To paraphrase Emily Litella (Gilda Radner) from OG Saturday Night Live, “What’s all this fuss I hear about Blue Dot Fever?”
If you haven’t run across the term – a relatively new entry in the lexicon – it refers to the blue dots that you see in online Ticketmaster venue maps indicating that a seat is unsold. Hence, Blue Dot Fever means that shows with lots of blue dots aren’t selling worth a damn.
Some folks online (and elsewhere) are acting like this is a huge shock. It shouldn’t be. Ticket prices have been steadily rising and outpacing inflation for the past many years. For me, this trend began with the Eagles reunion tour in 1994 (“Hell Freezes Over”), when top tickets for the Houston show at Rice Stadium were going for $75. That’s about $165 today. “No way!” I said at the time. But, like most music lovers, I eventually caved in, as ticket prices continued to spiral skyward.
My most extravagant ticket expense to date? $750 for the 12/12/12 concert at Madison Square Garden, a show benefiting those affected in 2012 by Hurricane Sandy. A hefty chunk of change to be sure, but the bill included the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, the Who, Paul McCartney and Billy Joel among many others. Factoring inflation into the equation, that’s a shade over $1,000 in today’s money. Did I regret it then? Do I regret it now? No and no.
Essentially, it’s supply and demand, combined with the notion that “the price is what the market will bear.” Well, we may have reached that tipping point in 2026, when all but the most hardcore fans will take an El Paso on tickets north of, say, $200. But, back to supply and demand, what are you going to do when your favorite artist is on tour and you (along with just about everybody else) really, really wants to see them? Particularly in this era when many popular acts may genuinely be out there for the last time.
Major FOMO is bound to kick in at some point, as you ask yourself, “What is my available credit on that card?” along with another question, “What is this experience really worth to me?” Your mileage may vary.
Ticket Alert
One of the best bands from the new wave / early MTV days was The Fixx. They had the sound, the songs (“One Thing Leads to Another,” “Saved by Zero,” “Red Skies”) and the look. Amazingly, most of the band’s original members are still touring together, led by Cy Curnin (vocals), Jamie West-Oram (guitar), Rupert Greenall (keyboards) and Adam Woods (drums). Tickets are on sale now for The Fixx’s show at the House of Blues on Thursday, July 23.
Also coming to the House of Blues is Afroman, on Sunday, August 9. Known primarily for his 2001 hit “Because I Got High,” the rapper has more recently made a splash with the song “Lemon Pound Cake.” That number is part of an album chronic-ling (so to speak) Afroman’s legal wranglings with the Adams County, Ohio sheriff’s department. Tickets are on sale now.
Sevendust and Theory of a Deadman will co-headline a show at the Bayou Music Center on Wednesday, September 9, with tickets on sale now. Sevendust has generally fared better with music critics than Theory of a Deadman.
In fact, Theory’s Wikipedia page quotes Angelica Leicht, who wrote in a 2013 Houston Press story, “I would take being pepper-sprayed dead in my eye over listening to these guys any day. They’re filled to the brim with misogynistic, self-important suckage, model themselves after Nickleback, and one song has them professing that they’re ‘so sick of the hobos.’ Really, guys. Please, no ’00s nostalgia, or these fools may find their way onto the bill.” Er, sorry Angelica. Your worst fears have been realized.
At 81, Boz Scaggs shows no signs of slowing down. He released a new album (Detour) last fall and has a lengthy tour (“Rhythm Review 2026”) on tap, an extravaganza that will make a stop in Houston at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Friday, October 2, with tickets on sale now.
It has just been announced that guitar shredder and all-around badass Brad Paisley will perform at the Pavilion on Thursday, October 8, with a VIP option that includes swell seats, a backstage tour, photo ops, and a complimentary cocktail. Presales are in progress, with the general sale on Friday. Jake Worthington opens.
Concerts This Week
Sting is getting back to his roots this year, playing in a trio format – much like that band he used to be in many years ago – hence the christening of this tour as “Sting 3.0.” Catch the stripped-down sound tonight at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. ‘Cause Knowledge is Power: Sting acquired his nickname after frequently wearing a sweater (“jumper” across the pond) which sported a striped yellow and black design. And if you want a giggle, check out this video, in which Sting tells the story of delivering a calf on his farm while tripping on peyote. And you thought Sting was a stick in the mud!
On Thursday, it’s Don Toliver at Toyota Center. Toliver grew up in Alief, so the Houston show promises to be a festive occasion for the rapper / vocalist. Toliver will continue his “Octane” tour through mid-summer, looking ahead to appearances in Europe this fall as part of Post Malone’s aptly named “Big Ass Stadium Tour.”
Under the leadership of vocalist Eddie Spaghetti, the Supersuckers have deftly forged a sound combining hard rock, country and punk that goes back over 40 years. A Supersuckers show is a unique experience, and you can get in on the action Thursday at the Continental Club. Local-ish note: The Beaumonster himself, Jesse Dayton, helped the band add country influences to its artistic palette when he filled in on guitar during a couple of Supersuckers tours. See: “Non-Addictive Marijuana.”
Ever since Bob Dylan turned folk music on its ear in the early ‘60s, many semi-literate singer-songwriters have been stuck with the “new Dylan” tag. One such artist is Steve Forbert, who actually deserved the accolade, even if maybe he didn’t want it, when his song “Romeo’s Tune” just missed making it into the top 10 in 1979. Since that time, Forbert has steadily released new material, most recently the album Daylight Savings Time. He performs on Saturday at the Mucky Duck. ‘Cause More Knowledge is More Power: Forbert made a cameo appearance as Cyndi Lauper’s boyfriend in her video for “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”
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