Police and Thieves

[llcoolvad]

So a coworker asked me earlier today if I knew someone who wanted a to buy a ticket to the Police at Fenway for "face value $246." That's not a typo. Two hundred and forty six United States dollars!

Um?

When the FUCK did concert tickets get to be so damned expensive? I've been to a few concerts in my day. I'm not living in a bubble, either.. I just can't imagine who is spending this money!  I started thinking that if Elvis Aaron Presley himself crawled out of his grave, was suddenly young and hot again, and decided to go on tour, even for that I wouldn't pay $246! Not for ZOMBIE ELVIS!! So really unlikely that I would shell it out for the elderly Police.

That made me stroll down memory lane, and as we know any kind of stroll in my world involves a list, so I present the concerts/plays/lectures/sporting events/other events I have seen, sorted by type of thing. Of course these are only the ones I have stubs for in my wee ticket stub box. I'll probably add to this as I think of other shows. To be truly anal, I'll need dates etc.

See? Saw the young hot Police: $16.00, 1983. Somehow we are to believe that, in addition to grey roots and subtly disguised crow's feet, somehow they've added about $10 of concert value for EVERY PASSING YEAR?!  Feh. I'm thinking no.

(The missing include: Andres Segovia with my parents, probably 1980? Several symphony performances, too. I know I've seen a few more Laurie Anderson shows, several more Richard Thompson shows, Crash Test Dummies, October Project, November Project, back to October Project, Mary Fahl, a ton more shows while I was at UMass, etc. Probably even stuff I've seen in the last few years. For example, I saw Elvis Costello for free in 2004 and I simply can't remember the circumstances! Someone had comp tickets, but WHO? Was it Jenn? I think maybe.)

And yes, I can't remember who I saw many shows with. I can't even remember yesterday, so no real surprise there. Hence the lists! If you remember that I saw a show/performance/whatever with you and you're not listed here, I'd appreciate being reminded. This means you, especially, Patrick, Stephen, Val, Dan, Suzanne!  I forget you all equally, so don't feel bad! :-)

Shows I wish I could have gone to (but never will): XTC. Kate Bush. The Clash. 
Best show I ever attended: Elvis Costello and the Singing Song Wheel, Orpheum Theatre, 10/86
Biggest hero I got to see: Carl Sagan

What are yours?

Comments

[p-j-cleary.livejournal.com]

You and I saw Sandra Bernhard sometime in the late 80s/early 90s, and I remember we were disappointed, because she was in her "I'm going to stop being funny and try to be a lounge singer" phase.

Edwin Drood you saw with me, I'm sure, because I like Dickens and you don't.

We also saw Blue Man Group once.

[llcoolvad.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, the Blue Man Group! Another missing stub. Feh! I will update my Drood entry, thanks!

I have the Sandra Bernhard one up there under "Theater", it was 10/15/94. I put her under Theatre because I didn't want to have a separate entry for "Comedy" just have Naked Brunch and her, plus since I remember, too, that she wasn't funny...and I remembered it was you that I saw her with, even!

So Metallica wasn't you? ;-)

[zanzjan.livejournal.com]

Metallica was me. Also, I went to the Neil Gaiman / Harlan Ellison / Peter David Offensefest with you too.

[zanzjan.livejournal.com]

...and Arlo.

[llcoolvad.livejournal.com]

I should have worked out that Arlo was you. Was it a good show? It's one I can't remember at all!

[zanzjan.livejournal.com]

I remember enjoying it, but that's about it.

[zanzjan.livejournal.com]

There was the counting crows concert we walked out of because they sucked so badly... does that count for half?

(I'd pay $246 for ZOMBIE ELVIS)

[ceo]

I believe I was in the group for Jethro Tull on 10-28-1989; in fact, I vaguely recall that I bought the tickets. I also saw FKB at UMass FAC when they played there, though I don't know if it was the same performance.

And I also saw Tomfoolery at the Charles Playhouse, with my sister; no idea if it was the same performance.

[llcoolvad.livejournal.com]

Aha! Who else was in that group seeing Tull? I remembered that it was a group, and I think it was Suzanne's first time seeing Tull; sorry I forgot you! I am getting old, alas!

That would be amusing if we saw Tomfoolery at the same time, years before we met! Boston is a small town sometimes.

[zanzjan.livejournal.com]

I b'lieve that was my third time seeing Tull. Wasn't like Aaron Wilson and Liz along too?

[ceo]

Police tickets are that expensive because all the aging yuppies who missed seeing them when they were big will pay that much for them. Concerts of actual current bands are still reasonable, last I checked.

Sting's remark on the start of their reunion tour was "Lock up your mothers!"

[llcoolvad.livejournal.com]

Ha! I love the idea of my mother running down the aisle, screaming and tossing her bloomers at Sting.

...Seeing him wince...

[zanzjan.livejournal.com]

now see, if you could get that as part of the $246, wouldn't it be worth it?

[zanzjan.livejournal.com]

oh yeah, and we went to see the Crash Test Dummies / October Project at the Middle East. Did you go see October Project with me at Pearl St. a second time? I don't remember who I went with...

[llcoolvad.livejournal.com]

Was that the Middle East? Bad memory! We were near the front, anyway! I don't think I saw the Pearl St. show, but I could be wrong. You also saw October Project with us (me and Patrick) a few years ago with Mike and Kathendy at Club Passim. And P and I saw November Project at Johnny D's. I think. Or was that Mary Fahl? Maybe both.

Ooh, just remembered the Ramones at UMass -- or Pearl St. -- somewhere Amherst-y. And They Might Be Giants somewhere in Connecticut. I saw TMBG several times, come to think of it. Hmm. Were you at those? That might have been Clockwork and/or Lackey, I seem to recall they were into TMBG.

[zanzjan.livejournal.com]

I've seen [Fall Month] Project 3 times now -- the Middle East, Pearl St., and Club Passim. I also went to TMBG in CT -- they were very drunk and very late, there were no seats, no water, and I had a sprained ankle and was on crutches in the middle of a mosh pit. It completely sucked as an experience.

Did you go see Jello Biafra with me at the FAC?

[livingdeb.livejournal.com]

Best show I ever attended: Don McLean, early 'eighties. It was an intimate show at my small university and he was hilarious. Who knew?

Best pre-show ever: Christine Lavin, probably this century. While we were all waiting in line to get in, mostly sitting on the floor against a wall, she sat down at a table and offered to paint people's fingernails. My boyfriend had to explain sparkly nail polish the next day at work.

[llcoolvad.livejournal.com]

Ha! I like that visual. I wonder if that is some kind of routine to make her more comfortable with the crowd. Hard to be nervous in front of people you've held hands with!

[kicking-k.livejournal.com]

I didn't know you like Elvis Costello... Seen him live twice, but our only other overlap is Neil Gaiman.

Probably the best live shows I've seen have been They Might Be Giants.

[llcoolvad.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've seen TMBG several times, one less good than the others (the venue sucked and they were late). There are so many other bands I've seen it's likely we have more overlap. These are just the ones I had ticket stubs for in my little box. I've seen Elvis at least five times (he was one of the headliners at the Guiness Fleadh, as was Richard Thompson, who is my other repeat-show leader) and will probably see him as long as he keeps touring.

I haven't been to a lot of shows lately at all. In fact, nothing since 2004 other than some baseball and a play or two. Sheesh!