Beck @ Hiro Ballroom, NYC | Pics

April 16, 2005

Beck announced he was playing a “secret” show at Hiro Ballroom in NYC on April 15th, 2005. He sent the info out via his mailing list – one day before tickets went on sale. Word spread across the Internet. Someone told me they even announced the ticket details on 92.3 KRock. It was on NME, Gawker, Yahoo, and every blog.

I’d say there were at least 500 people there. Here’s a sample of who was there, and how they got in:

me: Ticketweb, luck, & $25 + service charge
friend I saw there: snuck in by staff
Jann Wenner: Guestlist (walked in the same time as me)
Aziz: patience, determination, & $20
miss modernage: same as Aziz
the oh so quiet show: same as above I think

One commenter summarized it this way:
“eveyone got in…even if you didnt have a ticket…if you didnt have a ticket it was 20 bucks…hahaha to everyone who payed more or even face value…and we got in before the show started with a great view of BECK!!!!”

Celebs rumored to be there: Daryl Hannah (who according to someone in the bathroom, was getting uncomfortably, publicly intimate with her boyfriend), Fabrizio of the Strokes, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jann Wenner (as noted above), and The Dandy Warhols.

Keep reading for excerpts from the Craigslist ticket section (and the photos I took)

“I have 2 tickets to the beck show on Friday night. Here is my offer. I need the exterior of my house painted or vinyl sided. If you could do this for me or arrange for a significant discount on professional services, the tickets are yours. References will be required.”

“If anyone was at the ’98 jones beach show you know it was cool. how about one for 40$?”

“i will pay 200 dollars to not go to the beck show because it appears that anyone that actually got tickets is a pathetic piece of shit. ie anyone that has 1 extra ticket. are you that obsene that you can not get one person you know to see beck with you? im talking directly to you 28 year old cute normal guy. learn how to get laid. just because the IT guy at your job introduced you to beck 4 years ago and arcade fire 4 months ago does not make you cool. you may have gotten tickets but you will always be a joke.”

“Hi, how about you if you have an extra Beck ticket,
I’ll treat you to a nice sandwich and a cold bottle of Yoohoo!
Pretty please? Thanks.”

“PLEASE NEED 2 TIX
NAME YOUR PRICE
WE’LL CALL YOU DADDY”

“I am merely looking for a Beck ticket to the Hiro show if at all possible… I have been a Beck fan since age 7. I realize there are a dearth of these postings, but it is worth trying, as he surpasses nearly everyone I have ever listened. I mean come on he said “too bad better bite the bullet hard son. I didn’t have no teeth so I stole his gun”
I am willing to pay up to 80 dollars”

“Me: Beck fan with a new mortgage and an newly uncertain employment future.
You: The world’s richest hipster.
I got my ticket in the same way that you didn’t get yours yesterday at 5PM.
As you know, there is tremendous demand for this show with no supply of tickets. So prices are going to be high. My price is $5,000.
I am not kidding.
Previous posts on this board have proposed that, in exchange for my ticket, I could hang out with Time Out New York’s favorite young comedian, or I could set up an extraordinary tryst with nubile young women who will call me, “Daddy”, or I could trade my ticket for a show with the guy from Pavement. Or I could sell it for $200.
Please.
Fifty $100 bills is preferred method of payment, but a bank check made out to cash is also acceptable.
I think I could persuade one other ticket holder to sell his at the same price. So ten G’s for two.
Serious inquiries only. Flames will be ignored. This show is going to be fucking great. Touch my ass if you’re qualified. Regards.”

“I’m DYING to go see Beck and like everyone else, Ticketweb fucked up my order. Anyone have 1 ticket? Name your price.”

Please please please
Pretty please with sugar coated candy tutti frutti sprinkles on top?

“I will buy you a few of those ridiculously overpriced Sapporos or Asahis or $5 bottled waters they sell in Hiro! Or a sushi roll from Matsuri next door which is super freakin good sushi.
I’m a Tried and true Beck fan, he is in my top 3! Is there is any way you can help me get in the show? I like totally love Beck. He so rocks my world.”

