Yearly Archives: 2003

Read about it here, pre-order it there.

Yes, things can get worse:

Late this year the company plans to begin auctioning the best seats to concerts through ticketmaster.com.

With no official price ceiling on such tickets, Ticketmaster will be able to compete with brokers and scalpers for the highest price a market will bear.

“The tickets are worth what they’re worth,” said John Pleasants, Ticketmaster’s president and chief executive. “If somebody wants to charge $50 for a ticket, but it’s actually worth $1,000 on eBay, the ticket’s worth $1,000. I think more and more, our clients ? the promoters, the clients in the buildings and the bands themselves ? are saying to themselves, `Maybe that money should be coming to me instead of Bob the Broker.’ ”
(full story)

I go to concerts like people go to the movies: A LOT. But something like this, if initiated for my favorite bands, would be the final nail in the coffin for me and Ticketmaster. I don’t need it. Neither do you. Discuss.

The word:

Bassist Tim Tobias has apparently left Guided By Voices, according to an announcement on the band’s official website. “Guided By Voices would like to announce that Chris Slusarenko (Sprinkler, Svelt, Off Records) will be playing bass on all the upcoming U.S. tour dates and Sam Powers (Superdrag) will be handling bass duties for the upcoming European tour,” reads the announcement, without explaining the cause for Tobias’ departure. Guided By Voices had just announced a slew of fall dates in support of their latest album, Earthquake Glue, last Thursday. By late yesterday afternoon, Tobias’ photo and instrument had both been removed from the “Current Band Line Up” page on the official site and replaced by Slusarenko and Powers’ names. (Pitchfork: Daily Music News)

It’s weird that I’ve lived in Ohio for almost two years now and haven’t seen a GBV show during this time period. The one and only time I saw them was during their “Mag Earwig!” tour in Central Park. Sleater-Kinney opened for them and both bands brought the rock.

Matt Fecher of Indianapolis Music Net reports:

Suddenly, officers from the Indianapolis Police Department confronted all the patrons waiting around the venue. The officers, who had been gathering quietly, demanded that everyone stand up against the wall to receive a $50 fine for loitering.

Josh Russell, manager of the Emerson, pleaded with the police. Apparently the officers had been looking for one specific runaway. Once they handled that situation, they turned their attention to the others gathered around the Emerson. Russell asked the officers to please leave the non-delinquent kids alone. He claimed that it was okay for the kids to be gathering on the private property, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

The entire block of people, including those across the street at McDonalds and myself, were ticketed by the police. We received citations even though every person was clean of drugs, alcohol, and weapons. (full story)

Discussion of the “raid” going on here.

I don’t know all the details just yet, but it’s safe to say this was an unnecessary shitty situation for these kids. I’ll keep you posted with more info as we find it.

Lately I fear we here at Done Wating have unfairly neglected the style/class/opinion war surrounding Liz Phair this summer.

So Liz did a Q & A with readers of The New York Times just to keep things a ‘rollin’ along.

Later this week I will review Liz’s big sold-out homecoming show here in Chicago two weeks ago. Two weeks ago? Why didn’t I write it sooner?

Let’s just say I’m trying to find nice ways to say some not-so-nice things.

Pictures, speak your thousand words:

Read all about them here.

[found via die puny humans]

Our friend the Large Hearted Boy has redesigned his site. Holy minimalism, Batman! This must be the fastest loading blog on the internet.

Be sure to bookmark them to get lots of music goodness.

Fox has cancelled its mini talent contest, American Juniors. The network originally planned to air a second edition of the American Idol spin-off in the fall, but has since scrapped the entire venture due to low ratings. (full story)

Could be, could be. Click on that there hyperlink for more info.

Okay, let me get this straight.

Harley Davidson holds a concert to celebrate 100 Years of business, but they keep the line-up of guests a secret.

So far so stupid? Yes.

Who was the headliner? Elton John. Did you ever think Elton John and Harley Davidson went together? Read the tale of disaster.

And that’s just part of the problem.