These Days: Wednesday, January 18th, 2017
Touringing: Among superstars the touring world has changed big time, the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney have adaped the way with their five concert tours for tens of millions. Last year the Stones played two nights in the desert at Oldchella, and then, humorously dubbing it the Rat Pack Tour, Mick added two nights in Vegas -one of which was cancelled. Sir Paul will play a ten concert run and then go home for three months. And while U2 and Coldplay are bringing it to the people, Radiohead released a new album last year and then played ten nights, mostly festivals. That was it. They are back on tour in 2017 (a little late to save the album, right?), more extensively but still 25 dates between April and July is hardly a deadly clip. Remember the Outkast tour? They never set foot in an Arena and then took their money and scooted. Part of this is simple enough, there is more money in festivals so why bother? And part of this is strangeness brave new world. Either way, it is a new way to conduct your business.
Speaking Of Which: There was a time in which tee shirts were the talisman of the live gig, that was until the stars figured out they could sell more tees if they put em on line… so now my Bruce Springsteen “99” is no longer proof that I was at his great return with the E Street Band at Meadowlands at the end of last century.
Old Music: Knee deep in Musicology, my plan is to review it next. This is the first Prince album that is better than I remembered even if all the post-WB question marks remain. Where did his pop jones go?
New Music: The quiet is on now, and I am listening to singles like the new Spoon (solid but not spectacular -not unlike the band. Grade: B).
New York State Budget: a $152.3 billion state budget proposals from Cuomo for 2017 and apparently Cuomo and de Blasio, who will absolutely get another four years before his scandals catch up with him, have made nice. There is nothing for me to look forward to but taxes… but that goes without saying.
MTA: Did you know that subway prices were so untouchable that from 1908 to 1948 it remained at a nickel. Well, the city has long since recovered from that fear and it is becoming a daily nightmare at a tremendous $3 a pop (next year). I have two relations who work for the MTA and so I am happy they have such fine pensions, but for the rest of us? Whither goes Wall Street I said yesterday, let me add whither goes the MTA as well.
