Metro Jacksonville

It seems like majority of the time I have to drive to another city to catch a good show. The arena was supposed to fix that and still not much has come through for at least 3 years. What gives? Why isn't more done? Does anyone else feel my pain?

What acts is the arena missing out on?

Here's a few for starters...


Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Thu, May 3, Amway Center
Nickelback with special guests Bush, Seether, & My Darkest Days Fri, May 4, Amway Center
Roger Waters: The Wall Live, Sat, Jun 16, Amway Center
The Cult, Sat, Jun 16, House of Blues Orlando   
LMFAO with Far East Movement, The Quest Crew..., Sat, Jun 23, Amway Center   
Coldplay with special guest Robyn & more, Thu, Jun 28, Tampa Bay Times Forum
Reel Big Fish, Thu, Jul 5, House of Blues Orlando   
Dave Matthews Band, Wed, Jul 18, 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre At the Florida...   
The Tour 2012: Kiss & Motley Crue, Sat, Jul 28, 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre At the...   
Rod Stewart & Stevie Nicks - Heart and Soul..., Fri, Aug 3, Amway Center

What Jacksonville is missing is a great mid-sized venue for the acts that are too small for the arena, but too large for the theaters/clubs. St. Augustine is just killing it with their 3,500 seat ampitheater. 

I saw Bob Seager and Van Halen this year at the arena, I am happy so far.

Quote from: KenFSU on May 01, 2012, 09:26:16 AM
What Jacksonville is missing is a great mid-sized venue for the acts that are too small for the arena, but too large for the theaters/clubs. St. Augustine is just killing it with their 3,500 seat ampitheater.

3,500 seats, eh? Not to hijack the thread, but damn, school four would be a great place for an adaptive reuse into a little amphitheater

Quote from: ben says on May 01, 2012, 09:39:41 AM

Quote from: KenFSU on May 01, 2012, 09:26:16 AM
What Jacksonville is missing is a great mid-sized venue for the acts that are too small for the arena, but too large for the theaters/clubs. St. Augustine is just killing it with their 3,500 seat amphitheater.

3,500 seats, eh? Not to hijack the thread, but damn, school four would be a great place for an adaptive reuse into a little amphitheater

I thought the same thing awhile back. If I had the money and know-how I’d love to convert that place to a mid-sized live music venue.

As for the lacking music scene otherwise: There's always live music being played somewhere in town, it's just not what everyone likes. Freebirds combined with Jack Rabbits combined with the newer music venues downtown supported by the occasional big name from the Florida Theater and especially and the St. Augustine amphitheater. It's not a total wasteland, but there is a lack of diverse acts coming through.

You can see a lot of up and coming acts passing through town, but once they get notoriety they usually skip us over unless they become big enough to play an arena show. I’ve been to other venues in different cities who put the band on at a decent time which frees up the rest of your night to do whatever, but that’s just how Jacksonville seems to work with the smaller acts & younger crowds. Doors open at 9. Band goes on at 1am!

I know we shouldn’t have to rely on road trips for our live music needs, but as a Jax native I’ve just accepted the drives to Orlando, Tampa even Atlanta to catch a good act. And I usually have a good time doing it. No complaints if more started heading our way though.

Where the Ampitheater is just killing it is in the variety department.

Upcoming at the St. Augustine Ampitheater:

The Beach Boys (to be recorded for an upcoming PBS special)
The Fray
Three Doors Down
ZZ Top
Boston
Ringo Starr
Colbie Callait
Gavin Degraw
Wilco
311
Train

In the last two years, they've also had a crazy wide variety of big name acts like Toby Keith, Selena Gomez, Wiz Khalifa, Alison Krauss, Tony Bennett, Duran Duran, Rise Against, The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, O.A.R, Paramore, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Creed, Aretha Franklin, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Alan Jackson, The Decemberists, and the Counting Crows.

Regardless of personal musical taste, almost all of these tours have skipped over Jacksonville in favor of St. Augustine.

That seems a problem to me.

Would love to see an open air ampitheater downtown somewhere, preferably on the river, or even something like the old Jannus Landing in St. Pete.

Quote from: ben says on May 01, 2012, 09:39:41 AM

Quote from: KenFSU on May 01, 2012, 09:26:16 AM
What Jacksonville is missing is a great mid-sized venue for the acts that are too small for the arena, but too large for the theaters/clubs. St. Augustine is just killing it with their 3,500 seat ampitheater.

3,500 seats, eh? Not to hijack the thread, but damn, school four would be a great place for an adaptive reuse into a little amphitheater

Well, they are building an "amphitheater" and water feature adjacent to where the 200 Riverside development is going :)

Well, the Moran theatre seats about 3,500 and Florida Theatre about 2,000. Maybe these groups would rather perform outside or maybe whoever markets the ampitheatre has much better marketers?

Interesting read on the Jax music scene:

http://www.unfspinnaker.com/news/2011/11/09/local-bands-struggle-in-jacksonville-music-scene/

QuoteMany local bands and promoters say the music scene in Jacksonville is fleeting. Lesser known bands are struggling to find gigs, and fans are daunted by the sheer geographic size of Jacksonville.

QuoteI think the Jacksonville music scene is so fractured as far as the different sectors of town and where people are willing to go. People in Middleburg don’t want to go to the Beaches and people at the Beaches don’t want to go to Riverside,” he said. “Jacksonville has the opportunity to become a really vibrant music scene, but I think there is a little bit of laziness involved.”

A lot of the indie acts I want to see tend to bypass Jacksonville.  I find myself headed to Gainesville or even Tallahassee to catch those concerts.  I assume it's because Jacksonville lacks cred as a "college town."

The St Augustine Ampitheater has done great. I don't mind the hour drive to get there. Other than Metro Park (which isn't happening), I don't know where else they would put an ampitheater in downtown.

Quote from: subro on May 01, 2012, 09:23:47 AM

Nickelback with special guests Bush, Seether, & My Darkest Days Fri, May 4, Amway Center

(http://gifs.gifbin.com/052011/1305865316_cute_girls_reaction.gif)

^

Yeah, I wouldn't say we "missed" that one. That's like saying we missed getting hit by a car.

The primary for our struggling concert scene is a lack of venues of diverse sizes and specialties. This causes us to miss many touring acts and strangles the local scene.

We have a number of small sized venues, though too few for a metro this size, and the ones we do have are spread all over town. We also have a terrific Arena that's very well used - but it holds 10,000 people. We comparatively little in between. We have a few with of a capacity between around 500-1000, and only a handful of venues that hold anything between 1000 and 10,000 people. And nearly all of our larger venues have serious drawbacks for live music programming. For example, the Florida Theater is amazing, but as an old movie theater with fixed seating, it's just not prime for modern amplified concerts, and the St. Augustine Amphitheater is remote even from St. Augustine. This is a shame, as venues of this size are preferred by more and more touring acts.

As I mention every chance I get, in the 1990s the city tried to build an amphitheater on the river that would have done a lot to plug the gaps in our local concert venues, but it was thwarted by backward interests. But there are some encouraging signs. The opening of several live music venues downtown (especially the re-opening of Underbelly) is hugely positive. Still, don't expect to see anything like Arcade Fire or a reunited Broken Social Scene play here without a decent upper-mid sized venue.

Spent a good amount of time in the 90s at this venue.

(http://farm1.staticflickr.com/34/104368425_33c24a706c.jpg)
(http://www.memphisriverfront.com/wp-content/themes/mimbo2.2/images/news-concert.jpg)

The blue hairs across the river would never allow a real ampitheater being built at Met Park.

From what I have been told and what I have noticed, Jacksonville is a very good market for alot of things. Primarly because we wait until the LAST SECOND to purchase tickets concerts, sporting events, etc. Most of huge concerts prefer them to be sold out or or atleast almost there by the time the day gets here. We have a notorious history of this . Things have been up significantly in recent years, but we still have a ways to go.

Underbelly will be opening soon on Bay St. Im not sure how big their new space is though.

who the hell is this north miami/know growth ?!

Nickelback? Well, there goes your argument...

Saw Elvis Costello last week.
Dick Dale on Sat.
Jane's Addiction in a couple.
Slash.
We just had Korn and every other trailer rock band.(see Nickelback).
Lemme see, Counting Crows tonight.

That's just off the top of my head.
I'm not delusional, I drive to other cities as well when bands I like don't stop here. (Foo Fighters) I wish more would. But to call the scene "always so dead" is just whining. Orlando will always have the pull not because the people who live there support every band, but there's enough tourists to fill it out; like playing Vegas. In the end though, the bands will play where they're paid to play. The concert promoters don't bring them to Jax (pay them) because they don't believe they can recoup their costs.

(Also, I think when you talk about the concert scene in Jax, the St. Aug amphitheater should be included. Driving 45 minutes to a venue isn't exactly packing up the car...)

Quote from: RockStar on May 01, 2012, 12:13:52 PM
Nickelback? Well, there goes your argument...

Saw Elvis Costello last week.
Dick Dale on Sat.
Jane's Addiction in a couple.
Slash.
We just had Korn and every other trailer rock band.(see Nickelback).
Lemme see, Counting Crows tonight.

That's just off the top of my head.
I'm not delusional, I drive to other cities as well when bands I like don't stop here. (Foo Fighters) I wish more would. But to call the scene "always so dead" is just whining. Orlando will always have the pull not because the people who live there support every band, but there's enough tourists to fill it out; like playing Vegas. In the end though, the bands will play where they're paid to play. The concert promoters don't bring them to Jax (pay them) because they don't believe they can recoup their costs.

(Also, I think when you talk about the concert scene in Jax, the St. Aug amphitheater should be included. Driving 45 minutes to a venue isn't exactly packing up the car...)

Amen

Quote from: RockStar on May 01, 2012, 12:13:52 PM
(Also, I think when you talk about the concert scene in Jax, the St. Aug amphitheater should be included. Driving 45 minutes to a venue isn't exactly packing up the car...)

+1000

Quote from: RockStar on May 01, 2012, 12:13:52 PM

(Also, I think when you talk about the concert scene in Jax, the St. Aug amphitheater should be included. Driving 45 minutes to a venue isn't exactly packing up the car...)

I agree.

I totally agree, RockStar.

Quote from: ben says on May 01, 2012, 12:07:50 PM
who the hell is this north miami/know growth ?!

He's a local environmentalist/growth opposer who frequently posts on Metro Jacksonville in a similar fashion to the Time Cube guy.

Quote from: Tacachale on May 01, 2012, 11:39:19 AMFor example, the Florida Theater is amazing, but as an old movie theater with fixed seating, it's just not prime for modern amplified concerts

I've noticed a weird thing at the past few shows I've seen at the Florida Theater.  No one knows how to act during the concert.  Pockets of people stand, pockets of people sit, and both sides argue.  I saw Jeff Tweedy call out the crowd for this.  I saw Tom Waits have to say, "Ok, I'm going to do the talking now".  I saw someone yell "fuck you hooch" to Fleet Foxes, so loud that the singer had to address it. 

I've seen thousands of concerts of all different types of bands, and I've never seen anything like the crowds in Jax at the Florida Theater.  It's like everyone feels that the concert is about them, and any pause in the music is a chance for them to yell their funny/witty/"freebird" comment or whatever.  It almost warrants a full sociological study, cause I can not figure out what is happening. 

Quote from: duvaldude08 on May 01, 2012, 12:01:40 PM
From what I have been told and what I have noticed, Jacksonville is a very good market for alot of things. Primarly because we wait until the LAST SECOND to purchase tickets concerts, sporting events, etc. Most of huge concerts prefer them to be sold out or or atleast almost there by the time the day gets here. We have a notorious history of this . Things have been up significantly in recent years, but we still have a ways to go.

This is a really interesting point.

I'm a definite last-minute ticket buyer, for several reasons. First of all, my mood changes with the wind. What I feel like doing this weekend on Monday could be far different than what I feel like doing when Saturday rolls around. Secondly, there's really no reason to buy tickets in advance in Jacksonville, because very few things ever actually sell out. And thirdly, more often than not if I my wife and I walk up toward the box office on day of show, we usually get offered tickets from a familiar reseller for half of face value, at most.

In fact, one thing I've noticed about Jacksonville relative other places is that with very few exceptions, you rarely have to pay full ticket price for anything.

This is especially true for events at the Arena.

We were going to pay $100 for tickets for Walking with the Dinosaurs last year, and we got them for $20.

Routinely get $60 floor seats for the annual Trans-Siberian Orchestra show for $15.

Van Halen, Globetrotters, WWE, etc.

This phenomenon isn't necessarily exclusive to Jacksonville though.

I blame a fundamentally broken, predatory, completely inflexible Ticketmaster model more than anything else.  The secondary ticket market allows ticket prices to reach a natural level where supply equals demand, where Ticketmaster just arbitrarily sets two or three price tiers and calls it a day. Ticketmaster cries and complains about the secondary market (like Blockbuster with Red Box), and the NFL is even trying to find a way to take a cut of secondary market ticket sales, but they're just totally missing the point about the need for price flexibility relative local demand.

As an example, my wife likes Glee (I know, I know). Matthew Morrison from the show scheduled a concert at Jacksonville and subsequently canceled, likely due to low ticket sales. I entertained the idea of taking her until I went to buy tickets and they were $50 (!!!) each through Ticketmaster. Nobody in their right mind would pay that much for such a second-rate show, but that doesn't mean it couldn't have sold out at $15 a pop. Instead of allowing prices to naturally fall to a happy equlibrium level though, they just canceled the whole damn show. You see this is a lot in the smaller markets.

we'll be at the Counting Crows concert tonight....hold us a few seats at Dos Gators RockStar!

I saw Eddie Vedder had to cancel his spring tour due to injury.  The Jacksonville shows have been rescheduled for Thanksgiving weekend.

Quote from: Bridges on May 01, 2012, 12:57:47 PM

Quote from: Tacachale on May 01, 2012, 11:39:19 AMFor example, the Florida Theater is amazing, but as an old movie theater with fixed seating, it's just not prime for modern amplified concerts

I've noticed a weird thing at the past few shows I've seen at the Florida Theater.  No one knows how to act during the concert.  Pockets of people stand, pockets of people sit, and both sides argue.  I saw Jeff Tweedy call out the crowd for this.  I saw Tom Waits have to say, "Ok, I'm going to do the talking now".  I saw someone yell "fuck you hooch" to Fleet Foxes, so loud that the singer had to address it. 

I've seen thousands of concerts of all different types of bands, and I've never seen anything like the crowds in Jax at the Florida Theater.  It's like everyone feels that the concert is about them, and any pause in the music is a chance for them to yell their funny/witty/"freebird" comment or whatever.  It almost warrants a full sociological study, cause I can not figure out what is happening.

I was at those Wilco and Fleet Foxes shows, and I agree, it's strange. It's really just the way the theater is set up. There's no pit with removable seating for people to stand, so people in the front can't decide what to do, and the way the acoustics are, every asshole who makes noise can be heard throughout the whole place. It's still a awesome venue though, it's gorgeous and very intimate.

Quote from: Bridges on May 01, 2012, 12:57:47 PM

Quote from: Tacachale on May 01, 2012, 11:39:19 AMFor example, the Florida Theater is amazing, but as an old movie theater with fixed seating, it's just not prime for modern amplified concerts

I've noticed a weird thing at the past few shows I've seen at the Florida Theater.  No one knows how to act during the concert.  Pockets of people stand, pockets of people sit, and both sides argue.  I saw Jeff Tweedy call out the crowd for this.  I saw Tom Waits have to say, "Ok, I'm going to do the talking now".  I saw someone yell "fuck you hooch" to Fleet Foxes, so loud that the singer had to address it. 

I've seen thousands of concerts of all different types of bands, and I've never seen anything like the crowds in Jax at the Florida Theater.  It's like everyone feels that the concert is about them, and any pause in the music is a chance for them to yell their funny/witty/"freebird" comment or whatever.  It almost warrants a full sociological study, cause I can not figure out what is happening.

Wow I had to register just to completely agree with you there.  The Black Crowes last year had to beg the audience to react in any way to the concert.  It was like a funeral in there. 

Also during the Derek Trucks show a couple months ago I was grabbed by the security guard and very rudely told I had to sit down in my seat or be kicked out of the show.  They have no idea whatsoever how to present a rock and roll show or treat their patrons.  I'll NEVER go back. 

Contrast that to the Tampa Theater, which is set up the exact same way but run much better.

