New Album Discussion 1 - Songs of..... - Unreasonable guitar album
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PookaMacP
War Child
Shouldn't someone check to see what Terry Lawless is up to?
Been hanging and gigging in CA
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
U2 fans to Killers fans:
lol
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
"Line mafia"...you're getting warmer!
So Steve Lillywhite has just confirmed on TalkTV (UK right wing trash news) that U2 are not touring next year because Oasis are. Last time Oasis were around they were touring in a summer that included both U2 and Coldplay. So is that genuine, or is it an excuse to let Larry have more recovery time, or do they genuinely worry in a market with Oasis and Coldplay (who are seemingly selling out stadiums every single year now with no let up) having unrelenting demand, they worry they'll be an afterthought following these bands? If the latter, it's their own fault.
They're not nearly accessible enough, touring your best album in one pricey sphere isn't a good look, going to watch a video of that concert in the same venue hardly screams trendy, limiting exclusives only for fan club members does nothing for legacy, they are very selective with who they talk to in the media, they never do festivals, and their latter albums always sell out to tacky big budget industry songwriters and prove a damp squib to everyone. They are, in short, elitist.
Everything comes with a ridiculous cost. As businessmen, they are fantastic. At securing their legacy, and as 'artists' at the moment, they are woeful.
They're not nearly accessible enough, touring your best album in one pricey sphere isn't a good look, going to watch a video of that concert in the same venue hardly screams trendy, limiting exclusives only for fan club members does nothing for legacy, they are very selective with who they talk to in the media, they never do festivals, and their latter albums always sell out to tacky big budget industry songwriters and prove a damp squib to everyone. They are, in short, elitist.
Everything comes with a ridiculous cost. As businessmen, they are fantastic. At securing their legacy, and as 'artists' at the moment, they are woeful.
djerdap
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
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I would take what Lillywhite has said with a slight grain of salt though.
Ahem.
super fly guy
New Yorker
Around 4:45 mark.
trevgreg
Rock n' Roll Doggie
I attended two of those Killers shows in Vegas last month (great concerts too!). I can confirm there was absolutely a List - notebook and sharpies and everything - and the flashbacks to the U2 lines of old were intense, for obvious reasons!
That being said, it was pretty drama free the two nights I went. For one, the main difference between Killers shows and U2's is that most of theirs have an "early entry" option for GA, where you can pay a bit more to get in 15 minutes earlier. That actually results in less drama for their arena shows and such, since there's always two lines anyway. And most of the time, those early entry lists really don't have anywhere above 20-40 people, as others don't really show up until an hour or two before doors anyway. So with the less people, less drama accommodates, thankfully.
I think there was a bit more frustration for these shows since they were unique ones with the whole residency and full member lineup playing. So some people were more invested in that sort of thing, especially since the pit was so small. I think the venue is 4000-ish, and the Pit was somewhere around 300-400, with less than 150 doing early entry?
The weird thing is that they have a high enough stage set-up where a lot of people were actually better off being further back in the pit, just to get a good view of everything. That's sort of what I did for these shows, even though I did have early entry, but thankfully it all turned out okay for the ones I did.
That and I didn't notice anyone up front who was part of the so-called "mafia" either, but maybe that was also because there was so many shows that those types were pretty spread out?
That being said, it was pretty drama free the two nights I went. For one, the main difference between Killers shows and U2's is that most of theirs have an "early entry" option for GA, where you can pay a bit more to get in 15 minutes earlier. That actually results in less drama for their arena shows and such, since there's always two lines anyway. And most of the time, those early entry lists really don't have anywhere above 20-40 people, as others don't really show up until an hour or two before doors anyway. So with the less people, less drama accommodates, thankfully.
I think there was a bit more frustration for these shows since they were unique ones with the whole residency and full member lineup playing. So some people were more invested in that sort of thing, especially since the pit was so small. I think the venue is 4000-ish, and the Pit was somewhere around 300-400, with less than 150 doing early entry?
The weird thing is that they have a high enough stage set-up where a lot of people were actually better off being further back in the pit, just to get a good view of everything. That's sort of what I did for these shows, even though I did have early entry, but thankfully it all turned out okay for the ones I did.
That and I didn't notice anyone up front who was part of the so-called "mafia" either, but maybe that was also because there was so many shows that those types were pretty spread out?
Around 4:45 mark.
Sounds like his opinion more than anything concrete.
I wouldn't put any water in this one way or the other. They very well might not your next year, but I don't think that decision will have anything to do with Oasis.
