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Post by Quizz Kid on May 8, 2014 19:23:29 GMT
Our Facebook friend Steven Marcus recently saw Ian and Co at High Wycombe. His view was that the show was "Phenomenal". He reports that Ian's voice was great and 'best of' set list was amazing. He added that Florian is a mean guitar player but probably not as heavy as Martin but would like Doane back on drums.
He said that the gig was not sold out though. The big question he raised was, Why?
I don't think it's an unreasonable question to ask given the quality of music and musicianship on offer. And it's an issue that other people have mentioned, with venues not sold out.
So, is it a case of personal economics? Are punters doing fewer gigs these days? Is it too much to lay out to see the band these days, especially for the fan who's laid out a small fortune on all the album variants? A case of Ian overload given the relentless TaaB/TaaB 2 tour of the last few years?
Is it issues of the band, the voice or what?
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Post by bambooflute on May 8, 2014 22:35:38 GMT
Our Facebook friend Steven Marcus recently saw Ian and Co at High Wycombe. His view was that the show was "Phenomenal". He reports that Ian's voice was great and 'best of' set list was amazing. He added that Florian is a mean guitar player but probably not as heavy as Martin but would like Doane back on drums. He said that the gig was not sold out though. The big question he raised was, Why? I don't think it's an unreasonable question to ask given the quality of music and musicianship on offer. And it's an issue that other people have mentioned, with venues not sold out. So, is it a case of personal economics? Are punters doing fewer gigs these days? Is it too much to lay out to see the band these days, especially for the fan who's laid out a small fortune on all the album variants? A case of Ian overload given the relentless TaaB/TaaB 2 tour of the last few years? Is it issues of the band, the voice or what? I find the partly-filled venues worrying (particularly considering the sizes of some of them). As a resident of the northeastern USA, a Tull/IA tour in my area has always been a pretty much annual event (with few exceptions). I began to worry in 2010 when Ian brought Jethro Tull to Boston, Massachusetts in June and then returned, with a "solo" tour in November, visiting Lowell, Mass (30 miles north of Boston), and Providence, Rhode Island (50 miles south of Boston). Without getting into the hot-button topic over what constitutes an Tull concert and an IA concert, it's pretty much the same fanbase, and the Lowell show (which I enjoyed a great deal), had a noticable amount of empty seats. The people who were there seemed to love the show. I think IA has sometimes oversaturated his markets, but, then, I have always attended every show when it was possible for me to do so. Does that mean I supported the "poor decision" of coming back too often and too soon? Having said that, he skipped this region entirely in 2011. So I don't know what the answer is. Thank you for bringing up an interesting topic! - David |
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Post by Tulltapes on May 8, 2014 22:40:22 GMT
My guess the three top reasons.. 1. Ian's voice now has a reputation of being shot. 2. Many devoted Tull fans getting to the age where they just don't go out to concerts as much. 3. Ticket prices are ridiculous!
Remember in the 90's when the EAGLES did a reunion concert. We heard tickets were going to be around a hundred dollars and it was just unthinkable!
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Duncman78
Cub Scout
The superhighway: you pays your way….. you takes your choice, change your horses, raise your voice.
Posts: 40
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Post by Duncman78 on May 9, 2014 8:54:51 GMT
All of the gigs I've been to (since '96) have been pretty well attended. There were a few gaps where I was sat last Saturday at Birmingham, but I would have thought those seats had been paid for as it was 7th row. I'm guessing it was 95% full from what I could see. I don't think tickets have gone up too much really and are good value for money, especially as I don't go gigging that often. I think tickets were around £25 back in '96. I've been lucky enough that most of the gigs I've been to were over the weekend, but recon I would struggle (especially at this moment in time) to make it in time if they were on Mon-Thurs. Can't remember which day High Wick gig was on, but if it was a weekday, maybe folks opted for Oxford or are waiting for the Bank hol weekend and catch them in London at end of tour?  I'm probably just talking bollocks  |
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skytzo
Cub Scout
We will be geared to the average rather than the exceptional
Posts: 31 
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Post by skytzo on May 9, 2014 10:17:13 GMT
Ticket prices for sure. I'm not really up for a two hour drive (or train ride) to NYC or Boston on a weeknight, so my only option is the Ridgefield Playhouse - a great venue of a little over 500 seats. I thought great, I've been there, should be a nice intimate place to see Ian and the boys. Then I went on their website and saw the ticket price - $135!! Tickets for the TAAB2 show were way cheaper. Sorry, the only way I'm paying that is if it was a Tull reunion with the '75 lineup and if Ian could still sing....and we know that isn't ever going to happen.
