Me again.
Yes, I am new to this board- I don't usually post to things like this and I just joined because I was pissed off. Now we're rollin'.
So, to take issue with some of the above comments:
"Washed up" No no, my friend. Washed up is being so hung up on the music of your youth that you're willing to pony up $55 when there are other bands, just as good for a lot less (see also Rolling Stones, New York Dolls, et al.). The problem is most people stop discovering new music in their college years. Evolve, dammit.
Now, going to see an older band can be great. I saw the Rezillos play at Black Cat a few years ago and they rocked. For all I cared they could have been animatronic replicas of the original members, and no, I didn't really want to hear their new songs-- I wanted to hear the "hits." However, those folks dragged themselves all the way here from Scotlandia or some such for about 12 bucks. What's Devo doing that cost so much? Man Or Astroman carted around all that freakin' gear and stage show stuff for a bargain price. Has the cone hat futures market driven prices that high?
I don't care how much U2 charges. I ain't goin' to see them either, and whatever the ticket price, it's too much. My point is that even the best band in the world (and for the record, that will always be the Ramones) isn't worth the money.
The idea that Devo were taken advantage of in the early years is a little suspect. I'm sure the royalties have been rolling in, and the members haven't exactly been idle since then, so we're not talking about Blind Lemon Jefferson here (barring some type of Willie Nelson-style tax difficulties, which I can't speak to). If Devo's that great (and they probably are) they could just rent a nice bus, call ahead to say they're coming, and we'd show up. Young punks all over the country are doing the same thing as I write this, playing for gas money in nowhere towns. With Devo's draw, they probably wouldn't even have to sleep on peoples' floors or anything. Jonathan Richman's been doing it for years, and I don't know how much he's charging now, but it ain't no $55.
Whoever's responsible for the prices, send 'em a message. Don't go. And for god sakes don't start using L.A. as a benchmark for music prices. Do that and the bastards have won.
Selah,
Rev. Chris