And I very much disagree with the premise that playing their best album in a pricey Sphere was a bad look. It was one of the best received things they've done in years.
JT30 and U2:UV are about the only positive U2 things since 360 from a press and public perception standpoint.
If they’d get the Surrender show out on streaming this fall, that would buy additional good will… and time.
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
More like Steve LieLieWhite!!
ascender_RS
Refugee
Not sure what the reasoning is behind the Oasis thing unless there’s logistical issues around dates, tour crew etc on top of a Coldplay tour? The Oasis gigs are very UK focused and I thought U2 had already been sounding out venues well before this came about?
I still think they should have come off the back of the Sphere shows with a new album and tour, Larry or no Larry.
I still think they should have come off the back of the Sphere shows with a new album and tour, Larry or no Larry.
US tour announcement is imminent.
Lillywhite has told people since the interview that he isn't aware of U2's tour plans, and that it's just his thoughts that U2 wouldn't want to be on the road while Oasis is.
ascender_RS
Refugee
It's not going to be a massive tour though is it, is it not just rumoured to be a couple of dates in a few cities? Will be interesting to see how it sells as a big thing here has obviously been a whole new generation wanting to see them live who have never had a chance.
AndrewCowley
Refugee
Maybe it’s as simple as U2 still being wedded to the traditional album + tour cycle and there is not yet an album.
Top 10 markets, stadiums. That’s a lot of tickets, though. U2 shouldn’t care. The sales story will be over 2 weeks after ticketmaster melts down again. To me, the bigger questions about the next U2 tour are:
1. Larry? (said in the Richard Simmons “Gary” voice)
2. Album(s)?
3. Where does the band go production-wise, post-Sphere? Which leads into…
4. Arenas or stadiums?
5. Pricing structure and presale process, post-Sphere: Is Vegas going to taint the pricing view or are they going to be back in line with previous tour with a reasonable percentage increase? Are we going to get codes or submit requests?
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
On the pricing structure - something I noticed this week when buying Springsteen tickets.
When the show at Nats Park was originally scheduled last year, after the kerfuffle of the dynamic pricing structure of the arena shows - Bruce seriously scaled back the use of dynamic pricing. I got 100s for, like, $160.
I ended up selling them because the show was moved to 9/29, which was also the first show at Sphere and I was already committed to giving there.
Then Bruce got sick and all the fall shows were postponed (after I had already sold, damn it).
We bought tickets this week in the 200s for $350. 100s are minimum $500 bucks.
Sooooo yea. Dynamic pricing isn't as nutty as the initial shock will have you believe.
If you’re patient, you can find a seat even in the arena runs for closer to standard face. The issue is when the standard ticket price starts out rather high.
With my U2 fanclub membership in long-standing sucker status, I’m less concerned about the dynamic pricing than I am about the general pricing structure. $267 for GA at Sphere? Ok. The band made note of the ticket prices for Sphere, that they were high and really meant for people to attend once (ha, sure). So hopefully that holds true. But seeing where Bruce and Pearl Jam went for their latest tours, tough to say where they go next. $150-$175 floors? And the supply (and demand) at arenas vs stadiums will be different as well.
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LordVader1
Babyface
Springsteen has been charging significantly more in US than in Europe. Pit in stadiums in US is about $365 including fees face value. That is almost double than in London that was the most expensive from all EU tickets...
The notable difference this latest Bruce tour is that the GA is a front pit only, with seated sections on the floor behind it, so you’re in front of the rest of the floor no matter how late you stroll in. Would I pay more for that situation? Probably.
Mind you, this isn’t stopping people from lining up, but you can’t stop the stupid.
Eddie got kinda slammed for publicly stating an actual fact - that the hard costs for touring has increased significantly since COVID - what with everyone trying to make up for lost time creating a lot jam and a limit of available resources (trucking, lighting, staging, etc.)
Conceivably that will smooth out over time - but at the same time it's hard to see acts go in reverse on ticket pricing. So we may be locked in to those prices for a while.
We'll see what happens with the justice department and their case against Live Nation, but not expecting any meaningful changes any time soon .
They also chose to eliminate the tickets behind the stage and take on a new expense in the form of using a screen instead, so there is a bit of a self-inflicted element there too.
LordVader1
Babyface
In Europe there was a front pit that I was referring to and rest of GA. Just Ireland had whole GA only. So Front pit in US was about twice as expensive when on face value.... GA lining for Springsteen became another level of madness this year, starting 1 week + before the show... In 2016 there was a rule not to start line before the previous show starts, that was fair, I'm all for roll calls when it's not too crazy, but it got out of hand now...
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