fewest people at a gig with a name act

[hardwood floor]

what was the lightest-attended gig of a name act you've ever been to?

 

over the years, i've been a part of some depressingly small turnouts for great bands and performers

 

but the smallest was a free Letters to Cleos show at a local college ... i walked into the gym at 7:55 p.m. for an 8 o'clock show and the place was ... empty. if not for a huge stage with gear set up, i would have thought i was in the wrong place

 

this was just before they hit fairly big with an appearance on i think Beverly Hills 90125 or one of those shows

 

so they came out and the only other three people in the gym were students on the committee that organized the gig, and they were way in the back of this large gym standing around looking hip

 

so i just stood there right in front of the stage, requesting songs all night, bopping around and enjoying the show.

 

at one point they played a song and in the middle, Kay Hanley, the singer, just starts laughing hysterically. when they were done, i asked her what was so funny, and she said she thought they played it already, but then she realized they had actually played it in the sound check -- which had a larger audience

 

a few months later, after the TV appearance, they played a medium-sized theater in philly and quickly sold out

 

and now kay is one of Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus's singers (and the Letters to Cleo drummer is Miley's musical director)

[cryptique]

I saw the Posies a few years ago at the Magic Stick in Detroit. I'd be surprised if there were more than twenty-five people there.

 

There were two MAJOR shows happening in town that night (I don't recall who), so a lot of people who might have gone to this show probably got diverted to those. And this was several years after the band's heyday, so they were hardly a household name, and there had been zero advance marketing, to my knowledge. I was only there because I'm a hardcore fan of theirs.

 

It was pretty sad ... they're such a great live band, but it's hard to overcome an empty venue.

 

 

I also sat in a nearly empty State Theatre in Kalamazoo in 1993 for the Jayhawks show (with the great Sand Rubies opening). Maybe a hundred people there. Depressing, but the guys put on a blistering show anyway.

[brianjeremy]

Speaking of the Posies, I was at a bar seeing Jon Auer for a radio appearance and maybe 15 people were there. About half of them were aware of who John Auer was.

 

In 2003, I saw Evan Dando and Vic Chesnutt at the Orangepeel in Asheville and there were maybe 50 people in attendance. The OP holds about 1000 people. It was great not having to wait in line for beer. Awesome show though.

[suites]

I saw the Posies a few years ago at the Magic Stick in Detroit. I'd be surprised if there were more than twenty-five people there.

 

There were two MAJOR shows happening in town that night (I don't recall who), so a lot of people who might have gone to this show probably got diverted to those. And this was several years after the band's heyday, so they were hardly a household name, and there had been zero advance marketing, to my knowledge. I was only there because I'm a hardcore fan of theirs.

 

It was pretty sad ... they're such a great live band, but it's hard to overcome an empty venue.

 

 

I also sat in a nearly empty State Theatre in Kalamazoo in 1993 for the Jayhawks show (with the great Sand Rubies opening). Maybe a hundred people there. Depressing, but the guys put on a blistering show anyway.

 

 

I saw Jayhawks in 1995 with Wilco opening...maybe 250 people there.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

Saw an abbreviated Warren Zevon solo set at a place called The Rubb in the old Ybor part of Tampa. Very fun show, though too short. Still, it was only about 7 bucks, so I could hardly complain.

 

The place was packed, so it was hardly a depressing turnout, but it was VERY small for a Warren Z show.

[Kalle]

Final Fantasy (Owen Pallett) in Sault Ste. Marie, maybe MAYBE 10 people, right after he won the Polaris too.

[bleedorange]

I saw The Hold Steady at a really small venue in Denton that couldn't have been a quarter full. Especially since everyone was up on stage with them during Killer Parties.

[Moss]

Tommy Stinson several years ago. Probably 25 people there.

[tinnitus photography]

what was the lightest-attended gig of a name act you've ever been to?

 

over the years, i've been a part of some depressingly small turnouts for great bands and performers

 

but the smallest was a free Letters to Cleos show at a local college ... i walked into the gym at 7:55 p.m. for an 8 o'clock show and the place was ... empty. if not for a huge stage with gear set up, i would have thought i was in the wrong place

 

this was just before they hit fairly big with an appearance on i think Beverly Hills 90125 or one of those shows

 

so they came out and the only other three people in the gym were students on the committee that organized the gig, and they were way in the back of this large gym standing around looking hip

 

so i just stood there right in front of the stage, requesting songs all night, bopping around and enjoying the show.

 

at one point they played a song and in the middle, Kay Hanley, the singer, just starts laughing hysterically. when they were done, i asked her what was so funny, and she said she thought they played it already, but then she realized they had actually played it in the sound check -- which had a larger audience

 

a few months later, after the TV appearance, they played a medium-sized theater in philly and quickly sold out

 

and now kay is one of Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus's singers (and the Letters to Cleo drummer is Miley's musical director)

 

Kay still rocks.

[mountain bed]

I did see RHCP at an all-ages show in Indy where they headlined (with TSOL & Thelonius Monster) and there were no more than 100 people there. It was with Hillel. I don't know if it counts though, because they only had 2 albums out, and it might have been their first national tour.

