Let’s give credit where credit is due…
Anybody out there happen to notice that the doormat formerly known as Sandstone has booked its best summer in eons since the big boys more-or-less dropped it in favor of Starlight, leaving fabled concert-meister Chris Fritz to fend for himself?
It’s been mostly slow going at Sandstone since sponsor Verizon bailed, was followed by Cap Fed and currently Cricket. And frankly, the drop from being sponsored by the No. 1 wireless company in the country with more than 115 million customers, to No. 7 with 7 million customers, has been mirrored by the drop in both the number and quality of concerts that have appeared at Sandstone these past several years.
However, to borrow a line from Bob Dylan, the times, they are a changing.
Because this year’s fare at Sandstone includes a prestigious lineup of acts that range from Buzz Under the Stars with The Lumineers to Mumford & Sons to John Mayer and to Rob Zombie. Toss in a Pitch Picnic with Everclear, the Vans Warped Tour and – what else? – another Chris Fritz Rock N Roll Dream Concert with Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and Lynyrd Skynyrd “tribute bands,” and what more could you ask for?
Actually, I’m about to tell you what more.
Would you believe, Bob Dylan, Wilco, My Morning Jacket and Richard Thompson? On the same bill.
That’s the rumor and it’s not just another Chris Fritz wet dream.
The above mentioned tour is hits the road in June and will be doing mostly outdoor venues like – you guessed it – Sandstone.
So will Kansas City get the hot date? Will Sandstone effectively return to its glory days under Live Nation?
Will the 71 year-old Dylan – who former “Married with Children” star Katy Sagal just called out here in KC for having a micro dick and being a sexist jerk stop using a photo of himself at like age 18 to promote the tour?
Guess we’ll find out pretty soon.
Uh, stay tuned.
However, if I had to make a wild guess – you know, if it happens – July 3rd or 4th look like the most likely dates to route here among the shows announced thus far.
The tour is eight driving hours away in Memphis on July 2nd and another 7 hours away in Noblesville, Indiana on July 5th.
The $64 million question being, will this Chris Fritz dream come true?
Dylan, MMJ, Wilco and Richard Thompson- now these are the bands Kansuckass should be getting. Take note Kansuckass- this is how you sell tickets to a concert along with single day sales.
Clearly they would add a lot. However, this is going out as a tour package. Check the dates so far here: http://www.bobdylan.com/us/upcoming-dates
Bob Dylan may have his shortcomings but Chris, like Kenny Stabler, was always known as “The Snake”.
Why would they announce more dates and cram them inside of the already announced schedule? Doesn’t make sense.
And Sandstone doesn’t make much sense. MMJ only filled Starlight a third full last summer. The best Wilco has done is fill Crossroads. And those bands draw from a lot of the same fans.
And then everyone will leave shortly after Dylan’s set will start.
None of this makes sense.
Dylan is the headliner, so if they wait for his set to end they’ll be there for the entire show. Unless Dylan goes on early so he can get his 71 year-old body to bed early
Well, I know Sandstone was trying to get a date and tours don’t always announce their entire scheds at once.
There could be more than one venue bidding for the show in KC or another nearby market that might also route.
And then, promoters like to announce and put shows on sale when and how they choose. Which may not be now.
That’s how the game is sometimes played. Will it be this time?
Who knows, just an educated guess.
“Dylan is the headliner, so if they wait for his set to end they’ll be there for the entire show.”
I get that. It was a joke from when Dylan played at Community America years ago and everyone got up and left a few songs into his set because his voice is awful. The hardcores will stay.
I’m a little slow, sorry.
His shows are VERY hit and miss in recent years. Three songs could easily be enuff.
Sandstone, what a great venue from about 1983 through 2003. Those 20 years.
After that, no mas!
Never underestimate chris.
I had family in the concert business in this and other markets and chris
knows his stuff.
He can make sandstone a success…as it once was under gus fasone…
chris knows how to make money!!!!!!
He’s taken rag concerts and turned profits.
Don’t doubt this guy….
I never count Chris down and out…. he’s the main man and will always be.
Someday someone will make the movie about the Ozarks Festival in Sedalia that Chris put on that was so incredible. Yes, a few problems but the bands were excellent and the helicopters cool…..!! My vote is always on Chris.
That was a hell of a time. HOT!!
We all rode our Harleys down there.
🙂
They always have Vans Warped Tour there every year and it is always a big hit.
This show will not be coming to KC.
You may be right. They sure were trying hard to get it though