Tonight's film premiere is at the Vista in Los Feliz, Los Angeles.

Tickets are still available for the Somerville Theatre acoustic show!

The Airborne Toxic Event are poised to begin their special acoustic tour with the impossibly classy Calder Quartet to commemorate the release of their live DVD and documentary, “All I Ever Wanted: Live From Walt Disney Concert Hall”, which follows the band as they prepare for that epic Los Angeles performance which featured – in addition to the string quartet – a children’s choir, a high school marching band, horn players, visual artists, and traditional Mexican folkórico dancers.

For a taste of what Airborne Tox and the Calder Quartet sound like in an acoustic setting (long on the wish list of fans), here’s a blast from the past, one in their series of acoustic videos released at the time of their debut album:

Amazingly, there are still tickets available for all but the Chicago show, but you’d best get on it now!

Tour and Premiere Dates

Los Angeles Movie Premiere:
Thu Sep 2 – Los Angeles, CA – Vista Theater (Los Feliz) – SOLD OUT

New York Movie Premiere:
Thu Sep 9 – New York, NY – Sunshine Theater (Lower East Side) – BUY TIX

Acoustic Evening with the Calder Quartet:
Tue Sep 7 – Washington, DC – Sixth & I Synagogue – BUY TIX
Wed Sep 8 – Somerville, MA – Somerville Theater – BUY TIX
Fri Sep 10 – Philadelphia, PA – Keswick Theatre – BUY TIX
Sat Sep 11 – New York, NY – Town Hall – BUY TIX
Mon Sep 13 – Toronto, ON – Trinity St. Paul’s Church – BUY TIX
Wed Sep 15 – Chicago, IL – Park West – SOLD OUT
Sat Sep 18 – Seattle, WA – Town Hall – BUY TIX
Sun Sep 19 – San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom – BUY TIX
Wed Sep 22 – Los Angeles, CA – John Anson Ford Amphitheater – BUY TIX

Raindance Film Festival Opening Night Party:
Wed Sep 29 – London, UK – Heaven – BUY TIX

Raindance Film Festival Movie Premier:
Thu Sep 30 – London, UK – Apollo Cinemas – Raindance Film Festival Premiere

Acoustic sets:
Fri Oct 1 – Edinburgh, Scotland, UK – Pleasance Theatre – SOLD OUT
Sat Oct 2 – Manchester, UK – Deaf Institute – SOLD OUT
Sun Oct 3 – London, UK – Union Chapel – SOLD OUT

Non-acoustic set:
Mon Oct 4 – Cardiff, Wales, UK – Millennium Music Hall – BUY TIX

Then... and now. The Stooges, 1972 (photo by Mick Rock | www.mickrock.com); Iggy & the Stooges, 2010 (photo by Robert Matheu)

Iggy and The Stooges at the House of Blues
TONIGHT (doors at 6:30 pm, show at 7:30 pm; all ages)

Boston welcomes the awesome, venerable and uber-classy Iggy and The Stooges, who perform at the House of Blues on Lansdowne Street tonight. Hugely influential and responsible for raising disgruntled angst to an art form, in-your-face live performance, and the epic stage dive, I recently saw them referred to as pre-punk – how cool is that?

See my Iggy and the Stooges profile on Ryan’s Smashing Life: “It sucks to be ahead of your time… The trick is to live long enough to be fully vindicated and reap the emotional (and financial) rewards of those years of isolation, when you thrashed and screamed and spilled your guts – and waited for the world to catch up.” more…

[No blogger love? Even with my gushing and enthusiastic preview on the highly regarded and widely-read RSL, the House of Blues could not find it in their hearts to cough up *one ticket* so I could attend and review the show. You'd think they might be a bit more appreciative of local press coverage, seeing as how their Atlantic City, NJ show (at the 2300-capacity House of Blues) was only half full. I'll be covering it anyway, 'cause Iggy and the Stooges rock. Corporate entities = near sightedness.]

