Concerts: Yes or No?

[Chris DVM]

Hey,
I have about two bands and three individuals on my list that I will pay any price to go see when they come into my area. Tonight is one of them - AC/DC. I have been waiting almost 8 years to see them and I am psyched!!
However, ticket prices are ridiculous!! Paid $100 for a seat tonight, which made me choke, but they are on my list. However, I NEVER go see concerts on a regular basis because of this - I cannot afford it.
So, here is the question (actually two):
1) Do you still go to concerts regularly
2) Who are your top five performers (alive and still touring) that you will pay mad money to go see no matter what?

Mine are, in no order:
1) AC/DC
2) Billy Joel
3) Reel Big Fish
4) Elton John
5) Weird Al

Heck of a list, huh? How about you?
Chris DVM

[palitoy]

Not a concert guy, it took me years and hundreds of dollars to realize that I just think about leaving when I'm in a venue and live music doesn't thrill me. My wife loves them, I just don't dig on crowds.

I'd probably go see Holly Golightly or the Hives if they performed in my town but I'm really reluctant to do so.

[MIB41]

Unfortunately most of my favorite bands are either gone or have shifted in musical members - Kiss, Queen, Journey just to name a few. I do like to catch Billy Joel when he is in town. One artist I would like to see live, as a solo act, is Sammy Hagar. Love him! I think he's better outside of Van Halen, but I did like Van Halen when he was in it. I don't see alot of acts touring right now in this economy. It would not be wise.

[ScottA]

I'm not really a concert guy either. I have seen some performers: Alabama, Dolly Parton, Oak Ridge Boys, Barbara Mandrell (I like Country Music). But they were usually performing at a function.

After I got married I took my wife to see Celine Dion and Michael Bolton (two of her favorites). 99% of big name acts don't come down south and the ones that do it's usually just to Birmingham (90 miles away).

[Mikey]

1) Do you still go to concerts regularly?

Not at all.
The last concert I attended was Roger Waters In The Flesh '99

[garagesale]

Been done with that for awhile now. Saw the Chili Peppers & Foo Fighters about 10 years ago, and I'm done with the crazy ticket prices, the insane crowds, and the general environment.

However, I did really enjoy my son's (free) middle school band Christmas concert last week!

JamesD

[Mikey]

I've seen smaller venues not really concerts after '99 ...
Mostly in limited size theatres

Tom Jones, Ringo's All Star Band, stuff like that.

[knight errant00]

Mine are, in no order:
1) AC/DC
2) Billy Joel
3) Reel Big Fish
4) Elton John
5) Weird Al

Well, you're in luck on #2 & #4 -- I heard on the radio they're going to tour together again, like they did a couple times back in the 90s -- scratch two off your list with one ticket!

#5 -- good news there is he can't be *too* expensive -- my 12-yr-old got to go see him in concert as part of when one of his buddies turned 13 and got to take a couple friends to the concert with him in stead of having a "kid" birthday party.

Truth be told, I don't think there's anyone I'm just dying to see in concert . . .

[huedell]

I don't like crowds either----I'd rather see a band in a smaller, emptier place.

The only time I feel "I have" to see a band is under "special circumstances"...

i.e. Roth/VH reuinion, Spinal Tap reunion...or if someone I know WANTS me
to go see something...I'll be like "Okay---but it better be cool"

[Airdave817]

I work in Country radio. Okay, stop laughing. If the tickets weren't free - I probably wouldn't go. I'm not a fan of big crowds or concerts. Most of the time I have gone, it's been work, so I couldn't drink and it was the biggest pain in the ***** to watch listeners cut loose, get tanked and become obnoxious. Drunk rednecks are dangerous. I guess I'm more comfortable just sitting at home watching satellite/Netflix. There are some acts I would love to see or would have loved to see when I was in high school, but the price...? Not gonna happen anytime soon.

[toys2cool]

Not really a concert guy either.My wife will pay w/e to go see Mariah and the New kids on the block which she did and they were both over $100 each

My list would be
Guns N Roses
Def Leppard
Kiss
Reo Speedwagon
Metallica and maybe Bon Jovi but that's about it

[Nostalgiabuff]

As I get older I like crowds less and less. The price of tickets has also gotten so out of control that it is cost prohibitive. I would like pay to see either Pink Floyd or Paul McCartney, but even there, if the tickets were too much I would skip it since I have seen them both several times.
A local state park usually runs a concert once a summer and they charge by the car load, $60.00, so we do go to that and bring the kids since it is a family event. Caught Peter Frampton 2 years ago and last year was Kenny Loggins. Not a big Loggins fan but it's a fun family night for relatively little money. There was no concert this year.

[Chris DVM]

Hey,
Yea, I saw that Joel and John were touring together again - definitely seeing that next year. Missed them three times when they toured 10 years ago.
Every year I go to one of the largest veterinary meetings in Orlando. They always get some great acts for free. Saw Huey Lewis and the News, Styx and Chicago - all great shows.
Still cannot find Weird Al. Reel Big Fish have been in Europe for the last 3 years.
Chris DVM

[wolfie]

I think the last concert i went to was Genesis in 1980 so it's fair to say i don't go anymore.

There is nobody alive or dead who could make me buy concert tickets at todays prices, you have to be very rich to be a concert follower these days.

[censy]

I really enjoy live shows. Smaller club shows preferably. Lucky for me, few of the acts I like can fill arenas. In 2008 I saw Ladytron, James, Duran duran and also went to the Regeneration tour which was full of 80s acts like Human League and ABC.

Chris