this probably isn't the ideal place for me to post that I have three extra (balcony) tickets for the Wednesday night show then, huh?

ah well. back to slapping my palm against my forehead.

realistically as much as i am pro fugazi 5 dollar shows type thing....all those tickets would be bought up by scalpers if he charged like 40 bucks or something. at least the artist is getting the money.

Anyone complaining about neil young's ticket pricing is pretty stupid. Yes its crazy high but if neil played msg as he has done many times and sold out, the tickets would probably be higher for the top ticket price.
He is playing this time at a much smaller place and even smaller than rcmh where he played the last time. So you are paying to see neil in venues you would not normally see him. I mean its neil young who has always been pretty great every time i have seen him.
Of course i wish the price was lower but im still excited as fuck to see this show. Plus from what i have heard of chrome dreams II the album is gonna be amazing.

Totally unrelated, but does anyone want an extra Weakerthans ticket for the Webster Hall show? Ticketmaster fucked me over and placed two orders for 1 ticket. I was hoping it would sell out, but it doesn't look like it will.

I'm willing to sell below face the night of the show, so someone let me know if you're interested.

It's "stupid" to complain about $157 tickets?

I'd love to know what world of super-intelligence you're living in, fuckwad.

Steve, if you're going to nitpick the use of the word "stupid," then you have to evaluate the matter rationally. And cold, hard logic says that there's nothing wrong with charging what the market will bear.

As for Lesfetz proclaiming, "NOT EVERY NEIL YOUNG FAN RAPED AND PILLAGED AND IS NOW RICH!" he's implying that everyone who is paying these prices became able to afford them through immoral means. What a buffoon.

I agree what the commenter over at Lefsetz page wrote:
"If Neil priced his tix at $95 and 500 of his tickets ended up on Stubhub with a scalper or some other secondary ticket option where they resold the tickets at $257 would you feel better?? Who deserves that money?, the artist or the scalper. Me think the artist deserves that money as his name is on the ticket. If you’ve followed how aggressive the secondary ticket market has become you would understand better the dilemma of the artist/manager/agent in determining what to price the tickets at."

Those damn secondary markets! How's the secondary market on breakfast cereals?

is it expensive? yes. is it worthwhile? sure as shit.

i am not rich by any means but as long as there are people like me who are willing to shell it out for LEGENDS IN SMALL THEATERS, then this will continue.

Small theater? United Palace is huge?

MSG, it is not.

@ Mr. Spock:

Of course Young and other artists can charge what the market will bear. But they should know that in doing so, they're pricing a large portion of their fanbase out of seeing their shows. And I have no problem with fans being angry when an artist chooses the financial bottom line over their fans. I'm not saying artists MUST charge lower prices, I'm simply saying that fans have every right to be upset.

With respect to the comments others have made about scalpers, while I am sure that a number of lower priced tickets (in a hypothetical scenario) would end up in the secondary market, I am also certain that a large number would not. In fact, I would guess that the majority would not, and that most of those tickets would end up in the hands of fans who purchased the tickets and want to see the show. Speaking for myself, I certainly would have bought a ticket at $50 or $75, and I would have gone to the show. (Only tickets I've ever scalped were shows I couldn't go to due to a conflict.)

Finally, if Neil's really so interested in playing small venues to folks willing to prove their fan-hood with their pocketbooks, shouldn't somebody sign him up for one of those Dave Matthews/Billy Joel/$1,000 per song Hamptons shows next summer?

@ Mr. Spock:

Of course Young and other artists can charge what the market will bear. But they should know that in doing so, they're pricing a large portion of their fanbase out of seeing their shows. And I have no problem with fans being angry when an artist chooses the financial bottom line over their fans. I'm not saying artists MUST charge lower prices, I'm simply saying that fans have every right to be upset.

With respect to the comments others have made about scalpers, while I am sure that a number of lower priced tickets (in a hypothetical scenario) would end up in the secondary market, I am also certain that a large number would not. In fact, I would guess that the majority would not, and that most of those tickets would end up in the hands of fans who purchased the tickets and want to see the show. Speaking for myself, I certainly would have bought a ticket at $50 or $75, and I would have gone to the show. (Only tickets I've ever scalped were shows I couldn't go to due to a conflict.)

Finally, if Neil's really so interested in playing small venues to folks willing to prove their fan-hood with their pocketbooks, shouldn't somebody sign him up for one of those Dave Matthews/Billy Joel/$1,000 per song Hamptons shows next summer?

I still bought tickets for all three nights.

"Of course Young and other artists can charge what the market will bear. But they should know that in doing so, they're pricing a large portion of their fanbase out of seeing their shows."

