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Concert ticket sales decline. Is it the economy or the music? -- CSM

Concert ticket sales are down, says Pollstar, who report that gross revenue for the top 100 tours in North America in the first six months of 2010 is down nearly $200 million from last year.

That's a 17 percent drop in an industry that seemed impervious to the weakening economy just a few years ago. The total haul of $965.5 million was the lowest for the first half of the year since 2005 when gross revenue was $730.9 million.

Ticket sales also were off. The top 100 acts sold an average of 6,951 tickets per show, down about 9 percent from 7,639 during the same period in 2009.

Read on ...

Nov. 5, 1955: A Flux of Genius 

Google releases Dashboard privacy tool - CNN

Ever wonder what information Google knows about you? With a click or two, now you can find out.
Google released a feature Thursday that lets users see and control data that the Web giant has collected about them. Called Google Dashboard, the service provides an online summary of a user's Google files -- Gmail, Google Docs, Picasa photos and so on -- by collecting pre-existing privacy controls in one place.

read on ...

Obesity responsible for 100,000 cancer cases annually - CNN

More than 100,000 cases of cancer each year are caused by excess body fat, according to a report released Thursday in Washington. Researchers with the American Institute for Cancer Research looked at seven cancers with known links to obesity and calculated actual case counts that were likely to have been caused by obesity.

read on ...

Hubble's New Camera Delivers Another Stunner - Wired

The Hubble Space Telescope's new camera is returning incredibly detailed, stunning images of space. This close-up view of an area near the core of the iconic Southern Pinwheel galaxy, or M83, shows very rapid star birth.

read on ...

Record labels keep blaming P2P, but it's a hard sell - Ars Technica

In response to a new survey suggesting that P2P file-swapping might not be harming music sales, music's international trade group IFPI today put out a statement. "The net effect of illegal file-sharing in the UK and elsewhere has been to reduce legitimate sales," IFPI asserts. "This is why spending on recorded music has fallen every year since illegal file-sharing began to become widespread."

read on ...

Inside the Army's Far-Out Acid Tests - Wired

Dropping acid to boost the Pentagon's psychic powers was just the start. The Men Who Stare At Goats, the upcoming movie based on Jon Ronson’s non-fiction book of the same name, has George Clooney and Jeff Bridges in a bizarre military research project involving astral projection, remote viewing, and LSD. But for the real dope on the Army's narcotics and psychedelics tests, you have to turn to Dr. James S. Ketchum, who wrote a firsthand account of the military’s trials with these "incapacitating chemical agents."

read on ...

George is a good showman and he enjoys being one. Two or three times tonight, after a song he would strutting around the stage and then say something to the affect "Man, I'm full of shit" with a big old grin of his face. He was happy to be on stage and it showed. He reminds me of when I saw Tom Petty a few years ago at Red Rocks. After a song, Tom would walk around the stage waving his arms up and holding his hand behind his ear for applause. George was the same and the crowd ate it up.

What is most amazing, the place was half empty (OK, he was going up against Phish at Red Rocks and Aerosmith and ZZ Top and Fiddlers Green tonight) . I was comfortably 15 to 20 feet back from the stage all night long, with room to dance. Behind the sound board on the floor, empty! Kind of reminds me of an Elvis Costello show I caught, also at The Fillmore, a few years ago. (I ended up with two unsold tickets to that show yet it was a rocker also.)

So, my review of the show: fuckin' awesome. I kind of expected the showmanship but was impressed by not only the energy but also the music. George and the band where tight.

I caught about half of Johnny Lang. He actually played for an hour and a half, much more than the usually forty-five minute opening act. He was really good but I just wasn't into it yet. So, when I say I only caught half of his show, it was because I was wondering around checking things out. He would definitely be worth going to go see again. The boy ripped on guitar.

This has been a drunken concert review

Caught Crissie Hynde ala The Pretenders tonight.

Great, Great Show.

