Never can say I've been a huge Incubus fan, but this was a fairly valient effort at a Prince cover.  Plus anybody + The Roots = quality television:

This post has been a long time in the making, but I finally got pissed off enough this week to write it. First off - a big FU goes out to Live Nation. My hopes of a second viable ticketing option to put pressure on ticketmaster has only backfired. Live Nation is making Ticketbastard look like the Salvation Army.  Average ticket fees for a Live Nation ticket is $13. INSANE! And they give you less flexibility in ticket selection by location.

But who I'm most disappointed in is the artists.  Now the artists have always been the ones championing for their fans and almost working as buffers between the frustrate fans and the bitter labels.  Remember when Pearl Jam went head to head with Ticketmaster? Remember when they took their ticketing internal and did a world tour with no ticket costing more than $25.  That was only 5-6 years ago.  I understand the climate change in the music industry. Most bands make their living on the road and don't see big money from album sales. Except for the Springsteen's and Britney Spears' of the world - most artists aren't getting rich off album sales or itunes sales. They are earning their keep on the road.  But some of these artists have lost touch with the real world - or they are getting some terrible advice. Or they just don't give a shit.  Look at some of these ticket prices. What I've listed below is the lowest priced ticket available for each of these shows:

M. Ward - $45

AC/DC - $105

Kelly Clarkson - $60

Journey - $63  - Are you serious? You don't even have Steve Perry.

Keith Urban - $65

Taylor Swift - $40

Miley Cyrus - $55

The Avett Brothers - $45

The list could go on and on.  I'm not sure where these artists get off, in this economy, charging some of the highest ticket prices I can remember seeing in my lifetime. It shouldn't be a surprise that a quick scan through the ticketmaster website reveals hundreds of cancelled shows and complete tours all across the country.  The artists/labels will give some excuses like "exhaustion" - but the truth is - tickets weren't selling. It's pretty clear to me why. In some respects - I can look past the gouging by the Keith Urbans and AC/DC's of the world - but I lose alot of respect for artists like Avett Brothers and M.Ward - and even Jim James of My Morning Jacket - when I see those bands charging the prices they are.  Those are the folks that claim to be connected. Those are the artists that SHOULD be connected. That are the artists that MUST be connected to survive in the industry today.

It wouldn't be fair to lump all artists in with this group as there are still a number of great artists out there that get it. Tonight for instance - if you're in Louisville - head down to Waterfront Park and see one of the best songwriters of our generation - Josh Ritter play a FREE show. Or over the next couple weeks you can see a number these incredible artists for very reasonable prices in your town:

The Wood Brothers - $10

Galactic - $18

Son Volt - $17

Trevor Hall - $8

Langhorne Slim - $10

The Minus 5 - $10

Built to Spill - $20

This Misfits - $20

Mae - $10

God bless you and thanks for the great memories.....