BEACON THEATER-NYC

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  • #30801
    nycnudistcpl
    Participant

    On the double bill shows with Amos Lee , I see Lu has played some shorter sets and apparantly there is a time limit at some venues……. She’s playing the Beacon later this week, also a show with Amos …..have a chance to buy some good seats from a friend for myself and some family memebers but am wondering if Lu is gonna play a full set or a shortened set ? Anyone know if theres time limit at the Beacon ?

    thanks

    #47624
    Lafayette
    Participant

    I think the Beacon does have a curfew…and with the double bill with Amos, you’re probably looking at around 16 songs.

    #47625
    nycnudistcpl
    Participant

    Thanks very much for the imput. If Lu is “forced” to shorten her normal set, whether due to a double bill show or the venues curfew, I’ll pass. There shouldn’t be a limit on an artist like Lu. Seen too many great LW shows to fork out the bucks for something controlled or limited by others.She should be able to play as many songs as she feels like playing.That should be the artists decision.This kind of nonsense didnt used to happen 15, 20, 25 years ago.Wish Lu wouldn’t play shows where her own artistic desire is resticted by others. If I’m gonna fork out the money for 3-4 tickets, which doesnt come easy, it’s not gonna be for a scenario like this.Catch ya next time.

    #47626
    bob
    Participant

    @nycnudistcpl wrote:

    She should be able to play as many songs as she feels like playing.That should be the artists decision.This kind of nonsense didnt used to happen 15, 20, 25 years ago.Wish Lu wouldn’t play shows where her own artistic desire is resticted by others. If I’m gonna fork out the money for 3-4 tickets, which doesnt come easy, it’s not gonna be for a scenario like this.Catch ya next time.

    Right on- I really don’t care about seeing Amos Lee, or the opener who’s name I’ve already forgotten from the HOB Boston last time. Nice to give them exposure but with these tough economic times it’s hard to spend money on ‘entertainment’.
    If it’s a double bill then they should both play full sets.

    #47627
    nycnudistcpl
    Participant

    Exactly ! I don’t mind an opening act , but the artist we pay good money to see should be able to play
    the full show that THEY want to play. And this is New York ! If she wants to play 3 hours, let her play 3 hours ! Can’t believe in the “city that never sleeps”, this kind of BS can go on at a concert hall. I’ve asked around and other artists have ran over the curfew and just didn’t give a shit. Hopefuly for the fans, Lu will do the same. Realy, if they want both artists to perform and they want to have a time limit , then simply start the show early, like 7 am .

    #47628
    blake
    Participant

    Gonna jump in here…

    Since when is 17 songs a “short set”? By crude calculations thats about 85 min onstage…

    #47629
    blake
    Participant

    …oops! Re-read as 16 songs! Still looking at just under an hour and a half onstage. Discuss!!

    #47630
    punchdrunklove
    Participant

    the thing is that people see those sprawling 25-song setlists and get used to them and can’t rule out the sadness of a set under the costumary 2, 2 and a half hours. which song would you eliminate from those past setlists?

    (besides honey bee.)*

    NONE!

    so folks just automatically think of all the songs they’re missing.

    *ps: as far as rockers go, “real love” is insanely cooler and so underplayed.

    #47631
    tonyg
    Keymaster

    Blake I think most fans want at least an hour and a half. One forty-five even better. Two hours? Money’s worth plus more.

    #47632
    nycnudistcpl
    Participant

    Hi Blake
    Not trying to say whats a long set or short set….. but the artist should be able to play THEIR set and then the fans can decide if it’s worth their hard earned $. But there is something very wrong if the venue dictates the time of the show.And especialy in a city like New York where you can even get stuck in traffic at 2 AM !
    Seen Lu quite a few times and maybe I went to the right shows, but they were always 2 hours or more. And Yes, fans always want more when they realy love their favorate artists….. that’s a given…..but the point is simply that Lucinda should be able to play her show and not worry about what time it is !!!! And yes I think most hard core fans will feel it’s too short if it’s 1.5 hours. And these days tickets ain’t cheap ( though in general Lucinda has been a blessing compared to most in terms of ticket prices)and alot of people are out of work and many strugleing and many people have to make tough choices and sacrifices to be able to afford a few tickets to see their favorate artist(s)…… so at least after laying out the $,most fans want to feel they got their $ worth.If the venue forces a short show, fans DO leave pissed off.Lucinda is a great performer.Awesome live every time I’ve seen her.Lu gives 110% of herself.But I think her fans expect 2 hour to 2.5 hours and if they get that, they go home extatic.So I hope Lu tells everyone to go f*** themselves and doesnt watch the clock and just does her show ! Why piss off 2600 people when you can send ’em home happy ?!!! And Lu always seems to care about her fans more than most artists today as she is more down to earth than most.
    Anyway Blake, as a fan , your input is much appreciated.I was on the fence on this one due to the double bill and possible short show.My friend who couldnt go (but had tickets) convinced me to go for it (he needed the $ too) , so I coughed up the bucks ! So here’s hoping for the usual great 2 hour Lu show ! If it’s a short show,I will be disapointed but if you guys can squeeze in Sweet Old World,Fruits of my Labor, Big Red Sun Blues and Ventura ……..I’ll leave with a big smile 🙂

    #47633
    Lafayette
    Participant

    I’m guessing the venue is dictating the length of the show due to unions and its bylaws. It’s out of the hands, really, of the venue and the artist if it’s a union show.

