Archive for the “music” Category
 It’s been a while since there’s been a worthy concert at the Vogue Theatre. (I still get chills remembering Sarah McLachlan starting her Fumbling Towards Ecstasytour there in 1993)
Sara Bareilles will be banging on her piano on the Vogue Theatre stage on October 17, and while there isnt a bad seat in the house, if you want to get your tickets up front and early, here’s the presale password information to scoop tickets before the general public on Friday.
Live Nation Presale - Sara Bareilles
Friday, October 17
Vogue Theatre
Presale starts: Wed, Aug 6 at 10am
Presale ends: Thu, Aug 7 at 10pm
Use Password: fans
Public Onsale: Fri, Aug 8 at 10am
Tickets are $30 each plus all the service charges - go get ‘em!
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Posted by buzz in music, travel
Madonna’s first ever concert in Vancouver is set for October 30 at BC Place. So anticipated is the show, nearly 50 000 tickets sold out in 30 minutes.
 50 000 fans didnt get the tickets, immediately after the tickets were sold, dozens of them were popping up on Craigslist for well above the original $165ish sale price. If you still need tickets to the show, don’t pay the inflated scalper prices, use that extra cash to buy a plane ticket and head to Los Angeles, where ticket sales aren’t as hot.
Big sales around the world for the Material Girl’s upcoming “Sticky & Sweet” tour have been overshadowed in music industry circles by chatter about the large number of tickets still available for a key stop in Los Angeles in November and softer-than-expected sales of her latest album “Hard Candy.”
But just over half of the 43,000 seats available for a Nov. 6 date at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium - 27,000 tickets in all - have been sold in their first three weeks of availability, raising red flags about the limits of US demand for the 49-year-old Madonna at this stage of her career. [new york post]
Madonna’s new album may not be as good as her last album (I think Confessions was the best of her career), but a Madonna concert is a Madonna concert, and if you’ve been Madonna-less in the great white north for nearly 30 years, get yourself south to see the show.
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Just got this email press release from the Vancouver Canucks this afternoon:
VANCOUVER – It is hard to believe that 15 years have passed since Backstreet Boys redefined the modern musical landscape, ushering in a chapter of pop culture that commandeered the world’s radio airwaves, broke music and concert sales records and launched a new generation of teen idols for millions of youths.
Backstreet Boys have sold more than 75 million albums worldwide. They have scored a dozen Top 40 hits, including Top 5 smashes “Quit Playing Games (with My Heart),” “As Long As You Love Me,” “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” and “All I Have To Give.” “Unbreakable” marks the sixth album from Backstreet Boys. This release contains the indelible melodies of Backstreet Boys, hooks galore and finely crafted three-and-four part harmonics.
Girlicious are sassy, sexy, seductive and sweet and they have voices to match. When they move, the world moves around them. A year ago they were four strangers who shared a single dream. Today they are four best friends living that dream. They are more than just delicious, they are Girlicious and they are going to make you squirm with delight when they take the stage.
Don’t miss Backstreet Boys and Girlicious when they take the stage in Vancouver at General Motors Place on September 4th!
*********************************************
BACKSTREET BOYS
DATE: Thursday, September 4, 2008
TIME: 7:30 PM
VENUE: GENERAL MOTORS PLACE
PRICES: CA $39.50 - CA $75.00, plus applicable service charges & fees
INTERNET ORDER PERIOD:
Start: Thu, 06/19/08 10:00 AM PST
End: Thu, 06/19/08 10:00 PM PST
PASSWORD: everybody
*********************************************
TO ORDER YOUR TICKETS**:
1. Click on the link and follow the instructions to select your seats. The link will only be active during the INTERNET ORDER PERIOD.
2. When prompted, enter the password in the Canucks Presale section and proceed with your order: everybody
3. Select your delivery type and make your payment to complete your purchase.
4. Once your order has been processed, a confirmation number will be provided. Keep this number on file for reference.
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Personally, I couldnt find anything less enjoyable than 3 days in the bush with drunk and stoned slackers .. but if that’s your speed and you haven’t scored one of the coveted 3 day tickets to the Pemberton Festival, you need this post.
Single day admissions go on sale this weekend - let me hook you up early.
