Analogman Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 Another phenomenon - bands playing private shows and corporate events for big money. There is also the whole deal of playing biker events and House of Blues clubs. I suppose this sort of thing is good for the fans - as they get closer to the band. I wonder what their profit is - as opposed to playing theaters or summer shed tours. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
M. (hristine Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 Ryan Adams was booked for a KC casino last summer. I was about to buy tix when he cancelled that part of his tour. Neko Case played the same room. I thought it was kind of weird, but folks got to make a living. I guess in some towns there are only a certain number of rooms of a size on a particular night. Dunno about Vegas though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted July 10, 2008 Author Share Posted July 10, 2008 Rib Fest in Naperville has actually had some decent acts. You may be thinking of The Bottle Rockets. In my opinion, it's a good venue for smaller bands to play to gain an audience. There is a subtle difference between making a living and trying to gain an audience, and being a nostalgia act.Well exactly....and the Bottle Rockets, as much as I love them, are a much smaller band than SP and have struggled for the last few years anyway. When I first read the title to this thread, I thought how pathetic it was that the Pumpkins were playing a casino on Fremont Street, that they couldn't even rate a casino on the Strip. Then I clicked the link in Louie's original post and almost spit my coffee up when I saw it was the Horseshoe in Hammond. Now that is pathetic.See below... Is there a reason the Pumpkins haven't played a show in Chicago since reforming? Ask Billy....Ryan Adams was booked for a KC casino last summer. I was about to buy tix when he cancelled that part of his tour. Neko Case played the same room. I thought it was kind of weird, but folks got to make a living. I guess in some towns there are only a certain number of rooms of a size on a particular night. Dunno about Vegas though.There is also alot of difference between playing a casino in a big city like KC (or Vegas, Tahoe, etc.) than playing Hammond if you ask me. Prince did Vegas and he is an act of the same caliber as SP (someone can argue this, but for argument sake go with me...) Journey and Cheap Trick are pretty much nostalgia acts although CT can still kick ass. The Smashing Pumpkins were one of the biggest indie/alt rock groups in the world for a long time and Billy certainly has pretentions of being a serious artist as opposed to a working musician (such as Cheap Trick, Bottle Rockets, etc.) It just seems weird that they could probably fill the Chicago Theater for several nights or at least the Vic. Or maybe the Congress or any number of other venues that would bring in a hipper crowd. Then again I suppose Horseshoe is giving them big bucks (and charging an arm and half a leg.) LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 Ryan Adams was booked for a KC casino last summer. I was about to buy tix when he cancelled that part of his tour. Neko Case played the same room. I thought it was kind of weird, but folks got to make a living. I guess in some towns there are only a certain number of rooms of a size on a particular night. Dunno about Vegas though. I suppose we'll see some of this now - as we have casinos now a days. I wonder if it all has something to do with the fact that if a band you like is playing a theater, you are going there to see them because you want to vs. casino's have bands come and play to attract people to come and gamble. Or is it as you say - maybe that is the only place to play. I am against casinos all together. But - that is a whole other thread. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
quarter23cd Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 Give it a week and that casino venue will probably get branded with the FillmoreTM tag, anyway, and then it will sound less uncool. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scribex6 Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 I saw the Pumpkins last summer at the Fillmore (the original one in San Francisco) and thought they put on a good show although a little self-indulgent at times. But hey, that's to be expected right with Corgan.Still, I don't see what the big deal is with them playing an Indian casino. A lot of those places have gotten pretty fancy and get some big name talent. Near where I live in Riverside, Bob Dylan is playing the Pechanga Casino in Temecula in September. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mountain bed Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 I just saw in the paper today that at the horse racing track over in Anderson (which recently added casino gambling) Aretha is going to be there soon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
quarter23cd Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Yeah, I don't know that casino shows are necessarily taboo. When I lived in CT, there seemed to be an increasing number of big name shows out at Mohegan Sun. Mostly nostalgia acts, I guess (which is really what the Pumpkins are, at this point), but not all. I think as casinos are becoming more all-around entertainment-oriented, they are starting to be seen as legit venues. I dunno. Along similar lines, I once opted out of going to see The Slackers (badass ska band) on one of those harbor-cruise boats out on Long Island Sound because the whole jam-cruise thing sounded kind of cheezy...but somebody I know went to it and told me I missed out on a fantastic time. Who knows? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 I like the House of Blues in Atlantic City. I consider it a legit venue. Mohegan Sun gets some great shows too! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 I just saw in the paper today that at the horse racing track over in Anderson (which recently added casino gambling) Aretha is going to be there soon. Yea, but Aretha is clearly an oldies act (one that can still sing the hell out of a song however). Her playing a casino/racetrack is not much of a shock. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Casinos are regular venues these days - this summer, Kanye West is playing Foxwoods, and Nine Inch Nails and They Might Be Giants are playing Mohegan Sun, for example. Nostalgia isn't a factor. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 Casinos are regular venues these days - this summer, Kanye West is playing Foxwoods, and Nine Inch Nails and They Might Be Giants are playing Mohegan Sun, for example. Nostalgia isn't a factor.Yea I suppose.....casinos are certainly bailing out state government's budgets so I guess they can get any performers they want. Still seems kinda cheezy, but in the long run I guess they have more money than most promoters.... LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Still seems kinda cheezy No more cheesy than normal venues, which have names like Target Arena, HiFi Buys Amphitheater, Staples Center, etc. Unfortunately, for the most part, the current concert scene for big name artists isn't made up of charming places like Winterland, Ludlow Garage and the Armadillo World Headquarters. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
