Is PJ Harvey worth €64.80 (plus service charge)?
Jim Carroll
Steep ticket price for PJ’s forthcoming show at Dublin’s Olympia on December 19. She may be hawking a very good album, but is it worth €64.80 (€54.80 for the cheap seats), even if it’s just one of two European dates this year? At least, the Parisians are getting a taste of Irish ticket prices on this outing – €79.50, €63 and €52 to see her in the Grand Rex theatre on November 16.
I thought PJ Harvey was superb at Electric Picnic. Granted, I was loved up on yippers, but still. Wouldn’t pay that amount of money to see anyone play. Maybe Sonic Youth in my living room. Doubt the neighbours would be appreciative though
Big PJ fan, no way am I paying this price to see her though. Total rip-off and a bit of an insult to ask such a high price.
Speaking of cheap gigs I don’t know if anyone has noticed this:
The Button Factory:
December 8th – Of Montreal – €16
December 23rd – The Complete Stone Roses – €16.50
December 28th – These Charming Men – €16.50
yes thats right folks, a real proper actual band who have released one of the years best albums is charging less that 2 cover bands.
Add to previous comment…
same venue,
December 16th – Fujiya & Miyagi – €16
another good, real, proper, actual band cheaper that the cover bands.
the price is certainly troubling, but these things work both ways, if more people took the trouble and paid the artist the respect of actually paying for the album and not downloading it for free maybe the artist would tour for cheaper. i was disappointed with the price but my excitement about the gig was greater. someone said above that her Electric Picnic performance last year wasn’t great but i thought she was electrifying and felt really privileged to be there. she has always delivered memorable performances whenever i’ve seen her and i’m sure this is gonna be no exception. i’m pretty broke at the moment but i would feel much worse about blowing 70 quid on getting drunk and going to a club. don’t worry about the price, it will be worth it.
by the way neilo, i can’t wait to see okkervil river, been listening to black sheep boy all week and love the new album too. never seen them before, let’s hope it doesn’t get moved to the village like the new pornographers.
I can’t believe the bithin about the price for this gig. I never got a ticket and I would have no problem what so ever paying that amount to see her!! Il probably end up paying more to be honest if I can get a ticket. This gig will be god damm awesome!!!!! Well worth the money!!
1. White Chalk is very good but it’s no masterpiece.
2. The last time I saw her in the Olympia in 2005, she was rubbish.
3. The ticket prices are extortionate. However,as already stated here, the promoters, etc know they can get away with it as Irish gig-goers are stupid enough to snap up all the tickets, hence the sold-out gig. Why should they ever sell tickets at a reasonable price when they know Irish people don’t mind being ripped-off?
4. I saw a musician called Aydrey Ryan in The Stables in Mullingar. She’s from Boston. Her album is better than ‘White Chalk’. The gig was one of the best I’ve been to this year.
It was COMPLETELY FREE.
5. I’m a huge PJ fan but I would feel demeaned and a little ashamed if I spent that much on a ticket.
‘demeaned’ and ‘ashamed’ ! come on, its 70 euro for fecks sake. you’d pay that on a night out on the tiles anyway, surely the chance to see a musician that you admire is worth that, hardly demeaning! and i was at that Olympia gig , it certainly was not rubbish, you are entitled to your opinion but everyone i was at it with thought she was brilliant. each time i see her she is completely differnt, she’s an exciting performer. i find it hard to believe someone who says they’re a huge fan and thought that was a rubbish gig.
Just being honest. Just because you are a fan of a artist doesn’t mean they are immune from criticism.
I went to Paris to see her play and she was worth every cent that I paid for, including travelling expenses.
Also went to Paris and it is worth it!
Plus her management is Irish so….
I’m French and went to see her last month in Paris. Gosh that was expensive too. And guess what : I’m flying to Dublin, because it’s one of the best show I have seen over the last years. PJ on her own, so much better than her previous tour. I guess this price counter balances the decrease in record sales and the limited tour (12 gigs or so…)…or maybe she is just taking the money. Nevermind, you only live once.
I think she’s worth the money. I went to the Grand Rex in Paris and I think she was awesome. you know, I have seen her playing 3 times before. I saw her at Pinkpop in 1992, at Werchter in 2001 and after that in Amsterdam in 2004. Athough al these performances were very solid, there was something lacking. When I saw her playing in Paris she was magic, being very much herself and above all enjoying herself very much. This than was apreciated very much by the audience and so it became a self propelling efect. To be honest, I think the quality of this tour is so much better than the previous one’s. I think it has to do a lot with a not so thight agenda, so that every times she comes onto the stage she realy likes to perform again. I can imagine if you do 60 shows in 3 month’s time you will be exhausted towards the end and the quality of your show is going to suffer. Another problem is , how do you keep inspired if you have to play the same songs all over again every night. So I think she has done the right thing not to do that many shows. I think anyone who has seen one of her last shows can only agree with me, that the Polly they have seen was the best sofar.
Leslie,
Nederland
After seeing her, YES worth every penny… She spoilt us with her genius!!!
Ask yourself this, is it worth 64.80 to most of the other shit bands that are going about at the moment?? At least she’s got class and talent and plays live
wow! what a performance! i felt so lucky to be there last night that any concerns over ticket prices were long forgotten. i think PJ is a legend in the making and last the gig last night was a little bit special!
What a load of whingers. If you don’t like the price, don’t go, and shut up about it !! I have tickets to see Polly in February, in both Auckland and Sydney. I happily paid the equivalent of 65 euros for each ticket, plus travel and accommodation costs for Sydney. I don’t begrudge a penny of it – because I adore Polly and her music and have never before seen her live.
re:UnaRocks “It amuses me how people will complain about the price of a ticket to a gig, yet will drop that price or more at the bar the same night”
exactly.
I wish you people would stop complaining over here (in australia & New Zealand)
we have to pay pretty much 45- 85 Euro for a decent gig.
The Promoters are to be blamed for this