    #47634
    blake
    Participant

    all really good points (especially “real love”, that’s gotta go in!!)

    in my opinion, it’s sorta neglecting the appetizing quality of the customary opener set length (45 min +/-). having just enjoyed an amos set (or any artist play) for an 1.5 hours, another 2.5 hours of anybody’s music just seems like auditory overload…

    … 2 entrees at my favorite restaurant is still something i walk away from regretting. but i suppose every ape has his appetite.

    really just playing devil’s advocate. i’d love to be playing for 2.5 hours every night!

    NYC, your point about disappointing hard working people is spot on. her feelings on the few shows with deadlines echo your sentiments, exactly. but in fact, there’s another side to why the curfews are there; unions. people who work at the venues get there before we do, working there all day and night, and in order to ensure some sense of sanity to their day, it helps to have a dependable light at the end of the tunnel.

    all that said, tonight i’ve petitioned the group to forgo the usual “exit the stage before potential encore” bit. if the crowd at these gigs is receptive thru the show, maybe we’ll just plow right through. night buy us an extra 5-10 min. everyone i’ve presented it to seems into the idea, so we’ll see how it goes…

    #47635
    Lafayette
    Participant

    @blake wrote:

    all really good points (especially “real love”, that’s gotta go in!!)

    in my opinion, it’s sorta neglecting the appetizing quality of the customary opener set length (45 min +/-). having just enjoyed an amos set (or any artist play) for an 1.5 hours, another 2.5 hours of anybody’s music just seems like auditory overload…

    … 2 entrees at my favorite restaurant is still something i walk away from regretting. but i suppose every ape has his appetite.

    really just playing devil’s advocate. i’d love to be playing for 2.5 hours every night!

    NYC, your point about disappointing hard working people is spot on. her feelings on the few shows with deadlines echo your sentiments, exactly. but in fact, there’s another side to why the curfews are there; unions. people who work at the venues get there before we do, working there all day and night, and in order to ensure some sense of sanity to their day, it helps to have a dependable light at the end of the tunnel.

    all that said, tonight i’ve petitioned the group to forgo the usual “exit the stage before potential encore” bit. if the crowd at these gigs is receptive thru the show, maybe we’ll just plow right through. night buy us an extra 5-10 min. everyone i’ve presented it to seems into the idea, so we’ll see how it goes…

    Blake,I like your idea about foregoing the exit before the potential encore. Of course, there will be some that will be complaining “there wasn’t an encore.” You won’t be able to keep everyone happy but at least another song (or two) could leave most happy…and mama (satisfied) and happy, too! 8)

    #47636
    nycnudistcpl
    Participant

    Blake
    Thanks again. I think it’s awesome to get your imput here. And I’d love to hear you play for 2.5 hours ! You obviously understand my points, concerns and feelings perfectly.
    I think with this double bill/time limit situation, it comes down to planning and I think it wasn’t planned/thought out well. LOVE the idea of you guys adjusting and just playing straight through ! And if they’d let Amos start a half hour earlier, that could solve the problem too. I understand the union employee situation, but some folks ignore curfew and everyone makes some overtime $. Good for the economy ! In fact wouldnt that(Overtime) would be a cool song to start at 11:01 ! Anyway,playing past curfew has been done.Theyre not gonna pull the plug. I’d gladly pay another $ 10 per ticket on the way out !
    And I do like catching opening acts.You never know what you might find ! Lu was once an opener for Neil Young.That turned ALOT of folks on to Lucinda. But the double bill idea with a theater curfew should have been thought out better.Obviously no one wants a shorter than usual show from their favorate artists. No problem with sensory overload, which certainly depends on the artist……I’ve seen younger artists that didn’t have so many songs, play too long for what they had to choose from…..but Lu has been around a while and has sooooooooo many great tunes that I could easily listen to 3 hours ! But thats a testament to how great and consistant she has been, not that I expect 3 hours ! I remember seeing CSN&Y play 4.5 hours.Guess there were no curfew issues then ?
    Blake, have a great show.Look foward to hearing what you contribute to this band !

    #47637
    visions
    Participant

    It seems like the “natural” length of Lu’s shows have typically been closer to 20 songs, or near 2 hours….some of the really special ones stretch out longer, but it is not like she normally plays 90 minutes or 16 songs (thankfully). It also sure looks like the show is either sold out or real close, always nice to give a packed house something extra.

    I saw Amos Lee a couple years back when he opened for Dylan, he was ok to listen to and I wouldn’t mind hearing him again…but clearly I ain’t schlepping to NYC and spending a worknight out late to see him, in fact unless he is really good tonight at the Wellmont I may blow his set off Thursday. Plus, I’d gladly trade his entire set for 2 or 3 more songs by Lucinda and band.

    Lastly, we all know the curfew isn’t a hard and fast rule…it is a financial rule. Always a possibility to spend the money on overtime and give the crowd a thrill. This venue has the same rules and same curfew as the Garden (owned by the same group). Two years ago I had to leave a Neil Young show at MSG during the last song because my parking lot closed at 1AM (I left the venue around 12:45). Bruce pretty regularly blows past the curfew, sometimes significantly.

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