That said, the St. Augustine venue is great.  I'd much rather drive 45 minutes south to see a show there than go right across the river to the Florida Theater.

While I agree that the St. Augustine Ampitheater is a great place to see a show, I feel like that acts brought in have not been as good ever since the county fired the old promoter/manager (Ryan Dettra) a while back.  He could bring in some great shows.  I believe he is back to running Cafe 11 now. 

Its dead because people in Jacksonville and to a lesser extent Miami, Orlando, Tampa aren't as musically cultured as people in big cities elsewhere. Heck half of our "hipsters" just dress that way for the style and have no clue about music. I'm routinely disappointed at turnouts when I do see good acts here. My Morning Jacket is arguably considered a top 10 live band in the US and they barely sold out half of the St. Augie Amphitheater. They just did 2 sold out nights at Madison Square Garden. TV on The Radio is one of the better indie bands of the past 10 years and there were maybe 250-500 people at the Florida Theater to see them recently. Anyone remember that music festival at Metro Park about 5 years ago? Tickets were dirt cheap (like 20 bucks) and there were some decent acts there like Spoon, Polyphonic Spree, Against Me!, The Stills, The Bravery, Keller Williams, Arrested Development, Rooney, Pepper. Doesn't sound like much now, but at the time a few of those groups were fairly popular. Hardly anyone went.

People in the music industry talk and look at figures. I'm sure travel costs have gone up exponentially, so it may not be worth taking the risk of adding a Florida leg to tours. When a lot of acts do come to Florida, a lot of the time makes sense to go to Orlando, Tampa, South Florida, or Gainesville/Tally instead of Jax. Until more people start attending good shows and UNF students branch out from the Salt Life, we will continue to get bypassed a lot of the time.

Quote from: cline on May 01, 2012, 01:38:56 PM
While I agree that the St. Augustine Ampitheater is a great place to see a show, I feel like that acts brought in have not been as good ever since the county fired the old promoter/manager (Ryan Dettra) a while back.  He could bring in some great shows.  I believe he is back to running Cafe 11 now.

I didn't know that, but it makes sense now. Come to think of it I don't think I've been to a show there in a year or so. Why did they fire him? Attendance issues?

Quote from: CityLife on May 01, 2012, 02:06:08 PM

Quote from: cline on May 01, 2012, 01:38:56 PM
While I agree that the St. Augustine Ampitheater is a great place to see a show, I feel like that acts brought in have not been as good ever since the county fired the old promoter/manager (Ryan Dettra) a while back.  He could bring in some great shows.  I believe he is back to running Cafe 11 now.

I didn't know that, but it makes sense now. Come to think of it I don't think I've been to a show there in a year or so. Why did they fire him? Attendance issues?

Personality conflict mostly. He'd been clashing his superiors at the County and ultimately parted ways. He went back to Cafe 11.

QuoteWhen a lot of acts do come to Florida, a lot of the time makes sense to go to Orlando, Tampa, South Florida, or Gainesville/Tally instead of Jax.

Hey we did get Shania Twain to play outdoors in the Jags Stadium in 1999. In twang we trust!

We can knock out Tally/Hogtown, if we can grow the local universities and the area becomes a mecca for shows.

i lived in tallahassee for six years and i honestly dont remember them get any better concerts or more concerts than Jacksonville.

Quote from: KenFSU on May 01, 2012, 01:01:17 PM
As an example, my wife likes Glee (I know, I know). Matthew Morrison from the show scheduled a concert at Jacksonville and subsequently canceled, likely due to low ticket sales. I entertained the idea of taking her until I went to buy tickets and they were $50 (!!!) each through Ticketmaster. Nobody in their right mind would pay that much for such a second-rate show, but that doesn't mean it couldn't have sold out at $15 a pop. Instead of allowing prices to naturally fall to a happy equlibrium level though, they just canceled the whole damn show. You see this is a lot in the smaller markets.

He cancelled his entire tour, which included a stop in Jacksonville.

Quote from: fsujax on May 01, 2012, 02:47:00 PM
i lived in tallahassee for six years and i honestly dont remember them get any better concerts or more concerts than Jacksonville.

The White Stripes were one of the biggest rock bands in the world and played at FSU while you were there.  Club Downunder at FSU got more good shows single handily than Jacksonville did as a whole in my time there, but with the state budget cuts they don't bring in as many good shows these days. Gainesville has also gotten quite a bit of good shows that Jax misses on.

i dont remember that. Guess I really didn't care. I did see Alan Jackson there.

Quote from: cline on May 01, 2012, 10:29:35 AM

Quote from: ben says on May 01, 2012, 09:39:41 AM

Quote from: KenFSU on May 01, 2012, 09:26:16 AM
What Jacksonville is missing is a great mid-sized venue for the acts that are too small for the arena, but too large for the theaters/clubs. St. Augustine is just killing it with their 3,500 seat ampitheater.

3,500 seats, eh? Not to hijack the thread, but damn, school four would be a great place for an adaptive reuse into a little amphitheater

Well, they are building an "amphitheater" and water feature adjacent to where the 200 Riverside development is going :)

I like how you quote "amphitheater". That means it's not good enough, right?

Quote from: KenFSU on May 01, 2012, 09:26:16 AM
What Jacksonville is missing is a great mid-sized venue for the acts that are too small for the arena, but too large for the theaters/clubs. St. Augustine is just killing it with their 3,500 seat ampitheater.

Some easy, short-term fixes could include making the ground level at the T-U center and Florida Theater into removable seats and maybe new sound systems. Those venues are not that bad.

yeah, let's install removable seats at a theater that hosts broadway shows....what a great idea!

Quote from: gatorm on May 01, 2012, 01:29:43 PM

Quote from: Bridges on May 01, 2012, 12:57:47 PM

Quote from: Tacachale on May 01, 2012, 11:39:19 AMFor example, the Florida Theater is amazing, but as an old movie theater with fixed seating, it's just not prime for modern amplified concerts

I've noticed a weird thing at the past few shows I've seen at the Florida Theater.  No one knows how to act during the concert.  Pockets of people stand, pockets of people sit, and both sides argue.  I saw Jeff Tweedy call out the crowd for this.  I saw Tom Waits have to say, "Ok, I'm going to do the talking now".  I saw someone yell "fuck you hooch" to Fleet Foxes, so loud that the singer had to address it. 

I've seen thousands of concerts of all different types of bands, and I've never seen anything like the crowds in Jax at the Florida Theater.  It's like everyone feels that the concert is about them, and any pause in the music is a chance for them to yell their funny/witty/"freebird" comment or whatever.  It almost warrants a full sociological study, cause I can not figure out what is happening.

Wow I had to register just to completely agree with you there.  The Black Crowes last year had to beg the audience to react in any way to the concert.  It was like a funeral in there. 

Also during the Derek Trucks show a couple months ago I was grabbed by the security guard and very rudely told I had to sit down in my seat or be kicked out of the show.  They have no idea whatsoever how to present a rock and roll show or treat their patrons.  I'll NEVER go back. 

Contrast that to the Tampa Theater, which is set up the exact same way but run much better.

That said, the St. Augustine venue is great.  I'd much rather drive 45 minutes south to see a show there than go right across the river to the Florida Theater.

I think what you're seeing is a transition period. The Florida Theater is starting to pick up younger acts, but then you still have older patrons who are contributors and benefactors and season ticket holders who will go to a show, but not necessarily be big fans of the band/know all the songs/any of the songs.

When I was at Elvis Costello the other night, half were standing and rocking out and half weren't. Maybe they should seat all the season tic holders on one side and have the other half for usual sale... ;D

As far as aggressive security, I think that's a one off thing. He might've been signaling you to sit and you didn't notice while you were getting your blues rock on. The point is, you say you'll never go back but that's a little like cutting off you nose to spite your face. A fan not buying tickets discourages bands from returning and hurts the common cause of getting great shows to Jax, regardless of venue. And there's going to be bands that you'll want to see at FT.

So, other than your run in with the law, how was the show?

Quote from: Anti redneck on May 01, 2012, 03:20:56 PM

Quote from: cline on May 01, 2012, 10:29:35 AM

Quote from: ben says on May 01, 2012, 09:39:41 AM

Quote from: KenFSU on May 01, 2012, 09:26:16 AM
What Jacksonville is missing is a great mid-sized venue for the acts that are too small for the arena, but too large for the theaters/clubs. St. Augustine is just killing it with their 3,500 seat ampitheater.

3,500 seats, eh? Not to hijack the thread, but damn, school four would be a great place for an adaptive reuse into a little amphitheater

Well, they are building an "amphitheater" and water feature adjacent to where the 200 Riverside development is going :)

I like how you quote "amphitheater". That means it's not good enough, right?

It's a very small amenity beside the water feature, similar to the one at RAM. It won't be comparable to a modern concert amphitheater.

Quote from: Anti redneck on May 01, 2012, 03:23:51 PM

Quote from: KenFSU on May 01, 2012, 09:26:16 AM
What Jacksonville is missing is a great mid-sized venue for the acts that are too small for the arena, but too large for the theaters/clubs. St. Augustine is just killing it with their 3,500 seat ampitheater.

Some easy, short-term fixes could include making the ground level at the T-U center and Florida Theater into removable seats and maybe new sound systems. Those venues are not that bad.

In fact, they're great, but they're not just concert venues. The Times-Union Center is a performance complex with 3 halls. The setup you describe would not be appropriate for everything that goes on there. Similarly, the Florida Theater hosts a lot of, well, theater and movies; I doubt removable seating would be the answer there. It would be better to let both do what they do well and invest in a dedicated concert venue or venues.

Quote from: tufsu1 on May 01, 2012, 03:28:45 PM
yeah, let's install removable seats at a theater that hosts broadway shows....what a great idea!

I don't know why you have to be sarcastic. I don't think it's a bad idea; no matter what they host.

Quote from: stephendare on May 01, 2012, 12:06:19 PM

Quote from: KenFSU on May 01, 2012, 10:25:33 AM
Where the Ampitheater is just killing it is in the variety department.

Upcoming at the St. Augustine Ampitheater:

The Beach Boys (to be recorded for an upcoming PBS special)
The Fray
Three Doors Down
ZZ Top
Boston
Ringo Starr
Colbie Callait
Gavin Degraw
Wilco
311
Train

In the last two years, they've also had a crazy wide variety of big name acts like Toby Keith, Selena Gomez, Wiz Khalifa, Alison Krauss, Tony Bennett, Duran Duran, Rise Against, The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, O.A.R, Paramore, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Creed, Aretha Franklin, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Alan Jackson, The Decemberists, and the Counting Crows.

Regardless of personal musical taste, almost all of these tours have skipped over Jacksonville in favor of St. Augustine.

That seems a problem to me.

Would love to see an open air ampitheater downtown somewhere, preferably on the river, or even something like the old Jannus Landing in St. Pete.

We were going to build one.  North Miami/Know Growth and compatriots killed it.

Thanks guys.

Just because tools like them killed it the first time doesn't mean it should remain dead in the water.

Quote from: gatorm on May 01, 2012, 01:29:43 PM

Quote from: Bridges on May 01, 2012, 12:57:47 PM

Quote from: Tacachale on May 01, 2012, 11:39:19 AMFor example, the Florida Theater is amazing, but as an old movie theater with fixed seating, it's just not prime for modern amplified concerts

I've noticed a weird thing at the past few shows I've seen at the Florida Theater.  No one knows how to act during the concert.  Pockets of people stand, pockets of people sit, and both sides argue.  I saw Jeff Tweedy call out the crowd for this.  I saw Tom Waits have to say, "Ok, I'm going to do the talking now".  I saw someone yell "fuck you hooch" to Fleet Foxes, so loud that the singer had to address it. 

I've seen thousands of concerts of all different types of bands, and I've never seen anything like the crowds in Jax at the Florida Theater.  It's like everyone feels that the concert is about them, and any pause in the music is a chance for them to yell their funny/witty/"freebird" comment or whatever.  It almost warrants a full sociological study, cause I can not figure out what is happening.

Wow I had to register just to completely agree with you there.  The Black Crowes last year had to beg the audience to react in any way to the concert.  It was like a funeral in there. 

Also during the Derek Trucks show a couple months ago I was grabbed by the security guard and very rudely told I had to sit down in my seat or be kicked out of the show.  They have no idea whatsoever how to present a rock and roll show or treat their patrons.  I'll NEVER go back. 

Totally agree with everything posted here.  Security was threatening and ejecting people who were standing during Fleet Foxes.  Meanwhile, sitters threw drinks at standers and standers tried to fight sitters.  It was surreal.

Then at the Avett Brothers, who attract a similar crowd, everyone was standing and dancing.  I don't get it.

On a more positive note, I saw a show at the new Ponte Vedra Concert Hall a few months ago, same management as the St. Augustine Amphitheater.  A bit far from Jax, but an outstanding small venue.

Quote from: RockStar on May 01, 2012, 03:35:06 PM

Quote from: gatorm on May 01, 2012, 01:29:43 PM

Quote from: Bridges on May 01, 2012, 12:57:47 PM

Quote from: Tacachale on May 01, 2012, 11:39:19 AMFor example, the Florida Theater is amazing, but as an old movie theater with fixed seating, it's just not prime for modern amplified concerts

I've noticed a weird thing at the past few shows I've seen at the Florida Theater.  No one knows how to act during the concert.  Pockets of people stand, pockets of people sit, and both sides argue.  I saw Jeff Tweedy call out the crowd for this.  I saw Tom Waits have to say, "Ok, I'm going to do the talking now".  I saw someone yell "fuck you hooch" to Fleet Foxes, so loud that the singer had to address it. 

I've seen thousands of concerts of all different types of bands, and I've never seen anything like the crowds in Jax at the Florida Theater.  It's like everyone feels that the concert is about them, and any pause in the music is a chance for them to yell their funny/witty/"freebird" comment or whatever.  It almost warrants a full sociological study, cause I can not figure out what is happening.

Wow I had to register just to completely agree with you there.  The Black Crowes last year had to beg the audience to react in any way to the concert.  It was like a funeral in there. 

Also during the Derek Trucks show a couple months ago I was grabbed by the security guard and very rudely told I had to sit down in my seat or be kicked out of the show.  They have no idea whatsoever how to present a rock and roll show or treat their patrons.  I'll NEVER go back. 

Contrast that to the Tampa Theater, which is set up the exact same way but run much better.

That said, the St. Augustine venue is great.  I'd much rather drive 45 minutes south to see a show there than go right across the river to the Florida Theater.

I think what you're seeing is a transition period. The Florida Theater is starting to pick up younger acts, but then you still have older patrons who are contributors and benefactors and season ticket holders who will go to a show, but not necessarily be big fans of the band/know all the songs/any of the songs.

When I was at Elvis Costello the other night, half were standing and rocking out and half weren't. Maybe they should seat all the season tic holders on one side and have the other half for usual sale... ;D

As far as aggressive security, I think that's a one off thing. He might've been signaling you to sit and you didn't notice while you were getting your blues rock on. The point is, you say you'll never go back but that's a little like cutting off you nose to spite your face. A fan not buying tickets discourages bands from returning and hurts the common cause of getting great shows to Jax, regardless of venue. And there's going to be bands that you'll want to see at FT.

So, other than your run in with the law, how was the show?

Trucks tore it up, but the show itself was not very enjoyable with my ass glued to my seat.  I could have easily gotten as much enjoyment out of sitting on my couch with a concert DVD and $80 back into my pocket.

As far as not buying tickets, I'd hope to drive bands to other venues in the area that don't demand a sterile, silent seated atmosphere .

Quote from: RockStar on May 01, 2012, 03:35:06 PM

Quote from: gatorm on May 01, 2012, 01:29:43 PM

Quote from: Bridges on May 01, 2012, 12:57:47 PM

Quote from: Tacachale on May 01, 2012, 11:39:19 AMFor example, the Florida Theater is amazing, but as an old movie theater with fixed seating, it's just not prime for modern amplified concerts

I've noticed a weird thing at the past few shows I've seen at the Florida Theater.  No one knows how to act during the concert.  Pockets of people stand, pockets of people sit, and both sides argue.  I saw Jeff Tweedy call out the crowd for this.  I saw Tom Waits have to say, "Ok, I'm going to do the talking now".  I saw someone yell "fuck you hooch" to Fleet Foxes, so loud that the singer had to address it. 

I've seen thousands of concerts of all different types of bands, and I've never seen anything like the crowds in Jax at the Florida Theater.  It's like everyone feels that the concert is about them, and any pause in the music is a chance for them to yell their funny/witty/"freebird" comment or whatever.  It almost warrants a full sociological study, cause I can not figure out what is happening.

