Geriatric Generation at the Billy Joel/Elton John Concert...

Whatever happened to true Rock and Roll concerts? The day before yesterday, on Thursday March 19th, on the cusp of Spring I spontaneously decided to try to score some sold out tiks to the Elton John/Billy Joel 'Face to Face' concert. Concert going has changed a lot in the last twenty years, as has the music industry. Gone are the days of camping out for tickets, but...unfortunately, not scalpers. Last minute, my friend Dawn and I decided to score some tiks to the concert and I was a bit more than shocked to find out that just to get seats in the nosebleed, upper 400 section of seats at Houston's Toyota center, we had to fork over nearly $200 a person. I was even more surprised to find out that the scalper we had initially talked to was going to get a ticket the same way I was...through a new thing called 'Flash Tickets' where the venue releases last minute tickets to shows that are sold out. I don't get this...at all?! If a show is really 'sold out' then ho in the world do they release more tickets the day of the show and get to charge whatever they want for the tix? It's as if the venues are in on the scalping? The whole process of trying to obtain tix was more than a little frustrating. I finally found out, through the Toyota Center that I could score my own Flash tickets and for around $170 for much better tiks in the 100 section across from the stage...while the 'scalper dude' wanted the same amount for 'good seats, right across from the stage' which were anything but that. My friend had told me to handle the tiks so I purchased these better seats in the lower section but then said manipulative bouncer guilted in to buying his two seats...so, next thing you know we are stuck with four tiks, but had to go with his tickets, as she felt indebted to him...just ridiculous. There is something to be said to getting your own tickets...let me tell you! Anyway, even though we had already purchased tiks, we still had to wait for this schmo...unbelievable! When it was all said and done, even though we were there on time, we still missed the first crucial thirty minutes of the concert...when Billy and Elton played together and played each other's songs. After all that, I had to fork over about fifteen bucks for a greasy, stale burger, with no fries...to add insult to injury and then had to walk about a full lap around the damn place before finding our seats...oy vey. Trying to find our seats on those precarious darkened and steep rows was no easy feat....all avoidable if the schmo scalper who ripped us off had not been late...all an annoying experience, especially when you already had reserved seats at the Will Call but my friend felt indebted to her spineless scalper, so called friend.

Anyway, despite missing the first thirty minutes or so and having to choke down my nasty, greasy burger, at least we were in the first row, overlooking the balcony and Elton and Billy did sound magical! Elton especially sounded amazing...I guess I just wished that they had actually both played more songs together, than apart....they only did a couple of songs at the beginning and end.

What I found most annoying was the Geriatric generation seated around us...I felt compelled to get up to dance and move and have a good time...and they were all in their carb comas..I don't know...but, it seemed that I was the only one who really seemed moved to get up and move or dance or cheer!? Come on ya'll....this is a rock concert!? Elton and Billy sounded great, but they were both looking really OLD and Elton looked positively sloppy. Elton sounded great, but I think I much preferred his performance this past summer, in Vegas at The Red Piano tour...much more intimate and moving...Billy was quite lively, as well...but, I guess I just expected more camaraderie among them.

I had to laugh at much of the crowd....they did make me feel like quite the youngster and 'wild thing' at 41!?! I truly was one of the only ones dancing in our upper section. I was quite surprised that nobody asked me to sit down and even my friend who came with me seemed more caught up in all the ticket drama than the music. Anyway, it made me more annoyed with having lost our original seats because, at least in the lower 100's of seats, more people appeared to be up and dancing to the music....you would almost think it was a 'rock concert'?! All I can say is you know you....and the artists are getting OLD when much of the crowd are on Medicare and grandparents?! Geez....but, I must say that it was still a wonderful concert!

Something to be said for going to a concert alone....especially if you tend to like to go to last minute shows like me....and no drama...simply go on Craigs' list for a single tik...find the best price...be in communication and you have a fair deal on a ticket. Even if you go to a scalper you can get an awesome deal on a single ticket and not all the drama I encountered the other night.

I knew I was offficially OLD when I was telling the girls at my leasing office about how wonderful the concert was the night before and she innocently pipes in....'Elton John....my GRANDMA LOVES ELTON JOHN!'....okay, that is when I offically knew I must be OLD and Elton and Billy, while legendary kings of Rock and music, are definitely on the downward spiral and definitely not cool anymore.

I learned a lesson....if you want to get the best tickets, make sure to handle it all yourself...or, better yet, get the actual hard copy tickets in advance to avoid lines and hassles and delays...oh, and I also learned that the new thing now...at least for concerts that draw older artists and crowds...don't think the concert will start late or that there will be an opening band...no, they are punctual as can be.

No, next time I am going to get tickets in advance or maybe even go by myself...dont it many times before....gotten many a great deal and there was never any drama involved! Something to be said for being spontaneous and independent!

Next shows I want to get tix for are Coldplay, Depeche Mode, and Fleetwood Mac. ...realizing this will mean increasingly older crowds....and, another thing to know is that the more hyper you are or like to dance, the more important it is to get a seat lower and closer to the stage where nobody will mind if you get up to dance and let it all hang loose! Oh, and another thing...scalpers are basically slime balls...so never trust one...they are quite manipulative and good at making any crappy ticket look ideal!

But, if you get a chance, go see Elton John and Billy Joel....they truly are the grandfathers or Rock and Roll to me...especially Elton John, who is my favorite...in fact, if you have a chance to see Elton alone, in a smaller venue, like Caeser's palace...go for it....that was the best show ever...last summer on the Red Piano tour!