Bruce Springsteen - Classic or Dud ?

Is that Comiskey? I've actually seen Springsteen there (in 2003) and the Stones there, but I can't think of anything they've had in a long while.

Yeah, same building as the one that opened in 2003, adjacent to the original Comiskey that got demolished.

DC and Baltimore baseball stadium tickets not available yet. Haven't even found out yet if I qualify to be a "verified fan" to be eligible to attempt to buy them

Got through step 1 and now am a verified fan who can try to get Nats Park tickets. Ticketmaster had asked in the process to list 2 or 3 options but then just gave me one. My wife similarly listed several and got Orioles Park. Now the questions will be can we access tickets when they go on sale and are we willing to pay exorbitant prices and fees. This ain’t Tulsa . Springsteen prices have stayed high. Have seen him over the years so don’t necessarily have to go. The local arena gigs in DC and Baltimore sold out quickly and resale prices are high

I didn't even bother wasting my time Tuesday with the sale for his second show here. Like, hang around in a virtual queue for two hours for a small chance at paying hundreds of dollars for just OK seats, assuming the system didn't screw me with more error messages like it did the first time? No thanks. I'll just look for tix the week before, and if I find a good price, good, if not, Bruce won't miss me.

I haaaaaaaate how all the Wrigley shows have to go through MLB, their process is maddening. Not least because you then also have to download the MLB app for your tickets and get subscribed to 1.2 zillion MLB emails.

Got waitlisted for both LA shows...this "Verified Fan" thing is really getting to me. I was never waitlisted on these until Adele in 2021 and I've since been waitlisted for Beyonce and, now, Springsteen. (I was "verified" for Taylor but my wife was waitlisted.)

Aren't a bunch of you writers or something? Can we get some more press about this? It's clear now that "Verified Fan" is a huge sham, likely more about gathering/selling data and funneling tickets to scalpers than helping fans (lol)

There's nothing to write/report about beyond disappointed fans. Ticketmaster acts with impunity, which is why they've gotten the occasional congressional attention (and also why nothing has happened about it). I recommend this epic that was posted on ILX earlier:

https://prospect.org/power/ticketmasters-dark-history/

It's a total racket, exacerbated by supply and demand. Because demand for these tickets *is* astronomical, and performers *are* the most limited of commodities, one of one that can only perform one place at a time. So it's basically all fucked up.

A buddy and I went to see Margo Price a couple of nights ago. She was awesome, and $30. We were saying how sad it is that people don't always know about these cheaper shows/acts, or perhaps don't consider them, because the attention and draw of the superstars are incredible. I guess that's always been the case. But my buddy agrees that we're reaching an end-times breaking point for many of these bigger acts, who are all getting older and have already started dropping off. Dunno what that will mean for the next gen acts like Taylor Swift or Beyonce, who aren't getting any less popular. Hell, he bought his daughter a nosebleed ticket to see SZA, and he said it was over $200. That's fucked up.

It's all fucked up. Verified Fan is the tip of the fucked up iceberg, since TM (and the artists) are all but shameless about funneling tickets to scalpers. It's in their best interests.

A buddy and I went to see Margo Price a couple of nights ago. She was awesome, and $30. We were saying how sad it is that people don't always know about these cheaper shows/acts, or perhaps don't consider them, because the attention and draw of the superstars are incredible.

She was in Houston around the first of the month, and--I'm not sure if this was down to it not selling well, or just wanting a nice turnout given the fact the weather wasn't supposed to be good that evening--the venue sent out emails the morning of offering BOGO tickets for the show.

I just got tickets for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs w/the Faint in May at the new 5000 seat theatre downtown, and it was pretty hassle-free: $49 admission SRO floor tix (the pricey stuff are upper-level seated packages with perks) and I had access to two different free/already paid for presales (A venue-sponsored thing via Facebook and another code from Spotify). The worst part, of course, are the fees, as three tickets ended up coming in just over $200, and they tried to tack on an on-site parking pass for a further $60 (but at least they also offered nearby alternatives for $10-15).