Had the usual stop at Petes Kitchen for breakfast.

Now water, asprin and bed.

Pink Floyd member Richard Wright dies age 65 :'( - AP

Richard Wright, a founding member of the rock group Pink Floyd, died Monday. He was 65.

Wright met Pink Floyd members Roger Waters and Nick Mason in college and joined their early band, Sigma 6. Along with the late Syd Barrett, the four formed Pink Floyd in 1965.

more ...

Just returned from seeing Mark Knopfler at Red Rocks. Man does he and his band put on a good show. This year we had much better seats, row 29, as apposed to, lets see 2-3 years ago, that we where way up there. The sound was impeccable

Highlights for me where excellent renditions of Telegraph Road and Brothers in Arms. There where quite a few songs I didn't know off hand but where excellent. The forum on markknopfler.com does have the set list yet, but once it does I'll know what songs to look for.

BTW, viewed a full rainbow on the way up to the upper parking lot. Sweet!

Promises They Can't Keep - Washington Post

The big lie of campaign 2008 - so far - is that the presidential candidates, Democratic and Republican, will take care of our children. Listening to these politicians, you might think they will. Doing well by children has now passed motherhood and apple pie as an idol that all candidates must worship.

License and (Voter) Registration, Please - MotherJones

Washington Dispatch: On Wednesday the Supreme Court will hear what may be the most significant voting rights case since Bush v. Gore—and it could affect the outcome of the 2008 presidential election.

RIAA Still Thinks MP3s Are a Crime, Despite Post's False Correction of File Sharing Column - Wired

Following a crusade on behalf of the Recording Industry Association of America by News.com journalist Greg Sandoval, the Washington Post posted a correction to a column about a file sharing lawsuit which was misleading headlined "Download Uproar: Record Industry Goes After Personal Use."

Unfortunately, the correction is actually wrong ...

Red Wine Drug Shows Proof That It Combats Aging - Wired

For the first time, scientists have proof in human subjects that a derivative of an ingredient in red wine combats some symptoms of aging. Sirtris Pharmaceuticals announced the results here on Monday at the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference.

Academy stresses evolution's importance - Reuters

The National Academy of Sciences on Thursday issued a spirited defense of evolution as the bedrock principle of modern biology, arguing that it, not creationism, must be taught in public school science classes.

Sony BMG Plans to Drop DRM - BusinessWeek

In a move that would mark the end of a digital music era, Sony BMG Music Entertainment is finalizing plans to sell songs without the copyright protection software that has long restricted the use of music downloaded from the Internet, BusinessWeek.com has learned. Sony BMG, a joint venture of Sony (SNE) and Bertelsmann, will make at least part of its collection available without so-called digital rights management, or DRM, software some time in the first quarter, according to people familiar with the matter.

Hit Denvers Fillmore for Elvis Costello and The Imposters this evening. I must say, I started the night off as a sour puss. You litterly could not give away extra tickets at the show, let alone try to sell them. The show was not sold out and the 'scalpers' were only offering $10 for extra tickets an hour before the show. I made the mistake of going and having a beer and waiting for closer to show time to try to sell my extra tickets. By the time I headed for the door, even they had given up and headed home.

So, I waited outside the door for awhile to see if any one was looking for tickets, and then looking for anyone to give them to, no luck.

I go inside looking to wash away my disappointment with a cold beverage and find The Fillmore only opened a couple of the bars. This I just don't understand.

I wait 7 - 10 minutes in line for a malt beverage, Elvis is on the stage and I am trying to get into the show. It just ain't happening. I make it up to the head of the line, purchase my beers and head off to find my roommate.

Elvis and his three piece band are just ripping through numbers. Three - four minutes a song and boom into the next one. We are initially standing 15 feet or so behind the sound board. A spot opens up along the back railing of the sound board and I motion my roommate up with me.

