My interest in concert attending has definitely waned over the last couple years. COVID being the primary, and obvious culprit. Even now that we’re (seemingly) keeping that plague at bay my enthusiasm for seeing live music is still very, very low.
I could point out all the things that happen at shows, at least the kind of shows I attend(ed), mainly punk and metal shows, that are super fucking gross after COVID shined it’s horrifying light on them. Cramming into small to medium size venues, sweaty dudes thwapping you in the face with their not-recently-washed hair in a head-banging fit, the bathrooms, oh my the fucking bathrooms…
Mostly it’s how going to a show, even a modest show, in Denver, is a fuck exhausting, price gauging affair.
Ticket prices are up, plus those goddamn criminal service fees. Oh, you gotta drive because there’s no reasonable public transportation in Denver. Light Rail? Don’t make me laugh. Now that you’re driving you’ll have to park somewhere. Take your chances with street parking or pay, and I’m not even joking, $35 to park three blocks away.
Outrageous.
Recently a well-beloved, aging, blond-spiky haired, British, lip-curling, rock-dude who will remain nameless ventured to our fair city. My wife and I being fans were interested and upon perusing ticket prices discovered it would cost us, for two tickets, damn near $200. Not counting parking, which at that particular venue, offers no street parking. Not including drinks, which for a 16oz can of beer there is around $15, or $8 for a fucking bottle of water.
Granted, I’d expect such horrifying costs for a mainstream, large-scale show. I’m sure the Taylor Swift and Blink 182 pricing controversies would still make your head spin, but at a mid-sized venue, for relatively obscure death metal bands, that’s fucking ridiculous. Not fun.
And just stupid.