More Ticketmaster Fun

So, Sunday morning Rach at her place, I at mine both trying for U2 tickets. End result.. Ticketmaster 2/Us 0. We sat there trying multiple nights .. sat there waiting while the timer went down then back up.. then when it locked at 15 min remaining for a while we knew we were going to be screwed again.

Even with a second night being added, we couldn't find a pair of tickets, or rather we couldn't BUY a pair. I actually got in and had a second pair of tickets lined up.. went to buy and then.. poof it errored out and I lost the chance. Rachel mentioned that it was probably becaue I had another browser open at the same time searching a differnt venue. I can see that they would want to keep ticket brokers from camping out, but feel free to mention that in non-small print. Nice to see their tech works when it benefits them, considering they didn't even get the tickets for second night on sale at the time they had scheduled which screwed me up.

So... to sum it all up as usual, it's the little guy.. the average fan who can't afford ticket brokers prices who get fucked over.

The Soundtrack OF Our Lives

I saw TSOOL last night at the Troubadour, very good show. Of the bands I have been checking out lately this one stands out more as a "Rock" band more than most of the others. Chris Castaneda, who I met at Wilco show in Nov. recommended them to me and they didn't disappoint. Check out Chris' article on them http://www.chicagoinnerview.com/archives/jan05_the_soundtrack_of_our_lives.htm

These guys jammed, great energy from the guitarists, and their style reminded me a lot of some of the big hitters of late 60's/early 70's British rock. I love the lead singer... finally a front man with a gut that matches mine! He knows how to work a crowd with bits of melodrama that are endearing in their playfulness without being over the top. Most everything he does seems natural, making it that much better. I have to go, so I will leave you with recommending you check them out and catch some samples of their stuff

No Irish Were Hurt in the Making of This Blog

In response to an anonymous poster's (I'm looking your way John) comment, I will clarify that I love the Irish, but as with any group there are going to be exceptions to the rule and just piss you off. In the spirit of diversity I will henceforth refer to them as MONEY GRUBBING bastards. Thank you.

Sodomy and Begorah!

So, Tommy, ever been in a Turkish prison, ever seen a grown man naked... ever been violated by an Irish rock band

Well, be sure to go over and read Josh's blog to get a good long run down of the thorough screwing we took at the hands of U2. http://www.joshuastecker.com/ He spells out the experience fairly well and far more coherently than I'm going to do at the moment. For some reason I am not as pissed, not sure why, frankly I should be but not as raging as I usually am. I must just be dazed over the whole affair.

When I tried to get floor tickets in San Diego (once I got on without error..) they were out, so I tried best available and I got terrace level (highest level in arena) and they wanted $163 a piece! Sorry you Irish bastards, not going to cough up that dough to sit in the cheap seats. Ended up getting tickets at Staples Center, up in their cheap seats, but at least those were $98 a piece... yayy a bargain. So, Sat/Sun it's clickit for ticket time again and just pray for some luck.

I will say that it is absolutely disgusting that they charge $40 to join U2.com and then proceed to fuck over the fans by A.) Apparently not have a great grasp on how to keep out ticket brokers B.) allow the rolling disaster known as Ticketmaster to handle the volume. Now, the REM fanclub sale didn't go off perfectly, but compared to Ticketmasters constant errors it was a breeze. They had things so screwed that I thought the venues had sold out since it wasn't giving you the option to buy for a while, fortunately Josh pointed the problems out to me and I went back in.

Well, I can't add anything more substantial to what Josh said... the other annoying thing is scheduling the ticket sales when most people are at work, yea thanks again shitheads that makes life easier for us. That's it on that subject for now.. I am sure I will hae more after the weekend.

Colin Meloy

If anyone wants to see a very cozy show in LA, go to the Hotel Cafe and get there early to be one of the first in line, it's well worth it to be sitting up front in an area scarcely larger than the average family room. I struck out by about 6 people on Monday, got there late and sold out. Tuesday got there early and it worked, got a spot at one of the front tables with some cool people I met in line. I had barely heard any Decemberists let alone seen them so I was going in fairly cold. I have to say that I can't think of another act that borrows more from 19th century than Colin and the Decemberists. Colin has this very unique delivery and his pronunciation of certain words, while "different" works. His snese of humor and everyman approach makes a show like this a real treat. His voice is somewhat nasally, but it has a strength to it. Many of the songs and their subject matter could sound like either a joke or a serious downer, but somehow Colin manages to tread somewhere in between. Overall, I don't think I would buy a wide variety of Decemberist songs, but based on Colin's solo performance I look forward to seeing the entire band in March.

The Arcade Fire

So, I had 2 tickets to The Arcade Fire, and since Naomi couldn't go I looked on Craig's list and found someone who was looking to buy a ticket for the show. Long story short, I met up with Angel who bought my other ticket and that turned out to be a great bit of luck since she is just a blast, real fun. We missed opening acts (didn't look like missing much) then went into the show, fortified with some alcohol... unfortunately we were kind of jammed in the back but it wasn't too bad, Troubadour is not that big.

I can say that The Arcade Fire is unlike anyone I've seen before (granted not saying a lot) 8 members on stage pretty much all dressed up, they looked like a travelling show of another era, a big canvas curtain behind them would have suited them well. The energy from the stage was amazing, even the 2 violinists (Owen Pallett & Sarah Neufeld) who couldn't really move around much presented you with an intensity that equated to energy. The fact that every band member besides Owen and Sarah switched off instruments just furthered the picture of a group of travelling entertainers and not a typical "rock band".

I am not adept at describing music, but their sound is wonderfully diverse, accompanied by Win's hoarse yet soaring voice or Regine's sweet high voice. All of their songs sounded great, but I think I may have been most impressed by Rebellion (lies) a steady beat of energy that just kept building. Their new song, Intervention is great (Angel described it right away as Symphonic Tom Petty). Their CD should be listened to a couple of times before any real opinion is formed... to really delve into it. But to experince them live is something else again.

I lvoed them so much I went back Sunday, and I watched the opening act and was quite happy I did. Owen was the opener playing as Final Fantasy, just him and his violin. He would loop notes and the timing and variations he used as he played over them was fascinating. To see an LA crowd keep quiet and give big ovations to an opener is pretty amazing.

Read the pro reviewers and check out the CD.. damn good stuff

Ok while I am at it..

Saw King Arthur the other night - I'm guessing it's slightly more capitvating than watching mice fuck, however the mice probably finish quicker so you can get on with life. Slapdashed screenplay, characters you don't care about... just a snooze. Should watch Excalibur to get the taste out of my mouth..

Aviator I really enjoyed. I think it will be a bit slow for people who aren't particularly interested in the subject or who really want to focus on his spiral off the depend in later years. Unfortunately the film only touches the surface on what made Hughes tic, but trying to do that in a movie such as this would be difficult. Good cast, and enjoyable.. especially if you are into history at all.

I Suck....

Yea... I haven't been in here at all.. going to start putting in some more time here soon, but I am nursing a stye that developed over the weekend, and it is bugging the hell out of me... so I am staying off the computer (since I have to use it at work) I do want to get back in here so look for more soon

Steve