imsjry Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Casinos are regular venues these days Exactly, and they have been for a while. What's the difference where the music venue is? Why is that any worse then them playing the Allstate Arena? It's not like they're playing IN the casino. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 Well it is like every other part of our lives I guess (I am feeling cranky like Jesse Jackson or something....), but it just seems so weird. But then again I can't stand the House of Blues either.... LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncle wilco Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 when SP finally opens for a puppet show at a theme park maybe that's a good time to call it a day? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Prose Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 A buddy of mine has worked on the Horseshoe remodeling the last year or so as a pipe fitter. According to him the new theater is out of this world! He says they spared no expense and have installed a state of the art sound system to boot. In May he was saying Elton John is going to be the first act to play, but I have not seen this among the acts listed in the Reader's early warnings, but it will probably be a private affair anyway. For those not familiar, the Horseshoe sits right on Lake Michigan so it could have nice views from the lobby etc. There are also some good restaurants in the casino, so it would be nice for dinner and a show! As far as the Pumpkins playing there? Passe. Its almst as if Billy is trying to punish Chicago for not supporting him thru his lean times, sadly the joke's on him. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
markosis Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 I like the House of Blues in Atlantic City. I consider it a legit venue. Legit: yes. Good venue: no. I hate that place. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
myboyblue Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 I don't like the idea of the House of Blues as a chain...however, the HOB in Cleveland is a great venue. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted July 12, 2008 Author Share Posted July 12, 2008 The best thing I can say about the House of Blues in Chicago is it has the best bathrooms of any club in town (and maybe the worst audience....) The Horseshoe is really buying up ad time like crazy on the Chicago TV stations, so I am sure it is doing well. I would see Elton there. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
blureu Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Should have seen this one coming..... Ex-Pumpkins Members Sue For Digital Royalties http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/articl...t_id=1003831909 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PearlJamNoCode Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Pearl Jam played the Borgata in Atlantic City a few years back, and The Who are playing there in the fall. Maybe I don't understand why playing a casino is a bad thing...? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Party @ the Moontower Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I saw the Pumpkins last summer at the Fillmore (the original one in San Francisco) and thought they put on a good show although a little self-indulgent at times. But hey, that's to be expected right with Corgan.Still, I don't see what the big deal is with them playing an Indian casino. A lot of those places have gotten pretty fancy and get some big name talent. Near where I live in Riverside, Bob Dylan is playing the Pechanga Casino in Temecula in September. I saw Dylan @ our state fair years ago. I think he was standing near horse shit. Keeps you humble. He actually did a better show there than @ the Austin City Limits Festival last year.I think he was asleep @ ACL. The VooDoo lounge @ Harrah's casino in KC has some good shows. I saw G. Love and Special Sauce there.Les Claypool was there a few months ago..tickets were only $25-35.Missed that one. Coming soon @ VooDoo-Chippendales and Ice Cube. Not together though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 ... The arena in Atlantic City was inside a garish casino, where the management held back (denied us and our fans) the front section of seats. Those were "comped" to the "high rollers" (by definition, big losers), and thus we looked out from the stage at the first few rows (the ones we could see most) filled with people who had no idea why they were there except that it was free. In contrast to our real fans farther back, who would mortgage their Hemispheres picture discs, and perhaps internal organs, to get closer to the stage, we were confronted by mild curiosity at best, and at worst, rude indifference. As the show went on, we started to see empty seats where bored big losers had slipped away, a woman looking down and texting through whole songs, and a pair of slack-jawed, sulking teens (the Beavis and Butthead of the Guitar Hero generation-as Cartman from "South Park" says in the hilarious sample that Geddy uses in "The Trees," "Real guitars are for old people") actually yawning. Anyone would agree that yawning is not appropriate behavior at a rock concert. (Vomiting, yes, but not yawning.) These casino specimens are only noteworthy because they represent such an utter contrast to the audience around them, and to the front rows every other night-smiling, singing, dancing, and cheering people pressed along the barricade and stretching to the far distance. Several nights this summer, during the opening song, "Limelight" ("Living on a lighted stage, approaches the unreal"-still so true!), especially when we were playing outdoors and I could see everybody, I couldn't help shaking my head in disbelief at the sheer numbers of people out there. "Unbelievable," I thought, "All of those people spent their money and their time, on this night in this place, to come and see us." That realization is somehow humbling-you feel you have to try to earn that, because it's obvious that those people deserve the best you can give them. A couple of years ago my father sent me an anecdote about baseball great Joe DiMaggio, telling how a journalist asked The Yankee Clipper why he went out and played so hard every day. Joltin' Joe replied, "There is always some kid who may be seeing me for the first or last time, I owe him my best." Dad added that this attitude reminded him of someone else he knew, which made me feel good. ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wendy Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 A-man, who wrote that? That's an interesting point of view. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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