Victor Robert Venckus presents his Lucid Sounds/Expanding Awareness program on WZBC 90.3 FM (Boston College Radio) every Saturday from 7am – 11am. He begins with New Age, ambient, Native American and world music, with a weekly astrology report from Dietrich Pessin at 9:30 am. Expanding Awareness is at 10am, featuring interviews on paranormal, holistic health, environmental, animal rights and occasionally human rights topics, with listener call-in participation. Victor has been on the air, in some guise or another, since 1975. Shows are now archived for two weeks.

Some 'roundup 2' bands: Tallest Trees, The Drums, Wartime Blues (photo by Russel Daniels), and Vincent Minor.

Here’s part two of my latest band roundup, featuring Soft Cat, Tallest Trees, The Drums, The State Arcades, The Wild Complete, Vincent Minor, War Tapes, and Wartime Blues. This time, we have several states represented: Maryland, Tennessee, New York, Arizona, California, and even (Missoula) Montana. Plus London, England (The State Arcades). And yes, there are two bands with the word “war” in their name. It’s been that kind of year. Maybe next time I’ll do a feature with only war bands. Please send in your requests.

Soft Cat | Tallest Trees | The Drums | The State Arcades | The Wild Complete | Vincent Minor | War Tapes | Wartime Blues

Soft Cat

Baltimore, MD

Soft Cat

Listening to Soft Cat’s music is like drifting through a pleasant summer daydream. Their music centers around Neil Sanzgiri’s songwriting (his prior bands include Dallas-based Voot Cha Index and Talking Tiger Mountain), and is both folky and classical – acoustic guitar and banjo; strings, flute, and saxophone. Amazingly, they’ve only been performing together since last year, and will be releasing their debut album on Friends Records this autumn. They also have two East Coast shows coming up – Glasslands in Brooklyn, NY on Sept. 2, and a Friends Records Showcase at the Ox in Philadelphia on Sept. 18. As stated in the press release, “The ideas in this album are a collection of themes and explanations growing to a symphonic conclusion. As Neil explains it, ‘Any concentration of wilderness, growth, or life contained in a surviving ecosystem located in an urban setting is known as Wild Space. It is a non-domesticated area existing and dwelling as arcane emptiness. Wild Space creates fear from the unknown yet gives context to conformability. Organisms grow and cultivate while going unnoticed. Wild Space serves as the in between spaces in our lives.’” Heady stuff, but what first caught my ear is that they just sound so pretty.

MySpace | Friends Records on Twitter

Tallest Trees

Nashville, TN

Tallest Trees

An interesting mix of acoustic-psychedelic folk and quirky electronics, Tallest Trees is the project of two guys who came out of Nashville’s Tommy and the Whale, Thomas Samuel and Dabney Morris. They combine sophisticated synth arrangements with dreamlike lyrics of children and family (”I’ve seen the one, the only mother, ancient mother, in my dreams…” – Learn). They just recently released The Ostrich or the Lark on Other Electricities.

MySpace | Official site | Facebook

The Drums

Brooklyn, NY

The Drums

With an indie rock background and 50’s pop sensibility (naming bands as seemingly diverse as The Smiths, Joy Division, and The Shangri-Las as influences), The Drums have a cool, unique sound. Originally formed in 2008, inspired by mid-80s band The Wake, they developed an interest in the straightforward pop songs of the 1950s, and out of that, their sound was born. Their debut album was released digitally back in June, with the CD release due out in September (Moshi Moshi Records/Downtown Records). They’re playing all over the place, including the Paradise Rock Club on October 18.

MySpace | Official site | Twitter

The State Arcades

The State Arcades

A very new band, The State Arcades have a sophisticated sound, and they definitely sound like a British band (I mean that in a really good way). They’ve just completed their debut CraftKnife E.P. (as in, I think they uploaded the songs a few days ago), and will be performing (around London, I’m guessing?) this autumn. I couldn’t figure out how to embed anything here, but if you’re fond of those English bands from the ’80s (I won’t name names), head over to MyFace or Spacebook and give them a listen. Nice. Very nice.

MySpace | Facebook | Twitter

The Wild Complete

Flagstaff, AZ

The Wild Complete is a six-piece indie folk band that includes Ryan Burian on vocals/guitar and Kate Hinojosa on accordion. They have a cool, folk-pop, playful and quirky sound. Their debut 7-track EP came out in February, followed by Sun Soaked in June of this year. I guess they just finished touring and are writing and recording again, so have a listen and stay tuned.

