KC gets decent share of touring shows

[ignatius]

Pollstar tracks touring bands for each city.  KC/Lawrence area gets its share of shows for its size.


# of pages of acts/events currently booked for metro and 'surrounding areas' through June 07.

Chicago 8
Minneapolis 6 (near 7)
KC 4 (near 5)
Cleveland 4
Detroit 4  (surprising as it includes Ann Arbor)
STL 4 (barely)
Pittsburgh 3
Milwaukee 3
Cincy 3
Columbus 3
Indy 2

And this is before the new arena opens.

www.pollstar.com

[trailerkid]

Pollstar tracks touring bands for each city.  KC/Lawrence area gets its share of shows for its size.


# of pages of acts/events currently booked for metro and 'surrounding areas' through June 07.

Chicago 8
Minneapolis 6 (near 7)
KC 4 (near 5)
Cleveland 4
Detroit 4  (surprising as it includes Ann Arbor)
STL 4 (barely)
Pittsburgh 3
Milwaukee 3
Cincy 3
Columbus 3
Indy 2

And this is before the new arena opens.

www.pollstar.com

Festivals with multiple acts will stack those pages. Further, there are a TON of "touring" shows that happen at places like the Jackpot, Brick, Davey's etc. that don't make Pollstar.

StL does better in attracting bigger shows, but I'd say that KC/Lawrence together have more events per day than StL and its outlaying areas.

[kc-vino]

This study (if you can call it that) seems a little flawed.  To generalize based on a month or so is weak.  Its also not considering the type of shows.  We consistently don't get big broadway productions that other similar sized cities (Pittsburg, Denver, St Louis) do get and this is due to the facilities we have.  Trailerkid did bring up a good point that Pollstar only certain concerts but not all of them.  But if we were ranked up their higher than normal overall it would not surprise me with the addition of Lawrence.  Its a smaller city that has a music scene reflective of a city 3 times the size.

[ignatius]

I've checked in the past and KC consistently ranks higher than most Midwest cities month after month with # of concert tours.    It doesn't show all touring bands (and no broadway shows and little classical music), but KC is consistently higher than most, not just for the upcoming 2 months.  As far as 'quality', that is subjective.

Detroit also includes Ann Arbor yet lists fewer events than KC/Lawrence.

[GRID]

I've checked in the past and KC consistently ranks higher than most Midwest cities month after month with # of concert tours.    It doesn't show all touring bands (and no broadway shows and little classical music), but KC is consistently higher than most, not just for the upcoming 2 months.  As far as 'quality', that is subjective.

Detroit also includes Ann Arbor yet lists fewer events than KC/Lawrence.

Yea, it's too bad I refuse to pay to see a concert in that dump they call an amphitheater.  If it's not at Startlight or Kemper/Sprint forget it...  When will kc build a real amphitheater in a decent location?  Starlight is awesome, but we need a, modern, 20k seat outdoor theater too.

[kc-vino]

If KC has less than Detroit that is only because they have more of an organic local scene up there and we need to import our acts because we cannot support our local ones.  I have a hard time believing that we would be behind Detroit but I'm not one to question statistics.  And if we get a higher proportion of acts I would also argue that we don't get many of the top acts.  The owners of Verison would like you to believe that its just below Red Rocks in Denver but they are full of shit.  And anybody that tells you that "whats wrong with Kemper, why do we need another venue" probably has not been their since the Comets and Blades shared the house.  Kemper is horrible and many acts skip this city and go to others like Omaha, STL because of our facilities (U2, Rolling Stones). I think KC does have a pretty good to decent building stock currently in use for venues with The Uptown, Memorial, Granada, Kemper, Madrid, Municipal Auditorium, City Market. And smaller places like The Grand Emporium, Replay, Liberty hall, El Torrean, NV and Skybox, Beaumont, Hurricane.  We certainly could utilize many of these larger venues much better but that is probably a problem more with demand and overall support (or lack) with the music scene.  We could also convert many places that currently get used either 5 times a year (Municipal and Memorial, The Gem) into something much more vibrant. 

