The economy was up and just about everyone hit the road. Ticket prices for big arena concerts hovered between $75 and $100 depending on where you sat. Was it worth it? Not from where I sat. As a professional critic and photographer who writes and photographs without having to pay, the question of “Would I pay?” was all to often “NO.” Of all the great shows that I saw this year, nearly half were Chicago-area talent—performers that you can see once a month with a top ticket price of $12. In a musical town like Chicago you have to ask, “Where do I get my bang for my buck?” Don’t look to the Allstate Arena or the United Center—you’ll have better luck at the House of Blues or the Hideout.
Shows of note:
1. The Swinging Love Hammers: House of Blues. The best unsigned band in America?—possibly. The Hammers are the embodiment of unpretentious crisp “FUCK YOU” R & R with a smile. Witty hooks (“Real Men,” “Give it Up,” “Ultrasound”), killer show, and enough beat and breath to raise the dead of Bangladesh. No question the most compelling-exhilarating-exhausting show I’ve seen in years.
2. Patricia Barber: CD Release show, the Park West
3. Patti Smith Group/Richard Thompson/the Mekons: Old Town School of Folk Music
4. The B-52’s: the Chicago Hilton (Benefit for AIDS Foundation)
5. Tina Turner/Joe Cocker: the United Center
6. Chris & Heather’s Record Round-Up Benefit for Chicago Filmmakers (featuring Scott Ligon, Brigid Murphy, Old #8, and Cynthia “Plaster Caster”) : the Hideout
7. Michelle Shocked: House of Blues
8. Robbie Fulks/Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire/the Heatersons: Metro
9. The Culture Club: House of Blues
10. (Tie) Queerstock (featuring Robert Urban and Doria Wood among others) : Star Gaze; The Three Tenors: the United Center.
The “Who’s Laughing Now” Award goes to Tina Turner’s “24-7” Tour. So what if the (actually very good) kick-off single (“When the Heartache is Over”) fell out of Billboard’s Hot 100 before it could crack the top 20. So what if “24-7” limped to platinum status. So what if the Super Bowl half-time blow-out didn’t burn the house down. Tina sailed through town, not once, not twice, but three times (all sell-outs) proving what real star power is. And she was the top-grossing touring act of 2000, even beating out hotties N’Sync. Tina, they want you.
The “Who’s Not Even Able to Crack a Smile” Award goes to Diana Ross and the Supremes “Back to Love” Tour. MS. Ross and the Supremes played to cavernous empty houses while the promoters took a bloody bath. Could it have been the $250 top price for a show booked in sports arenas? No new Supremes product in, say, 20 years? The fact that these weren’t the REAL Supremes? Or that MS. Ross is getting more payback (for purportedly) being the raging queen bitch of the universe? Diana, they don’t want you.
Other notables: Nice to See You Again: the Motels, the Who, Joe Cocker, Michael McDermott, X, Prince, Eurythmics, Michelle Shocked, Culture Club, Billy Idol. The Last Time: Liza, Tina, Babs, Smashing Pumpkins, KISS. Farewells: Curtis Mayfield, Pops Staples.