The sound is excellent. There are no big heads in the way of our view. Elvis and The Imposters are rocking.

They play for an hour and take an encore break. We are like, WTF? He comes back out, does an acoustic Alyson and they continue playing for another 40 minutes or so.

Total concert time: 1:45. Ticket cost: $56 (not including tickets not sold). My attitude at the end of the night: I am smiling ear to ear.

It may have been a short show, but I am replete.

If you get the chance, go see Elvis Costello and The Imposters

Want further confirmation read these two reviews ( #1 - #2 )from the Warfield three nights ago.

Saw the Gin Blossoms last night at the Walnut Room.

Favorite quotes (probably not the exact quote, but you'll get the idea):

Jesse Valenzuela - It's nice to be in Denver. You have a drinking problem, but I like you any way.

Robin Wilson:

1. We know about 20 songs and we are going to play most of them tonight
2. Give us a few minutes, we're going to drink our shots and figure out what where playing next. - This was right after Jesse above statement (:

The Walnut Room is a small venue to say the least, it holds maybe 200. Being that small there is not a bad view in the house, unless some tall guy with a big head is in front of you - I think tall people should be regulated to be behind those of us that are vertically challeged. I think I'll call my rep in DC about this. ;) - Anyway, where was I, oh yea, they have an excellent sound system and lights for such a small place - I would definitely suggest ear plugs if you go. Last night was the 2 year anniversary so the included a couple free drinks and free pizza prior to the show.

The pizza was damn good and so was the show.

~ update ~

Forgot to mention Pete's Kitchen for after show breakfast burrito. Nothing like Pete's Kitchen for late night breakfast.

Photos from Bonnie Raitt.

Saw Bonnie Raitt on Tuesday at the Fillmore in Denver. Man what a smoking show. I have to say, for a lady who turned 56 that night, she put on one hell of a show. It was pretty cool that there where people wandering around in party hats and holding up signs wishing Bonnie a happy birthday. It was a very festive atmosphere and the venue was full early on. The people where ready to listen to some good rock and roll, and that is what they received.

It will definitely go down as one of the best shows I have ever seen.

** Update **

During the fourth song, the road crew came on stage wearing white boxer shorts, with each rear end bearing letters that spelled out "happy birthday bonnie"

At one point Bonnie said: "I love these chandeliers, I wish I could redo my bedroom with one of them. I wonder if Chuck would give me one of them as a present? Do you realize I have worked with Chuck for over 30 years?" She was referring to promoter Chuck Morris.

She introduced "God Was in the Water" by saying "Religion is for those who are afraid of hell; spirituality is for those who have been there."

Before the second encore, Raitt explained that she had never done the bar circuit or cover bands, going directly from folk clubs to concerts, and that now she liked to do the covers. So she ended with a rave-up on Junior Walker's "(I'm a) Road Runner" and Robert Palmer's "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)." As her band led the audience in one final rendition of "Happy Birthday" (it was the third of the night), Raitt promised to see everyone at Red Rocks next summer.

Her band consists of longtime keyboard player Jon Cleary, guitarist George Marinelli, bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson and drummer Ricky Fataar.

Miai Sharp finished her opening act with a rewritten "Angel From Montgomery" that was a classic. I just wish I could remember all the words. One classic line was "How in the hell can a person who is 56 be in better shape than me?"

** Update **

I have been corrected. The line was: "How in the hell can woman who has 18 recordings and been touring for 35 years be in better shape than I am"

Thanks for the better memory Mark.

I saw an amazing show by David Bowie at the Fillmore Auditorium on Monday night (01/19). It started with Macy Grey opening the show and then David put on a full energy 2+ hour show. It was great to see him in the small setting (3600 concert goers) and he left just about everyone speechless. Not bad for a guy who is 57! Just an amazing show is all I can say, just amazing.