 

One thing is for sure - those fuckers were insane beyond belief, and they rocked like crazy.

[tinnitus photography]

i'd rather see thelonious monster than RHCP.

[hardwood floor]

that reminds me ... i saw robert pollard's last show with the narducci/keene/wurster/phillips lineup in philly ... the day before he cancelled the rest of his tour because of his "calf injury" (yeah, right)

 

it was pathetic ... in a city that always packed large theaters for gbv and bob's first few solo shows, there couldn't have been more than 50 people there by the end (maybe 125 when it started?)

 

bob was despondent, we could see his wife crying backstage, the band was pissed ... was depressing as hell ... a lifeless show from a guy whose live shows are legendary

 

two years later, he came back to philly and packed johnny brenda's for one of the best pollard shows i've ever seen - in front of a huge and supportive crowd

 

but that night at world cafe live was just unreal

[solace]

Bon Iver opening for (his then girlfriend's band) Land of Talk @ The Nucleus in Eau Claire

November 2007

 

there was 35 people (including a lot of friends/family) there.

 

i felt really bad because just a few weeks prior i'd seen him at that same venue open for DeYarmond Edison who were reuniting for 2 shows and both nights sold out (granted the Nucelus holds like 125 or so, but still). he was really proud that an 'International' band was playing in Eau Claire, but i got the feeling that he was pretty disappointed in the turnout.

 

The Frames @ 400 Bar in 2006?

they'd played in town before, once in 2002 opening for the New Pornographers at the same venue (350 capacity), and also opened for Calexico, but they drew no more than 20 paying fans that night. it was pathetic and i felt so bad for Glen. thankfully the show was still amazing.

[jff]

I saw New Riders of the Purple Sage with Goose Creek Symphony at a theater that holds 1000(+/-) people. There were approximately 30 people there. That was 1993, I think.

 

I saw Walt Mink play to five people, and it was one of the best musical performances I've ever seen.

[remphish1]

I saw Jude and I was 1 of 2 people! The previous gig I saw him at was opening for BEn Folds FIve in Central Park which thousands attended.

 

I also saw Train opening for Pat Mcgee band maybe 30 people.

 

Saw Colin Hay with about 50 people too...

[lamradio]

Nels Cline Singers, last year in Asheville. Around 30 people there.. Definitely an intimate performance, and very awesome.

[bobfrombob]

Off the top of my head it's the Talking Heads at the Horseshoe Tavern. Maybe 100 people.

[bobfrombob]

Tommy Stinson several years ago. Probably 25 people there.

http://warrenkinsella.com/ - check the post for January 24.

[nodep5]

I've seen some bad turnouts

 

maybe a dozen or less to see Possum Dixon in bham al back in 95/96

 

literally 3 people for blue mountain in tuscaloosa al ivory tusk in 98

 

maybe half a dozen for Dolorean in columbia mo back in 2004 or 2005

 

maybe half a dozen for Bobby Bare Jr. & YCSL in columbia mo back in 2004 or so

 

 

you know I try not to care when it happens, but I always just end up spening the entire show worrying about the musician having their feelings hurt.

[lamradio]

Nels Cline Singers, last year in Asheville. Around 30 people there.. Definitely an intimate performance, and very awesome.

 

Just like to add, I found it funny how I could tell that most of the people went to that show because "cool, it's that guy from Wilco!"

 

They quickly learned that The Singers are a completely different animal than Wilco, after the first few seconds of avant garde jazz chaos...

 

I heard a dude in the bathroom "I can't handle this stuff..."..

[remphish1]

I wonder how many go to the Nels Cline Signers independently form knowledge of Wilco? I hate to say it but I am sure 99% are there because of his Wilco involvement.

[jff]

I wonder how many go to the Nels Cline Signers independently form knowledge of Wilco? I hate to say it but I am sure 99% are there because of his Wilco involvement.

 

I saw them before Nels joined Wilco. Most people seemed to be there to see Carla Bozulich (during her Red Headed Stranger period). There were probably 50 people there. During Nels' opening set, there were probably 25 people. I think most of the people there (like me) probably knew about Nels after having seen him kick so much ass in Mike Watt's band.

[remphish1]

I should have specified...I mean people seeing the band 2009 or so and up. Forgot about the Watt stuff.

[CortezTheKiller]

I saw Blue Mountain last winter @ T.T. the Bear's Place in Cambridge, MA. The first act was a local string band called Hot Day at the Zoo. The place was packed. People were dancing and singing along. I figured by the time Blue Mountain took the stage the place would be packed to the gills. Boy, I was wrong. Hot Day at the Zoo finished their set and the place emptied out. Blue Mountain took the stage just after 11 pm and there were less than a dozen people there. I was shocked.

[jff]

I should have specified...I mean people seeing the band 2009 or so and up. Forgot about the Watt stuff.

 

I know what you mean, but if there were only 30 people at his show last year in Asheville, that's roughly the same as his pre-Wilco shows. I think Nels could pull in 30 people even if he had never been in Wilco. Is the Asheville show typical, or does he normally play to larger audiences these days?