Let’s not read too much into a handful of shows over a few-weeks’ span. But if this spring is any indication, things are looking up around here.
For years, I’ve bitched that Northeastern Pa. gets the shaft when it comes to mid-level tours — that is, artists not big enough to play at our arena or outdoor amphitheater. I got so discouraged that I was ready to give up hope. I figured we’ll just never get bands like Wilco or The Hold Steady. Maybe this market can’t support those types of shows. We’re not a primary market or even a college town. Maybe we should just be thankful for the concerts we do get.
Coldplay cancelling a show here last year due to a “scheduling conflict” — usually a euphemism for low ticket sales — dealt another reality check. If enough people in our region can’t get behind a massive mainstream sensation like Coldplay, it would be foolish to dream that bands that get zero radio support or mass exposure would ever come here, right?
Then some weird things started happening. In December, Weekender General Manager Rachel Pugh told me the promoter AEG Live contacted her about advertising a Wilco show coming to Scranton in April. I was so shocked I had to lay down on one of our office couches for a few minutes. Then Pitchfork reported on The Hold Steady’s new tour, including a show at Eleanor Rigby’s in Jermyn. Something was up.
These are the types of shows I travel for. I’ve seen Wilco in Philadelphia twice and in Wilmington, Del. In the winter, I drove to snowy Syracuse to see Dr. Dog, another band I like a lot. Now, friends of mine will be coming in from bigger cities to see bands like Wilco and The Hold Steady.
It’s wonderful that acclaimed, relevant acts are coming to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area. Mohegan Sun Arena and Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain are both great at being what they are, but let’s be honest: Most bands that rise to the level of playing at arenas and large amphitheaters lost their relevance years ago and are in greatest-hits mode. There are exceptions, of course; one could argue for Kings Of Leon, which will play at Toyota Pavilion in June.
The Scranton Cultural Center is emerging as a major player in all of this, with next week’s sold-out Wilco show (the band’s first-ever appearance in NEPA in its 15-year career), a recent well-attended Ray Davies show and last week’s sold-out Megadeth concert. Davies and Megadeth might not be breaking new ground in 2010, but both are authentic, influential artists in their own genres, and Davies’ impact goes beyond genre barriers. It was neat to hear people buzzing about these shows weeks in advance. Ditto for The Disco Biscuits, which should draw a sizable crowd next month at the F.M. Kirby Center.
Promoters deserve credit for taking risks, and fans deserve credit for voting with their dollars. New Jersey-based Stan Levinstone Presents booked the Davies and Megadeth dates, as well as the sold-out Coheed & Cambria show at Scranton Hardware Bar. AEG Live booked Wilco here and wasn’t cocky enough to think the show would sell well without a push. So it advertised and partnered with media outlets like the Weekender to run ticket contests to help stoke interest. Meanwhile, Joe Caviston at Eleanor Rigby’s booked The Hold Steady himself without an outside promoter, which is pretty remarkable. You might not have heard of The Hold Steady, but lots of people like the band. A lot.
I was worried that the Coldplay cancellation would’ve raised some eyebrows in the music industry, create an unfortunate domino effect and make some promoters hesitant to bring some tours to our towns. Now, I think the opposite could happen. Successful shows like Megadeth, Wilco and Coheed & Cambria are proof that there is an audience here for all types of music — not just mass-marketed products like Toby Keith and Nickelback.
The foundation of this market, like most similar markets, is can’t-miss mainstream concerts, like Breaking Benjamin, which sold out Sunday’s show at Mohegan Sun Arena. Big shows like that allow promoters to take risks — educated, small risks in smaller venues that lead to bands like Wilco coming here. And Wilco selling out, well, that sends a good message, too. It’s all connected, and right now, the signs are positive.
I’m optimistic, and I hope all of this is just the start of better things. Cautiously optimistic, because momentum can be snuffed out as quickly as it grew.
Do I think Arcade Fire, The Decemberists or Mastodon will come to NEPA anytime soon?
Maybe. But I no longer think it’s impossible.
w
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