I must be really out of it. Last night BB King played in my town. Now, that is a pretty big deal in the small town I live in. It has probably been in the papers for months, but I was completely unaware until I saw it in the entertainment section of our local paper yesterday. He played at the Warner Theater, which gets some pretty big names from time to time. Last year Kenny Rogers and The Doobie Brothers played there. This theater is only a few blocks from my home.
Anyway, the newspaper article said the show was sold out. It said the theater holds about 1770 people. Then a co-worker came by and saw me reading the article and told me he had two tickets and was going to the show (the show was last night). He said the tickets were $45. Not bad at all considering today's prices.
What does that come to? $45 times 1770 equals $79,650. Wow, almost 80 thousand for one night! Not bad for an 80 year old guitarist. I know he doesn't get all of that, but even if he gets half or even a third, that is pretty good pay. And tonight he is scheduled at Foxwoods Casino on the other side of our state. Man, BB must make a pretty good living.
But that is not why I was disappointed. I would really have loved to see him perform. I have heard about BB since I was a little kid. I have owned records of his and tried to copy some of his licks.
I really blew it. BB is 80 years old now, I might not ever get a chance to see him again. And I didn't even hear about the show until the very day he was scheduled to play here. Man, I would have paid $45 easy to hear him.
Oh well, just a little rant I guess. I actually thought about hanging out at the theater when the show was over in hopes I might get to see him and possibly even talk to him. But I never went.
:(
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
That's a shame. If you ever get a chance, by all means do go! I've seen him twice here in Bristol. Great shows!
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
That really is a shame, Wes. I would give my eye teeth to see BB King!
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"Don't wanna ride no shootin' star. Just wanna play on the rhythm guitar." Emmylou Harris, "Rhythm Guitar" from "The Ballad of Sally Rose"
Sorry to hear that, Wes!
BB goes to Foxwoods quite often, IIRC. I should go! It's only an hour and a half away!
You bring up a good point about his age. I think some people (me) take it for granted and say, "Yeah, I'll catch his show one day". I gotta get off my butt and go check him out before it's too late! At 80, you wonder when he'll retire. Then again, he sings, "Got my gitar about waste high..... and I'm gonna play this thing..... till the day I die". 8)
wes,
what a bummer, i got to see bb in chicago about 10 years ago, the best blues guitar player in history, imo : :(
even god loves rock-n-roll
I know what you're saying, I missed him the last time he came to Maine was well. I saw him several years ago, he puts on a great show for his age. Definately see him in a small venue if you can.
The good news is that, even though he is getting up there, he tours like a maniac. I'm sure you'll get another chance. Best bet is to check his site regularly, they give good notice. Or subscribe to ticketmaster's email newsletter.
He's going to tour until he's physically incapable, and he's doing excellent (as far as I know).
:)
"Contrary to popular belief, Clapton is NOT God. The prospect that he is God probably had a large hand in driving him to drugs and booze. Thanks everyone."
-Guitar World :lol:
That's a shame Wes, you really must make an effort to go see him. My uncle bought me a ticket to see him at Toronto's Roy Thompson Hall. A bit too formal of a place for him, but it was a wonderful show.
Mike, do it. The old blues players my uncle saw in the Toronto clubs during the 80's are all dead now. Make a point of it.
I know it can be hard to catch when bands appear in your town though. A cfew of years ago Steely Dan came to Toronto, I didn't even know they were touring. Thankfully the power went out over much of the eastern section of North America, I had to listen to the radio and they had to reschedule :D
"Things may get a whole lot worse/ Before suddenly falling apart"
Steely Dan
"Look at me coyote, don't let a little road dust put you off" Knopfler
I know how you're feelin' Wes. The King started his global tour in Groningen of all places. So there I live, about 2000 meter from where the dude is going to perform and I only find out when I get in a car-accident involving some folks who went to see him and were on their way home. The King is alomost NEVER in Holland. The King is DEFINITELY never in Groningen. And I'm pretty sure he won't be back anytime soon.
As to him making money, no idea, but I doubt he can spend it. With over 200 gigs a year that dude is either playing, resting or catching a plane to the next gig. Amazing stuff for someone his age, truly a great example of character.
Thanks everyone
I just can't believe I didn't know about this show. I pass this theater every day. They have a big sign out front that shows upcoming shows. But I didn't know a thing about it. I have really got to start paying more attention.
I must have old timer's disease. :D
I do not have a lot of extra money and am not willing to shell out the big bucks to see modern bands, but BB King is different. Every guitar player should see him, he is one of the true greats. I am kicking myself for missing this. I learned my vibrato from watching him on TV about 25 years ago.
I just would love to hear what he sounds like live. Oh well, maybe I will get real lucky and he'll come back next year.
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
Wes, your next order of business is to beat up a few close friends for not flagging you. Friends let you down. Yeah, blame them. Tell them they should also buy your next ticket to pay you back.
Ungrateful ingrates. I tell ya, what's this world coming to? :x
Bish
"I play live as playing dead is harder than it sounds!"
The last two times I've been in Nashville I popped into his Blues Cafe hoping to maybe catch him there. Nope.
I'd also be a tad bit upset that my friends didn't let me know about it. I mean, friends know what you are into and are suppose to have your back on things like that! :)
Jason
"Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution"
Sorry Wes,
I suppose now is not the time to tell how
I saw him about 10 year ago and got to
meet him on the bus.
No I'd better not mention that now :oops:
But I've missed chances to see Buddy Guy
3 times .
John
My wife and i saw Tommy Castro and John Hiatt warm up for BB two years ago at the Starlight Theatre in KC.
It was a Great show and i hope he comes thru again.
#4491....
Wes,
Bummer dude, BB is really a good show. I saw him a couple times when I was working at the Sting back around 95.
Based on what we were paying other "national" acts I'd estimate he probably made around $25,000 maybe a little more or less. He'll defintely get a little more at Foxwoods, they pretty much out bit all the clubs in the area to get the best dates. He might get $40-50 grand from them.
Nice the thing about seeing him at the Sting is that I could get right up in the front.
"It's all about stickin it to the man!"
It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll!
He has a club named after him in Manhattan where he sometimes plays. I remember seeing a few scheduled dates a few weeks ago but I don't know if they're past already. Also.. Check out the acousticguitar.com forums. Somebody posted pics with Les Paul (who does a show in Manhattan every monday). He's 90. BB King is a teen compared to that :). Hopefully they'll be around many many more years and so will we :P
oktay
PS: http://www.bbkingblues.com/schedule/index.shtml
BB King has 3 nights scheduled in April. 17th, 18th, 19th.
Torrington, CT to Manhattan ~ 2hrs no?
