PB808 Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 In San Diego, here. Don't want to drive the hellish two or four hours each way to L.A. to see a show (plus pay a scalper $50-plus for each ticket). For two of us, it ends up being an eight-hour/$300-or-$400 night. Three times as much ugly driving as seeing the current lineup. Would've thought that with the economy the way it is, Wilco/High Road Touring would've reconsidered doing three nights at tiny (albeit fantastic) venues like the Wiltern in L.A. and hit more places. Their call, I suppose. In my book, it's somewhat anti-"fan" and snobby. Maybe it's just a promoter problem in San Diego. I asked High Road, but they were apparently too busy or arrogant to reply. Anyway, there's nothing more "Dad Rock" than playing pricey "intimate" shows at the expense of making it impossible for the under-$100K crowd see your band in other cities. Thanks Jeff. Thanks High Road. Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Wilco barley plays NJ but I make it work. California's problem is there is no mass transit...you should try to car pool and check out craigslist for lats minute tickets. I am sure you can shave off money that way. I am dreading going out to Brooklyn which may take me up to 2 hours to get to but it will be worth it! Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Plus keep in mind many people in the rest of the USA have to probably go 5 hrs+ to see a Wilco show...I don't think you will get much sympathy here.. Link to post Share on other sites
Aeglos Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 well, not yet, but if we don't get some aussie shows on the W(TA) tour i'm throwing my toys out of the cot Link to post Share on other sites
c.lo Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 5 hours for the closest show to us this summer.No way I could talk my husband in to a road trip. Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 This is a band that played shows last year in such B.F.E. towns as Fargo, Bozeman, Missoula, Fairbanks, and Anchorage. They can't play everywhere. They're doing the best they can, and far better than most bands ever do. 2-4 hours ain't nothin'. You'll get no sympathy from me. Link to post Share on other sites
Doug C Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I see your point, cryptique, and it is well taken but I can understand someone in a major metropolitan area like San Diego not understanding how 6 shows can be played in their state but not one near them. I am sure that the tour schedules have logic to them, just not the logic that certain fans want used! Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Yeah, but everyone thinks Wilco should come to their town, and they simply can't go to every town where people want them to play. If you don't want to drive 2-4 hours, that's on you, not them. Wilco played Indio in 2005, San Diego in 2002, and Solana Beach in 1999, so it's not like they've never played near San Diego. Add over a dozen L.A.-area shows over the years, and Wilco's been within 2-4 hours of San Diego a lot more often than they have with most other parts of the country. Link to post Share on other sites
DAngerer09 Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 did they ever play fort wayne, where a bunch of ya'll started some big petition for them to come? Link to post Share on other sites
Doug C Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Cryptique, you are correct that they can't come to every town and it is up to the fan to road trip or not. The last time Wilco played in the Tampa Bay area was February of 2005 but that hasn't stopped my crazy ass from seeing them 12 times since then!! Link to post Share on other sites
J_Lefty Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Anyway, there's nothing more "Dad Rock" than playing pricey "intimate" shows at the expense of making it impossible for the under-$100K crowd see your band in other cities. Thanks Jeff. Thanks High Road. I'd like to take this opportunity to cordially invite you to move to Ohio. We had a recent Wilco concert in Athens and one in Cincinnati very shortly. The state is beautiful and cost of living is probably half of what you pay. (Oh and if you have any cheap Ohio cracks, I think we'll know who the real snob is. ) Link to post Share on other sites
mfwahl Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Wilco is anti-fan now? Jeez. How'd you enjoy the stream? The last show I went to was a 6 or 7 hour drive and that's been the closest show to me in about 5 years. Link to post Share on other sites
Kalle Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I routinely drive 8 hours to see them, and go at least twice a year. I agree 2-4 ain't nothin. Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Denver was blown off but they are still playing 20 min. up the road at Red Rocks. Still.... Link to post Share on other sites
choo-choo-charlie Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I saw wilco in Kansas City, MO in 2006 and luckily, again in 2007. I've also driven to Lincoln and Tulsa for Jeff Tweedy shows, in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Well worth the price of tickets, gas money, hotels, etc. I understand how it can be frustrating, but folks have to realize that there are so many other people in the same situation. Moreover, Wilco (as in the band members themselves) aren't the ones who plot out where they're going to play. It's not their job - that's what the management and touring/booking agents do. Wilco's job is to show up and melt faces, not study maps and spend endless hours on phone calls, negotiating with promoters and venues. When a band goes on tour, yes - there is quite a bit of logic to how it's plotted out. For example, often times, a venue may not be able to afford a band's rate, so they call their pal/promoter in the next town and ask if they have an opening in their schedule and perhaps, some money in the budget. If so, and they make a mutually beneficial arrangement, the band books two gigs, makes their money, and they've made people happy. Then the promoters are happy, knowing that they've helped put on a great