The Raleigh Concert Scene

Every year, I await tour date announcements with great anticipation. And it seems like every time my favorite bands are touring, they aren't coming anywhere near Raleigh. Instead, we get a lot of country acts and "Remember when?" acts like KISS and Tom Petty. And the Backstreet Boys. Seriously. I realize preferences for music vary widely but I like to think my taste in music is pretty eclectic. Still, there's next to nothing on the schedule that interests me.

And yet somehow the City, in all their wisdom, felt that what the area really needed to spend tax money on was another concert venue. I guess so it can be half-filled with more sub-par acts while taking away from the established concert presence (not to mention foot-traffic and associated revenue at near-by restaurants) in Moore Square.

It's no secret that the economy kinda bites. Okay, not just kinda. It's been biting hard for awhile now. As a result, there's generally not a lot of spending money for extras like concerts. Especially since concerts are often very expensive, plus all the fees, plus parking, plus don't you dare think you're going to buy a bottled water for less than $10! A lot of acts are finding themselves in the position of canceling shows or even entire tours due to poor ticket sales. Some are canceling due to the poor health of band members (or, you know, poor ticket sales that they don't want to acknowledge). Everyone from Christina Aguilera to Simon and Garfunkel to Black Sabbath is canceling shows.

So Raleigh starts off with a lousy concert schedule. And then acts start canceling shows. Lilith and the Jonas Brothers (I know, how will I survive?) have already pulled their Raleigh dates. Who's next?

But John Mayer? He's still coming to Raleigh. I couldn't get rid of him and his skeeviness if I tried.