Wow I had to register just to completely agree with you there.  The Black Crowes last year had to beg the audience to react in any way to the concert.  It was like a funeral in there. 

Also during the Derek Trucks show a couple months ago I was grabbed by the security guard and very rudely told I had to sit down in my seat or be kicked out of the show.  They have no idea whatsoever how to present a rock and roll show or treat their patrons.  I'll NEVER go back. 

Contrast that to the Tampa Theater, which is set up the exact same way but run much better.

That said, the St. Augustine venue is great.  I'd much rather drive 45 minutes south to see a show there than go right across the river to the Florida Theater.

I think what you're seeing is a transition period. The Florida Theater is starting to pick up younger acts, but then you still have older patrons who are contributors and benefactors and season ticket holders who will go to a show, but not necessarily be big fans of the band/know all the songs/any of the songs.

When I was at Elvis Costello the other night, half were standing and rocking out and half weren't. Maybe they should seat all the season tic holders on one side and have the other half for usual sale... ;D

As far as aggressive security, I think that's a one off thing. He might've been signaling you to sit and you didn't notice while you were getting your blues rock on. The point is, you say you'll never go back but that's a little like cutting off you nose to spite your face. A fan not buying tickets discourages bands from returning and hurts the common cause of getting great shows to Jax, regardless of venue. And there's going to be bands that you'll want to see at FT.

So, other than your run in with the law, how was the show?

Well like a year ago, Primus was at the Florida Theater. Not necessarily a band that you want to sit down and watch, but a band you want to be standing and moving around to. Especially if they play "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver".

Quote from: copperfiend on May 01, 2012, 10:47:27 AM
The St Augustine Ampitheater has done great. I don't mind the hour drive to get there. Other than Metro Park (which isn't happening), I don't know where else they would put an ampitheater in downtown.

What is the problem with Metro Park? It's a great location, and they've successfully held a couple all day festivals a few times a year for a while now. I've only been to one show there, but it was really great

Quote from: justinthered on May 01, 2012, 10:48:01 PM

Quote from: copperfiend on May 01, 2012, 10:47:27 AM
The St Augustine Ampitheater has done great. I don't mind the hour drive to get there. Other than Metro Park (which isn't happening), I don't know where else they would put an ampitheater in downtown.

What is the problem with Metro Park? It's a great location, and they've successfully held a couple all day festivals a few times a year for a while now. I've only been to one show there, but it was really great

Bands want the latest and the greatest. The main thing I didn't like about Peyton's plans for Metro Park was that there were no plans for an amphitheater. Throw a nice, state-of-the-art amphitheater in those plans and I would've been all for it.

Quote from: Anti redneck on May 01, 2012, 03:59:15 PM

Quote from: tufsu1 on May 01, 2012, 03:28:45 PM
yeah, let's install removable seats at a theater that hosts broadway shows....what a great idea!

I don't know why you have to be sarcastic. I don't think it's a bad idea; no matter what they host.

because people who pay over $100 for upfront seats at broadway shows won't want to sit on folding chairs

Interesting thread.

1) Jacksonville is in a crowded state.  It must compete with 3 larger metros, all 3 of which draw tourists.  It must compete with 2 college towns.

2) Tally/Gainesville probably get much better concerts than Jax.  I know the DJs and groups and bands that roll through, and aside from the Paul McCartneys and Stings and Sheryl Crows, those college towns absolutely obliterate Jax (understandably)

3) FL music scene is truly not quite up to par in general with parts of the south, west and TX.  The scene between Atl, Nashville, Knoxville and western Carolina, the scene between Denver and the west coast, and the scene in TX are just the best music scenes in general.  I'd probably throw NJ in the mix, too, and of course every big name act from Madonna to the Eagles Reunion Tour is going to play in the big cities.

4) That's interesting about the FL Theater, but that is such a performance venue.  I would never go to a rock concert or a DJ show there.  Sitting down in seats at a concert???

5) Every city has multiple venues, some far out.  Jax should be covered between the Arena, Freebird and the Amphitheater for larger concerts, but people need to get off their butt and suck it up and travel to the smaller hole in wall places for live music.


I don't think the scene in Jax is bad at all (although concert lineup is obviously slow for reasons stated).  Does Mofro still play around?  What are the best live music venues now?  Square One? 

Quote from: tufsu1 on May 01, 2012, 11:48:01 PM

Quote from: Anti redneck on May 01, 2012, 03:59:15 PM

Quote from: tufsu1 on May 01, 2012, 03:28:45 PM
yeah, let's install removable seats at a theater that hosts broadway shows....what a great idea!

I don't know why you have to be sarcastic. I don't think it's a bad idea; no matter what they host.

because people who pay over $100 for upfront seats at broadway shows won't want to sit on folding chairs

I'm not talking about folding chairs. I'm talking about rows of seats like you see there now; except you can remove them in favor of a GA floor if you like. Get what I'm saying?

Quote from: goldy21 on May 01, 2012, 04:10:16 PM

Quote from: gatorm on May 01, 2012, 01:29:43 PM

Quote from: Bridges on May 01, 2012, 12:57:47 PM

Quote from: Tacachale on May 01, 2012, 11:39:19 AMFor example, the Florida Theater is amazing, but as an old movie theater with fixed seating, it's just not prime for modern amplified concerts

I've noticed a weird thing at the past few shows I've seen at the Florida Theater.  No one knows how to act during the concert.  Pockets of people stand, pockets of people sit, and both sides argue.  I saw Jeff Tweedy call out the crowd for this.  I saw Tom Waits have to say, "Ok, I'm going to do the talking now".  I saw someone yell "fuck you hooch" to Fleet Foxes, so loud that the singer had to address it. 

I've seen thousands of concerts of all different types of bands, and I've never seen anything like the crowds in Jax at the Florida Theater.  It's like everyone feels that the concert is about them, and any pause in the music is a chance for them to yell their funny/witty/"freebird" comment or whatever.  It almost warrants a full sociological study, cause I can not figure out what is happening.

Wow I had to register just to completely agree with you there.  The Black Crowes last year had to beg the audience to react in any way to the concert.  It was like a funeral in there. 

Also during the Derek Trucks show a couple months ago I was grabbed by the security guard and very rudely told I had to sit down in my seat or be kicked out of the show.  They have no idea whatsoever how to present a rock and roll show or treat their patrons.  I'll NEVER go back. 

Then at the Avett Brothers, who attract a similar crowd, everyone was standing and dancing.  I don't get it.

Because it is physically impossible to sit through a Avett's show....

And hearing someone scream FREEBIRD, when Ben Folds is playing with the JSO just makes you cringe...

Apparently more than 11,000 showed up at Metro Park for "Rockville"...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47226689/ns/local_news-jacksonville_fl/t/organizers-oversell-rockville-show/

QuoteHundreds of people were stuck outside Metropolitan Park Sunday afternoon when the Welcome to Rockville music festival was oversold and the park filled to capacity.

Authorities said the park filled up with about 11,000 people inside and it was getting to be dangerous. The fire marshal, with help from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and private security, started letting people in one at a time, only after someone else left.

Fans who bought tickets were angry after the show's promoter oversold the show.

"We're standing here waiting, out in the sun; there are no facilities, no water, no one coming out to address the issue that we had," concertgoer Norman Schaeffer said. "I wouldn't have bought tickets if I knew they went over capacity. That's ridiculous."

Right Arm Entertainment, the show's promoter, sent Channel 4 this statement: "Unfortunately, we had some technical problems today. Our ticket count did not match the city's ticket count. Rather than risk a dangerous over capacity, a decision was made to control the flow of entrance," Danny Wimmer said.

Many people left before the gates reopened, but everyone who did wait it out eventually got in.

Early Monday morning, the promoter notified Channel 4 that refunds are available to anyone with tickets who was turned away.

"For those who understandably chose not to wait, refunds will be issued on all unused tickets," Wimmer said.

"Rockville" probably draws more people from Baker County than it does Downtown, R/A, San Marco, etc. Not really  indicative of the music scene in Jax, but of some of our neighbors.

Since the topic was about the "concert scene" it certainly seems appropriate to illustrate a wildly successful concert at Metro Park... if success is measured by turnout.  Do we really care what county the concert-goers come from?  My guess would be large concerts in say Orlando are attended from people from all around the state... 8)

 It may seem dead at times especially when you look at who is touring nearby and not coming to Jax during a Southeastern US leg of a given tour. If you look at say a 3 months worth of destinations for most any band, you'll notice bands (promoters) bypass many cities, large and small. I believe it is about making the most money per area. Bands probably return to the same area the next year and hit the cities they missed in the prior leg of the tour to get the most money (and butts in seats)out of that area. 
If you look at a stretch of concert dates, some bands may only be playing amphitheatres, some may only be playing small halls, then some may only be playing the casino circuit while bypassing some pretty large venues(cities) for whatever reason. If offerd enough money, they will play anywhere.
When Fleetwood Mac toured some years ago they completely bypassed Jax, on the first leg. Went to Nashville for the show and the following year they had a leg come to Jax. This has happened to me on a number of ocassions.
If there is money to be made, they will come, just sometime in the future.
Just my thoughts on why bands bypass some venues.

Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 02, 2012, 12:21:40 PM
Since the topic was about the "concert scene" it certainly seems appropriate to illustrate a wildly successful concert at Metro Park... if success is measured by turnout.  Do we really care what county the concert-goers come from?  My guess would be large concerts in say Orlando are attended from people from all around the state... 8)

I think the thread has a lot to do with why we don't get quality acts or consistently get decent acts. Basically how can Jacksonville become more of a cultural center. I was trying to politely say that Rockville is terrible and the people who attend it aren't exactly the types that are lacking in the Jacksonville metro area.

Lack of good concerts in Jax is a push factor for educated, intelligent young people. Its one of many reasons for our brain/cultural drain. Getting concerts with bands like Korn and Evanescence doesn't appeal to the educated, intelligent types who have already left Jax or who are considering leaving. Generally speaking of course.

Saying Rockville getting 11,000 as a sign of our strong music scene is like saying 50,000 at a tractor pull is a sign of our strong sporting scene.  ;)

Quote from: CityLife on May 02, 2012, 01:38:09 PM

Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 02, 2012, 12:21:40 PM
Since the topic was about the "concert scene" it certainly seems appropriate to illustrate a wildly successful concert at Metro Park... if success is measured by turnout.  Do we really care what county the concert-goers come from?  My guess would be large concerts in say Orlando are attended from people from all around the state... 8)

I think the thread has a lot to do with why we don't get quality acts or consistently get decent acts. Basically how can Jacksonville become more of a cultural center. I was trying to politely say that Rockville is terrible and the people who attend it aren't exactly the types that are lacking in the Jacksonville metro area.

Lack of good concerts in Jax is a push factor for educated, intelligent young people. Its one of many reasons for our brain/cultural drain. Getting concerts with bands like Korn and Evanescence doesn't appeal to the educated, intelligent types who have already left Jax or who are considering leaving. Generally speaking of course.

Saying Rockville getting 11,000 as a sign of our strong music scene is like saying 50,000 at a tractor pull is a sign of our strong sporting scene.  ;)

Aside from Simms, this is some of the most elitist babble I've ever read on here.  Way to stay classy CityLife.

And we wonder why the city doesn't seem to progress....   ::)

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on May 02, 2012, 01:58:39 PM

Quote from: CityLife on May 02, 2012, 01:38:09 PM

Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 02, 2012, 12:21:40 PM
Since the topic was about the "concert scene" it certainly seems appropriate to illustrate a wildly successful concert at Metro Park... if success is measured by turnout.  Do we really care what county the concert-goers come from?  My guess would be large concerts in say Orlando are attended from people from all around the state... 8)

I think the thread has a lot to do with why we don't get quality acts or consistently get decent acts. Basically how can Jacksonville become more of a cultural center. I was trying to politely say that Rockville is terrible and the people who attend it aren't exactly the types that are lacking in the Jacksonville metro area.

Lack of good concerts in Jax is a push factor for educated, intelligent young people. Its one of many reasons for our brain/cultural drain. Getting concerts with bands like Korn and Evanescence doesn't appeal to the educated, intelligent types who have already left Jax or who are considering leaving. Generally speaking of course.

Saying Rockville getting 11,000 as a sign of our strong music scene is like saying 50,000 at a tractor pull is a sign of our strong sporting scene.  ;)

Aside from Simms, this is some of the most elitist babble I've ever read on here.  Way to stay classy CityLife.

And we wonder why the city doesn't seem to progress....   ::)

Its reality. Sorry for not sugarcoating it (like I tried to). Would you like to engage in the argument that Korn and Evanescence are widely listened to by the educated and young professionals that the city has a hard time attracting and retaining? I'd love to hear that.

And you do realize that you are the one happy with the status quo right? No wonder the city doesn't progress, when you get called out for being brutally honest about the status quo....

well I did buy the first Evanescence album  ;)

Quote from: tufsu1 on May 02, 2012, 02:11:32 PM
well I did buy the first Evanescence album  ;)

It came out 10 years ago and you probably just thought the chick was hot. :)

Would you like to acknowledge the fact that because people were afraid that an outdoor ampitheater on the river would only attract show such as Korn and Evanescence so they clubbed the idea over the head like a baby seal. 

Thus no facility to draw in whatever music it is that educated people like to listen to these days.

Quote from: tufsu1 on May 02, 2012, 02:11:32 PM
well I did buy the first Evanescence album  ;)

he said educated, young professionals :P

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on May 02, 2012, 02:14:29 PM
Would you like to acknowledge the fact that because people were afraid that an outdoor ampitheater on the river would only attract show such as Korn and Evanescence so they clubbed the idea over the head like a baby seal. 

Thus no facility to draw in whatever music it is that educated people like to listen to these days.

I've never once said anything that would indicate I'm against the amphitheater. I was furious when it happened and still am. Nor would I ever want bands like Korn and Evanescense to not be able to play there.

Was just a commentary on the fact that Jax will never have attendance issues with concerts like that. Getting 11k to attend a concert like that when you are in proximity to Baker, Nassau, Lake City, South Georgia, etc isn't really indicative of a strong concert scene in Jax.

I'm not trying to say you did, just alluding to some facts that are being discussed in quite a few threads right now about how developments are being hindered by a groups trying to keep out 'undesirables'. 

In this case, you seem to feel that most if not all of the 11k that showed up are not the kinds of people you want in Jacksonville.  And I'm sure many will agree with you, but that's also (assuming) one of the driving factors for killing the ampitheater idea. 

In another case, Mellow Mushroom seems to only cater to the canned-beer drinking, rowdy frat boy type.  So Avondale doesn't seem to want it.

Hemming Park needs to be ripped up and leveled becasue it only appeals to the homeless, panhandlers.  And by doing that the city could then draw the young, professional crowd to sit on the bare concrete and eat their bag lunch.

Underbelly had the music that you like (assuming) but was run out of their space in 5 points because the 'undersirables' were there every weekend in full force.  You know, loud, raucous hipsters.

I'm not pinning any view on you particulaly, City, but if you're following the trend that I see, it seems that elitist comments and viewpoints, like yours, are not really helping the situation.

As a veteran music snob, the tastes of young educated people are, more often than not, every bit as bad as everyone else's.

Look, it doesn't matter who plays what type of shitty or (less frequently) non-shitty music, what matters is the money. If promoters think they can make money off an act and the logistics are there, it'll happen. If not, it won't. Our lack of mid-sized venues really affects this.

Having been involved in several successful concerts of various styles and sizes at UNF, I strongly believe there's a unmet demand for live music in town that we haven't managed to tap. I hope we figure it out.

I never once said anything about those 11k not being people I want in Jacksonville. I just said we have plenty of them already and pointed out that many of them do not even live in Jacksonville. It was solely meant to convey that having 11k come from Lake City, Baker, etc once a year doesn't make Jacksonville's music scene vibrant.

You are getting really off topic here and jumping to conclusions. I'm advocating for Jacksonville to become more cultured. Which is pretty much counter to you lumping me in with "elitists" who want to stifle development. FYI, I've co-written a position paper and strongly advocated against the ideas of the Hemming Plaza committee.

Sorry to all that this thread has been sidetracked...

Quote from: Tacachale on May 02, 2012, 02:41:12 PM
As a veteran music snob, the tastes of young educated people are, more often than not, every bit as bad as everyone else's.