Well, if Neil Young (or whoever) doesn't play more shows or larger venues, a number of fans are going to be shut out anyway. But I won't fault fans who get angry with him because the tickets are priced too high for them to afford, either. After all, if the goal is to keep scalpers from profiting off of his performances, can't he do what Arcade Fire did when they played that church and make tickets will-call-only?

he priced the tickets perfectly, or maybe a bit too low. If you sold out right away then you know the price was too low. What you prefer Radiohead pricing at 40 bucks then you cant get a ticket anyway cause everybody wants to go. This way at least you know the die-hard life long fan is able to get a legit ticket. And non-fan guy on the fence is gonna skip the show...

side comment: the sound at United Palace FUCKING REEKS, at least up in the balconies. just thought i'd mention that... people should know what pile of shit they're getting for their $100.

Steve-
it seems like you are actually the fuckwad here. 157 is stupid to complain because when you are talking about top tier artists these days 157 is actually in the lower range of what you will have to pay to see them and at much larger venues. Radiohead charging 40 to see them at the theater last year was an exception and not the norm. The stones, the police, genesis, van halen etc..christ even bruce springsteen all charged much more for tickets and that was at MSG. The lower priced tickets were all up in the balcony of that cavern which is about as good a seat as being outside the damn venue listening to the show.

This is seeing a major act in a small place(compared to where he usually plays and sells out) Would I like for the show to be 50 dollars? Sure but we dont live in those days anymore. If it was 50 dollars you would have people on here complaining that that was too high.

As for the secondary market, all 3 shows are going to sell out and watch scalpers get like 300 for a ticket or more down below

As for the asshat "om" who said the sound fucking reeks at United Palace in the balcony. That is just not true. It is much better than the balcony at many other large places such as MSG and Radio City.

No concert...excluding festivals should exceed $100.

That's how I feel, but I'm sure many of you feel that's a crazy notion.

When Neil plays larger venues, it is with Crazy Horse. The United Palace shows are not with Crazy Horse - the band for these shows include a pedal steel guitarist. It might be great, it might not, but you are not going to be seeing the same show at United Palace as you would see if you went to see Neil and Crazy Horse at the Garden. Neil has always played these smaller venues when not touring with the Horse - this is nothing special.

Waaaaah! Waaaaaaah!

And that sums up the comments section for this subject.

specifically recall paying $8/ticket for a ny+ch show played at philly's 12k seating capacity spectrum in the 70's. that was crazy costly at the time. also recall neil's complaining at the show 'bout playing inside "blimp hangars". yea, he rawks out ginormous, but f a bunch of $150 tickets. for those going, let's hope he doesn't lip-synch over a pre-recorded soundtrack a la the police at their shows - the trio was a sextet two nights i went - fwads.

Has anyone heard yet that Neil perished very early this morning in a plane crash? Guess all these comments were in vain. Refunds are being offered at point of purchase. RIP, Neil.

its all about greed, that's the entire point. and you'll go on defending Neil, because he's your favorite or whatever, but the bottom line is, its all about $$ and not so much about the music. its a business, and that's sad to me.

are you shitting me, the police was lip synched? I dont know I didnt go. I saw waters lip synching last year, and I tell you I will never go see him again.

Also you have to think- Neil doenst tour much these days. Like I said before I think these are priced just right. If he priced them less then every hipster/ someone looking just to go out be seen would be jumping on these tickets. this way he assures that the loyal fans get to go. I paid the same price for Levon Helm at the beacon earlier this year, and it was one of the best concerts of the year for me.

anyone who thinks these tickets are "priced just right" is 1) wealthy or 2) doesn't "get" what's going on...and that is that fans are being fleeced. Not just with this, but with everything in life.

Im def no wealthy, thats one days pay for me(100 bucks), I dont mind spending that much for a concert i really want to see.

Wait, is there confirmation that there will be no Crazy Horse? A negative on Crazy Horse involvement settles the ticket price debate in favor of Lefsetz-minded folks.

"When Neil plays larger venues, it is with Crazy Horse. The United Palace shows are not with Crazy Horse - the band for these shows include a pedal steel guitarist. It might be great, it might not, but you are not going to be seeing the same show at United Palace as you would see if you went to see Neil and Crazy Horse at the Garden. Neil has always played these smaller venues when not touring with the Horse - this is nothing special."

first responding to moron #1 who knows nothing about Neil Young. Yes it is not Crazy Horse playing this tour but it is a band consisting of one member of crazy horse plus another member of the band that backed neil on the eldorado sessions which was harder than anything crazy horse has put out yet. Oh and yes NEIL YOUNG will be playing. What a dumb comment. Neil over the years has played with a number of "rocking" configurations beside Crazy Horse. The fact that there is going to be some pedal steel playing means nothing. This is in fact special because they are touring behind an apparently great new record and playing in a place you wont see neil in usually.