MySpace | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter

Vincent Minor

Los Angeles, CA

Vincent Minor

Vincent Minor (a.k.a. Michael Mangia) is an interesting guy on many levels. Musically, there’s a crazy mix of piano, horns, synth, upright bass, a quirky delivery, and the oddest of lyrics (”I knock myself out, I always do that, my luck is never learned, and it pulls the wisdom out of my teeth. He’s indoctrinated with a pregnant point of view. He’s constipated on a treadmill. On the late night, late night show.” – Late Night Show). Indie pop meets Tin Pan Alley, but with some compelling slightly dark and sinister storytelling, it’s way more than novelty music.

He has a curious “upbringing” as well – from being a child actor, to starting his own label, Social Science Recordings, to founding LA Lords, a gay speed-dating company. In fact, as he visits a handful of cities across the U.S. in support of his debut album (out September 21), LA Lords will be hosting gay speed-dating nights in each city on the tour. His Boston show is at PA’s Lounge in Somerville on September 10, with the Gay Speed Dating Night the previous evening, Sept. 9, at District. And what’s more, if this is to be believed, he’ll apparently be recruiting musicians in each city using Craigslist.

MySpace | Official site | Facebook | Twitter

War Tapes

Los Angeles, CA

War Tapes

Currently working on their second full length album, War Tapes includes brother and sister Bostonians Neil and Becca Popkin (vocals/guitar and bass) and their music is both moody and expansive. Their latest release, the Turtles EP (available from Amazon and iTunes), was recorded as a charity project for PETA, and features four alternate experimental versions of their songs (especially lovely is “Dreaming of You”).

MySpace | Official site | Facebook | Twitter

Wartime Blues

Missoula, MT

Wartime Blues (photo by Russel Daniels)

A terrific sounding Americana folk-rock ‘octet’ with rich instrumentation of guitars, organ, piano, mandolin, banjo, cello, violin, percussion, bass… rich harmonies and gritty lead vocals from Nate Hegyi. Substantial, soul-satisfying. I can’t quite figure out if their debut album Doves and Drums was just released, or if its release is imminent. For now, have a listen to a single from it, “Robert Ford and Jesse James.”

MySpace | Official site | Facebook

Victor Robert Venckus presents his Lucid Sounds/Expanding Awareness program on WZBC 90.3 FM (Boston College Radio) every Saturday from 7am – 11am. He begins with New Age, ambient, Native American and world music, with a weekly astrology report from Dietrich Pessin at 9:30 am. Expanding Awareness is at 10am, featuring interviews on paranormal, holistic health, environmental, animal rights and occasionally human rights topics, with listener call-in participation. Victor has been on the air, in some guise or another, since 1975. Shows are now archived for two weeks.

Gram Rabbit, Nice Purse, Kaiser Cartel (photo by Tony Nelson), and Setting Sun (photo by Amber S. Clark - ambersclark.com).

It’s time to do another of my “band roundups.” Here’s part one, featuring Apache Beat, Gram Rabbit, Kaiser Cartel, Nice Purse, not an Airplane, Phantom Power, Sebastian Blanck, and Setting Sun. That’s a whopping five New York bands, two Californian, and one Minneapolis (something of an unintended geographical focus; we’ll have to see about mixing it up a bit more next time). Stylistically, there’s tribal stew, sinister cowpoke, upbeat pop, folky lo-fi & traditional, atmospheric ambience, and a modern take on ’60s psychedelia.

Apache Beat | Gram Rabbit | Kaiser Cartel | Nice Purse | not an Airplane | Phantom Power | Sebastian Blanck | Setting Sun

Apache Beat

Brooklyn, NY

photo by Mike Vorrasi

For Apache Beat, it’s a thick stew of guitars, synth drone and tribal beats, out of which Ilirjana Alusha’s powerful vocals barrel through and soar. Out of the musical complexity, some fine melodies poke through (as on the recently released “Another Day”). In the past few years, they’ve toured with School of Seven Bells and Crystal Castles, and are now set to release their debut album Last Chants on October 5. Originally from Australia before she moved to New York, Ilirjana is also founder and editor of The Pop Manifesto, which focuses on both music and fashion (a sensibility which she brings to live performances).