Look, it doesn't matter who plays what type of shitty or (less frequently) non-shitty music, what matters is the money. If promoters think they can make money off an act and the logistics are there, it'll happen. If not, it won't. Our lack of mid-sized venues really affects this.

Having been involved in several successful concerts of various styles and sizes at UNF, I strongly believe there's a unmet demand for live music in town that we haven't managed to tap. I hope we figure it out.

Based on my experiences growing up in Jax and also moving away for college, students at UNF or those who stay in Jax after high school aren't exposed to nearly as much "good" or diverse music as those who go to Gainesville, Tallahassee, Orlando, or out of state. Generally speaking of course. That probably has to do with there being terrible radio stations in Jax and limited concerts.

The problem is probably a little deeper than just lack of mid size venues, but I agree it is likely a strong factor. I think the old Library could be a great mid sized venue and would do great with proximity to BG, Dos Gatos, Burro Bar, Indochine, and everything else around there. What specific size range do you think we lack? 1,000 to 2,000 people?

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on May 02, 2012, 02:16:02 PM

Quote from: tufsu1 on May 02, 2012, 02:11:32 PM
well I did buy the first Evanescence album  ;)

he said educated, young professionals :P

well I was young 10 years ago!

Quote from: tufsu1 on May 02, 2012, 03:09:17 PM

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on May 02, 2012, 02:16:02 PM

Quote from: tufsu1 on May 02, 2012, 02:11:32 PM
well I did buy the first Evanescence album  ;)

he said educated, young professionals :P

well I was young 10 years ago!

Touche!

QuoteIts reality. Sorry for not sugarcoating it (like I tried to). Would you like to engage in the argument that Korn and Evanescence are widely listened to by the educated and young professionals that the city has a hard time attracting and retaining? I'd love to hear that.

Perhaps you could provide a small playlist of bands we are missing out on... you know... a young and educated playlist.  Something NOT Rockville... or country, or Korn and Evanescence... or etc...

1.___________
2.___________
3.___________

Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 02, 2012, 12:21:40 PM
Since the topic was about the "concert scene" it certainly seems appropriate to illustrate a wildly successful concert at Metro Park... if success is measured by turnout.  Do we really care what county the concert-goers come from?  My guess would be large concerts in say Orlando are attended from people from all around the state... 8)

Not if those same acts going to Orlando are also heading to Tampa and Miami. Jacksonville is really the only "city" in Florida that most of these acts tend to pass.

Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 02, 2012, 03:51:19 PM

QuoteIts reality. Sorry for not sugarcoating it (like I tried to). Would you like to engage in the argument that Korn and Evanescence are widely listened to by the educated and young professionals that the city has a hard time attracting and retaining? I'd love to hear that.

Perhaps you could provide a small playlist of bands we are missing out on... you know... a young and educated playlist.  Something NOT Rockville... or country, or Korn and Evanescence... or etc...

1.___________
2.___________
3.___________

Are you referring to those bands who have never ever been to Jacksonville or those who have come at least once and have never been back after that?

 

Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 02, 2012, 03:51:19 PM

QuoteIts reality. Sorry for not sugarcoating it (like I tried to). Would you like to engage in the argument that Korn and Evanescence are widely listened to by the educated and young professionals that the city has a hard time attracting and retaining? I'd love to hear that.

Perhaps you could provide a small playlist of bands we are missing out on... you know... a young and educated playlist.  Something NOT Rockville... or country, or Korn and Evanescence... or etc...

1.___________
2.___________
3.___________

I admire CityLife's bluntness.

If you've ever been to some of these dime-a-dozen radio station-sponsored alt-rock festivals featuring bands like Korn and Godsmack, the crowd doesn't exactly seem the most progressive, educated bunch in the world. That's not an insult, elitist, or passing on personal judgement. You only need to look around for 30 seconds to see it. I agree with the original poster that a throng of largely (though certainly not all) drunken/stoned, shirtless, goofballs in late-stage arrested development (there's a reason most of the bands at these things are from the mid-to-late 90's) smashing into each other it isn't necessarily indicative of a thriving, mature music scene.

Every mid-sized city in the country has these festivals.

I grew up in Fort Myers, a city with no music scene whatsoever, and saw 10,000 people routinely show up for these things.

A city this size should be aiming higher.

If we're strictly talking rock, we should be aiming for bands like Radiohead, Coldplay, The Killers, The Fray, Kings of Leon, Bright Eyes, etc.

Sadly though, I have a terrible feeling more people in Jacksonville would show up for Korn than for Radiohead :/

Quote from: ben says on May 01, 2012, 09:39:41 AM

Quote from: KenFSU on May 01, 2012, 09:26:16 AM
What Jacksonville is missing is a great mid-sized venue for the acts that are too small for the arena, but too large for the theaters/clubs. St. Augustine is just killing it with their 3,500 seat ampitheater.

3,500 seats, eh? Not to hijack the thread, but damn, school four would be a great place for an adaptive reuse into a little amphitheater

Times Union Center, Moran Theater........ 3,000 seats

Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 02, 2012, 03:51:19 PM

QuoteIts reality. Sorry for not sugarcoating it (like I tried to). Would you like to engage in the argument that Korn and Evanescence are widely listened to by the educated and young professionals that the city has a hard time attracting and retaining? I'd love to hear that.

Perhaps you could provide a small playlist of bands we are missing out on... you know... a young and educated playlist.  Something NOT Rockville... or country, or Korn and Evanescence... or etc...

1.___________
2.___________
3.___________

Are you insinuating that Korn and Evanesence are the cream of the crop? 

I'll list bands some of the biggest bands of the 2000's that off the top of my head that haven't been to Jax or St. Augie. I probably don't remember every show, so please correct me if I'm wrong on any. Most if not all of the bands listed are headliners or near headliners at Bonnarroo, Coachella, Austin City Limits, and all the huge music festivals that go in around the country.

Arcade Fire
Radiohead       Probably the 3 biggest bands of the past 10 or so years
The Strokes

Black Keys
White Stripes
The Shins
Band Of Horses
Coldplay
Kanye West
Jack Johnson
Ryan Adams
Red Hot Chili Peppers? Have they ever been?
Bon Iver
Muse
Arctic Monkeys
LCD Soundsytem
Sufjan Stevens
The Decemberists
Animal Collective
MGMT
Beirut
The National
Jay Z
Yeah Yeah Yeahs

The 2000's is probably one of the deepest decades ever for quality music. There are just an insane amount of fairly good quality bands. I could probably name another 100 or so quality bands that play in mid sized venues in Atlanta and other large cities that we miss out on.

QuoteThe Times-Union Center is home to three performance facilities. The Robert E. Jacoby Symphony Hall has 1,800 seats and is designed for non-amplified stage events. This is the home of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, which performs the majority of its concerts there. The Jim and Jan Moran Theater has 3,000 seats and is designed for amplified performances. The C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Theater has 600 seats, and is a multi-purpose hall with stage.

Quote from: Anti redneck on May 01, 2012, 03:23:51 PM

Quote from: KenFSU on May 01, 2012, 09:26:16 AM
What Jacksonville is missing is a great mid-sized venue for the acts that are too small for the arena, but too large for the theaters/clubs. St. Augustine is just killing it with their 3,500 seat ampitheater.

Some easy, short-term fixes could include making the ground level at the T-U center and Florida Theater into removable seats and maybe new sound systems. Those venues are not that bad.

The $500,000 sound system in the TU center works fine but most traveling shows use their own system that is not tuned to the room. Thus there are holes. I spent many hours with Kirkegaard installing and calibrating that thing. Sound engineer was the former sound man from KISS and Jethro Tull. Strange guy........


Yes, it is it is 17 years old and could be replaced. But the point is bad amped sound is not always the house system at fault.  It is the traveling sound man that dictates the quality in a relatively short time without much engineering.

Quote from: CityLife on May 02, 2012, 04:35:29 PM

Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 02, 2012, 03:51:19 PM

QuoteIts reality. Sorry for not sugarcoating it (like I tried to). Would you like to engage in the argument that Korn and Evanescence are widely listened to by the educated and young professionals that the city has a hard time attracting and retaining? I'd love to hear that.

Perhaps you could provide a small playlist of bands we are missing out on... you know... a young and educated playlist.  Something NOT Rockville... or country, or Korn and Evanescence... or etc...

1.___________
2.___________
3.___________

Are you insinuating that Korn and Evanesence are the cream of the crop? 

I'll list bands some of the biggest bands of the 2000's that off the top of my head that haven't been to Jax or St. Augie. I probably don't remember every show, so please correct me if I'm wrong on any. Most if not all of the bands listed are headliners or near headliners at Bonnarroo, Coachella, Austin City Limits, and all the huge music festivals that go in around the country.

Arcade Fire
Radiohead       Probably the 3 biggest bands of the past 10 or so years
The Strokes

Black Keys
White Stripes
The Shins
Band Of Horses
Coldplay
Kanye West
Jack Johnson
Ryan Adams
Red Hot Chili Peppers? Have they ever been?
Bon Iver
Muse
Arctic Monkeys
LCD Soundsytem
Sufjan Stevens
The Decemberists
Animal Collective
MGMT
Beirut
The National
Jay Z
Yeah Yeah Yeahs

The 2000's is probably one of the deepest decades ever for quality music. There are just an insane amount of fairly good quality bands. I could probably name another 100 or so quality bands that play in mid sized venues in Atlanta and other large cities that we miss out on.

Completely agree, and fantastic list.

Great post Ken. And sadly you are probably right about Radiohead. Probably why they have played Tampa, West Palm, Orlando, and just about every else in Florida, but not Jax.

I think another factor is that there just isn't much money in Jacksonville relative to Atlanta, Miami, etc. For instance I bought Coldplay tickets for their summer show in Tampa. It sold out in like 10 minutes. Now tickets are selling for double face. I can sell my seats for $250 each if I want. Lower level tickets for Coldplay's Miami show are going for about $600+ dollars and that is for face value of about $100. Could you imagine that ever happening in Jax?

Three letters will answer the question. SMG. The city has hired SMG to manage their facilities. If you notice, the best run facilities are NOT rum by them (IE the Baseball Grounds). This management company is the one that is single handily responsible for the lack of entertainment in Jacksonville. They are the main reason for the demise of the Jacksonville Barracudas. Yes, St Aug Amp is killing this town. We are in dire need or a 3000 - 5000 seat venue in this town that is NOT RUN by SMG!

QuoteWe are in dire need or a 3000 - 5000 seat venue in this town that is NOT RUN by SMG!

We have it, Met Park, will hold 3000 people in the Pavilion area, and up to 10,000 total in the park. Best of all, it is run by COJ, Special Events.

http://www.makeascenedowntown.com/Metropolitan-Park.aspx (http://www.makeascenedowntown.com/Metropolitan-Park.aspx)

I saw Ryan Adams & the Cardinals at the Florida Theatre three years ago.  I think he got engaged the next day or so.

Also, the Decemberists played St. Aug. in 2009.

Quote from: CityLife on May 02, 2012, 04:35:29 PM

Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 02, 2012, 03:51:19 PM

QuoteIts reality. Sorry for not sugarcoating it (like I tried to). Would you like to engage in the argument that Korn and Evanescence are widely listened to by the educated and young professionals that the city has a hard time attracting and retaining? I'd love to hear that.

Perhaps you could provide a small playlist of bands we are missing out on... you know... a young and educated playlist.  Something NOT Rockville... or country, or Korn and Evanescence... or etc...

1.___________
2.___________
3.___________

Are you insinuating that Korn and Evanesence are the cream of the crop? 

I'll list bands some of the biggest bands of the 2000's that off the top of my head that haven't been to Jax or St. Augie. I probably don't remember every show, so please correct me if I'm wrong on any. Most if not all of the bands listed are headliners or near headliners at Bonnarroo, Coachella, Austin City Limits, and all the huge music festivals that go in around the country.

Arcade Fire
Radiohead       Probably the 3 biggest bands of the past 10 or so years
The Strokes

Black Keys
White Stripes
The Shins
Band Of Horses
Coldplay
Kanye West
Jack Johnson
Ryan Adams
Red Hot Chili Peppers? Have they ever been?
Bon Iver
Muse
Arctic Monkeys
LCD Soundsytem
Sufjan Stevens
The Decemberists
Animal Collective
MGMT
Beirut
The National
Jay Z
Yeah Yeah Yeahs

The 2000's is probably one of the deepest decades ever for quality music. There are just an insane amount of fairly good quality bands. I could probably name another 100 or so quality bands that play in mid sized venues in Atlanta and other large cities that we miss out on.

Add Slipknot and Eminem to that list.

Quote from: KenFSU on May 02, 2012, 04:29:45 PM

Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 02, 2012, 03:51:19 PM

QuoteIts reality. Sorry for not sugarcoating it (like I tried to). Would you like to engage in the argument that Korn and Evanescence are widely listened to by the educated and young professionals that the city has a hard time attracting and retaining? I'd love to hear that.

Perhaps you could provide a small playlist of bands we are missing out on... you know... a young and educated playlist.  Something NOT Rockville... or country, or Korn and Evanescence... or etc...

1.___________
2.___________
3.___________

I admire CityLife's bluntness.

If you've ever been to some of these dime-a-dozen radio station-sponsored alt-rock festivals featuring bands like Korn and Godsmack, the crowd doesn't exactly seem the most progressive, educated bunch in the world. That's not an insult, elitist, or passing on personal judgement. You only need to look around for 30 seconds to see it. I agree with the original poster that a throng of largely (though certainly not all) drunken/stoned, shirtless, goofballs in late-stage arrested development (there's a reason most of the bands at these things are from the mid-to-late 90's) smashing into each other it isn't necessarily indicative of a thriving, mature music scene.

Every mid-sized city in the country has these festivals.

I grew up in Fort Myers, a city with no music scene whatsoever, and saw 10,000 people routinely show up for these things.

A city this size should be aiming higher.

If we're strictly talking rock, we should be aiming for bands like Radiohead, Coldplay, The Killers, The Fray, Kings of Leon, Bright Eyes, etc.

Sadly though, I have a terrible feeling more people in Jacksonville would show up for Korn than for Radiohead :/

If this were the early 2000's, Korn in Jacksonville would've been huge. I actually remember seeing them back in '99 at the old Coliseum with Rob Zombie. That show was amazingly huge. Everyone was there! Korn is just past their prime now. I notice that's the shows that this town gets mostly; bands that are just past their prime that are arriving in Jacksonville only for the first time (I think this is Korn's second time in Jacksonville).

Btw - I happen to know of quite a few Radiohead fans in Jacksonville. I think Radiohead would sell quite well here.

Quote from: CityLife on May 02, 2012, 03:01:18 PM

Quote from: Tacachale on May 02, 2012, 02:41:12 PM
As a veteran music snob, the tastes of young educated people are, more often than not, every bit as bad as everyone else's.

Look, it doesn't matter who plays what type of shitty or (less frequently) non-shitty music, what matters is the money. If promoters think they can make money off an act and the logistics are there, it'll happen. If not, it won't. Our lack of mid-sized venues really affects this.

Having been involved in several successful concerts of various styles and sizes at UNF, I strongly believe there's a unmet demand for live music in town that we haven't managed to tap. I hope we figure it out.

Based on my experiences growing up in Jax and also moving away for college, students at UNF or those who stay in Jax after high school aren't exposed to nearly as much "good" or diverse music as those who go to Gainesville, Tallahassee, Orlando, or out of state. Generally speaking of course. That probably has to do with there being terrible radio stations in Jax and limited concerts.

The problem is probably a little deeper than just lack of mid size venues, but I agree it is likely a strong factor. I think the old Library could be a great mid sized venue and would do great with proximity to BG, Dos Gatos, Burro Bar, Indochine, and everything else around there. What specific size range do you think we lack? 1,000 to 2,000 people?

We have too few music venues of basically every size, though the greatest dearth is probably the size you describe. What few venues we do have of that size are generally not designed specifically for amplified concerts, and/or they're spread all over the entire metro area. It's a shame, as over the last 10 years or so that size has become more and more popular. That's why ampitheaters are so great - they're cheaper to build, you can be outside without worrying so much about the weather, and they don't feel empty for smaller shows as a big building. If we had one, or concert-specific indoor venues of a similar size like the Fillmore in Charlotte or the Nat'l in Richmond, we would get many more of the acts that currently pass us by.

^ Wouldn't it be nice if something like that could be built? It really is too bad that this town just cannot get with the program. I wonder why that is?

