Lollapaloozer

Hope NYC gets another Pixies date, then, because they were set for Day 2.

damnit, and I was just about to purchase tickets for sunday, possibly for both dates. argh. first field day last year, now lollapalooza now, all the good concerts of this type only seem successful in England. Perhaps they had too many dates? spread too thin?

I was considering getting tix for one or both days. Then I noticed that it was scheduled for a Monday and a Tuesday. What the fuck was up with that???

There was nothing wrong with the lineup for Lollapalooza - every artist and every tour is having trouble selling tickets this summer season. It is one of the worst summers for ticket sales in many years. Add to that a two-day festival held mid-week, and you get worse-than-dismal sales, which not even the inimitable Morrissey could save.

Pixies are playing in December at the Tweeter Center in Camden NJ, now that they won't be seen in NY.

Yes, nothing like taking a day or two off work (it's not like I don't cherish my slowly accrued vacation hours) to sit in the heat and humidity to watch a bunch of bands I've already seen (most more than once, and in more comfortable environs) and a few I could care less about seeing.

Nine years ago Sonic Youth headlined and there was a mass exodus after Hole played, leaving SY to play before a lot of empty seats. I saw them in SoCal, and they played a great set, but people were there for Hole, Cypress Hill, Beck and just about anybody else BUT Sonic Youth.

Lots of cred on the bill, but cred doesn't sell tickets.

Ticket sales have been hideous this year with the exception of Madonna and Sting! (but I did notice tv spots for her Jersey shows which isn't a good sign).
I am keeping my ear to the ground about what these bands are going to replace those dates with...it costs money to be on the road so most will fill the gap with something in area. Can I start the Pixies at Bowery Ballroom rumor now?

It was made clear that the New York shows were the only ones out of the tour that were selling well...leading me to believe that Monday and Tuesday weren't the problem. It’s hard to run a 2 day tour across the country that only plays on weekends anyway. Also, the Curiosa Festival is following the same path across the country...and most people I know, if given the choice, would pick Curiosa over Lollapalooza this year. Its a shame, cause they were gonna be great shows, but I just hope the bands can regroup and get their own tours together for the summer at such a late date.

Yeah, Fab was a real dick. My take on the show is here: http://saltydog1231.blogspot.com/2004/06/last-nyc-concerts-for-while.html

this lolapalooza was built to fail. first of all it was a geriatrics convention - morrisey, pixies, sonic youth, flaming lips ... all over 40. C'mon - what no one under forty is doing anything interesting musically? really?

The kids these days don't know lollapalooza or any of the bands playing it.

With the exception of the Pixies - haven't we had a million chances to see all the bands play before? There's no need to spend $75 and trek out to randalls island, get overcharged for food and water just to see the flamings lips again. Back in the day lollapalooza was the first chance to see Pearl Jam or Rage against the machine - cuz they were new and young and freshly crossed over.

What they should have done is this: get outkast or missy in as headliners (no one's more freaky or alternative than them these days), then get white stripes or the strokes involved. Keep the pixies and flaming lips on the bill - pixies for obvious reasons, lips because their shows are nutty and fun and it would have openned the door to future andre 3000/ wayne coyne collaborations. Then fill the rest with interesting acts that are just breaking like the rapture, franz ferdinand, stellastar, the streets ... etc. Keep it to one day, with 8 bands on the main stage max.

Finally - don't mention that perry farrel's involved. He's done, no cred, brain fried, wrinkly - frankly, he's not bringing anything to the table.

Thanks for the account at saltydog. I miss the days of not missing any of my favorite music. Tickets are getting out of hand expensive and that's not just some old-person thing to say - no inflationary or cost of living expenses have gone up like housing and ticket sales.

To Gothamist - where's the story about the Beastie Boys getting pissed off that Jay-Z performed after them? The Mtv.com story is just about Jay-Z showing up. Huh?

Here are the final lines from Perry's letter to the bands about the cancelation:

"PS. I am still looking for a shining moment or two for us this summer. I hope you will receive me when I call."

Interesting