"Wait, is there confirmation that there will be no Crazy Horse? A negative on Crazy Horse involvement settles the ticket price debate in favor of Lefsetz-minded folks."

now to moron #2-Crazy Horse are a great band but to say because they are not backing him on this tour swings the debate over to the folks who cry too much for tickets is ridiculous. Another informed dumbass

"Has anyone heard yet that Neil perished very early this morning in a plane crash? Guess all these comments were in vain. Refunds are being offered at point of purchase. RIP, Neil."

and finally we have super moron #3. Just go away you loser

you know how much condoms used to cost back in the day?

Neil Young is playing a private secret show with Crazy Horse tonight at Cakeshop.

The above poster is misinformed. The secret show is actually at the Living Room. Stay tuned for details.

That's correct. Daft Punk is playing Cake Shop tonight. Anyone know what time they go on?

can we get a moratorium on these painfully unfunny (daft punk, mozart, etc) commenter jokes?

"can we get a moratorium on these painfully unfunny (daft punk, mozart, etc) commenter jokes?"

If you're not one of the losers on this site that takes them self and these insignificant* hipster/indie issues so seriously, the commenter jokes are quite chuckle-invoking.

*So how about that Burma, huh? Makes bitching about a Neil Young ticket so passionately seem a little silly, doesn't it?

sure - they're chuckle inducing the first time - not the 50th you fucking twat

Anon 3:21: Shouldn't you be spending your time right now scouring the blogs to figure out which bands to like and which bands to hate on?

Concerts in general seem to be getting more expensive. Has anyone else noticed this? I'm sure that has a lot to do with the fact that you don't really have to pay for recordings anymore.
I used to make more money so I didn't pay attention for a few years to what the concert prices were. Now, I'm broke and theres all these bands I'd like to see but $65 for Morrissey just seems outrageous. I know its a small venue and if I had it I would pay. These well established acts aren't looking for new fans. They don't sell as many records as they might have before the internet, so, it makes sense to me that they charge these numbers. Oh well, welcome to the future, i guess.
But somehow I don't see the core of Neil Young fans having a bit torrent program on their computer.

This Lefsetz guy seems like a real douche. Is he always that pissy? I don't understand why all these music bloggers are so cranky. I like music. I like a dialogue about the music industry as much as the next guy but I really can't understand why someone would get so incensed by something like this. If his blog was popular wouldn't he get comped tix anyhow?

BTW- Neil Young seemed archaic and boring for so long before the grunge thing. I thought people listened to it to be ironic. Buffalo Springfield was great, though.

thats because the dollar is losing value.

Anon 4:08: Lefsetz is a blogger (it's actually a newsletter widely read in the industry), but he's also a famous record industry executive. Easy to see why he's pissy, really, if you look at the state of the music business, which is what he writes about.

If he's not already getting comped to see Neil, he can definitely afford to pay Neil's ridiculous ticket prices. He's an old hippy and greed in music is one of his pet peeves. Personally I think his blog is really entertaining.

Agreed about Neil Young. I hope Chrome Dreams II is good but I don't have high hopes for that. He has put out about 3 good albums in the last 25 years.

Thanks for the info Edwynthebear.

Anon 4:17: Thank you for the deep insight into the changing economy and its effects on the entertainment industry. I guess thats all there is to know really. I might just get it tattooed on my wrist as a reminder so I wont have to bother thinking.
Thats because the dollar is loosing value.

Even if $157 is cheaper than usual, it's still too much. I don't care if you've been around for decades and are a "living legend"...show some respect for music fans who aren't rich fucks.

Hate to say it, but these prices are ridiculous. Neil's great but 2 x 157 = 4 months of groceries for my family. No shit! I ain't lying. Same thing with Van Morrison. Too much! I wouldn't pay this much to see Jesus himself.

Neil, take this Wall Street cash and give it to flippin' charity.

Sincerely

Canuck, Van-worshipper livin' in the Upper North Side

The Upper North Side? Is that Inwood?

The scalping problem exists because of the Ticketmaster problem. That monopoly has to be broken, shredded and burned. Technology is a wonderful thing, but in this case I'd even advocate going back to the old days when you had to buy your tickets in person and you had a 4 ticket per person max. Let the greedy Stubhub azzholes and their proxies line up in the hot sun or the dead of winter, among the real fans, instead of using software cheats in the comfort of their offices to grab hundreds of tickets. Last time I bought tickets to a show, a third of the price was Ticketmaster fees. For what? For downloading my order and stuffing an envelope? If you want to bitch about all of this sh*t, at least recognize the real source of the problem.

A chick I used to go out with used to like to go to those all-night and early morning clubs in Manhattan. There were never bands playing, just DJs that I'd never heard of. The cover was usually about $35. Sometimes they'd have a "famous" DJ and charge $50. For a f-in DJ! DJs aren't musicians, they're human jukeboxes. Neil Young is a musical genius and a living legend and should command a price at least 2 to 3 times that of any DJ.

And anyway, I bought tickets in the front row center of the upper loge (lower loge is only like 6 rows) for $86 (plus TicketBastard charges, but that's a different issue). For a show in Manhattan that's not that much. Wake up people!