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| From | Donmand@aol.com |
| Subject | Re: Raspberries Reunion/Twilley Concerts |
| Date | Wed, 1 Dec 2004 12:09:41 EST |
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Jim:
The Raspberries Reunion sold out a 1200 capacity HOB Club in their hometown:
Cleveland.
Face it; If they couldn't sell out in Cleveland that would have sucked. I'm
not sure what the music barometer for them is in other large US cities.
Back in 1999: BIG STAR did a small 3 city (Seattle, Memphis & Minneapolis)
Reunion Tour. The band consisted of originals: Alex Chilton & Jody Stephens
(plus Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow). They "packed" First Avenue (1500 capacity)
that night. The band sounded GREAT during their 80 minute set! Opening wisely
with "In the Steet" got the crowd "fired up" for the rest of the Night. (the
song was currently "fresh" from the TV Hit: That 70's Show).
That's one Power Pop Reunion scenario that pleasantly surprised me. Big Star
has a "cult" following. I just didn't know they had 1500 hard core Fans in
Minneapolis.
There's also the other side of the Reunion coin. Dwight Twilley played 2
consecutive Summer Concert's (2002 & 2003) at the 400 Bar in Minneapolis. The
shows were tremendous. Dwight's band included original Twilley guitarist: Bill
Pitcock IV. Bill's lead is that signature sound on the Hits: "I'm on Fire" &
"Girls" plus countless other Twilley classics. The 2003 Concert featured Ron Flynt
(from the 20/20 Power Pop band) on bass. Dwights voice was in fine form and
the band was incredibly tight. They tore throught about 90 minutes of Twilley
tunes. Twilley drew about 200 (loud & loyal) fans in 2002 but even less in
2003. Twilley had not toured (at least not to Minneapolis) since 1984 when he was
riding the MTV hit: "Girls". After the 2003 Show; I talked to his manager and
she indicated they would not be back. They were definitely disappointed in the
small crowd and small the paycheck. I'm sure looking out into a small club
1/3 full was disheartening to see for this Power Pop hero. It sure was for this
Fan.
Don
In a message dated 12/1/04 2:02:15 AM Central Standard Time, Jim writes:
<my two cents, and i think my involvement in Raspberries stuff over the years
is credible, but......
i think it would be highly unlikely a 40 date tour would be:
a.) bookable AND bankable from a promoters standpoint-remember a few years
ago when it seemed like something would happen? i just don't think they have the
hit-making nostalgia or "Behind the Music' cache to interest the great
unwashed.....
b.) i wonder if the boys have the stamina and ego protection to make it thru
I could MAYBE see them doing a handful of dates in larger cities around the
country, but, honestly, i wonder if they have the kind of draw that Cleveland
could give them, say, here in Boston, or in Denver perhaps? If it is not viable
to promote and make a profit, no one will touch it.....
cynical maybe, but that's why they call it the music BUSINESS!!!!!!!
jim>
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