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Post by Quizz Kid on May 9, 2014 10:17:16 GMT
Hi Duncan
I agree about prices, althought I think we've been lucky in the UK, the cost of tickets for Tull or Ian shows has always been pretty reasonable. Ian has always said about maintaining value for miney for the punter and I believe him on that score, although there was a period when the level of investment in the stage show was pretty minimal. It's good to see that changing since Taab2 and now the HE tour. So, for me ticket prices reaman reasonable, particulalry when measured against the 'arm and a leg' cost of Kate Bush tickets! I suspect the ticket cost may be more of an issue in the States by the sound of it.
The size of venues has changed considerably and several gigs I've been to over recent years have yielded a fair number of empty seats. I suspect that 'bigger' economics are part of the issue with fiscal belts being tightened and less disposable income available for gig tickets, or more likely the multiple gigs that many fans used to regularly attend. I remember first being aware of a change in audience size and the band's drawing power when I travelled up to see the BatB gig at the NEC in Birmingahm and about a third of the venue was curtained off reducing the size of the hall.
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Duncman78
Cub Scout
The superhighway: you pays your way….. you takes your choice, change your horses, raise your voice.
Posts: 40
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Post by Duncman78 on May 9, 2014 14:22:44 GMT
The size of venues has changed considerably and several gigs I've been to over recent years have yielded a fair number of empty seats. I suspect that 'bigger' economics are part of the issue with fiscal belts being tightened and less disposable income available for gig tickets, or more likely the multiple gigs that many fans used to regularly attend. I remember first being aware of a change in audience size and the band's drawing power when I travelled up to see the BatB gig at the NEC in Birmingahm and about a third of the venue was curtained off reducing the size of the hall. I had my arm twisted to go and see Simple Minds at the end of last year when they advertised an "arena" tour. Ultravox were supporting and was the reason why I agreed to go along.... I don't mind SM to listen to now and again, but would never really rush out to see them live. Anyway, at least two thirds of the arena was curtained off. Can't have been profitable surely? |
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Post by Quizz Kid on May 9, 2014 14:52:59 GMT
I agree, I wonder how much gets 'written off' as a loss as the accountants do their business. My brother shot Mott the Hoople's 'reunion show at the London O2 Arena last year, and joked with me that there were more photographers in the pit than there were paying punters. |
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Post by progrockdeepcuts on May 9, 2014 16:53:20 GMT
Well, I don't know ... The recent HE boxed set was $65 The new APP is in the $30-40 range Decent concert tickets are in the $45+ range (with closer seats $75 or more) That's got to have something to do with it. |
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Post by Tulltapes on May 9, 2014 19:59:45 GMT
Well, I don't know ... The recent HE boxed set was $65 The new APP is in the $30-40 range Decent concert tickets are in the $45+ range (with closer seats $75 or more) That's got to have something to do with it. Last I heard the APP was $66 (I assume that will go down?) and concert tickets were $135. $45-$75 for good seats is reasonable. I saw Roger Waters "The Wall" a couple years ago and thought $100 was even a little steep, and that was a BIG production! I still haven't gotten used to paying hundreds of dollars to see a concert so $135 to see the Ian band seems a little much, although I will do it. I do wonder though if cutting Martin's budget out of costs has allowed Ian to give more of a stage production? |
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Post by progrockdeepcuts on May 9, 2014 21:16:37 GMT
Erin,
Check Amazon again. Last time I looked, APP was down to $37. I preordered in case the price jumps up again!
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I'm probably just talking bollocks 