My 2 cents is that Florida Theater is nice but the acoustics are horrific for concerts. As for having new venues, it seems to be that we have enough vacant spaces that all sorts of these can be reused with the right creativity, and they could be put in all over.

Actually all the best indoor music venues are old buildings.  I don't think I've been to a show or a DJ set or what have you in a new building unless it were a nightclub or a large arena.

Jacksonville has many buildings it could convert to music venues...with high ceilings and balconies.  Club 5 was that way if I remember correctly...and it has potential, though it's not large enough.

Quote from: simms3 on May 02, 2012, 07:02:14 PM
Actually all the best indoor music venues are old buildings.  I don't think I've been to a show or a DJ set or what have you in a new building unless it were a nightclub or a large arena.

Jacksonville has many buildings it could convert to music venues...with high ceilings and balconies.  Club 5 was that way if I remember correctly...and it has potential, though it's not large enough.

Club 5 was awesome. It was better as a club than a theater IMO. I actually thought the 5-points scene was better back then.

P.S.

Though I didn't step foot in Jacksonville until the early 2000s, it's worth noting that during the 90s, Jacksonville had a hell of a reputation down in South Florida for it's punk and alternative scene. The State Theater in St. Pete and the Milk Bar in Jax were routinely spoken of as two of the best places in the state to take in a show. What led to the Milk Bar closing and what happened to that scene?

Quote from: KenFSU on May 02, 2012, 10:35:56 PM
P.S.

Though I didn't step foot in Jacksonville until the early 2000s, it's worth noting that during the 90s, Jacksonville had a hell of a reputation down in South Florida for it's punk and alternative scene. The State Theater in St. Pete and the Milk Bar in Jax were routinely spoken of as two of the best places in the state to take in a show. What led to the Milk Bar closing and what happened to that scene?

There was word about the then Fire Marshal going all around the city, shutting down clubs and bars for "not complying with fire code". There's also more information about him doing it for certain reasons. Who he had ties with, I will not say, just to not start controversy.

Quote from: CityLife on May 02, 2012, 04:35:29 PM

Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 02, 2012, 03:51:19 PM

QuoteIts reality. Sorry for not sugarcoating it (like I tried to). Would you like to engage in the argument that Korn and Evanescence are widely listened to by the educated and young professionals that the city has a hard time attracting and retaining? I'd love to hear that.

Perhaps you could provide a small playlist of bands we are missing out on... you know... a young and educated playlist.  Something NOT Rockville... or country, or Korn and Evanescence... or etc...

1.___________
2.___________
3.___________

Are you insinuating that Korn and Evanesence are the cream of the crop? 

I'll list bands some of the biggest bands of the 2000's that off the top of my head that haven't been to Jax or St. Augie. I probably don't remember every show, so please correct me if I'm wrong on any. Most if not all of the bands listed are headliners or near headliners at Bonnarroo, Coachella, Austin City Limits, and all the huge music festivals that go in around the country.

Arcade Fire
Radiohead       Probably the 3 biggest bands of the past 10 or so years
The Strokes

Black Keys
White Stripes
The Shins
Band Of Horses
Coldplay
Kanye West
Jack Johnson
Ryan Adams
Red Hot Chili Peppers? Have they ever been?
Bon Iver
Muse
Arctic Monkeys
LCD Soundsytem
Sufjan Stevens
The Decemberists
Animal Collective
MGMT
Beirut
The National
Jay Z
Yeah Yeah Yeahs

The 2000's is probably one of the deepest decades ever for quality music. There are just an insane amount of fairly good quality bands. I could probably name another 100 or so quality bands that play in mid sized venues in Atlanta and other large cities that we miss out on.

Thanks for the great list!  I certainly would like to see many of these bands also... though I do not fit the young professional and educated demographic.  My main point was the musical box you desire to put the young educated professional in.  My guess is that these folks musical tastes vary wildly.  I happen to know a large group in this category who attend nearly every "country act" to come to town.  While not my cup of tea... I have attended a couple of these events and I can assure you they are well attended by educated young professionals.  If you define the "concert scene" by the bands you have listed... then it is almost certainly "dead".  If you include the Jazzfest, Bluesfest, Rockville, Florida Theater, Memorial coliseum, Everbank, Metro Park, and various clubs... then the concert scene is "not so dead".

^ Well the rock concert scene is definitely dead. I think it's even safe to say the hip-hop concert scene is dead.

Quote from: Anti redneck on May 03, 2012, 07:20:00 AM
^ Well the rock concert scene is definitely dead. I think it's even safe to say the hip-hop concert scene is dead.

AhA!  Perhaps the subject of the thread should be modified... to... "The concerts I would like to see scene is dead."

I have noticed a lot of acts come to Freebird...
Big Gigantic just rolled through town up here and their next stop was Freebird.  A couple of well known DJs have played there this year after rolling through town up here.  Sweetwater Brewery is sponsoring a Railroad Earth show down there apparently.  Mickey Avalon is coming for the umpteenth time.

Freebird is perhaps the classic music venue in Jacksonville, and it's not half bad.  I've seen a few shows there back in the day.

Perhaps what Jacksonville is missing is just one more venue that's slightly larger and at least as cool in town (FL Theater  is definitely not it), and promoters.  I don't think there are promoters in Jacksonville.  Everyone in Tally is a promoter of some sort.  Obviously Miami is full of them - I had a couple friends who were promoters down there in HS, and they got to go to clubs underage as a result (they grow up a little faster, ha).

Quote from: Anti redneck on May 03, 2012, 02:27:41 AM

Quote from: KenFSU on May 02, 2012, 10:35:56 PM
P.S............... What led to the Milk Bar closing and what happened to that scene?

There was word about the then Fire Marshal going all around the city, shutting down clubs and bars for "not complying with fire code". There's also more information about him doing it for certain reasons. Who he had ties with, I will not say, just to not start controversy.

Read accounts of night club fires and you'll appreciate an active fire marshall.

Quote from: KenFSU on May 02, 2012, 10:35:56 PM

Though I didn't step foot in Jacksonville until the early 2000s, it's worth noting that during the 90s, Jacksonville had a hell of a reputation down in South Florida for it's punk and alternative scene. The State Theater in St. Pete and the Milk Bar in Jax were routinely spoken of as two of the best places in the state to take in a show. What led to the Milk Bar closing and what happened to that scene?

This comment brings up another 'scene' that was really going off when I arrived in Jax in '98 - The Electronic Scene was absolutely going off.  We had DJs from around the world coming to Jax to spin at Club 5, Milkbar/Paradome, Paradome @ 618. 

Locally we had Robert Goodman was somewhat of a local legend spinning Open House on the Planet.  DJ Kenesis was making his chops after hours at Evolution.  Club Perdition was still having a weekly vampire night.  Saturady Night Seduction at Club 5.

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on May 03, 2012, 08:27:51 AM

Quote from: KenFSU on May 02, 2012, 10:35:56 PM

Though I didn't step foot in Jacksonville until the early 2000s, it's worth noting that during the 90s, Jacksonville had a hell of a reputation down in South Florida for it's punk and alternative scene. The State Theater in St. Pete and the Milk Bar in Jax were routinely spoken of as two of the best places in the state to take in a show. What led to the Milk Bar closing and what happened to that scene?

This comment brings up another 'scene' that was really going off when I arrived in Jax in '98 - The Electronic Scene was absolutely going off.  We had DJs from around the world coming to Jax to spin at Club 5, Milkbar/Paradome, Paradome @ 618. 

Locally we had Robert Goodman was somewhat of a local legend spinning Open House on the Planet.  DJ Kenesis was making his chops after hours at Evolution.  Club Perdition was still having a weekly vampire night.  Saturady Night Seduction at Club 5.

And then came the raids.

Evolutions was a pretty unique club for Jax. I remember it not getting busy until at least 3 am.  I do remember them pulling in a decent dj at least a few times a month. The cover charges were pretty steep, but we'd pay them. But I digress, that was less of a concert scene and more of an all night party. Scene.

Well I for one had a blast in the mosh pit in front of the P.O.D. stage bashing around with my shirtless bretheren.  :)  I'm sure I was the only young professional from the Jacksonville area though.  Maybe I'm just holding on to the good 'ol days of hard rock festivals from the 90's but half of the so-called top bands listed prior have little to no interest to me.

I just think you went off half-cocked linking certain "types of people" to the local concerts.  And I didin't notice anyone there polling the masses on their residency, age, education, etc...

And I'll never be caught dead with the likes of Coldplay and the Yeah Yeah Yeah's in my record collection or on my MP3 player.  Gimme all of the Disturbed, Korn, Shinedown, 5 Finger Death Punch, Slipknot, etc you can find and I'll blast it on my car stereo (windows down) as I pull out of the office park while sporting my band signed Korn t-shirt beneath my cornflower blue button up shirt, black slacks, and spit-shined Dockers.  :D

Sorry to derail the topic again ;)

Ok, back to it!  As others have alluded or stated, the local population likely has little to do with the types of concerts we see here locally.  It has much more to do with the venue and the fact the the Jacksonville market in unique in the fact that it is a bit of an island.  The other Florida metros very easily pull from neighboring cities because of their close proximity. 

CityLife, the fact that you bought Coldplay tickets utterly negates everything else you have to say about music.

I'm kidding of course, but in the service of the point. There's no accounting for taste. Whether you've got exquisite taste (read: me), awful taste, or evidently good tasted marred by glaring flaws such as Coldplay, it's all the same in the end, what matters in getting the shows are the money and infrastructure. Towns, and even venues, that get the great acts also get the terrible acts - they have the cogs in place for these things to happen.

We're stronger in some areas and weaker in others. FWIW I'm definitely in the crowd that thinks our concert scene is pretty good, overall definitely better than it was 10 years ago, though I do wish it were better.

Haha. Touche. I actually got the Coldplay tickets because my wife and her friend in Tampa are fans and wanted to go. I got them knowing I could either sell at a profit or bite the bullet and go. Fortunately demand is high and I am going to sell at 2x face. Could you imagine that kind of money being paid for tickets in Jax? People in Miami are paying $600 for lower level (not even floor) seats for Coldplay. People in Tampa are paying $250ish.

And regarding taste, I wasn't necessarily naming my favorite bands(though many were), mostly just acts I know are large draws and don't come to Jax. We've actually done ok on good bands lately like Modest Mouse, Fleet Foxes, My Morning Jacket, Vampire Weekend, Decemberists, Flaming Lips, TV On The Radio, Wilco, etc. But where we are lacking is the mid level or up and coming bands. I was just in San Fran for a few days and while I was there they had Neon Indian, M83, Radiohead, and a few other solid acts I forget. Obviously you can't compare Jax to a San Fran, but every time I'm in a bigger city I realize how much we miss out on good shows. Bigger cities typically have about 1-3 good concerts (for all tastes) per week at minimum. What does Jax have 1 a month? Go look at Jax's summer lineup on Pollstar. Its embarrassing really.

Things have gotten better here, but we do need a mid level venue and we do need more demand/better attendance when we do get good acts.

Wow a lot of you people have horrible taste in music.  Korn?  5 Finger Death Punch?  Slipknot?  Those are the big bands?  Not to be insulting, but the people I see listening to that stuff, at least publicly, are kind of...

And there is nothing wrong with Coldplay...tickets to Coldplay are some of the most expensive around.  I saw them last year in Piedmont Park and it was a good looking crowd.  The average income level and educational attainment of that crowd is probably 5x that of the crowd that goes to a Slipknot concert.

And that's what live music is all about. Attracting people with similiar education and income levels.

Quote from: KenFSU on May 01, 2012, 10:25:33 AM
Would love to see an open air ampitheater downtown somewhere, preferably on the river, or even something like the old Jannus Landing in St. Pete.

It's called Metropolitan Park, but the residents in St. Nicholas always complain...

QuoteSaturday Night Seduction at Club 5

Bruce Chambers ran the best Halloween parties at Club 5. I agree, much better as a bar, but the neighborhood is probably better off with the fact that the Shad's fixed up the building and have brought in other shops to make it more diverse.

Quote from: David on May 03, 2012, 03:38:26 PM
And that's what live music is all about. Attracting people with similiar education and income levels.

Thanks David... I was tired of saying it.  Unreal... :o ::)

Can't listen to the coldplay.  But then again, I have balls.   I agree with the others, are we really basing what is "good" music based on the ticket price?

Quote from: scottjsmith on May 03, 2012, 03:46:05 PM

Quote from: KenFSU on May 01, 2012, 10:25:33 AM
Would love to see an open air ampitheater downtown somewhere, preferably on the river, or even something like the old Jannus Landing in St. Pete.

It's called Metropolitan Park, but the residents in St. Nicholas always complain...

St. Nicholas is probably a much younger area than it was 15 years ago (or whatever it was) when the amphitheater concept was shot down. I have a friend that has a place near the river there and a lot of her neighbors are late 20's and 30's. I have a feeling there would be less opposition to that idea now. And if there is, those who don't like it can always move to St. Johns County. And I can say that, because when the wind blows north I can hear Metro Park/Stadium/Suns Games just as loudly as they do.

Quote from: fsquid on May 03, 2012, 03:54:23 PM
Can't listen to the coldplay.  But then again, I have balls.   I agree with the others, are we really basing what is "good" music based on the ticket price?

If Seth Rogan didn't say that in 40 Year Old Virgin, Coldplay wouldn't get nearly as much flak as they do.  A Rush of Blood to the Head is a darn good pop album. They've definitely dropped in quality since then, but the new album has some decent songs. But yea by and large they are a little more for females than males. Still they're a good pop band who has ripped off U2, Radiohead, and Arcade Fire among others, and freely admit to that.

For the record, when I talked about prices of Coldplay, I was using it as an example of demand and how much more money is in those areas. Not necessarily taking Simms standpoint.

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on May 02, 2012, 01:58:39 PM
Aside from Simms, this is some of the most elitist babble I've ever read on here. 

and here it comes:

Quote from: simms3 on May 03, 2012, 03:30:35 PM
Wow a lot of you people have horrible taste in music.  Korn?  5 Finger Death Punch?  Slipknot?  Those are the big bands?  Not to be insulting, but the people I see listening to that stuff, at least publicly, are kind of...

And there is nothing wrong with Coldplay...tickets to Coldplay are some of the most expensive around.  I saw them last year in Piedmont Park and it was a good looking crowd.  The average income level and educational attainment of that crowd is probably 5x that of the crowd that goes to a Slipknot concert.

Yeah, but the Slipknot crowd would kick your ass, take away your overpriced Coldplay tickets and toss them in the urinal.  The next morning, they'll put on thier suit, sit in their corner office and watch the market.

I guess everyone who rides a Harley and wears leather must be poor white trash as well. 

Quote from: CityLife on May 03, 2012, 04:05:14 PM

Quote from: fsquid on May 03, 2012, 03:54:23 PM
Can't listen to the coldplay.  But then again, I have balls.   I agree with the others, are we really basing what is "good" music based on the ticket price?

If Seth Rogan didn't say that in 40 Year Old Virgin, Coldplay wouldn't get nearly as much flak as they do.  A Rush of Blood to the Head is a darn good pop album. They've definitely dropped in quality since then, but the new album has some decent songs. But yea by and large they are a little more for females than males. Still they're a good pop band who has ripped off U2, Radiohead, and Arcade Fire among others, and freely admit to that.

For the record, when I talked about prices of Coldplay, I was using it as an example of demand and how much more money is in those areas. Not necessarily taking Simms standpoint.

I didn't even see your post before that, but I do agree with your post.  I've actually never seen 40 year old virgin.  This Seth guy needs to stop ripping off my ideas.

Anyone who criticizes other peoples' music and then says "there's nothing wrong with Coldplay" has just lost that argument for themselves. They've lost it so bad that not even non sequiturs about their ticket prices and the supposed educational attainment of their fanbase can save it.

Seriously though, individual tastes aside, if we suddenly woke up and started attracting acts like Arcade Fire, Band of Horses, Radiohead, etc., at the same time we'd also start attracting various different acts of various different styles, including ones that suck. CityLife (who appears to have pretty good taste IMO) mentioned several good bands playing in San Francisco. I can guarantee that Korn and Slipknot have also played big shows in San Francisco. As have Enrique Iglecias, 8Ball & MJG, and Hank Williams III. A strong music scene brings variety. Terrible, terrible variety.

Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 03, 2012, 07:29:41 AM

Quote from: Anti redneck on May 03, 2012, 07:20:00 AM
^ Well the rock concert scene is definitely dead. I think it's even safe to say the hip-hop concert scene is dead.