MySpace | Official site | Facebook | Twitter

Gram Rabbit

Joshua Tree, CA

From dark and sinister cowboy music (”Dirty Horse”), compelling and creepy with religious references and eerie duets courtesy of Jesika von Rabbit and Tod Rutherford; to the twisted electro-pop-occultism of “Candy Flip” and “Off With Your Head”; to the psychedelic rock of “Wheels In Motion” – these guys are really strange. And really good, too. They have various albums and EPs out, with Miracles & Metaphors due out October 12 (Cobraside Distribution). For now, they’ve released The Desert Sound EP digitally, with two new tracks (”Candy Flip” and “Falling Debris”), “Her Secret Power” and a remix of “Something Fuzzy” from 2007’s RadioAngel and The RobotBeat. Originally from Joshua Tree, California, their first album was titled Music to Start a Cult To, and their fans call themselves The Royal Order of Rabbits. It all makes perfect sense.

MySpace | Official site | Facebook

Kaiser Cartel

Brooklyn, NY

At Third Ear Studio in Minneapolis - photo by Tony Nelson

It’s about listener-friendly harmonies and upbeat pop melodies for Kaiser Cartel (Courtney Kaiser – vocals, guitar, xylophone, keys and Benjamin Cartel – vocals, guitar, drums, xylophone). Their latest album Secret Transit (following their March Forth debut) is about life on the road, and is somewhat darker and more introspective. They recorded a Daytrotter Session back in December of last year, and are each involved in other projects as well – Benjamin with his own (self-titled) band, and Courtney occasionally performing with Sean Lennon’s band and contributing vocals on the upcoming Sufjan Stevens’ album.

They recently released a new video of a song from their debut album, “Favorite Things”. The video is directed by Courtney’s brother, Matt.

MySpace | Official site | Facebook | Twitter

Nice Purse

Minneapolis, MN

Wistful lyrics and folky, lo-fi melodies give Nice Purse a real charm. What began with singer/songwriter France Camp playing covers around Minneapolis for spare change has – with the addition of a few friends – turned into a real band who just released their debut album Black Medal (on Minneapolis label So Tm). If you happen to live around Mpls, you can check them out live. Their CD Release Party is September 5 at First Avenue.

NicePurse: “HeartMedley” (mp3)

MySpace | Facebook

not an Airplane

Modesto, CA

photo By Douglas Holcomb

not an Airplane is folky/traditional quartet with country and bluegrass influences and clever, thoughtful, at times melancholy lyrics and warm vocals courtesy of Nick Shattell. Slide guitar, banjo, dobro, upright bass, drums and 3-part harmonies contribute to a nice down-home, personal feel. “Trains” is especially lovely. Their released Things and People back in the Spring. They have a handful of California shows scheduled this month and next.

not an Airplane: “Trains” (mp3)

MySpace | Official site | Facebook | Twitter

Phantom Power

New York, NY

Phantom Power is the project of New York-based Eric Littman, with all music composed by him, mixed on his laptop. Dreamy, atmospheric guitars and sampling with “disembodied” vocals floating pleasantly around. His new ep Spacetime is available for free download (as are all his other recordings), and are definitely worth checking out. He plans on doing some NYC-area shows, so keep an eye out for him.

Phantom Power: “This Scene Blows” (mp3)

MySpace | Official site

Sebastian Blanck

New York, NY

Listen to some highly personal and introspective folk-pop ballads from singer, songwriter and painter Sebastian Blanck. He recently released Alibi Coast on Rare Book Room Records, a label run by producer Nicolas Vernhes, who has produced/engineered recordings by Dirty Projectors, Animal Collective, Cat Power, The Silver Jews, Deerhunter, Spoon, Versus, and others.

Sebastian Blanck “I Blame Baltimore” from Rare Book Room Records on Vimeo.