Your single day presale password is: sunshine
presale begins: Wed, June 11 @ 10:00am
presale ends: Thu, June 12 @ 10:00pm
public onsale: Fri, June 13 @ 10:00am
Pemberton Festival at Pemberton Fields - July 25-27
price: $149.50*
door: 11:00am / show: 11:00am
ages: all
Pick the right day, here’s who’s playing when.
Day 1: Nine Inch Nails, Interpol, Serj Tankian, Wolfmother, Metric, Kathleen Edwards, Booka Shade, The Secret Machines, Junkie XL, Shearwater, Minus the Bear, Grand Ole Party, Annie Stela, Chromeo, Tommie Sunshine, 3OH3!, Tony Pantages and VJ V2 (Vello Virkhaus), Tyson V, Jesse James with Kostas and Zuzu, Rob Rizk, Mikey Da Roza, Tassho Pearce, DJ K Tel, Peace Frog, Bent Matter.
Day 2: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Flaming Lips, The Tragically Hip, My Morning Jacket, Sam Roberts Band, Black Mountain, Dave Seaman, Buck 65, MSTRKRFT, Brazilian Girls, Mates of State, Carolina Liar, Low Vs Diamond, M.A.N.D.Y, Kevin Shiu, Timeline, Tony Pantages and VJ V2 (Vello Virkhaus), Andrew Pacey, James Boatman, Maurice, Hebegebe, Michael Ziff, Little T, Electrabelle.
Day 3: Coldplay, Jay - Z, Death Cab for Cutie, N.E.R.D., Vampire Weekend, Matisyahu, The Crystal Method (dj set), DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist, Wintersleep, Deadmau5, Tony Pantages and VJ V2 (Vello Virkhaus), Inward Eye, The Fiery Furances, The Airborne Toxic Event, Monte Negro, Mat the Alien & Hedspin, Kristian Littmann, Czech, Vinyl Ritchie, Sean La-la, Foxi Ozzi, Surgeon, RAMM, Technomorph.
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It’s official. The theme is no more. It’s dead. I honestly believed it wouldn’t come to this, but the official press release has just moved.
After more than 13 months of negotiations, CBC is saddened to announce that a deal has not been reached with the rights holders for an extension of “The Hockey Theme” - CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA theme song.
“We share with all Canadians the disappointment of this news, as we feel as strongly about the theme as they do,” said Scott Moore, executive director of CBC Sports. “We are proud of the association with the former theme song and are saddened that we were unable to reach a deal, especially when we presented an offer which we believe was not substantively different from what the rights holders had proposed to us. We love the song and know this is a huge disappointment for us and for millions of Canadians. As of today, CBC Sports is moving forward with our plan to have the Canadian public compose the new Hockey Night in Canada theme song.“
CBC, in conjunction with leading music producers Nettwerk Music Group, will conduct a nationwide search, inviting Canadians to write and record an original song for CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA. Then, in a debate that is certain to dominate conversations throughout the country, fans and a jury of experts will choose the best new composition.
CBC will offer $100,000 for the winning song, which will then become the new “official theme song” of CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA and will be heard in every broadcast. A portion of the new theme song’s royalties will be donated to minor hockey in Canada. Details surrounding the contest will be announced next week.
“This contest will generate passionate interest among Canadians,” said Moore. “The winning theme promises to be an anthem for a whole new generation to kick off our coverage every Saturday night and beyond.”
This is not the first time CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA has introduced a new theme song. Since the show’s debut in 1952, numerous pieces of music have been used to welcome viewers to hockey on Saturday nights. The program’s most recent theme, “The Hockey Theme,” made its debut on CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA during the 1968 season.
“It will be amazing to hear how Canada’s musical artists will interpret the show and to follow the contest through which the new song will be selected,” Moore continued. “We’ll have more details on the new contest next week.” [Press Release]
RIP HNIC.
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 There’s a lot of noise coming from the keyboards of the Canadian blogosphere today.
Everyone’s up in arms about the report the theme from Hockey Night in Canada has been played for the last time.
They’re even blogging like it’s a fait accompli.