That said, I then decided to take a look at StubHub for this summer's Paramore show (at the same arena Springsteen just played), and it's bad to Ridiculous Land: nosebleeds by the side of the stage start at $81; SRO floor general admission start at $255 etc.

FWIW, when I went to see Elvis Costello's residency at Gramercy, I got my ticket through his own website. Basically the best seats were sold that way, and I actually saved money in the process as it would've been more expensive to buy some of the 'lesser' seats on Ticketmaster (unless you chose one of the ones much further away). All the shows also sold out pretty fast, though not to a ridiculous degree - all tickets sold out from Costello's site that first day, but you had a little breathing room to get them without nonsense like standing in some virtual room.

I kind of felt like there was some lesson here that could be applicable to other artists. It wouldn't be easy, but I'd rather take down Ticketmaster and Live Nation in baby steps rather than have their continuing domination increase.

never mind ten years ago, getting tickets to 'blockbuster' shows on Ticketmaster seems harder/much more expensive than even one year ago.

^^^ otm

(opening myself up here for further derision and lowering of my already incredibly low status around ilx, but in the interest of full disclosure)

I've been meeting up with some buddies from around the country to see Dead & Co. once a year, when they tour, to hang out and generally just make a guys' weekend out of it. We generally pay in the range of $120-$150 per ticket, all in (fees & everything). When we first started doing this, it was a big pill to swallow and it felt like a lot. But their prices have stayed pretty consistent for the 2023 tour and at this point (jokes about general quality of the music aside) it almost feels like a bargain for a stadium show.

Tickets go on sale tmrrw to see Big Thief + Bill Callahan at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in August – they're $55 "plus fees." I looked back to see what I paid last time I saw a band there, in 2014... it was $32.50 plus fees (I found an email where I made a joke about why "the tickets are so $$$"). So the increase is more than just inflation... OTOH, maybe Callahan adds a price bump as well? Idk

^^Probably have to pay a Zombie Defense Fee.

I paid $44 (with fees, $35 face value) for Yo La Tengo next month, which felt reasonable, all things considered.

I saw that YLT were $30 plus fees in Los Angeles for this coming Monday, of course I faffed long enough that it's sold out.

I wasn't going to pass on tickets because I was waitlisted, but at 12:57 pm ET, they texted with "New Show added on 9/3! Shop for tickets at 1:30 pm ET to the Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band Onsale powered by Ticketmaster Verified Fan etc..." which works out better because the other two MetLife shows are on weekdays and this new third show is on a Sunday. (Also it looks like they're giving themselves a day off between MetLife shows - I guess to rest up?)

Section 300's (the nosebleed tier) is either $50 or $100 + fees. Grabbed two seats off to the side in row 4.

*I was going to pass

Also after an hour, lots of nosebleeds left (the majority of them) while a most of the 100's and floor seats are already gone. It may be due to the way they added this show - I think only waitlist members were notified, so it's possible scalpers weren't scooping them up, but if there are still a lot of nosebleeds a few weeks from now, I'm sure they'll come down by at least $20. That's what happened with other big venue shows I saw last year after the initial demand faded.

I posted this to the ticketmaster thread, or at least what looked like the closest thing to a Ticketmaster thread:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/live-nation-quarterly-revenues-soar-amid-ticketmaster-scrutiny-1235332845/

xpost Honestly, at this point I can't be bothered with the hassle. I am going to see Springsteen in Brooklyn April 3rd, but because I will be in the city April 1st I'll just see how things shake out for day-of tickets to Madison Square Garden. And if not? I feel lucky that I have seen him as many times as I have seen him. I feel bad for those that haven't seen him, and now face such onerous prices and practices.

Live Nation/ Ticketmaster blaming scalpers and bots , and not noting they could work harder to develop tech to stop those things. Also not mentioning their mostly exorbitant fees added to tickets.

I know it's not the same as being there in person, but now that we have recordings through sites like Nugs, livestreams of most of the major festivals (Coachella and Lollapalooza, at least), and other ways of experiencing a concert remotely, I have less FOMO staying home an experiencing many live events that way. (The same is even more so for literary readings and lectures, which were some of my most anticipated live events in my 20s and 30s, but now are shared as podcasts -- thinking SF's City Arts and Lectures, L.A. Library's Aloud series, NY Public Library readings/panels, etc.)

