I think U2 has done amazingly well, all things considered. It's not entirely a Southern thing, IMO. The Boston shows looked to have 5-10k in empty seats total, and the upper decks looked at least 1/2 empty for Monday night. The economy is still garbage, and yet they're filling stadiums, or close to it thus far, when looking at all dates in 2009.
edit: wow, I'm an Acrobat
I think like 4 or 5 of those "crap markets" are also shows on 'school nights' -- can't say how much, but this could play a role -- the casual fan might show on a Friday night, but a Tuesday night with kids, soccer, class or whatever, it has to have some impact.
I think like 4 or 5 of those "crap markets" are also shows on 'school nights' -- can't say how much, but this could play a role -- the casual fan might show on a Friday night, but a Tuesday night with kids, soccer, class or whatever, it has to have some impact.
not sure if this is true but in NY i heard that the tour is barely breaking even and that a lot of the shows are not close to selling out.
Because not that many people want to see U2. Simple, no?
The only reason Dallas isn't sold out yet is because they're trying to charge people $95 for Row 26 in the 400 level. If they were charging $55 or $30 for the top nosebleed rows like they do at other stadiums, Dallas would probably be sold out.in all honesty, they cant sell out in places like dallas and phoenix because people here could careless about U2.
Well, not to beat a dead horse, but I used to drop everything: family, job, etc. to fly or drive half way across the country to see a U2 concert. Paid premium broker prices if necessary. Not this time. Their power to draw, their ability to fill a stadium is not a reflection of the economy as much as it is a reflection of declining relevance. If they want to sell out stadiums, they need to go back to making the kind of music that turns radio on its head, that "effs the mainstream" (to quote Bono), and not do these concerts where a full 1/3 of the setlist consists of lackluster songs from a drab album that radio won't touch. Admit it, don't you long for the days when radio stations would play "Numb?" or even the much maligned "Discotheque?" Achtung Baby was the summit folks, but they still produced great work through the 90s and early 00s. NLOTH is just recycled U2. Most people, myself included, would MUCH rather hear the warhorses, or even the obscure gems ("So Cruel" or "The Hands That Built America") than these current yawners, which no amount of dressing up or stage extravagance can save.
this is what i meant when i didn't like people with very few posts since 2005 turning up telling me i like crap music.Well, not to beat a dead horse, but I used to drop everything: family, job, etc. to fly or drive half way across the country to see a U2 concert. Paid premium broker prices if necessary. Not this time. Their power to draw, their ability to fill a stadium is not a reflection of the economy as much as it is a reflection of declining relevance. If they want to sell out stadiums, they need to go back to making the kind of music that turns radio on its head, that "effs the mainstream" (to quote Bono), and not do these concerts where a full 1/3 of the setlist consists of lackluster songs from a drab album that radio won't touch. Admit it, don't you long for the days when radio stations would play "Numb?" or even the much maligned "Discotheque?" Achtung Baby was the summit folks, but they still produced great work through the 90s and early 00s. NLOTH is just recycled U2. Most people, myself included, would MUCH rather hear the warhorses, or even the obscure gems ("So Cruel" or "The Hands That Built America") than these current yawners, which no amount of dressing up or stage extravagance can save.
So I guess the US is the center of the universe?
not sure if this is true but in NY i heard that the tour is barely breaking even and that a lot of the shows are not close to selling out.
that's because they're not! it's been my understanding that they've been at or near capacity for every show. either those who are saying the stadiums are half-full are getting this confused with popmart (i did love that tour though! just saying), are misinformed, or are trying to rile everyone up.Considering U2 are putting very little in the way of $$ to the shows, i cannot understand this post, blackberry are paying for quite a bit of the production, every pic i have seen from the U.S. and i still cannot see these empty seats everyone is talking about, especially not 1/2 empty.
Well, not to beat a dead horse, but I used to drop everything: family, job, etc. to fly or drive half way across the country to see a U2 concert. Paid premium broker prices if necessary. Not this time. Their power to draw, their ability to fill a stadium is not a reflection of the economy as much as it is a reflection of declining relevance. If they want to sell out stadiums, they need to go back to making the kind of music that turns radio on its head, that "effs the mainstream" (to quote Bono), and not do these concerts where a full 1/3 of the setlist consists of lackluster songs from a drab album that radio won't touch. Admit it, don't you long for the days when radio stations would play "Numb?" or even the much maligned "Discotheque?" Achtung Baby was the summit folks, but they still produced great work through the 90s and early 00s. NLOTH is just recycled U2. Most people, myself included, would MUCH rather hear the warhorses, or even the obscure gems ("So Cruel" or "The Hands That Built America") than these current yawners, which no amount of dressing up or stage extravagance can save.
and i'm sure when live nation booked shows like norman they weren't really expecting a sellout. it would have been nice, but they don't live in a dream land like so many people here tend to.
But Ian, isn't it a moral imperative to love U2 and move heaven and earth and go into debt to see them live?
Personally, I'm just curious to see if any shows won't be counted as sellouts, or if they'll claim they all are sold out by not putting all possible tickets on sale and selling all tickets that do go on sale.