AhA!  Perhaps the subject of the thread should be modified... to... "The concerts I would like to see scene is dead."

If it's not a variety, then it's a dead scene IMO.

Quote from: Overstreet on May 03, 2012, 07:55:11 AM

Quote from: Anti redneck on May 03, 2012, 02:27:41 AM

Quote from: KenFSU on May 02, 2012, 10:35:56 PM
P.S............... What led to the Milk Bar closing and what happened to that scene?

There was word about the then Fire Marshal going all around the city, shutting down clubs and bars for "not complying with fire code". There's also more information about him doing it for certain reasons. Who he had ties with, I will not say, just to not start controversy.

Read accounts of night club fires and you'll appreciate an active fire marshall.

You don't think it's a little fishy that 80% of all clubs in Jacksonville got shut down for the same reason?

Quote from: CityLife on May 02, 2012, 04:35:29 PM

Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 02, 2012, 03:51:19 PM

QuoteIts reality. Sorry for not sugarcoating it (like I tried to). Would you like to engage in the argument that Korn and Evanescence are widely listened to by the educated and young professionals that the city has a hard time attracting and retaining? I'd love to hear that.

Perhaps you could provide a small playlist of bands we are missing out on... you know... a young and educated playlist.  Something NOT Rockville... or country, or Korn and Evanescence... or etc...

1.___________
2.___________
3.___________

Are you insinuating that Korn and Evanesence are the cream of the crop? 

I'll list bands some of the biggest bands of the 2000's that off the top of my head that haven't been to Jax or St. Augie. I probably don't remember every show, so please correct me if I'm wrong on any. Most if not all of the bands listed are headliners or near headliners at Bonnarroo, Coachella, Austin City Limits, and all the huge music festivals that go in around the country.

Arcade Fire
Radiohead       Probably the 3 biggest bands of the past 10 or so years
The Strokes

Black Keys
White Stripes
The Shins
Band Of Horses
Coldplay
Kanye West
Jack Johnson
Ryan Adams
Red Hot Chili Peppers? Have they ever been?
Bon Iver
Muse
Arctic Monkeys
LCD Soundsytem
Sufjan Stevens
The Decemberists
Animal Collective
MGMT
Beirut
The National
Jay Z
Yeah Yeah Yeahs

The 2000's is probably one of the deepest decades ever for quality music. There are just an insane amount of fairly good quality bands. I could probably name another 100 or so quality bands that play in mid sized venues in Atlanta and other large cities that we miss out on.

Traveller is correct that Ryan Adams played Florida Theatre, Decemberists played St Aug amphitheatre and Bon Iver opened for Wilco at Fl theatre several years ago.

I see your point, but we get some pretty good shows despite the lack of mid-sized venues.  Also, there was a great festival played at Met Park some years ago called Talleyrand fest.  Just off the top of my head here are several bands that played; Polyphonic Spree, Keller Williams, Arrested Development, Spoon, Perpetual Groove, Whole Wheat Bread, Pat Dinizio (great intimate solo set with maybe 20 in the crowd and all of Smithereens' hits), The Bravery and several more that I wasn't familiar with.  I was bummed to see this didn't continue after the first year.  Could've been a great festival to build on for years to come.

Quote from: Tacachale on May 03, 2012, 05:13:08 PM
Anyone who criticizes other peoples' music and then says "there's nothing wrong with Coldplay" has just lost that argument for themselves. They've lost it so bad that not even non sequiturs about their ticket prices and the supposed educational attainment of their fanbase can save it.

Seriously though, individual tastes aside, if we suddenly woke up and started attracting acts like Arcade Fire, Band of Horses, Radiohead, etc., at the same time we'd also start attracting various different acts of various different styles, including ones that suck. CityLife (who appears to have pretty good taste IMO) mentioned several good bands playing in San Francisco. I can guarantee that Korn and Slipknot have also played big shows in San Francisco. As have Enrique Iglecias, 8Ball & MJG, and Hank Williams III. A strong music scene brings variety. Terrible, terrible variety.

To each their own...I wouldn't have bought tickets to Coldplay by itself, but it wrapped up a music festival in the park whereby some local bands, Cage the Elephant, Black Keys and Young the Giant played.  This year the same festival will be headlined by Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Joan Jett, Florence & the Machine, TI, O'Brother, Ludacris, LP, Civil Twilight, Girl Talk, Avett Brothers and Van Hunt.  Apparently one year in the past it was headlined by Sheryl Crow, Def Leppard and Tony Bennett along with 150 other acts over three days.  My point about Cold Play tickets being expensive was analogous to what everyone else's point was, too, and that was one of desire and demand.  They may rip off bands that are better and bands I like as well, but they put on a good show and attract a very good looking crowd.  I'm sure the Slipknot fans can beat up any of the Coldplay concert goers (as was stated before).  That's real nice.

I do think CityLife has posted the most decent and well-rounded list of shows that have not made it to Jacksonville.  I happen to like most of the groups on that list (my taste is not all that bad and I have seen a number live), and I happen to really like Animal Collective, who I have seen in Atlanta.

I have also been one of the biggest defenders of Jville's music scene on this thread, ironically, as it is not all that bad, was a lot better, and could improve.

A real popular consortium of groups right now amongst the 18-27 year old demographic includes STS9, Big Gigantic, Bassnectar, Avett Brothers, Thievery Corporation, Pretty Lights, Umphreys McGee, Lotus, Michael Franti, Ghostland Observatory, Shpongle (who I have seen 3 times now...most bizarre/nuts show I've ever see), Skrillex, etc etc.  Big Gigantic came to Freebird, but other than that I think the "now" trends miss Jacksonville altogether.  Perpetual Groove played Center Stage a block from my apartment a month or so ago, but I didn't go.  That was fun in early college and even before (young crowd).

What I foresee for Jacksonville (warehouse re-use) is something like the new King Plow West:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/terminalwest

This is in a warehouse district on the westside, and I believe it is well over a century old.  They really did a good job fixing it up as a concert venue and nightclub.  This is one of many many similar venues in Atlanta, but a city like Jacksonville just needs one.  This is the scene that is missing in Jacksonville.  I'm getting to be too old for that scene, and I hate being around under age people, but it is a youth movement.  Any given night from Tuesday-Saturday 15 similar venues are having crazy shows and young people are turning out in droves.  In Nashville it's even better because on top of venues you have live music in 100 bars all concentrated downtown and West End, going 7 days a week.  That's a music scene.

Quote from: simms3 on May 03, 2012, 03:30:35 PM
Wow a lot of you people have horrible taste in music.  Korn?  5 Finger Death Punch?  Slipknot?  Those are the big bands?  Not to be insulting, but the people I see listening to that stuff, at least publicly, are kind of...

And there is nothing wrong with Coldplay...tickets to Coldplay are some of the most expensive around.  I saw them last year in Piedmont Park and it was a good looking crowd.  The average income level and educational attainment of that crowd is probably 5x that of the crowd that goes to a Slipknot concert.

Simms I still think you're missing the point.  The price of the ticket has nothing to do with the "types of people" listening to the music but everything to do with the size of the venue and the QUANTITY of people listening.

Linking "types of people" to certain genres or bands does nothing for your argument.  You'd come off a lot better opening your post with "Metal Sucks! I want more Coldplay & Britney Spears!"  :)

And trust me on this, I know PLENTY of young clean cut financially competent people that love to jump into a mosh pit from time to time.

Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on May 03, 2012, 04:05:19 PM
Yeah, but the Slipknot crowd would kick your ass, take away your overpriced Coldplay tickets and toss them in the urinal.  The next morning, they'll put on thier suit, sit in their corner office and watch the market.

I guess everyone who rides a Harley and wears leather must be poor white trash as well. 

Poor white trash just know how to have a good time!  :)

Agree... and I urge you to attend the upcoming Jazzfest and see the young and educated mingling freely with the diverse masses that attend that great event... 8)

Do they sell cold Natty Light and funnel cakes?!

Just joking  :)  I love Jazz fest and can't wait for it to get here.

Wow I meant ticket price in awhole different way.  I meant it in terms of demand.

Obviously my last post was ignored, that's ok.  People are always looking for certain cues...so predictable.

Also maybe in Jax Slipknot and Korn and Evergreen Terrace and all those bands are in major demand by the clean cut crowd (I actually went to a few shows like that my soph/junior year in HS when I was trying to be punk...yea right for me...had gauged ears the summer in between HS and college when I went to Spain for summer), but where I am now the most sought after shows are the jam bands and the more mellow shows where most of the crowd chills out on mo____ and organic beers and then returns to their white collar/artistic jobs on Monday.  I'm only referencing where I am, but a totally different crowd goes to the crazy heavy shit (a neo-nazi looking crowd to me).

And once again I'll say that on this topic I have been one of the biggest defenders of Jax, which is rare for me and ironic.  I think Jacksonville's music scene is alright compared to many places.  COuld always be better (there are few places that literally can't be any better).

I love Slipknot and Five Finger Death Punch (not as big into Korn as I was) and I don't consider myself to be poor white trash in the least bit.

I've noticed another nice mix/run of bookings in St. Augustine again this year - how long before they outgrow the venue?

A few upcoming:
Matchbox Twenty
Chicago
Willie Nelson
The Smashing Pumpkins
Styx/REO Speedwagon/Ted Nugent
Bob Dylan
Third Day
Alan Jackson
Billy Idol
LL Cool J/Ice Cube/Public Enemy/De La Soul

St Augustine must being doing something right... or just better than Jax. They also have the 'Gentlemen of the Road" later this summer.

QuoteAmerica’s oldest city welcomes the Gentlemen of the Road Stopover on September 13th and 14th, featuring Mumford & Sons, Fun., Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and more.

Settled in 1565, St. Augustine, Florida boasts an unparalleled history, from the Fountain of Youth to the Castillo de San Marcos (whose iconic shape adorns the Stopover badge).  The final Stopover of 2013 will take place at Francis Field, in the heart of downtown. The event will begin the evening of Friday September 13th, and continue with a day-long concert on Saturday September 14th.

The bars, shops, and restaurants of downtown St. Augustine will host a series of events and aftershows throughout the weekend.

Confirmed lineup includes: Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (Friday), Fun., The Vaccines, Half Moon Run, Willy Mason (Friday), Those Darlins and Bear’s Den, with more to be announced.

Can't believe they pulled this show to Francis Field. I was just down there for that wretched "sea food festival" and couldn't believe how boring the concert space is. It's just a field for christ sake! No stage and beat-up grass somehow beats out Met-Park?!

Guess they have better promoters than jax.

Quote from: Shwaz on March 19, 2013, 01:21:39 PM
St Augustine must being doing something right... or just better than Jax. They also have the 'Gentlemen of the Road" later this summer.

QuoteAmerica’s oldest city welcomes the Gentlemen of the Road Stopover on September 13th and 14th, featuring Mumford & Sons, Fun., Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and more.

Settled in 1565, St. Augustine, Florida boasts an unparalleled history, from the Fountain of Youth to the Castillo de San Marcos (whose iconic shape adorns the Stopover badge).  The final Stopover of 2013 will take place at Francis Field, in the heart of downtown. The event will begin the evening of Friday September 13th, and continue with a day-long concert on Saturday September 14th.

The bars, shops, and restaurants of downtown St. Augustine will host a series of events and aftershows throughout the weekend.

Confirmed lineup includes: Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (Friday), Fun., The Vaccines, Half Moon Run, Willy Mason (Friday), Those Darlins and Bear’s Den, with more to be announced.

Can't believe they pulled this show to Francis Field. I was just down there for that wretched "sea food festival" and couldn't believe how boring the concert space is. It's just a field for christ sake! No stage and beat-up grass somehow beats out Met-Park?!

The whole premise of the GOTR tour is to go to small, unique cities.  That's why there only other stops in the US are Troy and Guthrie.  They wouldn't have come to Met Park.

Quote from: cline on March 19, 2013, 01:53:48 PM

Quote from: Shwaz on March 19, 2013, 01:21:39 PM
St Augustine must being doing something right... or just better than Jax. They also have the 'Gentlemen of the Road" later this summer.

QuoteAmerica’s oldest city welcomes the Gentlemen of the Road Stopover on September 13th and 14th, featuring Mumford & Sons, Fun., Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and more.

Settled in 1565, St. Augustine, Florida boasts an unparalleled history, from the Fountain of Youth to the Castillo de San Marcos (whose iconic shape adorns the Stopover badge).  The final Stopover of 2013 will take place at Francis Field, in the heart of downtown. The event will begin the evening of Friday September 13th, and continue with a day-long concert on Saturday September 14th.

The bars, shops, and restaurants of downtown St. Augustine will host a series of events and aftershows throughout the weekend.

Confirmed lineup includes: Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (Friday), Fun., The Vaccines, Half Moon Run, Willy Mason (Friday), Those Darlins and Bear’s Den, with more to be announced.

Can't believe they pulled this show to Francis Field. I was just down there for that wretched "sea food festival" and couldn't believe how boring the concert space is. It's just a field for christ sake! No stage and beat-up grass somehow beats out Met-Park?!

The whole premise of the GOTR tour is to go to small, unique cities.  That's why there only other stops in the US are Troy and Guthrie.  They wouldn't have come to Met Park.

Fair point.

The upcoming events at Jax's  Florida Theatre, Arena, and Performing Arts respectively, and it's not that shabby esp when you consider the sporting events at the Arena.

www.boxofficeticketsales.com/venue/florida_theatre_jacksonville-tickets-for-sale.aspx?gclid=CK-2lOi1ibYCFQexnQod2TQAow

www.jaxevents.com/venues/veterans-memorial-arena/

www.jaxevents.com/venues/times-union-center-for-the-performing-arts/

Oh man, that arduous 40 mile trek down I-95 is so grueling! Quit looking at St Augustine as comp to Jax, and look at it as an extension, geez man. Hell, those St Auggie acts probably won't come here for the simple fact that the two cities are so freaking close! It's not like you're driving to Winter Park or something. I personally don't see what all of the fuss is about, but I'm not least bit surprised that people on MJ will find a way to complain about anything, even a short lil' trip down the highway to see your favorite act...

St. Augustine Amphitheater has good promotion but above all, they have a modern mid-sized venue that attracts those acts and doesn't exist in Jax. Also, it's really part of the same market, so a lot of their ticket sales are to people from Jax. A trip to Anastasia Island from Jax doesn't really require loading the wagon for the Oregon Trail. It's a great venue, but it would be nice to have something comparable in Jacksonville; we'd definitely start seeing a lot more of the shows that pass us by.

^Stephen, we don't have anything comparable to the St. Augustine Amphitheater up here. What we do have in that general size has various deficiencies. And very many people from Jax go to concerts there, I'm sure a number of the people on this forum have. But you're right, a lot of people from up here don't make that trek, meaning a show that does well out there would have done even better closer to more of the region's population if there were a workable venue.

I suppose that those people who don't have a car, don't even have any friend drivers, right Stephen? Most people know that Jax is an auto centric city anyway. Since we are all in the same freaking metro, your 'Jax vs St Auggie' argument doesn't have any traction.

Quote from: I-10east on March 19, 2013, 02:46:41 PM
The upcoming events at Jax's  Florida Theatre, Arena, and Performing Arts respectively, and it's not that shabby esp when you consider the sporting events at the Arena.

www.boxofficeticketsales.com/venue/florida_theatre_jacksonville-tickets-for-sale.aspx?gclid=CK-2lOi1ibYCFQexnQod2TQAow

www.jaxevents.com/venues/veterans-memorial-arena/

www.jaxevents.com/venues/times-union-center-for-the-performing-arts/

Oh man, that arduous 40 mile trek down I-95 is so grueling! Quit looking at St Augustine as comp to Jax, and look at it as an extension, geez man. Hell, those St Auggie acts probably won't come here for the simple fact that the two cities are so freaking close! It's not like you're driving to Winter Park or something. I personally don't see what all of the fuss is about, but I'm not least bit surprised that people on MJ will find a way to complain about anything, even a short lil' trip down the highway to see your favorite act...

Personally, I've had to skip quite a few shows in St Augustine because of the that 100 mile round trip drive... 101.6 miles to be exact... for me : /

I have tickets for the 'GOTR' show and a hotel booked for the weekend.

As long as we have great venues that go unbooked... I'll continue to be disappointed.