MySpace | Official site | Blog

Setting Sun

Brooklyn & upstate NY

photo by Amber S. Clark - ambersclark.com

Psychedelic hippie-hipster pop, upbeat and orchestral with spritely trumpet, strings; hushed sort of vocals from singer-songwriter Gary Levitt, with Erica Quitzow adding cello, violin, drums and backing vocals. Their most recent album is Fantasurreal

MySpace | Official site | Facebook

Victor Robert Venckus presents his Lucid Sounds/Expanding Awareness program on WZBC 90.3 FM (Boston College Radio) every Saturday from 7am – 11am. He begins with New Age, ambient, Native American and world music, with a weekly astrology report from Dietrich Pessin at 9:30 am. Expanding Awareness is at 10am, featuring interviews on paranormal, holistic health, environmental, animal rights and occasionally human rights topics, with listener call-in participation. Victor has been on the air, in some guise or another, since 1975. Shows are now archived for two weeks.

The New Collisions, John Powhida (and The International Airport), What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? (photo by Katrine Wheeler) and Goli (photo by Karen Clunes).

For this edition, we’re starting the week on Sunday (today), since I forgot to mention tonight’s Bent Wit Cabaret show last time. Their theme is “Mystery,” and the performance will feature spoken word artist Jha D, magician Dezrah the Strange, burlesque by Penny Candy and Abby Normal, The System of Soothing (a 7 minute opera by Frank Pesci based on a story by Edgar Allen Poe), and much more. There’s The Boston Waterfront Performing Arts Festival at Christopher Columbus Park (in the North End) on Tuesday (8/10), featuring Sarah Borges and The Broken Singles and the New Collisions. On Thursday, Club D’Elf are playing at the Lizard Lounge. On Friday, there’s three things of note: Agent Bishop Presents The Lucky 13 Bash at Church of Boston; Goli Going East (members of Fluttr Effect) and Cabiria’s CD release party; and Jo-Jo’s (who’s Jo-Jo?) Birthday Roast featuring John Powhida’s International Airport. On Saturday, Otis Grove plays a free show at the Middle East Corner, and “Boudoir Noir” – billed as “an intimate carnival of delight and revolt” – promises to be quite cool, what with The Slomski Brothers, What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? and HUMANWINE.

Bent Wit Cabaret: Mystery (Sunday)

Mr. Reusch (photo by Jess Swayze)

Bent Wit Cabaret: Mystery ~ OBERON Theater, Harvard Square, Cambridge. Sun, Aug 8. Tickets: $20 advance; $25 at door; 8pm show, 7:30 pre-show

(from their press release): “We’ve been mad scientists in the lab, checking our chemical cookbooks, cross-breeding strange creatures, and searching for the alchemy to bring you a show of gold! Please join us this August for Bent Wit Cabaret’s “MYSTERY” show – surprises brewing, and we can’t wait to see you there… Hosted by: Mary Dolan and UnAmerika’s Sweetheart Karin Webb. House Band: Elephant Tango Ensemble (including members of Goli and HUMANWINE). Featuring the Mysterious inner workings of: spoken word artist Jha D, magician Dezrah the Strange, burlesque by Penny Candy and Abby Normal, The System of Soothing (a 7 minute opera by Frank Pesci based on a story by Edgar Allen Poe), art installation by Gina Hereen, the incredible Sugar Dish, Lainey SchoolTree, and Femme Brulee, with video by Samantha Olschan and Bill Domonkos curated by the undeniable Boston Underground Film Festival, Poetry, Dance, and so much more…”

Boston Waterfront Performing Arts Series – Sarah Borges and The Broken Singles, New Collisions (Tuesday)

The New Collisions

Sarah Borges and The Broken SinglesThe New Collisions, Christopher Columbus Park, Atlantic Avenue & Richmond Street (North End), Boston, Tuesday, Aug 10, 6-8pm, FREE.

The New Collisions are cool and poppy with an 80s New Wave vibe (and they’ve even toured with Blondie and the B-52s). Their debut album (due out October 5) was recorded at Boston’s legendary Fort Apache Studios with Sean Slade and Paul Kolderie. It doesn’t get more hometown than that!