It’s a sad day today. Aren’t the CBC supposed to protect Canadian culture? Pure & utter destruction of culture, I’d say. [Slaw]
It’s as Canadian as beaver pelts and Bruni Gerussi [sic] and more people can keep up with its tune than our National Anthem. However, the CBC announced recently that it will not be renewing the Hockey Night in Canada theme. [Miss 604]
CBC ditches Hockey Night in Canada theme! THIS WILL NOT STAND. Sign the petition! [Nunc Scio]
Imagine the mentality of the idiot who thought it was a swell idea to dump the Hockey Night In Canada theme. If it wasn’t an arm’s length agency, I would swear this was a Tory ploy to take the heat off of them. [Mr Sinister]
It seems Canada is down one National Anthem now. This is not good news and my only hope is that public outcry will continue to rise and sanity/patriotism will prevail. [James Kingsley]
Goodbye, Hockey Night in Canada theme [The Gazette]
Really, though, to borrow an American bastardization of our accent, it’s much ado aboot nothing.
It’s posturing. Negotiation. Floating a trial balloon.
Politicians do it all the time. You know when there are policy leaks weeks before announcements are made? They’re trying to gauge public reaction.
You know how the unions threaten all sorts of doom and gloom when they’re about to go on strike? It’s all part of the game.
Dolores Claman is the source of the original story. She wrote the original theme, and has been paid $500 per episode of HNIC under the last agreement, which has since expired.
Check out the juicy piece of meat she threw at the major Canadian news outlets to publish today.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s iconic Hockey Night in Canada theme song, known for decades as Canada’s “second national anthem,” will no longer be used in hockey broadcasts, according to the song’s composer. [source]
See, it’s that last bit of news that everyone forgot to pay attention to - “according to the song’s composer.”
The CBC hasn’t pulled anything yet.
“We’ve been reaching out to [Claman] and her representative, and haven’t heard back.We’re prepared to do a deal, we’re prepared to talk, but we’re not prepared to do a deal at all costs.” [source]
Dolores Claman is just playing the p-r game. The Mother Corp is playing hardball with the licensing negotiations and she’s just playing the ace stuffed up her sleeve - public opinion.
We ALL love the Hockey Night in Canada theme. Actually, we ALL love Hockey Night in Canada.
 Remember a couple of years ago when Ron Maclean and Don Cherry’s contract negotiations hit a snag? Yeah, all of a sudden it was all over the press and public chatter. How could we have HNIC without Maclean and Cherry??? The public spoke, the CBC listened.
The same thing is happening again.
That said, if this all backfires and they really don’t use the theme again, my vote is to toss $500 a week into Stompin’ Tom’s retirement fund and use The Hockey Song.
Win-Win.
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 Earlier this week I told you how to get good concert tickets.
One of the tips was getting on presale lists. Join fan clubs, register with ticket sellers, or be season ticket holders for the sports team at the venue where acts perform.
I’m on a House of Blues mailing list and got the info for a couple of the big concerts that go on sale this weekend.
Here’s the info you need to get Janet Jackson or Hedley tickets before the general public:
Janet Jackson - Rock Witchu Tour at General Motors Place
internet presale info
start: Thu, Jun 5 @ 10:00am
end: Fri, Jun 6 @ 10:00pm
public onsale: Sat, June 7 @ 10:00am
password: concert
Hedley with guests at Orpheum Theatre
internet presale info
start: Wed, Jun 4 @ 10:00am
end: Thu, Jun 5 @ 10:00pm
public onsale: Fri, June 6 @ 10:00am
password: concert
By being an Ice Pak holder with the Vancouver Canucks, I got access to another presale password. If CONCERT doesn’t work for your Janet Jackson pre-buy, try LUV during the same Janet prebuy times listed above.
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 Madonna, George Michael, New Kids on the Block, Janet Jackson.
Jay Z, Coldplay, Boy George, Celine Dion, Sarah McLachlan.
Nine Inch Nails, Hedley, Backstreet Boys, Cyndi Lauper.
Tom Petty, Tom Jones, One Republic, The Cure.
That’s just a partial list of the acts swinging their way through Vancouver this year. Some have come, some are coming, some are sold out.
Last weekend was the big Madonna on-sale. A fiasco that saw many people left with hanging browsers and disconnects and, ultimately, no tickets to the show.