I noticed that people are saying that the Jax venues are 'unbooked'. So do yall realistically believe that an act is supposed to perform at the JVMA, TUCfPA, the FL Theatre venues everyday with no hiatuses? If that's the case, then there's an indictment against yall beloved amphitheatre down there in St Augustine, because they aren't any everyday consecutive acts there either.

Next two Auggie acts.

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live: Get the Sillies Out! (Mar 22)

Chicago (Apr 7)

Not exactly a bustling roadie congested atmosphere.

You're missing the point. Jacksonville is lacking in available concert / tour booking. Period. Whether it's losing shows to St. Augustine, Orlando, Atlanta etc. etc. - Regardless of where, we are being over looked as a national tour stop on a regular basis.

Having lived in Jax for about 8 years now I can truly say we have a pretty lame music scene as far as bringing in acts. We have some decent venues but I feel we lack the booking aggressiveness as other Florida cities. When I lived in Tampa I felt like I was going to a show every weekend and if a band passed on Tampa, they usually played Orlando which meant a little road trip.

Don't get me wrong we have a few good shows here and there but no where near the consistency of some of our peer cities.

I would say Freebird's is our best venue in terms of booking diverse/current bands but I don't think a pleasant person works there, from the ticket booth, door guys and bar tenders it's nothing but bad attitudes.

I would really like to see Underbelly step it up and bring some bigger acts, they have the space and good location Downtown but seem to primarily host the same local acts over and over..

Quote from: stephendare on March 19, 2013, 04:09:07 PM

Quote from: Shwaz on March 19, 2013, 04:02:11 PM
You're missing the point. Jacksonville is lacking in available concert / tour booking. Period. Whether it's losing shows to St. Augustine, Orlando, Atlanta etc. etc. - Regardless of where, we are being over looked as a national tour stop on a regular basis.

I'm starting to pick up on that  ;D

Charlotte just put one in their downtown since their only mid sized venue was out at the racetrack in the burbs.

(http://www.livenationpremiumseats.com/images/375/620/400/image.jpg)

Quote from: TPC on March 19, 2013, 04:05:19 PM
Having lived in Jax for about 8 years now I can truly say we have a pretty lame music scene as far as bringing in acts. We have some decent venues but I feel we lack the booking aggressiveness as other Florida cities. When I lived in Tampa I felt like I was going to a show every weekend and if a band passed on Tampa, they usually played Orlando which meant a little road trip.

Don't get me wrong we have a few good shows here and there but no where near the consistency of some of our peer cities.

I would say Freebird's is our best venue in terms of booking diverse/current bands but I don't think a pleasant person works there, from the ticket booth, door guys and bar tenders it's nothing but bad attitudes.

I would really like to see Underbelly step it up and bring some bigger acts, they have the space and good location Downtown but seem to primarily host the same local acts over and over..

Underbelly does great for its scale. They're a lot smaller than Freebird or even Jackrabbits, let alone larger venues that attract the bigger acts, but they still manage to get some of the best shows in the region. And they certainly don't "primarily" book the same acts; they do that because they've committed to having shows every single night, which is all too rare in Jax.

Quote from: stephendare on March 19, 2013, 04:09:07 PM
schwaz you can literally explain this as many times as you would like.  it will change nothing.

OMG, look who talking! I can think of many times were you couldn't back up your past arguments; I'm backing up what I say. All I'm saying is that St Augustine isn't a million miles away and it's in the metro, that's all; Don't try to make it sound like you're travelling to the Alabama state line. I never said that I disagree with yall concerning other cities like Orlando etc getting alot of good acts, but that's to be expected because Orlando is a big tourist town. Most major sports arenas are gonna have sports most of the time playing in them, with a smattering of concerts which are usually the biggest acts; Even the Amway Center's current concerts is okay but it's not like it's back to back stunningly spectacular euphoria. I'm aware that the other acts in town will of course go to the smaller venues (performing arts centers etc).

www.amwaycenter.com/events/category/concertsshows

Quote from: I-10east on March 19, 2013, 04:34:33 PM

Quote from: stephendare on March 19, 2013, 04:09:07 PM
schwaz you can literally explain this as many times as you would like.  it will change nothing.

OMG, look who talking! I can think of many times were you couldn't back up your past arguments; I'm backing up what I say. All I'm saying is that St Augustine isn't a million miles away and it's in the metro, that's all; Don't try to make it sound like you're travelling to the Alabama state line. I never said that I disagree with yall concerning other cities like Orlando etc getting alot of good acts, but that's to be expected because Orlando is a big tourist town. Most major sports arenas are gonna have sports most of the time playing in them, with a smattering of concerts; Even the Amway Center's current concerts is okay but it's not like it's back to back stunningly spectacular euphoria. I'm aware that the other acts in town will of course go to the smaller venues (performing arts centers etc).

www.amwaycenter.com/events/category/concertsshows

Let's compare Jax to Orlando overall. Here's what pollstar shows:

                   Events
Orlando, FL    397

                        Events
Jacksonville, FL    95

Yup jabberwocky, as all I'm doing is making links with FACTS on them, while alot of yall use dumb cliched phrases like 'unbooked' and 'passed by everyone' etc with no backing.

Quote from: Shwaz on March 19, 2013, 04:50:12 PM

Quote from: I-10east on March 19, 2013, 04:34:33 PM

Quote from: stephendare on March 19, 2013, 04:09:07 PM
schwaz you can literally explain this as many times as you would like.  it will change nothing.

OMG, look who talking! I can think of many times were you couldn't back up your past arguments; I'm backing up what I say. All I'm saying is that St Augustine isn't a million miles away and it's in the metro, that's all; Don't try to make it sound like you're travelling to the Alabama state line. I never said that I disagree with yall concerning other cities like Orlando etc getting alot of good acts, but that's to be expected because Orlando is a big tourist town. Most major sports arenas are gonna have sports most of the time playing in them, with a smattering of concerts; Even the Amway Center's current concerts is okay but it's not like it's back to back stunningly spectacular euphoria. I'm aware that the other acts in town will of course go to the smaller venues (performing arts centers etc).

www.amwaycenter.com/events/category/concertsshows

Let's compare Jax to Orlando overall. Here's what pollstar shows:

                   Events
Orlando, FL    397

                        Events
Jacksonville, FL    95

I'm getting 176 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=29976&SearchBy=Jacksonville,%20Florida) for the Jax metro vs. 520 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=42921&SearchBy=Orlando,%20Florida) for Orlando, but the point is made. More to the point, beyond the tourism connection, Orlando has a number of well used mid-sized and upper-mid sized venues that we lack. As I've said before, that's what we're really lacking in Jax.

Quote from: Shwaz on March 19, 2013, 04:50:12 PM
Let's compare Jax to Orlando overall. Here's what pollstar shows:

                   Events
Orlando, FL    397

                        Events
Jacksonville, FL    95

I'm not sure how you got that number, as freaking Universal Studios probably got included in that mix, but I get it Orlando is a big tourist town like I said already, and it is definitely known of it's entertainment. I was just picking out the Amway Center because usually the arenas have the really big act concerts.

Quote from: Tacachale on March 19, 2013, 04:59:49 PM

Quote from: Shwaz on March 19, 2013, 04:50:12 PM

Quote from: I-10east on March 19, 2013, 04:34:33 PM

Quote from: stephendare on March 19, 2013, 04:09:07 PM
schwaz you can literally explain this as many times as you would like.  it will change nothing.

OMG, look who talking! I can think of many times were you couldn't back up your past arguments; I'm backing up what I say. All I'm saying is that St Augustine isn't a million miles away and it's in the metro, that's all; Don't try to make it sound like you're travelling to the Alabama state line. I never said that I disagree with yall concerning other cities like Orlando etc getting alot of good acts, but that's to be expected because Orlando is a big tourist town. Most major sports arenas are gonna have sports most of the time playing in them, with a smattering of concerts; Even the Amway Center's current concerts is okay but it's not like it's back to back stunningly spectacular euphoria. I'm aware that the other acts in town will of course go to the smaller venues (performing arts centers etc).

www.amwaycenter.com/events/category/concertsshows

Let's compare Jax to Orlando overall. Here's what pollstar shows:

                   Events
Orlando, FL    397

                        Events
Jacksonville, FL    95

I'm getting 176 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=29976&SearchBy=Jacksonville,%20Florida) for the Jax metro vs. 520 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=42921&SearchBy=Orlando,%20Florida) for Orlando, but the point is made. More to the point, beyond the tourism connection, Orlando has a number of well used mid-sized and upper-mid sized venues that we lack. As I've said before, that's what we're really lacking in Jax.

Actually, this is an interesting study comparing events to today's new MSA figures:

Jacksonville area: 176 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=29976&SearchBy=Jacksonville,%20Florida) events, 1,377,850 people
Orlando area: 520 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=42921&SearchBy=Orlando,%20Florida) events, 2,223,674 people
Miami area: 359 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=37518&SearchBy=Miami) events, 5,762,717 people
Tampa Bay area: 296 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=55008&SearchBy=Tampa) events, 2,842,878 people
Gainesville area: 61 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=23819&SearchBy=Gainesville) events, 266,369 people (2011)
Tallahassee area: 33 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=54955&SearchBy=Tallahassee) events, 367,413 people (2011)

Atlanta area: 476 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=6990&SearchBy=Atlanta) events, 5,475,831 people
Charlotte area: 239 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=13824&SearchBy=Charlotte,%20NC) events, 2,296,569 people
Raleigh-Durham area: 280 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=46851&SearchBy=Raleigh) events, 1,188,564 people
Norfolk-Virginia Beach area: 156 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=41234&SearchBy=Norfolk) events, 1,699,925 people
Richmond area: 117 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=47831&SearchBy=Richmond) events, 1,231,980 people
Birmingham area: 108 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=9393&SearchBy=Birmingham) events, 1,136,650 people
Nashville area: 381 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=39923&SearchBy=Nashville) events, 1,726,693 people
Memphis area: 151 (http://www.pollstar.com/resultsCity.aspx?ID=37224&SearchBy=Memphis) events, 1,341,690 people


Who knows how realistic these Pollstar numbers are, but it suggests we compare favorably to cities of a similar size, and some a lot bigger than us. Imagine what we could do if we had more proper venues. Oh, and by the way, St. Augustine is included in our region.

I'll say the big 'envied' overachiever in that Southeastern group looks like Raleigh-Durham, as it's surprising to me that it has the most events in NC. It looks like we are about where we should be according to the met pop numbers; I know, more acts won't hurt. Boy, Orlando left the Southeast in the dust.

Lets see..of we removed the southern baptist from the city and maybe event organizers will send business our way..fbc and the sbc have brought this city back to the 1880s. We r the laughing stock of the southeast...welcome.

Quote from: Garden guy on March 20, 2013, 08:11:39 AM
Lets see..of we removed the southern baptist from the city and maybe event organizers will send business our way..fbc and the sbc have brought this city back to the 1880s. We r the laughing stock of the southeast...welcome.

This is a good example where FBC really has nothing to do with the situation. Literally.

Just to add a bit of a different light to the discussion, I was at The Avett Bro's concert when they came in late 2011/early 2012 (I believe the latter). That concert was very sold out and well attended, yet the Avetts have not returned on their national tours. Unless they were looking to upgrade to a venue between the Florida Theatre and the Arena, I'm not sure what the problem would be with their returning. Either they had a bad experience in Jax or Jax is too far out of the way to make the trip if they're not going further into FL (which they haven't been doing).

To the bad experience thing, there was some disruptive behavior towards the front of the crowd during the concert. And at Jim Gaffigan there was some seriously annoying heckling going on. Actually, I think there was at Ron White as well, and that is truly in our bread basket if anything is. So maybe we're just a-holes here?

Mumford coming to St Augustine seems to be saying "your market is too small to support a regular concert from these groups (fun, edward sharpe, etc)." I don't think that's the case, and I believe they'd sell out just about any venue they selected, but that "small market" thing is kind of the theory behind those special tour stops.

We seem to do pretty well with comedy acts. Perhaps that is a product of having the right scale venues or perhaps places like Comedy Zone and the TUPAC do a good job booking.

But we definitely need a proper Improv theatre.

I threw this question out at the Jax 2025 meeting last night, and the consensus seemed to be a lack of variety rather than a lack of numbers. I don't go to alot of concerts, mostly comedians, so I don't know what the answer is, but I'm pretty sure First Baptist isn't the reason Justin Bieber isn't coming to town.

I also think the layout of our state has a lot to do with bands deciding to pass on Jacksonville. Say a band is doing a tour that includes the Southeast. If they decide to visit Florida cities do they decide to travel all the way down to Miami or only as far as Tampa/Orlando and then turn around and head north?

Peejay, the Avett Brothers have played in NE Florida a number of times in the last few years. I saw them at the St. Augustine Amphitheater a couple of years ago. And that Florida Theater show was just a year ago. I'm sure they'll be back. But it's something to think about: if a band is looking to book something between the scale of the Florida Theater and the Arena, where would they go in this market? There's not much that doesn't have a pretty significant drawback. The Moran Theater? Not much better in terms of setup. St. Augustine Ampitheater? Nice, but really far out there from most of the metro. UNF? Possible, but serious logistical issues. Metro Park? Sadly, not really a great space for that. But put something like this (http://www.thenationalva.com/) in Downtown Jax and watch the concert scene take off.

Quote from: CG7 on March 20, 2013, 09:35:04 AM
I threw this question out at the Jax 2025 meeting last night, and the consensus seemed to be a lack of variety rather than a lack of numbers. I don't go to alot of concerts, mostly comedians, so I don't know what the answer is, but I'm pretty sure First Baptist isn't the reason Justin Bieber isn't coming to town.

You're in luck, Bieb is coming in August.

Quote from: Tacachale on March 20, 2013, 11:10:38 AM
Peejay, the Avett Brothers have played in NE Florida a number of times in the last few years. I saw them at the St. Augustine Amphitheater a couple of years ago. And that Florida Theater show was just a year ago. I'm sure they'll be back. But it's something to think about: if a band is looking to book something between the scale of the Florida Theater and the Arena, where would they go in this market? There's not much that doesn't have a pretty significant drawback. The Moran Theater? Not much better in terms of setup. St. Augustine Ampitheater? Nice, but really far out there from most of the metro. UNF? Possible, but serious logistical issues. Metro Park? Sadly, not really a great space for that. But put something like this (http://www.thenationalva.com/) in Downtown Jax and watch the concert scene take off.

I guess I'm just being Avett greedy, but they have announced the dates for this year's tour and we are not on it, nor is any of Florida. Here's hoping they'll add more, for now I've got tix to Alpharetta. The Nat'l has some pretty good acts coming up. Very cool.

Quote from: Tacachale on March 20, 2013, 11:10:38 AM
Metro Park? Sadly, not really a great space for that.

Sorry if this has already been discussed earlier in the thread, but what exactly is wrong with Met Park? It honestly seems like the perfect place for a mid to large scale outdoor venue and essentially Jacksonville's answer to the Amphitheater. I remember seeing lots of bigger named groups there back in the 90s including U2, Green Day and a 93.3 Planet Fest featuring a slew of bands. So my question is, what happened? Was it really shut down because of noise complaints from the few houses across the river?

Nope.  Welcome to Rockville (whic replaced Planet Fest) is now bigger than ever.

Quote from: Bewler on April 05, 2013, 09:49:19 AM

Quote from: Tacachale on March 20, 2013, 11:10:38 AM
Metro Park? Sadly, not really a great space for that.

Sorry if this has already been discussed earlier in the thread, but what exactly is wrong with Met Park? It honestly seems like the perfect place for a mid to large scale outdoor venue and essentially Jacksonville's answer to the Amphitheater. I remember seeing lots of bigger named groups there back in the 90s including U2, Green Day and a 93.3 Planet Fest featuring a slew of bands. So my question is, what happened? Was it really shut down because of noise complaints from the few houses across the river?

There's nothing wrong with Met Park per se, the facilities just don't compare to modern concert amphitheaters like the one in St. Augustine. As Jason says they still manage to get some good stuff there and it's underused in my opinion.

The noise complaints you're talking about is something I've been going on and on about for like 17 years. There was a plan to replace the outdated bandshell with a modern concert amphitheater, and greatly increase the number of events held at Metro Park through the year. The project would have been a major draw and was desired by most of the city, but there was some very tendentious opposition. Among them were some people in St. Nick (including a few regular MJ posters) worried about the noise; they spread all sorts of misinformation about the project and obstructed it at every turn. That and some big logistical hurdles sapped the politcal will out of the project, and the city eventually dropped the idea. Very sad.

