What’s with our concert promoters? Do they not realize that our city has an under 30 crowd? Even under 40? What’s with booking concerts from bands/artists that need walkers to get to the middle of the stage. I mean, KISS was a great band in 1977 and i’m sure they could put on a good show, but where’s the modern rock bands? Where is U2 or Red Hot Chili Peppers? Where are the BIG modern rock bands? We had summersault a few years ago and the lineup was absolutely amazing! Don’t use any excuse that they don’t come this way. Portland Maine has great shows and it’s not any bigger than Halifax and very close.
It was actually nice to see that Disturbed is playing at the forum but we need more!
—musically frustrated
This article appears in Apr 2-8, 2009.
We are getting some iconic and legendary bands that inspired generations of music to come afterwards. If Portland is so close, why don’t you go there?
U2? RHCP? These bands originated in the 80s and 90s..and are starting to fade out. I would hardly associate them with “modern”. But I’m stoked for Disturbed too!
Who the hell wants to see U2?
KISS will be great! Their pyrotechnic show = Hiroshima times 7 !!!!
If you’re looking for more modern, mainstream bands though, I might suggest the festival of lights on Prince Edward Island this summer… I’m not so huge into their lineup personally, but they usually have a few pretty big names!
Bono or Gene Simmons. HMMMM.
I think the surge of old acts putting on big shows is directly related to the lack of new acts that do not have the same drawing power. Let’s face it, the last big act to come here that did not predate 1990 was Pearl Jam. The music industry has changed and I am not sure what will happen when the older acts die off, because frankly they seem to be the only thing keeping the concert scene interesting
with everyone stealing their music, you’d think bands would want to tour more for the revenue. Even if it means playing rinky dink concerts at the metro centre. Where else can you buy a t-shirt for $40?
Metallica…… I would give my left nut and probably my right one too if we could pull those sonsabitches here. Yeah I realize they’re a little long in the tooth too but hey…… it’s fucking METALLICA!!!!!!
Metallica…… I would give my left nut and probably my right one too if we could pull those sonsabitches here. Yeah I realize they’re a little long in the tooth too but hey…… it’s fucking METALLICA!!!!!!
The Heritage Trust in Halifax is responsible for all these ancient dinosaur bands coming to play here. They’re afraid current bands, etc will destroy Halifax’s historic image.
they could entice Chris Brown and Rhianna here as a WWE event?
Yeah Senile, with Whitney and Bobby to open for them and an encore by Tina and Ike before they finish off with Rick James and every woman he’s come in contact with.
with oj simpson as a referee.
Portland is a tad closer to continetal US. its like what, 4 horus away from Boston/NYC?
Halifax loses out because of its population isolation. it is the biggest city within a 10 hour drive in any direction. not enough people to bring big ticket concerts, now say, if Montreal would be the same size as HFX, it still would get all those show, simply because of where it is located – within 5 hours from the largest city in the country, the nations capital, and multi-million cities in the US. we are too far east is what im trying to get at.
and U2 and RHCP are older then me. they are about as ‘modern’ as, say Depeche Mode, The Eurythmics, and Devo.
Again, give me one new band that would have the drawing power to fill the Commons. That’s all I’m saying. I don’t believe in that bullshit that Heritage Trust is intentionally booking “dinosaur” acts. They just know what sells.
k, I think your point is one that is missed a lot when people expect Halifax to do things like other cities the same size. for example, Hamilton (~500000) is comparable in size to Halifax (~300000) but it has over 6 million people within a 2-3 hour drive.
Halifax will always be somewhat limited because of its isolation. It affects our concerts, sporting events, tourism jobs, etc.
Metallica? They’ve been here. It was like, geez, I dunno fifteen or twenty years ago. Can’t remember exactly. But, Queensryche opened for them, so that must tell ya somethin’. Not a good candidate for the “modern” acts the OP was hoping for. But then again, the OP thinks U2 is modern, so maybe Metallica does qualify.
If Kenny Rogers comes to town, I’ll impale myself on my favourite Gromman’s butter knife.
How ’bout some local indie bands for one big motherfucking party?
You mean the Halifax Pop Explosion
booo-urns.
hell, I don’t mind older bands/acts.
I’ve seen Alice Cooper both recent metro centre shows….
the man knows how to rock!
We just don’t get good shows often enough.
And the reason we don’t get a WWE show is the same as the concerts…. where reasonably can they hold the next night’s show? and which city’s show would we follow?
they’d barely have time to make the trip.
I know Metallica was here before but I was like 8 or 9, way too young to appreciate what I was missing. As for a new band with drawing power, good luck unless you want kiddie pop like Miley Cyrus ( my daughter loves this shit ) or the Jonas Bros. lol……..noooooooooooooooooo!
I’m still anxiously awaiting NKOTB’s summer line up because surely hfx’ll be on that list. Please? heh.