The Reviews:
RockyMountainNews
Sometimes fans just have to stare at a musician and wonder to themselves "How do they do it?" It's hard even for musicians to explain where their inspiration comes from. At times it seems as much a mystery to them as it is to the rest of us.

After a bit of a lull that still produced some notable work, David Bowie has found himself at another creative peak. He's 57, he's more than three decades into his career, yet he's able to leave fans ecstatic and nearly speechless. Bowie's explanation is that his touring band is simply playing very well at the moment.
more

DenverPost
Lasting 30-plus years in the music industry is nearly impossible. Most who have endured the decades did so by relying on nostalgia and not pushing what got them there in the first place, and the resulting situation is sticky, especially when seeing these acts "Live in Concert."

The musicians play what made them famous in the '70s while occasionally, almost shamed, sneaking in a new track every now and then. Try watching Peter Frampton live. It's saddening. It makes you question his relevance and your taste. But this is what makes David Bowie so extraordinary.
more

The Daily Camera
On Monday night at the Fillmore Auditorium, Bowie took the stage as himself, both literally and figuratively: there were no appearances by Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, the Thin White Duke or any other of the rocker's mythical musical disguises.

And after years of genre-hopping, Bowie's all but abandoned his dalliances with drum 'n' bass, new wave, blue-eyed soul and industrial sounds. The once shiftless rocker has, over the course of his last couple of records, honed in on a mature, art-rock sound that can be every bit as captivating as anything he's done.
more

The Set List
01 Rebel Rebel
02 New Killer Star
03 Reality
04 She'll Drive The Big Car
05 Hang On To Yourself
06 Cactus
07 All The Young Dudes
08 China Girl
09 Fantastic Voyage
10 The Loneliest Guy
11 Days
12 The Man Who Sold The World
13 Hallo Spaceboy
14 Sunday
15 Under Pressure
16 Life On Mars?
17 Changes
18 Fame
19 Never Get Old
20 Panic In Detroit
21 Ashes To Ashes
22 White Light, White Heat
23 I'm Afraid Of Americans
24 Heroes

(Encore)
25 Bring Me The Disco King
26 Blue Jean
27 Five Years
28 Suffragette City
29 Ziggy Stardust

Some Photos

Well, I have not been keeping up with my blogabilties as evident by the total lack of postings recently. So let's see if we can do a quick catchup.

I did a kind of new ride last Sunday. We hit Deer Creek Canyon (map)for an early afternoon pedal. After starting up the trail I remembered being there a couple of years ago and not being able to make it up the climb to the loops. Hence, it was erased from my memory. Well, I still needed to get out of the clips twice for some ugly rocky terrain, but I made it up to the loops and road both of them. There are some killer overlooks up on these trails and it is definitely worth the climbing to see them.

A week ago last Sunday I hit Green Mountain (map, doesn't show all the trails) for a good ride. I just looped around the place a few times doing different climbs and descents to get a decent two hour ride without really going in the same direction on any one trail any of the time.

Denver received a nice snow storm this past Monday. A good few inches hit in the afternoon. After a tricky ride home in the snow I broke down and bought some Studded Cyclo-Cross Tires from bike nashbar. They arrived today and I get to try them out tomorrow morning for what could be a chilly ride into work. Hey, at least I won't slip and slide!

I received this quote from a friend the other day:

What you do when others are not looking is what defines character.

So, what do you do when others are not looking?

I finished re-copying all my CD's to a hard drive the other day and now I am having fun creating new disks for my listening pleasure. The first ones are taken from the Miles Davis collection The Complete Columbia Studio Sessions, 1965-68. There are four complete albums (E.S.P., Miles Smiles, Nefertiti and Miles In The Sky) and one partial (Filles De Kilimanjaro) plus alternates and other takes on this set. The group of musicians playing with Miles at the time makes up one of the greatest jazz quintets of all time.

Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams

I also have The Complete Bitches Brew Sessions and thus made the Bitches Brew CD's. I guess I am just in a jazz state of mind these days.