pillowy star

I think alot of you could be okay. I have the feeling that given how quick they sold out, the scalpers may have bought too much tickets which can often lead to tickets been sold for less.

Absolutely right. Still, this is nothing that I would risk to book flight & hotel tickets ("no cancellation, no refund") on.

Ah well. A 2-week luxury break in a 5*****-resort in Egypt isn't too bad either

So this is what happened to free speech then. I am sure the band would be proud that someone stands up and wants everyone else to shut up.

Fine, maybe like this: "Oh God, thank you so much, Ticketbastard, for saving us from spending 1500 $ on a needless trip to Chicago as a Valentines Day present, to see a band that is selling out on VW TV spots already anyway, from having to spend time with those horrible Trust Fund Kids who I've wanted to meet again ever since I was lucky enough to meet them first, fight that awful Chicago weather, and on top of all having to spend what you call "quality time" with the spouse! Really I couldn't be happier that now the fictive 1500 $ will go to those nice ticket brokers who probably have to feed 5 kids each and need to make a living. Thank you Ticketmaster, I will enclose you in my goodnight prayer from now on. Amen."

Just out of interest, Matt: Did you get tickets (in case you wanted to & tried) ?

I do believe that Wilco wouldn't want brokers to rip off their fans with tickets they sold for a percentage of what those brokers charge for them.

Yet, they can't seem to find a way around it (yet)

It's not as if Wilco themselves were charging those prices, it's that people who aren't supposed to make a shitload of money with those tickets.

Waiting until Ticketmaster eventually throws in a couple of hundred of more tickets - if you're really lucky, maybe also 5-day-passes - might be an option for people who live close anyway. However, it is not an option for people like us who'd have been willing to cough up $ 1500 for flights & hotel to see those 5 shows.

We decided not to risk booking flights at an early bird rate and then risk to not get tickets for the shows.

Turns out we were right; would have ended up with $ 1500 flights & hotels but most likely no tickets.

How sad has this world become, if you can't even go and see your favorite band even if you're willing to spend 1.5 k, only because this band like many others doesn't seem to be able to find a way to stop ticket brokers.

Has the man ever worn shorts in public??

It was in Germany though where he probably thought no one would recognize him anyway

That's awesome, Kate. Finally a reward for all the hard - and probably mostly unpaid - work you're doing

Well, that would be around 10 cans of Coke Light for Jeffrey

Perhaps if I win the lottery I'll see what I can do

I won 10

What Rich said. I feel really spoilt by the "normal" shows they did this year in Central Europe (although we could only attend 3), but I feel seriously left out & ignored when it comes to solo shows & especially the living room show opportunities. I am sure there would be 20 people in Europe that are willing to donate 1000$ each to set up a show in my living room

Oh well. I guess it's just not gonna happen

Hang in there, Mende. Things will get better at some point. Trust me, I know what I am talking about

-- the description of his press tour in Europe is classic.

......so did he make fun of us poor Europeans then.....?

Go for it, but only if you're not pushing your finances. Being bankrupt after a trip to see a band is never a good idea

Otherwise: Enjoy it, I would love to go to Auckland, it is amongst the top 3 of our "have to go there soon"-list

Happy Birthday

I am with Froggie (but only if you tell him to play Europe Mainland afterwards ).

Maybe you could do it with a paypal address Sarah?

I've once been robbed on the street by a Romanian gang kid. You need years to get over something like that. Major vibes for your sister.

Will you have internet access there ?

Seriously though, vibes over the big pond

Same here. No matter how long the breaks are that I take from listening to Wilco (yes it happens), no matter how often I might already have listened to "Via Chicago" - it still has me ending up in floods of tears every time I listen to it because this song is so me. I wouldn't be sane anymore if it wasn't for the lyrics, the music, the voice.

My daughter wants a Wii for her boyfriend, which should be no problem unless you count the fact that she spends all her money on tingle-tangle.

Interest collision: She wants herself some Nintendo, whilst my husband explicitely doesn't want any Nintendo for himself - so he gets 2 weeks off Which is all I want for xmas....be able to spend as much time with him as possible.

Beautiful pics of beautiful people

Here is my gorgeous daughter Tara; I am more proud of her than I could ever tell

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone

Enjoy Thanksgiving and let others do the work

I'm sure yours will be even better, Brianne. I'm still drooling only from the pics that have been posted from the Baklava you made

Mmmmmm ... curry! One of my favorite things to make. I worked for an Indian family when I was in college, and curries became one of my big comfort foods.

 

Paderborn! You're the first person I've encountered from that area. Small world, indeed.

 

(Speaking of comfort foods, Belleville has a huge German heritage. There are still lots of little old German immigrant ladies who make amazing German food in this area. There's hardly a weekend where there isn't a local Wurstmarkt. Love it!)

So that's probably why Belleville was chosen as a twin town for Paderborn, seeing as I can't believe the mayor was a Wilco fan

Curries.........yummm........getting all hungry. Blame Mrs. Maid of Honor for starting this thread

And since there was a request for pet pics, I'm thankful that my darling Chloe turned ten this year and still acts like a puppy:

That dog is hysterical!!

I couldn't agree more, Poppydawn. I l-o-v-e cooking, there is nothing that satisfies me as much as a perfect Indian curry that comes out of my hands , and especially on Fridays my husband and I literally celebrate the dinner making, it is something we look forward to all week

(OOT: We're quite connected, as Belleville is the twin town of Paderborn/Germany, the next real town to where I live )