Quote from: Tacachale on April 05, 2013, 10:52:43 AM
There's nothing wrong with Met Park per se, the facilities just don't compare to modern concert amphitheaters like the one in St. Augustine. As Jason says they still manage to get some good stuff there and it's underused in my opinion.

The noise complaints you're talking about is something I've been going on and on about for like 17 years. There was a plan to replace the outdated bandshell with a modern concert amphitheater, and greatly increase the number of events held at Metro Park through the year. The project would have been a major draw and was desired by most of the city, but there was some very tendentious opposition. Among them were some people in St. Nick (including a few regular MJ posters) worried about the noise; they spread all sorts of misinformation about the project and obstructed it at every turn. That and some big logistical hurdles sapped the politcal will out of the project, and the city eventually dropped the idea. Very sad.

Alright so they're complaining about noise that's half a mile across the river from a stage that even faces away from their homes. So what exactly do they do during game days? I mean there has to be lots of noise coming from that. Not to mention the jets that fly over at kickoff? That's totally acceptable but the occasional concert isn't?

Honestly, I think that the hidden truth is that the residents across the river just don't like the music itself.  Maybe I'll hit someone's button in saying this but if there were two day long classical concerts, there might not be quite the uproar...

To be fair, there are in fact complaints about basically all outdoor concerts and events, and always have been. In my opinion the issue is that there needs to be a place for things like that, but we're setting it up so there won't be one.

well they'll be getting to the heart of the issue when the City measures noise in St. Nicholas area during Rockville festival later this month.....I mean, sure I can hear the music from my home in downtown, but it is hardly deafening....I wonder just how loud it is over on that side of the river

A the April 9th city council meeting, Ginny Myrick and other complainers admitted that they just don't like the rock music.  They said they enjoy the noise from the Jags games and Navy flyovers. It's just the rock music they hate.

During the event I drove to St Nicholas and got out of my car. I could not hear the music. Council member Bill Gulliford told me he did the same thing and he could barely hear the music coming from the event.

Jane Miller was interviewed by channel 47 and she claimed that she was awakened on Saturday morning during Welcome to Rockville.  The gates open at 11:00 and the music doesn't start until 11:30 or so. While 11:30 am is technically "the Morning", I prefer to think of it as "almost lunch time".

What the intrepid 47 news team didn't mention was that Jan Miller was the director of Citizens for Amphitheater Awareness Inc back in the 90's.

They are the reason we can't have nice things.

I am not sure what was playing at Met Park tonight, but before the rain rolled in, it was a pretty serious event. Crowds were set up like football games with their cookers and grills. It overflowed well into the EverBank parking lots.

Now if someone came to me and said the concert scene was "dead" and then drove through that, I would tell them they were way wrong. Largest concert crowd I have seen around there in awhile.

Not only that, but there was a Suns game going as well.

Quote from: spuwho on May 11, 2013, 10:24:21 PM
I am not sure what was playing at Met Park tonight, but before the rain rolled in, it was a pretty serious event. Crowds were set up like football games with their cookers and grills. It overflowed well into the EverBank parking lots.

that would be FunkFest...which comes to Metro Park every year

Today I learned that the Beastie Boys successfully sued the city of Jacksonville in 1987 over this embarrassing bit of nonsense:

(http://i.imgur.com/5m2nVcE.png)

Another summer...another summer of blah in Jax. One of my best friends moved to Chicago last year and mocks me all the time with the amount of good shows he gets to see. Obviously Jax isn't going to get the sheer number of quality acts that NYC, Chicago, etc get, but it would be nice to even get a few.

BTW it looks like there is some stuff in the Capital Improvements Program of the budget relating to Metro Park. $2.5 million to replace the tent and conduct a sound study. http://www.coj.net/my-jax-budget/docs/2013-2014-cip-book.aspx

Man, first Mumford & Sons, then the Lumineers, now Alabama Shakes all choose St. Augustine over Jacksonville for their fall tours.

Apparently Mumford & Sons sold out nearly 25,000 tickets in hours, with tickets now going for over $100 a piece on the secondary market.

^^^Yup, with vast road distances like Jax to St Augustine, I would call ahead about a week prior to the Northeast Florida Regional Airport out there in St Auggie, and make a four day vacation out of it....

Quote from: KenFSU on September 10, 2013, 12:03:40 AM
Man, first Mumford & Sons, then the Lumineers, now Alabama Shakes all choose St. Augustine over Jacksonville for their fall tours.

Apparently Mumford & Sons sold out nearly 25,000 tickets in hours, with tickets now going for over $100 a piece on the secondary market.

Well the tickets sold for $105 originally.  I was actually looking on craigslist and there were quite a number selling at the original price or very close to it.

^They didn't "choose St. Augustine over Jacksonville". At most they "chose" the venue most suitable for them from among the too-few options within the same market area. However, it's more likely that the Ampitheater just had more effective booking or otherwise suited their needs compared to other venues in the region. That's definitely the case with Mumford & Sons, all those "Gentlemen of the Road" shows are in places like that. I know I keep going on about this, but having a good upper-mid venue in a good location wouldn't pull in the shows we're ostensibly "losing"to St. Augustine (though it may pull in shows), it would pull in acts who don't stop in the metro at all because all of the venues, including the St. Augustine Amphitheater, have drawbacks.

Also, are people really spending $100 to see Mumford and Sons? That's Radiohead money. Kids today.

Quote from: Tacachale on September 10, 2013, 04:12:12 PM
Also, are people really spending $100 to see Mumford and Sons? That's Radiohead money. Kids today.

Actually, Gentleman of the Road Tour is a two day festival type event headlined by Mumford & Sons on Saturday. 

Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeroes are headlining Friday.    12 bands $105 isn't crazy...

On the losing shows to St. Augustine front....

The Avett Brothers chose to return to the St Aug Amphitheatre in Nov rather than the Florida Theatre where they last played in our area Feb 2012.

^Yeah, that's right. That's a pretty good price and looks like a pretty good lineup overall.

Quote from: I-10east on September 10, 2013, 12:52:08 AM
^^^Yup, with vast road distances like Jax to St Augustine, I would call ahead about a week prior to the Northeast Florida Regional Airport out there in St Auggie, and make a four day vacation out of it....

Far enough to require a tank of gas and a DUI. Parking is scarce, traffic will be ridiculous and hotels are price gouging. even if you forgo the cocktails, expensive hotel and pay for parking & shuttle... you still have 4, 45 minute drives ahead of you. I don't care where you like to draw your boundaries... that's a pain in the ass.

Weird how people on MetroJacksonville like to have shows... in Jacksonville, huh?

Mumford and Sons don't do much for me personally, but there are worse bands out there for girls to listen to. The Walkmen are one of the more underrated bands of their generation imo, but they are out of their prime. Edward Sharpe and Magnetic Zeros are solid, but nothing special. IMO this concert is definitely not worth the hoopla locally. Especially not when Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Bob Dylan, and Bob Weir played a similar tour recently and stopped in both Tampa and Atlanta.

That said, the turnout/level of excitement are a good thing and will hopefully open some eyes and get more bands coming down here. Looks like the St. Augustine Ampiteater may have taken notice, as it seems like they are booking more current bands like they used to.

I think this gentleman festival thing is at a park, not the amphitheater.

Quote from: Shwaz on September 10, 2013, 04:45:23 PM
Weird how people on MetroJacksonville like to have shows... in Jacksonville, huh?

Key words, Metro Jacksonville.

Quote from: fsquid on September 10, 2013, 05:42:24 PM
I think this gentleman festival thing is at a park, not the amphitheater.

Yep, its at Francis Field, which is right next to the parking garage. Going to be interesting to see how the logistics work out. You'd think Coachella is coming to St. Augustine based on all the hype and press the show has gotten the past few months down there. The St. Augustine Record even has a Mumford and Sons Survival Guide Page.

http://staugustine.com/mumford-and-sons-survival-guide

What Jax needs is a small mid size stadium that can be used for the new soccer team and can host concert  Here is a photo from tonight's World Cup Qualifier from Crew Stadium in Columbus.  There is a stage at one end that can be used for concerts and have seating added in for sporting events.

(https://sphotos-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p526x296/1174750_10151803317588941_804697853_n.jpg)

dos a cero

Quote from: Shwaz on September 10, 2013, 04:45:23 PM

Quote from: I-10east on September 10, 2013, 12:52:08 AM
^^^Yup, with vast road distances like Jax to St Augustine, I would call ahead about a week prior to the Northeast Florida Regional Airport out there in St Auggie, and make a four day vacation out of it....

Far enough to require a tank of gas and a DUI. Parking is scarce, traffic will be ridiculous and hotels are price gouging. even if you forgo the cocktails, expensive hotel and pay for parking & shuttle... you still have 4, 45 minute drives ahead of you. I don't care where you like to draw your boundaries... that's a pain in the ass.

Weird how people on MetroJacksonville like to have shows... in Jacksonville, huh?

Last festival I went to last month (well I suppose I went to two...one in SF and one in LA) required me to find a taxi during whiching hour in order to get there, which didn't happen.  Have quite a few improvisation tales about how I arrived with random desperate folks who were in same position.  Leaving the SF festival after night 1 meant that all busses were full, UberX was down, Uber Black was down, Lyft wasn't serving area, Yellow Cab's phone line was down - no cabs, no nearby rail, nobody with cars in my party and people who actually had cars avoided driving at that time.  We walked 3.5 miles before we could catch a bus - this was late at night after a full day of partying and events like Pretty Lights, Paul McCartney, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, etc.  My Uber fare from night 2 was $213, more than 2/3 the price of the entire festival.  Night 3 was more of a breeze because I think people were simply worn out from logistics over the course of 3 days!  LA was easy...near DTLA, but shuttles to hotels.  The JW and Ritz were filled with X Games participants and concert goers.

So I would guess that getting to St. Augie Amphitheater and the $$ it takes to be convenient would likely be cheaper than a city festival (most of which prohibit on-site camping) :)  St. Augie Amphitheater seems ideal, and I'm sure relative to most cities that ticket prices are absolutely bomb cheap.  I would much rather go to a show there than in Jax.  MetroPark is bland, stadiums generally suck, and the FL Theater can probably feel claustrophobic if you're really partying.  What other venues are there?

Quote from: simms3 on September 10, 2013, 11:40:20 PM

Quote from: Shwaz on September 10, 2013, 04:45:23 PM

Quote from: I-10east on September 10, 2013, 12:52:08 AM
^^^Yup, with vast road distances like Jax to St Augustine, I would call ahead about a week prior to the Northeast Florida Regional Airport out there in St Auggie, and make a four day vacation out of it....

Far enough to require a tank of gas and a DUI. Parking is scarce, traffic will be ridiculous and hotels are price gouging. even if you forgo the cocktails, expensive hotel and pay for parking & shuttle... you still have 4, 45 minute drives ahead of you. I don't care where you like to draw your boundaries... that's a pain in the ass.

Weird how people on MetroJacksonville like to have shows... in Jacksonville, huh?

Last festival I went to last month (well I suppose I went to two...one in SF and one in LA) required me to find a taxi during whiching hour in order to get there, which didn't happen.  Have quite a few improvisation tales about how I arrived with random desperate folks who were in same position.  Leaving the SF festival after night 1 meant that all busses were full, UberX was down, Uber Black was down, Lyft wasn't serving area, Yellow Cab's phone line was down - no cabs, no nearby rail, nobody with cars in my party and people who actually had cars avoided driving at that time.  We walked 3.5 miles before we could catch a bus - this was late at night after a full day of partying and events like Pretty Lights, Paul McCartney, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, etc.  My Uber fare from night 2 was $213, more than 2/3 the price of the entire festival.  Night 3 was more of a breeze because I think people were simply worn out from logistics over the course of 3 days!  LA was easy...near DTLA, but shuttles to hotels.  The JW and Ritz were filled with X Games participants and concert goers.

So I would guess that getting to St. Augie Amphitheater and the $$ it takes to be convenient would likely be cheaper than a city festival (most of which prohibit on-site camping) :)  St. Augie Amphitheater seems ideal, and I'm sure relative to most cities that ticket prices are absolutely bomb cheap.  I would much rather go to a show there than in Jax.  MetroPark is bland, stadiums generally suck, and the FL Theater can probably feel claustrophobic if you're really partying.  What other venues are there?

The St. Augustine amphitheater is a great venue. This festival is at Francis Field which is a flat plot of grass and no permanent stage. Metro Park is a much better location for this festival IMO.

Dont say metro park too loudly, you might disturb someone.

^^^LOL

http://www.news4jax.com/entertainment/festival-could-bring-5-million-to-st-augustine/-/475422/21871022/-/qxk93nz/-/index.html (http://www.news4jax.com/entertainment/festival-could-bring-5-million-to-st-augustine/-/475422/21871022/-/qxk93nz/-/index.html)

QuoteFestival could bring $5 million to St. Augustine
Merchants excited about 25,000 music fans in town for two days

Without the passage of the Human Rights Ordinance I don't see how Jacksonville ever had a chance to host GOTR if they wanted one.

http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2013-09-07/one-email-started-mumford-mania#.UjDMAMZwq5U

More important, though, was a test to see that St. Augustine fit ideologically with the band members' personal values.

One of the more important aspects of the city government was the city's passage of an ordinance banning housing discrimination based on sexual preference. It was a key example of St. Augustine being a community of tolerance.

"I said, 'That's who we are. That's who you're dealing with,'" Regan said. "That rang very heavy in his decision."

We obviously fall short here, too.

QuoteRegan said Luba was already impressed with the history of St. Augustine and the way the city preserved and celebrated that history.

Quote from: Gators312 on September 11, 2013, 04:04:35 PM
Without the passage of the Human Rights Ordinance I don't see how Jacksonville ever had a chance to host GOTR if they wanted one.

http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2013-09-07/one-email-started-mumford-mania#.UjDMAMZwq5U

More important, though, was a test to see that St. Augustine fit ideologically with the band members' personal values.

One of the more important aspects of the city government was the city's passage of an ordinance banning housing discrimination based on sexual preference. It was a key example of St. Augustine being a community of tolerance.

"I said, 'That's who we are. That's who you're dealing with,'" Regan said. "That rang very heavy in his decision."

This deserves its own thread. In fact, I'll start one.

New Metro Park legislation to be heard on September 24th.

QuoteAfter more than 50 hours of public, noticed meetings and even more hours of research time poring through city records, legislation will be introduced at the Sept. 24 City Council meeting to regulate the use of Metropolitan Park.

If it sounds familiar it's because the new legislation is substantially the same as a council resolution detailing use of the riverfront park that has been on the books since 1993.

That was the report given Wednesday by council member Lori Boyer to the council's Ad Hoc Committee on Metropolitan and Urban Parks. Boyer discovered the 20-year-old document while researching the records of the Parks and Recreation Department.

"It's sad the City Council in 1993 went through this whole exercise. It disappeared into never-never land," Boyer said.

City Assistant General Counsel Paige Johnston, who drafted the new legislation, said some changes have been made compared to park rules currently in use.

Music festivals will be allowed to use the park until 10 p.m. on Sunday instead of 9 p.m. and until 11 p.m. if the following Monday is a holiday. Friday and Saturday performances will remain allowed until 11 p.m.
If a performance is delayed in starting by inclement weather, the performance may conclude as late as 30 minutes past the allowed cutoff time.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=540496

There is a group of people here in Jax who want to legislate their morality on the rest of us.

Please show up Tuesday Night at the city council meeting.

They are yet again discussing a bill that will have the effect of shutting down Rick shows at Metropolitan Park.

We need to pack the place or we will lose these shows.

I got that straight from the promoters. N they will move their festivals to St. Augustine if we can't convince city council to vote against the latest incarnation of the Footloose Law.

Ginny Myrick thinks we're " a bunch of weenies".  Let's show here who the weenies are.

#WeenieMyrick.

Dave Matthews Band in JAX July 15th...

Quote from: blizz01 on January 14, 2014, 01:44:36 PM
Dave Matthews Band in JAX July 15th...

(http://cdn.hitfix.com/photos/2910502/community-jeff-dad-joel-mchale_article_story_main.jpg)

Real fans call him Dave.

+1 (Not sure the band appreciates that.....)

Boaters in small vessels might wanna stay clear of the areas bridges when the DMB comes to town. :)

www.chicagotribune.com/chi-0503100266mar10,0,5749199.story

6 dates in Jacksonville to kick off the Garth Brooks World Tour.  I think that's more than the circus......