Blondie advisement

From the management at Crossroads KC, this advice was posted via Facebook regarding tonight's Blondie show:

Any form of ticket that is at will call can be picked up starting at 5 p.m. The gates open at 7 p.m. The opening band is at 8 p.m. However, the start time for Blondie is up in the air depending the weather. Could be earlier, could be later.

Umbrellas will be allowed, but if you choose to use them you will be asked to do so only in the area behind the sound board to avoid blocking the views of those behind you on the flat area in front of the stage. Behind the sound board the ground is sloped which will allow people to see over an open umbrella.

My advice? Swing by after work or before you go to eat and pick up your tickets. Then you will avoid having to stand in line at will call and then stand in line again at the gate. I would plan on trying to be inside no later than 8 p.m. to be safe.

Comments

[ITsaDump]

what a joke that place is. Have fun in the rain and mud and stench of that landfill.

It is unreal that people accept them charging $80.00 for tickets, and $30.00 for BS tickets to a BS temp site, when there are real venues in KC. I would love to see Debbie, but not for those prices at that dump.

Id happily pay $60.00 for no weather times delay bs, and real bathrooms. Why cant she be at the VooDoo lounge, or Uptown:(

The answer to why is;

Brett Mosiman, is a con artist who tricks good bands into playing a BS venue. Eventually the bands will cathc on, or he will improve that dump, I dont even care which, I have no issue with him, it is his venue is a landfill.

I am sure the people who work for him will come in say how great it is, and the people who hate it, dont go, and dont care, so they do not write here. ME? I do care, I want to see Debbie tonight, but not in a shthole.

[No Wood Chips!]

Kinda abrasive, but I agree with 'ITsaDUMP' completely. I absolutely hate that overrated venue (as is GRINDERS, for that matter) and every time this opinion is stated here, it causes friction. But sometimes the truth can be painful. I love Blondie, but refuse to see the band at the god awful Crossroads.

[Scott]

I have had nothing but great times there, the outdoor aspect is nice, sure you have to battle the weather from time to time but the weather can be a nice change from the hot stuffy bars and arenas. The venue itself is just sweet, i love the old grinders building behind the crowd, the art work around is cool too. If its the price you dont like dont blame Crossroads, thats mainly the band.

[Derek Donovan]

When the weather is good, the atmosphere at Crossroads KC can border on electric. It's like a much bigger, rock-er version of Knuckleheads.

And for the record, the amazingly mild August weather was easily the LEAST awesome thing about the Blondie show tonight.

I'd never be able to review them because I'm simply too much in the bag as a fan since the age of nine.

But HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL they put on one HELL of a show. The set list was a stroke of genius, including two songs from Debbie's ridiculously underrated solo album last year, the ringer "Maria" from "No Exit," and a traipse through this seminal group's catalog.

So many high points. "Hanging on the Telephone," "Fade Away and Radiate," a sickly angular and tight "The Hardest Part," and an unbelievably vital rendition of "Rapture" -- a song so thoroughly overplayed that I can play it back on my mental hard drive without dropping a millisecond.

Yeah, the longtime fanatic might have wanted to head "Angels on the Balcony" or "Detroit 442."

But, really -- just damn. Blondie 2009 is exponentially tighter and more focused than Blondie 1982.

Deborah Harry is 64. Chris and Clem are close. Matt the keyboardist is maybe a third that. (Missing Jimmy was the only true disappointment tonight, but I realize he has his issues to work through -- good on him.)

Debbie's voice is BACK. Light, happy and lithe. Having fun.

How many singers you know could pull off "You're Too Hot" or "Atomic," a good 30 years after coming on the scene? Listen to their heyday in "Picture This Live" and contrast to today.

One for the record books, folks.

Again: When I was nine, I used lawn-mowing money to buy the 8-tracks of "Parallel Lines," "Rocket to Russia" and "Low." I'm so far from objective that you could drive Kanye's ego into the divide.

But this is my very first time seeing Blondie Is A Band. (The "Escape from New York" tour in 1990 doesn't count -- please.) 30 years after my initial listen, it couldn't have been further from disappointment.

[NEW]

"I do care, I want to see Debbie tonight, but not in a shthole."

I brought this up in another thread in response to another post on the same issue. So I guess you would have turned down the opportunity to see Blondie at CBGBs in 1978 since that was a much greater shthole than Grinders. Too bad, you would have missed a great show.

[Your point is moot, Senor NEW]

"you would have turned down the opportunity to see Blondie at CBGBs in 1978 since that was a much greater shthole than Grinders."

I went to CBGB (No 'S' needed) a few times in the early 80's and it had some character and soul. I've also been to shows at the Whiskey A GO-GO in L.A., The Rat in Boston, Maxwell's in Hoboken, and The Double Door in Chicago years ago, and they all had an undeniable charm (I also miss the old Parody Hall on 39th). A lot of less than austere venues for live music can still give you a wonderful vibe. But sorry, The Crossroads doesn't make me feel anything other than I would have rather have seen the show at The Uptown or The Midland, instead of standing in 95 degree heat on a pile of wood chips like a %@#$ing hamster.

[NEW]

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, Moot. I do agree with you on most of the aforementioned venues as I have been to all of them except the Double Door. But you can't deny that the Rat or CBGBs (I'll keep the "s" thank you as most other native New Yorkers who frequented the venue at the onset do) were total holes in the wall. I loved them for that reason alone, just as I love Grinders for it's lack of pretentiousness.

And I agree that the Uptown is great and still reasonably priced but Sellers is not as generous to the bands as Pipeline is (ie. did you realize he bills bands/promoters) just to turn on the AC?) Why do you think bands continue to come back to Grinders? As for the The Midland? Not so much. A nice place but way overpriced when compared to the Uptown or Grinders.

When the hell did rock and roll become something that needed to played in an aesthetically pleasing environment, anyway?

[Greg]

it gets you no where to argue with this particular crossroads hater (who changes his anonymous name on every thread). he hates the venue, can't get over it, and likes to moan about it online. move along, nothing to see here. i enjoyed the avett brothers the other night at the crossroads--rain, mud, woodchips, and all :)

[NEW]

Well, Greg, Moot, whoever you are. You certainly get points for your honesty and commitment to your opinions. Be well.

[Bubba]

I have my OWN opinion about Crossroads - "WAAAAAHHHHH!! MOMMY!"

[Smoot]

Come on Bubba, you shouldnt do that until you actaully go to a show there, as I am assuming you skipped the Blondie show which you wanted to see?

[smoot]

I skipped it, duh. WHAT? pay $80.00 per freeking ticket to be exposed to radioactive waste buried there, and you all do know that they used to burn people alive on that property, not to
mention all the things which STILL occur there, but are too horrific to evene metnion on this board.

not to say anything and about that shthole, or anything, but thank goodness it is almost over, unless to goofballs say stuff like
"shucks I dont mind rain, mud, woodchips, radioactive waste, snow, sleet, blizzards, 3 feet of snow and using a stinkin portapotties---plop plop .. dump dump, splat.

[Bubba]

Smoot, you're right - I sort of wanted to see BLONDIE but didn't know if it was going to maybe rain - as I've recently heard the dump shut some gig down due to the weather - so MUCH for their 'rain or shine' policy, huh? Wanted to catch RATT w/ EXTREME there a month ago but I was still recovering from the previous night's MANSON / SLAYER bash. I saw BLONDIE last time they were here - 2002 at Sandstone. So I'm good. Crossroads REALLY sounds like a total sh*t hole!