CBC’s Marketplace had an interesing episode this weeked, where they revealed that ticket scalp.. err .. brokers .. screw that, ticket scalpers use automated programs to slam the on sale times and scoop the best tickets. You can see the episode streamed here.
In it, they interview Mario Livich a notorious Vancouver ticket scalper who gets his smug mug on the tube everytime a big show comes to town. He tries to legitimize the exhorbitant mark-ups by saying it’s “supply and demand.” He tries to say he offers a service to fans who need tickets at the last minute.
 I’d argue he and his fanny pack and track pant styled brethren are creating an artificial lack of supply by snapping up hundreds, if not thousands of tickets and hoarding them with no intention of attending. If 15 000 people want to see the Dixie Chicks in Vancouver, but 12 000 tickets are sold to fans, and 3 000 are sold to scalpers, then 3 000 fans are being held for ransom. Yes, there’s a shortage of supply, because the scalpers, just like the Sheiks in Arabia, are sitting with their finger in the faucet.
Marketplace went on to list some methods you could use to get tickets for the next big show:
1. Register with the fan club. Some big bands want true fans to get first crack at tickets, and will offer pre-sales to registered members of their fan clubs.
2. Plan ahead. “Scalpers make money off the laziness of concertgoers, so know the ins and outs of the three main ticket-dispersal systems: online, phone, and in person. Bookmark the web page and familiarize yourself with its structure. Enter payment information ahead of time. Put the hotline on speed dial. Know where tickets are going on sale, and at what time. Know your payment options. The buyer’s name, shipping address, and billing address often have to match.
3. Take multiple routes. Get online at work with six of your friends. Get those same six friends on the phone to the ticket hotline. Recruit siblings and spouses to help.
4. Get e-savvy. When the Web floodgates open at 10:00 a.m. on a ticket sale day, hundreds of thousands of fans (and bots) rush the virtual door. The gatekeeper is a character recognition test designed to keep out automated ticket-buying programs. Problem is, everyone gets stuck in the bottleneck. Hit “refresh” in your browser when the word-test page lags. Enter the new word and hit “enter.” When the page freezes again, repeat until you get through.
5. Be patient. Sometimes promoters hold back blocks of tickets until close to the date of the performance. If you miss out during the rush, you may get lucky later. [source]
 Tips 1 and 5 are the best. Madonna fans were given a unique code the week before the tickets went on sale with the chance to guarantee they could see Madge. Yes, some of the hardcore “fans” were selling those presale codes on Craigslist, but many used them and will be front and centre.
The last minute scramble is also a great way to get in. Yes, your heart will be racing as the day arrives, but often tickets are held back for family, friends, VIPs, and stage configuration. The seller can guess how the stage will fit once it’s loaded into an arena, but they won’t know for 100% certain.. so they give an extra wide berth and hold those tickets back. Usually, around noon on the day of a big concert, you could scoop one of a couple dozen tickets that will have you right upfront.
95Crave has at least 3 concert announcements to make this week and tickets for New Kids on the Block go on sale Monday at 10.
Good luck!
The Blog According to Buzz. Spread the word, ya heard?
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At least that’s what I’m inferring as I select a request for “2 tickets” at “any price” through Ticketmaster and receive this message:
We couldn’t find tickets that matched your request.
I got in right at 10am. I received a message saying I would have to wait 5 minutes, and the screen froze.
If you refresh this page or hit the back button, you will lose your place in line!
I didn’t do anything… there’s a message right on the screen saying if you refresh you lose your place in line. So I waited, and waited, and waited, and then timed out. I tried again - got in, and timed out.
4 times.
Now there are none. Madonna in Vancouver is SOLD OUT.
Listen to 95Crave to scoop your tickets, cause unless you want to pay some slack ass scalper, we’re your best chance to get in.
UPDATE
Never mind.. After repeated “no tickets for you” messages, I tried one.more.time. and got these:
2 Full Price Tickets ($165 each) Sec 38L2 Row OO Seat 1 - 2
Seriously, Ticketmaster you charge us RIDICULOUS service fees ($20 for my purchase today) and then offer quite possibly the worst service .. fix it.
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