Bright Eyes Playing at the (Clear Channel-Free) Pageant?

Categories: This Just In

conor_oberst_press.jpg
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[Update, 5 p.m. Tuesday, February 8: This show is confirmed. Tickets are $27.50 to $30 and are onsale Friday at 5 p.m.]

Gather 'round A to Z, children. Old Lady Zaleski has a story to tell you. Back in fall 2005, Bright Eyes had a show scheduled at the Pageant. The gig was on sale, people were weeping with delight and tickets were flying out the door. But then, suddenly, a dark cloud fell over the city: The gig was no longer on due to the Pageant's then-association with Clear Channel. The show later happened in Columbia on the same night.

Well, the skies have parted, birds are chirping and all is allegedly forgiven between the band and the venue, as Conor Oberst's website just posted a June 6 Bright Eyes date in St. Louis. This would be the band's first appearance in town in a really, really long time. We'll see if the Pageant confirms this show at 5 p.m. as part of its normal Tuesday routine. [Note: See below for a cool look back at Bright Eyes' last show in town, which was a decade ago.]

Oh, and for the record: Clear Channel spun off the events/concerts-focused company Live Nation in late 2005. LN in turn merged with TIcketmaster last year. And you can buy tickets to shows at the Pageant via TM or Live Nation's websites.

[Update, 1:45 p.m. So, Vintage Vinyl dropped me a line with a link to a page on its website talking about an old Bright Eyes in-store -- from March 2001. According to the store, the band was opening for J Mascis later on that night at a 21+ club, and wanted to do an all-ages performance for fans. "Over 100 people came by, and the band stuck around for another half hour and mingled with the crowd," the store says. Check out a photo below -- and more at the link.

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courtesy of Vintage Vinyl

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5 comments
Stl_Bob
Stl_Bob

By the way, Pitchfork says Dawes is set to open this show.

Zac Early
Zac Early

Clear Channel was creating a monopoly, much like the one nearly accomplished by TicketMaster. Bright Eyes was this generation's Pearl Jam. Or something.

Mike
Mike

But wait, didn't Live Nation just gobble up Ticketmaster? So who won here?

Jason Rosenbaum
Jason Rosenbaum

I forgot, why were artists against Clear Channel again? I remember that was a crusade like five or six years ago.

Mike
Mike

No time to Wiki it, but I seem to recall that Clear Channel was purchasing smaller concert venues and muscling out smaller promoters. This was at a time when CC also held radio stations, billboard advertising, etc., so there was the fear of a monopoly.

I don't understand what Live Nation does differently and what now makes it OK. But then, Conor's political statements only occasionally make sense.

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