*waits to get flamed*
One small example – Queens of the Stone Age played here a year ago, and drew about 3,000 people. Note that I’m not comparing them to KISS or to U2, but just pointing out a fairly well-known modern band that barely got noticed here.
In many cities they would be a huge draw, but for all the reasons listed above, it just doesn’t work here in a classic-rock town with fewer than a million people within a 3-hour driving radius.
I think many pop acts could draw huge crowds – and no self-respecting adults would want to see them – and there are a few (relatively) recent rock acts like Radiohead or Coldplay (i.e. Radiohead-lite) that *might* draw a crowd.
On the other hand, some of the attitudes on display in this and other postings could explain why even they would fail. The band widely considered by most of the major critics and music publications as the single most artistically solid and influential major act in the world today is dismissed with “boring and pretentious”, “who the fuck is…”, etc. while we keep talking about wanting to see the Eagles. I don’t expect everyone to love the band, but it seems silly to dismiss them as nobodies when for the past 15 years they have been considered among the top 5 best bands in the world.
We can’t even get people to go out to see live LOCAL bands play in this city for a 3 dollar cover charge… you honestly think that anyone in University can afford to pay $90 /ticket? (I only say the university thing because the OP clearly thinks anyone over 20 doesn’t know what music is…)
Besides, no self-respecting music lover is interested in any of those crap manufactured pop groups that have been thrown in our faces for the last 15 years.
P.S. Top concert draws worldwide in 2008:
1. Madonna ($105 million)
2. Celine Dion ($94 million)
3. The Eagles ($73.4 million)
4. Kenny Chesney ($72.2 million)
5. Bon Jovi ($70.4 million)
6. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band ($69.3 million)
7. Neil Diamond ($59.8 million)
8. Rascal Flatts ($55.8 million)
9. The Police ($48 million)
10. Tina Turner ($47.7 million)
Not a “modern” band in sight, unless you count Kernel Chestnut and Rascal Flatts, which I believe are both fairly recent country acts. I recall a fairly similar profile in 2007.
So it’s not just us. Old bands draw old people who can afford tickets.
To promote a more youthful mix, if that’s seen as important, Halifax needs to get better at drawing more *small* to *medium-sized* concert acts, as opposed to always focussing on the big old boys and girls.
The aforesaid Queens of the Stone Age Show was one. I saw Bloc Party, Metric, Feist, and several others in Hali in the past year. I’ve seen Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, and some others in the year or two before that.
I’m not saying everyone has to like these acts either, but they are undeniably huge in the indie scene.
But they mostly play in tiny venues here (except Feist now that she’s “as seen on TV” and shit.) If we wanted to see any of these acts in a larger venue, the concert folks would have to promote the absolute shit out of it.
And that’s what I find lacking in Hali – the promotion. Modern acts do not get radio play here, so no one knows who they are. And concerts are poorly promoted. How many times have you found out some big concert happened *last night* and were totally surprised to hear about it?
Good call Jammie, the radio scene here is fucking horrible but from what I know it’s the same across Canada. Rock radio is for the most part pre-programmed and the lowly DJ has virtually no say in what is played. Therefore, if there is decent indie bands out there, which I’m sure there are, the regular joe doesn’t hear them. We need another musical revolution like in the early 90’s to shake shit up. In the meantime, I’ll continue to listen to the oldies
I really don’t know why people complain so much about Halifax concerts. As Jammie listed, i have seen most of those bands in Halifax along with a lot of others I that were doing quite well at the time. When I was in toronto, i was never able to get tickets to or afford any of the good bands. I have never had trouble seeing a band in halifax and I especially like seeing bands like Arcade Fire and other s in small venues before they get super popular. There’s tons of great music in halifax.
I really don’t know why people complain so much about Halifax concerts. As Jammie listed, i have seen most of those bands in Halifax along with a lot of others I that were doing quite well at the time. When I was in toronto, i was never able to get tickets to or afford any of the good bands. I have never had trouble seeing a band in halifax and I especially like seeing bands like Arcade Fire and other s in small venues before they get super popular. There’s tons of great music in halifax.
and now Moncton gets AC/DC
For the comment that was posted regarding affordability, could you please just post how much the tickets are for KISS, normal and VIP, and scale them on the “affordability” scale?!
You know I’ll just take the liberty in posting that.
Early Bird Tickets are $99 plus taxes and fees. Beats me what fees are, I figured the price of the ticket should just about cover everything.
VIP are $289. How VIPish can you get at the commons?!! certainly not worth $289!!
Where? Commons! Which is OK but honestly, don’t you all think tickets should be waaaayyyy less than that?!
I’d hate to see what the not so early bird ticket price will be!
Also, no chairs will be allowed.. what the heck is that!!!
ya I’m sure people are going to appreciate standing there for more than 10 hours!!
Now now let’s tell everybody who we really want. Hanna Montana and the Disney gang. They’re new, young, hip, and on the charts.