Raleigh Music Fail

It is reported that Raleigh Downtown Live is not happening this year (http://www.newraleigh.com/articles/archive/raleigh-downtown-live-not-happening-in-summer-2010/) .  I had been wondering what was going on, and figured they had canceled it because of the new amphitheater downtown and as it turns out I was right.

For those that do not know what Downtown live was, it was a free concert series in Moore Square.  It featured 1-2 name bands (usually from the 90′s or earlier) along with regional and lesser known bands.  It was normally pop rock that appealed to a few generations.  It was always popular so much that last year just walking around became impossible.  I only went for about 10 minutes of a Joan Jett show before we decided to say “fuck this” and went for drinks at Havana.

I always had a love hate relationship with the event.  I liked that it was free.  The security was pretty good, in that I never saw anything major go down and I never saw security being assholes.  The event was sponsored by Budweiser so you could drink,  although it was pricey at something like $8 for a 12oz beer.  I usually liked a few of the bands each year,  they were one hit (or two hit) wonders but it was fun.

The hate came when I tried to take my dSLR in for a show.  I wanted to snap some pictures of the Spin Doctors (I think).  I was told I could not bring it in.  They would not allow cameras with a  removable lens.  Point and shoot was fine.  I took my camera back to the car,  and we went in.  I did research and others had the same problem.  The story went that artists did not want professionals (because only professionals have SLRs) taking pictures and selling them on the Internet.  Let me tell you how many times I have heard of the black market pictures of one hit wonders outselling the legal pictures of one hit wonders on E-Bay.  I fired off an email to the sponsors and decided I would not attend the event anymore.

I think the Joan Jett show was the only one I went to after the camera issue (friends were going and my resolve was weakening).  That show was so full that I was miserable, as were most of the people I was with.  The summer in NC is not a time that you want to be jammed into a park with people.  The sweat and smell factor begin to really suck.

When I heard that they were putting in the new amphitheater I was excited.  I figured in between big name bands they would open it up to events like this.  Budweiser would still sponsor it,  Deep South Promotions would book and promote it,  it would be great.  But then evil, in the form of Live Nation, entered my field of vision.

The city built the theater and in my opinion handed it to Live Nation.  Of the events they have planned,  the cheapest ticket I have found (with fees), is $31.50.  I am sure the shows I saw will draw people.  I guess people still like the Backstreet Boys.  Teegan and Sara have an audience.  There is some metal and even a Legalize It event with Cypress Hill.  Yawn.

My issue is this,  unless they have a band I really want to see why would I go?  Parking is probably going to suck.  There is a parking deck next door but I am guessing it will cost money and getting out of packed parking decks suck worse then flat lots.  I am paying a ticket agency I don’t like (Ticketmaster) and a promoter I don’t like (Live Nation) which just merged into a bigger company I don’t like.  I am not a fan of Deep South (Local to NC) but they are far less evil in my book.  If I want to deal with Ticketmaster/Live Nation I will drive the 5 minutes to Walnut Creek Amphitheater for free parking and the ability to tailgate.

If the event were free, I would go check it out.  I would buy some food from the vendors, maybe a beer or two.  I might pay for parking or go someplace for dinner and then take the R line.  It would draw me downtown, which is the whole idea of the venue in the first place.  $30 for a band I have not heard of does not do that, did I mention the $30 ticket was for a band named O.A.R.  who had a song peak at 36 on the billboard chart 2 years ago.  If you want the A list talent like Tegan and Sara you have to pay $36 for the cheap seats, to be fair that $36 also gets you Paramore.  That will be of great help for Downtown,  the kids can see that show and then whip out the fake IDs to get into the bars afterward.

For me it comes down to the city fucking over the people.  They took away a free concert series,  that while flawed, was FREE.  I went to it, never paid for parking, never was forced to buy anything and for a few years had a good time.  The city then had some free public land, took some tax money,  built an amphitheater and handed it to the worlds largest concert company.  They say that in 5 years the venue will be paid for.  They promised acts like you might see at the Durham Performing Arts Center,   but so far nothing has come close to the first rate talent DPAC lined up.  Seems that the top tier acts are still 10 miles from downtown at