Al could make a go of it with the "family and friends" thing if he was willing to be an opening act, or in very selected cases, the headliner. Al has enough connections, and importantly Brian Wilson/Beach Boys' connections, where he could assemble a band/singers and perform a very enjoyable 40-45 minute set - as an opening act. And he could, of course, choose who he would like to open for. The question is, does a legend (and I'm not being sarcastic) who is in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, and who is personal friends - and in the same band for years! - with Brian Wilson, Mike Love, etc. want to accept being...NOT the headliner. There's a very good chance, and here's hoping that's not in the near future, where Al might have to make that decision. I'm not sure if Al has the kind of ego to not accept being an opener. I've seen artists whose names are more legendary than Al's as openers (ie. Robert Plant and Alice Cooper).
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Sept 23, 2021 12:40:19 GMT
I just wanted to throw this in here...You know, Al could make a go of it with the "family and friends" thing if he was willing to be an opening act, or in very selected cases, the headliner. Al has enough connections, and importantly Brian Wilson/Beach Boys' connections, where he could assemble a band/singers and perform a very enjoyable 40-45 minute set - as an opening act. And he could, of course, choose who he would like to open for. The question is, does a legend (and I'm not being sarcastic) who is in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, and who is personal friends - and in the same band for years! - with Brian Wilson, Mike Love, etc. want to accept being...NOT the headliner. There's a very good chance, and here's hoping that's not in the near future, where Al might have to make that decision. I'm not sure if Al has the kind of ego to not accept being an opener. I've seen artists whose names are more legendary than Al's as openers (ie. Robert Plant and Alice Cooper). I'm also realistic. If and when the prospect of touring on his own occurs, Al will probably be in his early/mid 80's. How much "Mike Love" is in him, you know, rock 'til you drop. Maybe after his Brian run, Al will simply decide to (literally) retire to the farm and just do the occasional recording session or one-off live appearance with whomever.
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