2 tickets for tonight at Hiro ballroom. Please e-mail me with offers

To all of you would-be scalpers:
If you find that the market for four-figure Beck tickets is actually quite thin, let me know. I’m still willing to get gouged for a whole lot more than the $50 you spent for two tickets. Plus my sister and I actually want to go to the show. Thanks!

“$300 for your 2 Beck tickets. Can meet you in manhattan.”

“I think another ticket-wanted poster echoed my sentiments: I’d love to see Beck tonight, but I can’t afford $200 for a ticket. I’d be willing to pay up to $75, however, so if you have an extra ticket you’re willing to part with for a non-usurious amount of money, please let me know!”

“Willing to give up 2 BECK tix for hiro tonight, you must be female age 20 to 25 and be willing to perform oral sex for 1/2 hr in my car. must remove shirt and bra, your friend can be there for security. giving 2 tix e me ”

“Dying to see Jeff Beck at Hiro tonight ( I hope Rod Stewart sits in) – $500. Beck-ola motherfuckers! I’m an old-time rocker. I like my whiskey brown and my women browner? I’m just looking for a chance to taste his licks, man. Help me rock my balls off. ”

“Beck Ticket @ Hiro Ballroom, Am Muslim, will eat Pork for ticket. You heard me right, Cat Stevens got me into Islam and now I am fairly devout in my practice. Sure, sometimes I sneak a cigarette, but no alcohol or anything too bad. Tonight however, I will make an exception. If you have an extra ticket for the Beck show tonight you can take me to a Chinese restataunt beforehand and I will eat whatever you want, even PORK. I’ll eat pork ribs, pork loin, pork pastrami, whatever. Or, if you prefer, I will pork you.
Remember, I was into Beck before you were.”

Offering 125 for a single ticket – may be able to go a little higher- can get back to you by 6:15pm

My brother has two tickets to tonites show, but unfortunately he was killed in a car accident last nite. He left me the tickets in his last dieing words. I’m asking $1000.00 each to help pay for his funeral..

i’ve got 4 tix to the shins on monday and am willing to trade them for 2 tix to beck tonite. let me know if you’re down.

I actually got through on the ticketweb thing and have two tickets waiting for me at will call tomorrow.
I’m asking for special favors from the recipient of my extra ticket. You don’t need to pay me anything, but the best offer of “extras” gets to go to the show.
Don’t worry – I’m a 28 year old, athletic, attractive, normal guy who just wants to milk this extra Beck ticket thing for all I can:) You don’t even need to hang out with me at the show. This can be very discreet and you will be pleasantly surprised by how cute/fun/normal I am.
Let me know your offers. Pictures are helpful. Thanks.

“a short story: a few years ago, i had a few extra tickets for beck’s show at lincoln center (smallish venue, don’t remember the name). anyway, instead of going on craigslist or eBay and trying to make a shitload of $$, i went on the beck.com BBS (now sadly defunct), and sold them at FACE VALUE to some desparate fan. I didn’t do it so that someday in the future some generous soul would sell me their extra beck tickets, but I figured I’d just tell this story and see if any beck fans get touched deep down inside. As a practical note, I am willing to pay more than face value, but do not want to get shafted. so, let me know. would be much appreciated. thanks.”

Who can sell me two tickets? Name a price. I am very poor though…I love him & since he married someone else, at least maybe I can go see him on my birthday!!!! Please help.

“Hello All,
I am in desperate search of Beck tickets for the show on 4/15 at the Hiro Ballroom. Really just need one for myself, but I’d be willing to take as many extras as you may have available, as I have many friends who want to go. Looking to pay face value please, just as I always sell any extras I have for face. ”

I really would like to go with my girlfriend but I only have one ticket to see the magical wizard of rhythm.
If you are selling, please please email me at below. I will pay money and if neccessary perform an interpretive dance.
thanks, a