Rich People are Boring

So last night I turn on NBC to see The Eagles in their Farewell I concert special. First off, the fact that they have a Farewell I concert special on NBC (which actually isn't even a concert, but a collection of highlights from one show with interview snippets) says that they're old and used to be good. Now, don't get me wrong, the Eagles were pretty good, back in the day, and I did buy that Hell Freezes Over album (on cassette, not CD) but it's also the only Eagles album I have. They're not the kind of band that I'd go nuts for, but I know a lot of their songs and usually will leave one on if I hear it on the radio. Watching this last night, I'm seeing a very common thread in these older bands, they play the songs almost exactly like they recorded them. This is good for some people, but I'd like to see some improvisation, even if it's just in a guitar solo here and there. And all the songs are their hits, it's like they're a walking talking greatest hits album. You may as well stay home, save the money and hassle and listen to the CD. At least the Rolling Stones (Inc., a band in the same category that charges up to $450 for the top level seats, even the "cheap" seats are $65, WTF!?!?!), usually will release an album that is somewhat decent, sometimes good, so they have new stuff to play on tour. They have to do something to keep themselves from getting bored, otherwise it shows. (Try it, make a list with 23 songs on it and listen to it 4 days a week, for 3 months, I doubt you could handle it.)
Second, there's where the crowd up front sits on their rich (probably surgically altered) asses, mildly claps in between songs. Why are they rich, because these bands charge somewhere in the neighborhood of $200-$500 for seats up front, and when they get sold by scalpers, the tickets will range in the $1000 range. Who can afford that, except for boring rich people. They're more concerned with their moussed hair, leather coats, designer clothes/shoes, drinking champagne/wine/imported beer, and talking throught the entire set. It's disgusting. And this show was from Australia, I would have though that Aussies would have more sense than that. That's why I like bands like R.E.M. and Pearl Jam who reserve the majority of the front sections for their fan clubs (there's still quite a few that get out to scalpers and comps for business associates of the venue). That really curbs down on that crap and the people that deserve to be up front, for the most part, are. Standing, yelling and screaming, jumping (that's a European thing, I've heard they move like a wave, I have to see an R.E.M. show there) That's how a crowd should be at a rock show. Even U2 tries by making the floor of their arena shows general admission. That way, those who really care, line up early to get a good area near the stage. Unfortunately, I had one of the worst sounding seats, and a bad crowd around me, that really ruined the experience. I should have been on the floor, dammit!!!!! But I digress...