New Collisions: “Dying Alone”

Fellow Bostonians Sarah Borges and The Broken Singles are in the rootsy-rock/alt-country vein, with Sarah’s vocals sometimes sassy, sometimes smooth and sweet. Their third album, The Stars Are Out, was released last year.

Club D’Elf @ the Lizard Lounge (Thursday)

photo by mark wilson, wall by peter barrett

The “Moroccan-dosed psychedelic-dub–jazz collective from Boston!” Lots of fun, serious jamming, and ever-revolving special guests sitting in. Not sure who it’ll be Thurs. night.

Agent Bishop Presents: Lucky 13 Bash @ Church of Boston (Friday)

Liptease (9pm), Gene Dante and the Future Starlets (10pm), Sidewalk Driver (11pm), Planetoid (12am) @ the Church of Boston – Friday Aug. 13, doors 8pm, 21+, $10 advance tix, $13 @ door.

Here’s one for you closet glam-rockers and ’80s dance party people out there. Liptease, if they were a little older, would have played at Studio 54. Gene Dante of Gene Dante and the Future Starlets is an actor as well as a songwriter and singer who has toured in productions such as “The Rocky Horror Show,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” and “Beauty and the Beast.” With his theatrical musical theatre vocals, he was nominated as Best Male Vocalist in the 2009 Boston Best Music Poll, and names Bowie and Neil Diamond as influences (I’d say more Neil than Bowie in his singing style).

The Boston Herald said of Sidewalk Driver: “think Bowie painting the Kinks’ sound with sparkles”. And Planetoid has a retro ’70s metal sound with some psychedelic and grunge influences, and as New England Performer pointed out, “catch ‘em before their return to whatever stoner-rock planet they came from.”

Goli Going East, Cabiria (CD Release), Plumerai, Molly Zenobia @ the Middle East Upstairs (Friday)

the lovely ladies of Goli - photo by Karen Clunes

Goli Going East (with members of Fluttr Effect), Cabiria (CD Release Party), Plumerai and Molly Zenobia @ the Middle East Upstairs – Friday, Aug 13.

This should be a very interesting evening of mostly Boston bands. Goli Going East is, I believe, Vessela Stoyanova (marimba) and Valerie Thompson (cello, vocals) of the renown Goli (and Fluttr Effect). Cabiria (from NYC – operatic vocals, trip-hop groove and Spanish Flamenco) is celebrating the release of their 6-song EP, A Product of Humankind. And Molly Zenobia performs dreamlike, drifting, very experimental music – keyboards/piano and samples, with some extremely pretty vocals. Spacey, gauzy, guitar-driven Plumerai complete this stellar lineup.

Jo-Jo’s 40th Birthday Roast @ the Middle East Downstairs (Friday)

John Powhida

John Powhida & the International Airport, The Marvels, roast and party @ the Middle East Downstairs – Friday, Aug 13, 7:30pm doors, 18+.

I’m not sure who “Jo-Jo” is, but she/he is having a cool party at the Middle East. It features the inimitable John Powhida & the International Airport and punk rockers The Marvels. The listing says “semi-formal dress code encouraged.”

Otis Grove @ the Middle East Corner – FREE! (Saturday)

The seriously funky Otis Grove will be doing some tight jamming – and it’ll be interesting to see if they can squeeze any sort of organ onto the tiny stage in the Middle East Corner. A very nice cozy space, and a free show.

“Budoir Noir” @ Club Passim (Saturday)

What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? - photo by Katrine Wheeler

What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? and HUMANWINE @ Passim – Saturday Aug 14, 8pm, all ages.

What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? are purveyors of “macabre musical theatre” that, as Jason Roush of Bay Windows once said, “strikes the perfect balance of gloom and glam.” Powerful and expressive vocals from Brian King and music that’s folky, jazzy cabaret.

HUMANWINE – or more accurately H.U.M.A.N.W.I.N.E. (Humans Underground Making Anagrams Nightly While Imperial Not-Mes Enslave), bring their message of social truth with gothic elegance.

As Brian King of What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? explains, “We have always been rabid mutual fans of each other’s music, and I think it’s because we have such complementary perspectives. It’s like in early times when the Goddess of Love was also the Goddess of War. Both issues are about relationships and social power structures, whether between a couple in the bedroom or between two countries or classes. It’s all about living together and fighting for equality. We sing about struggle and liberation.”

