Posted by MPB:

So, looking at the concert calendar for this summer, I was pumped when they announced that the Old 97s would be playing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre outside of Denver. Red Rocks is a good place to see a show, and the old 97s are one of my favorite bands (I had a previous DBT-esque obsession with them), so what more could you ask for?

For the un-initiated, the Old 97s was one of those bands that were dubbed "alt-country", had one hit (Timebomb), told they'd be hugely famous, and then never heard from again as far as main-stream media is concerned. But they have quite the following, and they put on a fantastic live act. Its like they have two versions of every song: the so-so studio version, and the completely kick-ass live version. I've seen them in Austin, and left thoroughly satisfied, rather I mean thoroughly ROCKED, afterward.

So, pumped for the show, I look into it, only to find out they are charging 50 !@#$! dollars! I knew something was awry when I heard Starbucks was the event "Presenter". Something is seriously wrong when a coffee company is a concert presenter. Concerts go well with beer, with pot, with hallucinogenic drugs, but I've never heard of concerts going well with coffee.

To add insult to injury, the Old 97s are not only NOT the headliner, they are the second opener listed. So I'd be paying $50 to see one hour of the goods. Thats probably more expensive that the Police on a per-hour basis.

And Ryan Adams is the headliner! Ryan Adams! Doesn't he owe his musical existence to bands like the Old 97s? Ok, so I suppose their last two albums haven't been THAT good. But have they really fallen this far?

Apparently so.

-MPB