show. It's called block booking. One of many 'tactics' used when a band is going on tour. As we hardcore Wilco fans know and understand, Wilco goes to pretty great lengths to make their fans happy, much more so than many other bands out there. You can listen to their entire catalogue (except the Mermaid Avenue discs) in its entirety on their website! Hardly anyone else out there makes that available to people. And let's not forget the countless free downloads that have come with official Wilco releases, not to mention webcasts and the fact that they stream their unreleased albums online. Wilco does quite a bit for their fans and tries to play everywhere that they can - but they can't get everywhere on every single tour. The band even noted in one of their updates [last year?] that they were making a conscious effort to try and play some places that they don't get to very often - as another poster here indicated, in smaller towns and "out of the way places." At any rate, this has gone on a bit too long, but I feel the need to speak up since I work in the music industry and have seen how tours are put together - and how people get sore when a show isn't in their town or anywhere "near" it. Peace, love, RIP Jay Bennett, love this board and all of you. :-) Link to post Share on other sites
choo-choo-charlie Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Oh - and just to add, my wife and I are hitting up the Red Rocks show in July. As I stated, we live in KCMO. Yes, it's a long trip [and a wallet vampire], but it's what I'm willing to do to see my favorite band and support them. It's the least I could do after all that they've given to their fans. Wilco will still love you baby. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Alan Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I'd like to take this opportunity to cordially invite you to move to Ohio. We had a recent Wilco concert in Athens and one in Cincinnati very shortly. The state is beautiful and cost of living is probably half of what you pay. (Oh and if you have any cheap Ohio cracks, I think we'll know who the real snob is. ) What is beautiful about Ohio? I don't know if I could think of a more boring state. And for the original poster and his comment about Wilco only being for the +100,000 crowd. That's ridiculous. You don't have to make that kind of money to save up a few hundred bucks and go see a band that's playing a couple of hours away. Hell, if it's only a couple of hours you don't even need to stay the night. And if you don't want to pay scalper fees then get tickets when they go on sale. You only have yourself to blame for that. Link to post Share on other sites
choo-choo-charlie Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 What is beautiful about Ohio? I don't know if I could think of a more boring state. And for the original poster and his comment about Wilco only being for the +100,000 crowd. That's ridiculous. You don't have to make that kind of money to save up a few hundred bucks and go see a band that's playing a couple of hours away. Hell, if it's only a couple of hours you don't even need to stay the night. And if you don't want to pay scalper fees then get tickets when they go on sale. You only have yourself to blame for that. yeah - no kidding! have you been to a wilco show lately? does it look like a bunch of snobby $100K+ folks to you? if so, it must have been a different wilco show than the ones i've seen. Link to post Share on other sites
Three dollars and 63 cents Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 They can't play everywhere. They're doing the best they can, and far better than most bands ever do. Maybe this should be on a VC t-shirt In December, I drove two and a half hours to the Rochester show. Aside from that, I've always had to drive 4+ hours, and I know there are people here who always have to make even longer trips. Hell, I drove 14 hours for the St. Louis shows last summer. But you know what? I've never been at a show that wasn't worth the trip. Wilco tours far more than most bands do, and they still play a lot of smaller venues. It's not like the six of them get together and Jeff asks, "So, which cities should we screw on this tour?" and they make a list and all laugh diabolically. They probably don't play much of a direct role in scheduling shows, and even if they did, like cryptique said, they can't play every city on every tour. I think it's really cool that they've played in 49 states and have made an effort to get to places that most bands skip. San Diego probably gets plenty of shows. Imagine living in Montana, or Wyoming, or someplace where you can't just drive three or four hours and see a concert. Link to post Share on other sites
mfwahl Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 I've been blown off while listening to Wilco. Does that count? Link to post Share on other sites
J_Lefty Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 What is beautiful about Ohio? I don't know if I could think of a more boring state. Well, you don't live here for one thing... Link to post Share on other sites
dazzler Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Those bastards are making me walk across the street to see them this summer in Royal Oak. ALL the way to the corner (so I don't jaywalk) then back down the other side of the street. The things we go through for this band. sorry dude i couldn't resist. Seriously though, we've got three kids and the two of us together don't make 100k and wilco tix are pretty cheap and easy to score. Plus road trips are a blast. Link to post Share on other sites
Shakespeare In The Alley Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 The average US tour, for any band, is what, like 20/30 dates? The US is a pretty damn large country, so it's inevitable that the less populated areas will have to travel further than people living on the east coast. Link to post Share on other sites
Three dollars and 63 cents Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Oops...double post. I was trying to post this when VC broke again. Link to post Share on other sites
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