As I write this, I’m in the middle of a game of concert chicken with StubHub in the hopes of seeing Brad Paisley live today. Paisley is playing my city, with Blake Shelton opening, but he’s chosen a venue I hate and the prices are way too steep.
I’m not big on concerts. They’re expensive and uncomfortable and often less enjoyable than the same music heard on record. I don’t want to hear drawn-out jams, I don’t want to wait until 8:45 for a show that was supposed to start at 8. But at the same time, a good concert can be a transcendent communal experience if you’re willing to put up with all that other stuff.
And I’m pretty sure that Brad Paisley in concert is an absolute blast. His albums feel like concerts already and I have no doubt that today at the Cruzan Amphitheatre a good time will be had by all.
But I’ll be damned if I’m going to pay more than face value to some stinking ticket broker for a seat that was electronically scooped up seconds after the show went on sale. The concert business is basically a criminal enterprise.
However, I’ve heard that a friend of a friend was able to buy Taylor Swift tickets the day before (or day of?) the concert for less than face value. Good seats, too. Apparently StubHub goes into bargain basement mode once it’s clear they’ll be stuck with unsold tickets. So I’m holding out for a good deal on four Brad Paisley tickets. I’ll update this post with the results.
In the meantime, here’s a terrific duet between Paisley and Blake Shelton (or Blakey, as my smitted 5-year-old calls him) from This is Country Music.
Update: Well, I lost my game of chicken. StubHub has only a dozen or so tickets left and they’re still asking for more than face value. The bad guys win. We’ll go see a movie instead… and listen to Brad in the car.
I need to go out but not around here
There ain’t nowhere we haven’t gone
There’s this travel agent that I know who says Cozumel is real nice
And so he got me a deal on a flight and a room and a little bit of free advice
Don’t drink the water
I told him that’s OK
I ain’t going down to Mexico
To drink the water anyway
Blake, ain’t you been there before?
(Blake)
I’ve been there a time or two
They got some sweet Señoritas
That are more than glad to meet you
But I’m tellin’ you boy that whatever you do
Don’t drink the water
OK, OK
I ain’t going down to Mexico
To drink the water anyway
Corona or Tecate or my old friend Jose
I ain’t going down to Mexico
To drink the water anyway
On this trip anything I sip better have a kick and a burn
Strong enough to get you off my mind
Pickle my liver, and a little grub of worm
Don’t drink the water
That’s what they say
I ain’t going down to Mexico
To drink the water anyway
No one I know goes to Mexico
To drink the water anyway
Meet Me In Montauk 
The friend of a friend bought the tickets just hours before the concert. Isn’t it still possible they will go into “unload” mode closer to “kick off” time? That is the point, after all. They’re not going to unload them while there are obviously still people who are willing to pay the premium price. Scott didn’t buy the Taylor Swift tickets until 5:00 PM the evening of the concert that started at 8:00 PM. I wouldn’t buy your movie tickets just yet!
And Blakey and Brad as a double ticket is as wonderful as the other country concert we wanted to attend – Kris Allen and Keith Urban. I’ve got my fingers crossed that you have another update for us tomorrow morning 🙂
There are $48 lawn tickets on stub hub right now; Guess you want a seat? 🙂
http://ticketscompared.com/concerts/artists-a-c/brad-paisley-tickets-west-palm-beach-9-10.php
lots of options here….
Yeah, the lawn tickets are a rip-off at $50. I hate that venue.
yeah, you have put down a blanket etc. etc. I’m remembering the Dylan concert in Cleveland that I didn’t do when you were visiting 🙂
Sorry you weren’t able to go….Of course, if I were attending a concert hearing 2 hours or more of this music, I might have to just shoot myself:)