[trailerkid]

How are you finding your numbers? I use KC (include surrounding cities) and it brings back a little over 7 pages.

MPLS = Denver (9 pages)
Detroit (8 pages)
KC = StL (7 pages)

Omaha is like 3 pages and OKC is 2.

When will kc build a real amphitheater in a decent location?  Starlight is awesome, but we need a, modern, 20k seat outdoor theater too.

This is a non-issue if I've ever heard one. We have ridiculous amount of large venues (indoor and outdoor). I think smaller specialty clubs would help the nightlife scene the most.

If you're dead set on building a new outdoor venue...it better be at Penn Valley Park.

[WinchesterMysteryHouse]

If KC has less than Detroit that is only because they have more of an organic local scene up there and we need to import our acts because we cannot support our local ones. 

Doubt it- and if you disbelieve one month of Pollstar findings, then surely they've got annual ratings. 

[ignatius]

How are you finding your numbers? I use KC (include surrounding cities) and it brings back a little over 7 pages.

I set the date to end of June 2007 as well since future bookings can vary widely.

Over the years, Pollstar has listed more touring shows for KC compared to most other MW cities.  It's not just this two months. 

Not sure what the complaints are about as it's no big surprise Denver and MSP get a wider range than KC.  But KC is consistently getting more touring events than Cincy, Indy, Columbus and often Cleveland, Pittsburgh and STL.  Will likely get even better after the new arena opens.

[aknowledgeableperson]

If you are talking about Broadway type shows the renovated Music Hall will bring shows to KC that bypassed it before so you cannot judge the future by its past.  Starlight Theater is one of the best outdoor theaters but not all touring shows want to play outdoors so its appeal is limited.

If you are talking about arena type concerts SC will help some but it will not be the cure many think it will be.  25 years ago Kemper was the only place to play between St. Louis and Denver and between Minneapolis and Dallas if you needed a place for 14,000 or more.  Now Omaha, Des Moines, OKC, and Tulsa are in play.  25 years ago many bands lived on the road for most of the year.  Now it is just a few months and it isn't night after night so fewer dates are booked and more arenas will be fighting to get one of those few dates.  And 25 years ago there were a very small amount of outdoor theaters.  Now there are many and many acts only tour during the summer months and book primarily at these outdoor theaters.

For the smaller shows the KC area probably has the venues but it may not have the local promoters it needs to go after these shows.  Why, I do not know. 

One thing that may be hurting the KC marketplace though is its citizens.  25 years ago Kemper would do 2 nights of Journey, 2 nights of Styx, 2 nights of Who, and multiple dates for others and those shows if they were not sold out would be very close to it.  4 and more years ago concerts that would do 8,000 and more in other cities would do 6,000 in KC.  People will only go to so many concerts a year and KC's concerts always drew many people from the 4 cities mentioned above.  Now they can attend concerts closer to home and avoid that travel to KC. 

[trailerkid]

For the smaller shows the KC area probably has the venues but it may not have the local promoters it needs to go after these shows.  Why, I do not know. 

There are a ton of shows getting booked at venues under 3,000. Look at the most recent Pitch. Those shows are what separate KC from StL or anywhere else within 4-5 hours.

The big shows at arenas are either teen pop or haggard musicians trying to cash in. Very rarely is there actually a tour that is a hot ticket... 

[aknowledgeableperson]

There are a ton of shows getting booked at venues under 3,000. Look at the most recent Pitch. Those shows are what separate KC from StL or anywhere else within 4-5 hours.

That is good.  I do not read the Pitch.  I do read the Star and its listing on Thursday's list quite a few acts appearing.  Did not know if the acts listed are locals or touring.

[trailerkid]

That is good.  I do not read the Pitch.  I do read the Star and its listing on Thursday's list quite a few acts appearing.  Did not know if the acts listed are locals or touring.

There are "touring" acts that play spaces in KC/Lawrence that only hold 50-100 people.

