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The event that took me away from London last week also meant that I cannot return to Prague as I has wanted next week for Wilco's visit. Bugger.

 

However, stumbling across this at a bus stop was some light relief. I have been visiting Prague since 1986 and this is a first. Rap & burger culture is now in full effect of course, but eastern europe has long been the haunt of bands that you thought had ceased to exist - usually heavy metal e.g. Saxon. This was funny to see. Hope the lads have a few days off at the end of the tour to enjoy this wonderful city.

DSC03985.JPG

DSC03984.JPG

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"MEGAKONCERT ROK" :lol

 

 

Budweiser Budvar is listed as a sponsor on that same "Megakoncert" poster. It still angers me that Anheuser Busch was successful in forcing the brewers of the original Budweiser to cease using that name outside of their own country. :realmad

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Fun to discuss these issues but a more serious note to get your friends and anyone you know organized to get to this show in Prague. As of recently ticket sales were slow and the promoter is doing their best to sell tickets to a population that really hasn't heard Wilco before. I have to admire the band for getting here - it's a leap of faith a lot of other bands their size don't take because of the risks of trying to open a new market for themselves. It will be a cool show in a great venue but they need people get up and get those tickets.

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General admission - standing only. Venue takes about 1,200 - I don't want to print here the number of tickets sold as a few weeks ago because it's an old figure but suffice it to say they had not sold well up till then. I've tried to get posters out to various ex-pat places and schools but it's only a small assistance - the real issue is that the Czech market isn't so hip to the charms of Wilco. Tickets are 720 koruna face ($38) and there should be plenty available on line at Ticketpro.cz I think or directly at the box office. My take: do come and bring as many as possible. This is a good sight venue with decent sound and has hosted the likes of David Byrne, Morrissey, Patti Smith and others over the years.

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the real issue is that the Czech market isn't so hip to the charms of Wilco. Tickets are 720 koruna face ($38)

Back now for those following at home.

What you say is a real shame and makes me feel even worse for missing out on it. It's a place I have really been waiting for Wilco to visit. I know the venue - just a few minutes walk from central areas that would be good for 'rock tourists' (hope Bbop is having an extended trip). Central Prague did seem noticably quieter - probably the economic turndown and less people visiting this year. Have they tried targetting the American university for selling tickets? From the Czechs I know and who know Wilco (err, which isn't too many - that's what not having music videos does I suppose), the price of the tickets is the thing that really makes them think twice I'm afraid. It is quite steep for the average Czech.

Deep Purple on the other hand - at the Prague O2 Arena ...

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Believe it or not it isn’t that expensive anymore - not to raise hackles here but Lady Gaga sold out at prices that exceed 3,000 koruna a ticket. It really boils down to what people know and like. People know the Gag and are willing to part with enormous sums of cash to see her meat-flavoured suits (ugh) but not Wilco. Chris Isaak was booked here this summer and canceled due to low ticket sales. There are many other groups that would suffer the same fate, I’m afraid. This has nothing to do with Czech tastes, which can be quite exotic and cool - it’s more a matter that there is not a single station in Prague that might have played them until the promoter came along and said, “get busy.” Promotions into this market are extremely strange. I know most of the promoters here and watched some shows become hits when I thought they would be misses (Lionel Ritchie well sold? Go figure) and others duds (The Eagles, barely a third of an arena - Motley Crue barely half.) Even Dylan struggled to sell tickets on last tour and he used to be huge here. Santana is well sold next month, but he’s a proven commodity. Same with Sting tomorrow night here.

 

So we’ll see. Bottom line, is if you can make it here, please do, bring two friends and as the previous poster said, dig a very intimate show. I just hope the band doesn’t mind that fewer may turn out relative to other cities. I for one am happier than hell not to have to travel to see them this time around and am hoping for the show of the year.

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Will be cool - I will try and get there early as well to have great spot - the place is small so almost all can see easily even if not up front. I am curious to see if Tweedy pulls out the ``what are you Americans doing in Europe'' schtick that dominated a show in Dresden a few years ago - it ended up irritating a couple of my friends who felt he was unfair to those who were actually helping to make the show a success. Even Nels appeared to give Jeff a withering glare.

 

Prague still has an expat community obviously but it isn't anything like what was here in the 1990s. If anything there are a lot of students here from various universities having semester abroad. It's much more western and expensive here for people to have a layabout time off drinking beer.

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