i saw live play about 8 years ago at the target center. after they played the lead singer guy plucked a blonde girl wearing a leopard-print catsuit from the audience. so, you know, fashion tip for the ladies!

good idea: catsuits

I'm so upset about this, Live is my alltime favorite band and i've never gotten to see them, it just so happens i'm going to be out of town that week :-( Oh well!

Too bad we can never get any current hot tours to come our way.

The 1990's were great, too bad it's 2008.

Can't we do better? I wish thier wasn't such a damn monopoly on that park.

Sup Town Rules. More new music acts than Duluth. Do you want to hear the new shit come over the bridge.

Just for the record Craig, Collective Soul played the DECC 4/13/99 when they were still a lot bigger and likewise Blues Traveler played the Bayfront Blues Fest 8/11/02. Besides, I thought you were into that mainstream rock stuff? As much as I dislike most of the bands that Samborski brought to Duluth while he worked for the DECC, throughout his career I find it remarkable the bands he has been able to lure to Duluth despite the fact that almost any band of any stature such as those you are apparently wishing to see could make far more money in a larger market. Not to mention all the acts he brought to the Norshor during his short-lived stint trying to keep that place alive.

Frankly, I can think of few who have done more for the Duluth music scene, especially considering the amount of time he has devoted to the endeavor. It is easy to credit those organizing Homegrown or current musicians with keeping the music scene alive and they deserve a lot more credit than they get. But denying Samborski credit is simply ahistorical.

Oh brother...

Why much you think that the Twins Ports should only play second fiddle to cities? Your lack of faith in the Twin Ports is sad.

We spend some much money trying to lure tourists to the Duluth and yet we say "fuck it" when we want the good stuff.

I'm not asking for the Rolling Stones, but how can First Ave have so many tours and we get the rap favor of the month at Luce???

I wish I could book bigger bands, and maybe one day I'll hook up with a production company and bring the big acts to the Twin Ports.

I hate to say this but I miss the Jimi Sides jerk off show at Luce everymonth. He brought some big bands to the Duluth even though it was a Thursday.

I would like to wager a good amount that these bands are playing for a price lower than we think they are and that a good chunk of ticket prices are going to the bucket called "Straight Profit".

A true production company knows when to make profit and when to make a dent in history with a "make even" situation.

I believe that Duluth can one day be a hub for these great tours.

Craig: Aren't you a music promoter? What snags have you run into bringing bands to Duluth, specifically?

One word: Gas

A island effect is forming right now in the music scene, and it's forcing the small time promoters like me to rethink how and where to hold shows.

I believe in coming out "even" with a show. There is no real profit to be made in the shows I do. I'm not interested in profit anyway. I want the big shit to come up and the current gas prices are causing some small scale promoters to re consider the price of the cool shit.

I mean this festival we are planning at Leif Erickson park is getting tougher and tougher to convince the big acts we have planned to come up at the current price we worked out. Plus, I would like to have it at Bayfield, but the hoops and redtape you have to go though is CRAZY! Don't believe me? Ask the Regge Festival Promotor.

Unlike the other Craig, I can't have the balls like him to charge $35 dollars for event with current economic prices and gas prices. I remember when $35 dollars would get you a Warp Tour Tickets or OzzFest Tickets. I believe in mass over profit. If I can get more segments of people vs. only one segment of people (ie: rich class people vs rich, middle, and gutter punks).

Does this mean I'm giving up? No, it's just getting tougher. It would be easy if I was corp sponsored like Luce.

Do you know the policy for booking shows at Luce? Rumor has it that the Corp Office in the cities has to sign off on it. Plus, they aren't interested in changing the current Cars & Trucks monopoly.

cars & trucks are so good.

funny craig mentioned it.... We're actually working with parker brothers right now on a cars & trucks edition of monopoly.

word.

I always find it amusing when people jump all over each other attacking certain promoters or venues on very subtle questions of taste or management style, yet they ignore the actual culprit ... television. Anytime someone (including me) sets down their remote control and gets their butt outdoors to be entertained shoulder to shoulder with their friends and neighbors it is a victory for this town.

I could go on and on and on about Craig and this or that petty thing I might disagree with about how they do things. But that is counter productive. I wish them (yeah, both of them) a ton of luck and will try to scrape up the time and dinero to hit the show.

QQ

I will have to bring my little button so I can get in for free.

Oh wait.. I don't assume that because I advertise I get in for free.

What exactly is a "music promoter"?
Oh, right. He's the guy I always say "no" to. That's why I'm not wearing a tank top and a pendant on stage at Bayfront.