It depends on the experience, but YouTube also makes a huge difference. I posted that video of a Beck show at Irving Plaza the other day, and it didn't top my experience of being there because I was up front and that could've been shot from behind me. BUT compared to the times I've seen Beck at outdoor shows, that video was probably more satisfying in terms of visibility and everything else.

I've seen Bruce twice and if it was my first time, I'd splurge for one of the $250 floor seats, but I have and he's visibly and audibly aged, so it wasn't an absolute must-see situation. I'm taking someone who's never seen him though - not the biggest rock fan (much more into pop) but they wanted to go.

If you have SiriusXM, the Springsteen channel is usually airing large excerpts and/or whole shows from this tour on the reg a week or so after they happen.

they're all for sale on live.brucespringsteen.net too

sounds like tickets are a little bit more reasonable now for springsteen in st. paul (like wow $200ish what a bargain) but honestly fuck bruce springsteen i'm just so turned off by the whole big concert biz i don't even want to go anymore

It's the fees that really put things over the top, because in the end, what the fuck service is Ticketmaster even providing?

their business is charging fees basically

It's frustrating because it's not a new problem, but everyone went along with it.

From 1996:

https://frinkiac.com/meme/S07E24/1093341.jpg?b64lines=CiBZb3UgbGF1Z2hlZCB3aGVuIEkgYm91Z2h0CiBUaWNrZXRtYXN0ZXIuICJOb2JvZHkncwogZ29pbmcgdG8gcGF5IGEgMTAwJQogc2VydmljZSBjaGFyZ2UhIg==

Everyone tweeting about their Bruce tickets as if I haven't had mine for months pic.twitter.com/cfYuAtPMrR

— Mike Scollins (@mikescollins) February 24, 2023

Everybody cross your fingers and hold your thumbs for me that I get to see Bruce Springsteen tomorrow and don't get derailed by a migraine!

🤞🫰

bala be dur, fingers crossed! ♥️

Lily, iirc, your first show, right?

aw, he played I'm on Fire in Portland... I wanna hear that one live!

I've posted it before, but his spooky banjo version of that song is one of my faves:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4WKYtS4JDk

wow, that IS spooky! and awesome.

hope the show is great lily dale!

Thanks, everyone! And yes, this will be my first Bruce show.

Oh Yeah!

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/82/b3/ca/82b3ca834a4de0a369231c2d6487a1ea.gif

That brief look of terror on Courteney Cox's face never gets old.

have fun!

It was awesome! I can't imagine how exhausted he must be right now. It's crazy because you see him in interviews and his age really shows, so even though I knew this was supposed to be, like, an actual high-energy three-hour Bruce concert, it was hard to believe he could do it. But aside from a few creaky-voiced moments (all on songs from Letter to You) it was like he just willed himself to be 15 years younger and it worked.

It seems like he's got a standard setlist that he follows for this tour, but with a couple of slots that change from show to show. We didn't get "I'm on Fire" but we did get "Trapped," which was pretty awesome.

how awesome that you finally got to witness it!

i think i read that "i'm on fire" was a replacement for "night shift," which he couldn't do because the e street covid variant had left him short on the horns needed to play it. i wonder if "trapped" was added for the same reason?

Yeah, even when I saw Springsteen back in '99 or so I remembered thinking, man, how does he pull it off? And then I thought, wow, imagine what he was like when he was 28 or so.

Tix for Milwaukee next week still hovering around $150 minimum for behind the stage seats. I'd maybe consider if they dropped to ... $50.

I kind of wish I had gone for behind the stage. I went with the only tickets I could afford, which were pretty far away, and people in my section were sitting most of the show and only stood up for the encore. So I do feel like I missed out on some of the immersive quality of a Bruce show. Behind the stage looked a lot more in the middle of things.

Service charges for DC Nats Park tickets that went on sale today were crazy. $35.50 service charge plus $6 facility charge for the $120 tickets. Also high for $59 tickets

Random question: does anyone know what Bruce means by "Valentino drag" in Backstreets?