Happenings on the Scene - Buckcherry set to rock B-Town on July 3

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Members of the Los Angeles-based rock band, Buckcherry, headline at X-Fest 2007 held that August at Turtle Crossing, formerly Curran Park.

Last week we made the big concert announcement on the KX Morning show. If you’re one of the very few yet to find out: KX96 presents Buckcherry July 3 at Houston’s! Tickets can be purchased by phone at 725-3737. Price $45 including all taxes and fees.

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Van Halen’s new single “Tattoo” really rankled one KX96 listener, who e-mailed a scathing review. Guess Lawrence won’t be going to their Mother’s Day concert in Winnipeg. (SUBMITTED)

Wouldn’t you know it, on the day of the announcement I was already hearing some backlash from the peanut gallery.

• "The ticket prices are too high for a bar show."

• "Big concert announcement? This is just sad, Buckcherry was big a couple years ago but not so much anymore."

• "Why does this city seem to get the same so-called big bands back every couple years or so?"

The old saying, "You can’t please them all" comes to mind. Sigh...

First off, let’s be happy Brandon is finally starting to get some shows featuring notable names! Let’s keep things positive and maybe, just maybe, we’ll see more shows, if not bigger shows, in the near future.

By the way, how nice was it to see a full house when Johnny Reid was in town last month? That was spectacular! I always said JR was one of those guys who you just knew was born for the stage and it was just a matter of time before he sold out arenas. Apparently his time has come.

The concert promoter game is a tough one with so many variables thrown in to keep things interesting. The financial risk is usually huge and the bigger the name is that risk increases.

The guaranteed names are now brands that will cost you well into the six-figure range and higher. We’re talking names like: AC/DC, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, The Stones and U2.

Those aforementioned acts command prices ranging from $500,000 to $1,000,000 but they put people in the seats and can almost always guarantee a sellout wherever they play.

The enormous booking fee covers a laundry list of costs including light and sound production, production crew, fuel for the semis to transport the equipment from city to city, not to mention paying the drivers of those semis. Then you have to cover food and lodging for the band and the crew. In most cases the band needs to be flown in.

These are just a few of the things that add up the ever increasing fees that we, the public, usually cover with the seemingly bloated ticket prices these days. Luckily this is mostly the case for arena and stadium shows — unless, of course, you prefer to sit in the nose-bleed section, which can also be a hefty price depending on the artist.

So once again, let’s look at the positives on this one.

It’s going to be a top-notch, high energy rock show from a notable American act currently on tour promoting their sixth CD, which just hit iTunes.

Yes, they’ve played here a couple times since their inception in the mid-’90s. Come to think of it, I’m quite sure they’re not the only band to ever play in the same market more than once.

Plus, Brandon’s Buckcherry concert will be the only performance they give in Manitoba! No Winnipeg show has been booked for this tour. Buckcherry fans will save money in that regard by not having to gas up or stay overnight in the ’Peg. Not to mention avoiding that dreaded two and half hour haul to and from the MTS Centre.

Those who think the ticket prices are too high should go to a "bar show" in a bigger market. A friend who lives in Calgary went to see Tom Cochrane at Cowboys Entertainment Tent during the Stampede last summer where the tickets were $56.20 and up (plus service charges). Blue Rodeo is set to play that same venue in July and tickets start at $59.95.

So you do the math. At $45 (including all fees), I’d say Buckcherry is still great value for your rock ’n’ roll dollar.

I should also take this opportunity to remind listeners that the mighty 96 will have several chances to win tickets. Tune it in and keep it cranked for the details.

If I may sum up my retort on this backlash of negativity, the sad thing is the people who complain whether we get shows in this town or not, then wonder why there aren’t many concerts in Brandon.

... and now for something completely different

Is Van Halen’s "Tattoo" this bad?

This week we turn the tables in Happenings. We’re letting the listener play the part of "record reviewer" to have his say.

Every once in awhile we get comments on some of the songs we play on KX96. Usually it’s just a quick call from listeners saying they "love" a certain song, or need more info on a song or a release date of a new album, etc.

Sometimes people even call in to tell us they dislike a new song that hits rotation.

But this has got to be the biggest, most scathing review of any new song I’ve ever played on any radio station regardless of music format.

Just figured I’d share this with you and conduct my own survey that asks the question "Is the new Van Halen this bad?"

Here’s an email I received from loyal KX listener Lawrence who doesn’t hold back how he feels with this review:

Have to vent...

I was under the assumption (I know — never assume, blah blah blah) that when a band puts out a new album/CD, they send their better if not best picks off of such for airplay in the interest of gaining sales for such. That being said, after listening a number of times (had to give it a fair shake just in case it was one of those tunes that takes a few listens to hit home) to that new Van Halen song "Tattoo" and I’m stuck shaking my head at how pitiful it is. Is this what we waited all these decades for?

Granted there is some decent guitar work, but it seems as though it was thrown in there because they felt that they had better because the general public would be expecting such. Said guitar work has no natural flow to the song (as in the Halen of past). Roth’s voice input is sad and sounds old and tired — far from the energy and charisma of the glory days. AND WHAT IS THE LEGAL LIMIT TO THE AMOUNT OF TIMES ONE CAN REPEAT THE TITLE WORD IN ONE SONG?!?!?!

I expect backlash on this point, but still have to make it — it seems to me that Van Halen simply threw out an album to cash in on their namesake — (here comes) — much like Aerosmith who haven’t put anything out other than bubblegum rock since and including "Permanent Vacation" (except for the one song "What kind of love are you on" from the Armegeddon soundtrack).

In short, if this is the best song VH had to send to the stations to promote their new album, I have no interest in pursuing a purchase of such, wasting my money on the concert or even listening to anything else off the CD.

Awaiting my lumps,

Lawrence

For those of you compelled enough to send in their retort on this review please email me: Frank@kx96.astral.com. We’ll be in touch!

By the way, Van Halen plays the MTS Centre in Winnipeg this Sunday. Wouldn’t tickets to that concert make a nice Mother’s Day gift? There is one more chance to win with the final draw Friday morning.

Go to www.kx96online.com to get all the details.

Frank McGwire is a radio personality and booster of the music scene in Brandon and Westman.

» Frank@kx96.astral.com.

Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition May 10, 2012