“Feisty pranksters” The Slomski Brothers (from New Jersey) open the night with their wacky vaudevillian schtick.

Victor Robert Venckus presents his Lucid Sounds/Expanding Awareness program on WZBC 90.3 FM (Boston College Radio) every Saturday from 7am – 11am. He begins with New Age, ambient, Native American and world music, with a weekly astrology report from Dietrich Pessin at 9:30 am. Expanding Awareness is at 10am, featuring interviews on paranormal, holistic health, environmental, animal rights and occasionally human rights topics, with listener call-in participation. Victor has been on the air, in some guise or another, since 1975. Shows are now archived for two weeks.

Thirty Seconds To Mars VIP Packages, and inset: Bon Jovi VIP chair (from a photo by Richard Perry/The New York Times)

The Woodstock Music and Art Fair, August 15-18, 1969, featuring Richie Havens, Santana, the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix… $7 per day. Bon Jovi at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, May 24-25, 2010, the top VIP concert package (with a catered meal, leather bag, and the chair you sit in, custom-designed with the Bon Jovi logo): $1,875. My, how things have changed. In this rapidly shifting milieu of the music business, with a shrinking base of increasingly poor and fewer rich music consumers, new models for generating revenue from the concert-going elite are emerging.

Enter the VIP ticket package. A vast array of ‘perks’ at a wide variance of prices, as limitless as the imagination. And it’s not just the biggest names like the Rolling Stones and U2, but also acts such as the B-52s, Thirty Seconds To Mars, and Emilie Autumn. From admittance to soundchecks, exclusive performances, backstage dinners and open bars, to all sorts of memorabilia and a photo op with the band… perhaps.

When the music itself is devalued and the new album you’ve been working on for ages suddenly pops up for free on the internet months before its scheduled release date, what’s a band to do? You gotta make money somehow. Live appearances, t-shirts and other merchandise, CDs to those who haven’t already downloaded it – what else have you got that people might be willing to pay for? Your time, obviously.

For a new band just starting out, no one knows who the hell you are, you’ve hauled all your gear cross-country in a van and lugged shit up a flight of stairs, and only a handful of people have shown up to hear you play… I imagine nothing is more rewarding than having someone come up afterward to say how much they enjoyed the show. You might be inspired, in such a situation, to kick back with a drink and chat for a few minutes. And as your popularity grows, 25 people, 100, 150 maybe – still nice to talk to a few fans. But how about several hundred, or several thousand, of your ‘close, personal friends’ wanting a quick chat, an autograph, or a photo? When it becomes such a blur of cities and faces that you find yourself dividing people into personality types for amusement, a way to pass those endless hours on the tour bus, you know you’ve crossed the line from unwinding with a few new friends to manual hard labor. Why not narrow down this onslaught of humanity to a more manageable number and rake in a little cash at the same time? Though it might be wise to make this determination based not on financial wealth, but rather mental stability.

I’ll be honest – having to pay to say hello to someone whom, a few months ago, I was able to casually walk up to as a normal person, saddens my hippie heart. But it also got me to thinking. Everyone is so busy these days, we have little time to stop and talk to each other. There are occasions when I feel lonely, everyone racing around in their own little worlds with no time to spare, save for the occasional ‘tweet’. At those times, I would gladly pay someone to just friggin’ stop for a moment, sit down, and talk to me (oh wait, that’s a psychiatrist, isn’t it?).

I was discussing this with my friend Victor Robert Venckus, radio DJ and psychic/past life regression counselor for the past 35 years; well known in the Boston spiritual and college radio communities. I had given him an idea. He wondered if he could charge people to attend his annual birthday party. I mean, why not? He’s a popular guy; people often call him up for his opinion on something, some guidance, a moment of his time. For the privilege of attending one of his legendary soirees, why not charge a few dollars?

You’d do it on a scale, of course, economic times being what they are. Maybe $10 for the party itself, $15 if you want him to actually greet you as you come in, $20 for a hug, $30 for a kiss, and use your imagination from there. No ‘level of access’ is too great. He needs the money.