[Beermo]

here's a partial list of what i can remember and from ticket stubs. i went to these shows at these venues.

Sandstone/Verizon...

styx
zztop
kansas
rushx2
hootie and the blowfish
bush
veruca salt
weezer
queensryche
don henleyx2
dio
pearl jamx2
yes
no doubt
steppenwolf
nazereth
pantera
foreigner
journey
megadeth
white zombie

Kemper...

rushx4
tom petty
bob dylan
ozzy
metallica
robert plant and jimmy page
rainmakers
ac/dcx4
yngwie malmsteen
zz top
bob segar
mountain
triumph
davis cup u.s. vs. germany with agassi playing. i got in for free!

Memorial Hall

cheap trick
aldo nova
nirvana
mudhoney

municipal

kiss
queensryche
assorted wrestlin' shows

Arrowhead

U2x2
guns and roses
body count.
metallica
bjork via the sugarcubes.

Starlight

jethro tull
foghat
the outlaws
molly hatchet
george thorogood.

it's my short list at the last minute while slightly under the influence. i can say from my own experience that k.c does get some good shows. hell, little bitty grinders is getting some great stuff this summer. first show tomorrow night. the best part is it's free. they got a real cool, totally lit up stage ready to go. should be a lot of fun.

i have been to other shows in places other than k.c and that was due mostly to the fact that the show wasn't coming here.

one in particualar was lollapalooza ?. closest it was coming was st louis. it might of been the second one. anyway me and a buddy bought tickets here in k.c. and road tripped it. found a low rent motel of off 70 by earth city and it was all good.  it was a blast. one of the best shows i have ever been to.

featured acts

L7
jesus and mary chain
ice cube
pearl jam
soundgarden
red hot chili peppers

i had a great time and didn't have one sip of any alcohol or any other mind bending alterations. it was great!

[trailerkid]

Why did the Sugarcubes play Arrowhead? 

[aknowledgeableperson]

Royals Stadium use to be a good place for a concert.  In the 70's went to two there.  One was Chicago, from the vantage point of a suite.  The other had as an opening act Jesse Colin Young, then the Beach Boys, and finally Crosby Stills Nash and Young.  It went on and on.
Arrowhead had a few that I went to but Royals Stadium outdid it.

Guess stadium shows get too expensive to put on nowadays.

[ignatius]

Approximate # of touring acts over two months, May 7 through July 6 (includes multiple acts per event) according to pollstar.com.

Concert Market (covers region, not just metro)
Chicago 720
Minneapolis 440
Kansas City 370 (includes Lawrence)
Detroit 355 (includes Ann Arbor)
Cleveland 324
St. Louis 280
Milwaukee 232
Pittsburgh 230



Article in the Star says KC ranks 3rd per capita for festivals, which likely explains things. 
http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/96932.html

[Jason]

Royals Stadium use to be a good place for a concert.  In the 70's went to two there.  One was Chicago, from the vantage point of a suite.  The other had as an opening act Jesse Colin Young, then the Beach Boys, and finally Crosby Stills Nash and Young.  It went on and on.
Arrowhead had a few that I went to but Royals Stadium outdid it.

Guess stadium shows get too expensive to put on nowadays.

Recently got the Little River Band's Definitive Collection.  The inside of the CD jacket has a concert photo taken from Royals stadium in like 1981 I believe.  Was surprised it was Royals stadium of all places, but the place was packed.  So clearly whoever picked that picture for the album must have thought it was a good place as well......

[Beermo]

Why did the Sugarcubes play Arrowhead? 

\\

they opened for u2.

i also forgot the screaming trees and the foo fighters at memorial hall

[aknowledgeableperson]

At least part of the concert was a touring show.  Shawnee Days had Edgar Winter Saturday night.  Great night, nice weather, and not a bad place to see a concert - especially a free one.  He opened for Shooting Star, a local band that had a limited national success in the 80's.

Really, it should have been the other way around.  Could have taken more of the albino and less of the locals.