I’m on a train (without a dame). From where to where is immaterial.
I was assigned to sit next to a guy in his mid 50′s. Call him Mr. B. Type of guy who figured out the system and his life and is now reaping the rewards. In my young-dumb days, I would have bolted away from this guy immediately for the bar car. He certainly wasn’t overtly cool. He was older and superficially square. And shit. The chances of hijinx and a show is always higher with a younger, drunker demographic.
But Mr. B was way fun to cop a hang from. So I bought drinks.
He’s so jacked on Apple products he was giddy. All the things he can do. How it makes him more productive. How he can check his money 4 times a day, integrate with his Quicken, maps, blah blah blah. He was overflowing with advice on what I could/should (and will) do with my middle age years. Applevangelism.
Then we talked music. Even with all this Apple-centric love and a 800 count CD collection. He wasn’t that up for it. Got glassy eyed when I answered what good shows were coming to town. Once it got past British Invasion rock, he was done. And wasn’t really that amped for my suggestions. Even though he politely took them. Even newer bands that rock that Boot Brit sound fierce. A big…whatever.
But he’ll roll into small jazz clubs from here to Des Plaines. Because the experience gives him what he wants. And he’ll go to NASCAR. Cause those guys “are superstars”. That is his new passion. And, of course, Apple.
He burned out on rock shows because 1)ticketing sucks and he’s not going to overpay 2)show crowds are lame.
I almost fell out of my chair when he started intimating what went down in the 60′s and how he still let’s his freak flag fly. But….not at shows. And I get it. We all know it. US rock shows have become pretty square. Like taking the Acid test and then given a Lick-A-Stick with flavored sugar as the reward. I’ve had wilder experiences personally getting torched and stumbling the streets of Seoul, South Korea.
I talk music with many people. All the time. Daily. Anecdotal data and drawing conclusions? Not my thing.
But the drum beat is getting louder. Over and over. Who is going to save music? What is going to save music? Blah blah blah. The whole premise of the question is wrong. In my humble.
When is the body going to hit the floor on this bullshit system?
That’s my question. Because the systems are not worth saving. At all.
The new Jay-Z and Kanye West tour is rolling out with a price range of like $70-$220 for tickets. Not high enough! $120-$400 is better. Turn that bitch to 11. Burn every tour down. Get out the coals and roast some marshmallows and let’s see what comes out of the ashes.
Raising prices reduces the pie for everything. Reduces the fandom. Tomorrow’s customers are finding other things to do.
And Mr. B and people like him will never come back.
And that’s a shame.
‘Cause I’d like to rock a show with him.
Fuck it. Maybe we’ll go fishing instead.
