house of exploitation

i know when i go into the house of blues that i'm in for an expensive evening. (for example, last night's PBR tall boys were six bucks a can). it's not that i enjoy the prospect at all, but they know they have me over whatever irresistible barrel happens to be headlining, (for example, rancid awhile back, or the mighty mighty bosstones last night), and there's nothing else a guy can do about it but empty his wallet so that he can fill his ears. (bastids).

but last night, i think the house of blues finally went and did the full nine yards beyond all reason, and i am surely going to think twice, long and hard, and again, before ever going back to that place. (as in, i don't think you'll see me there again).

boston is a blustery place in the wintertime, and getting to a show that's going to be way up on the sweat-meter with whatever might be necessary to protect onesself on the way over is always an interesting adventure. the compromise, of course, is the economic carnival attraction otherwise know as the "coat check", and you always come prepared to dip into your wallet and haul out more than you might prefer, but whatever might be necessary, to check your coat.

so we get to the front of the line and find out last night that they're collecting FIVE BUCKS PER COAT (and no double-hanging--it's against the rules) for the privilege. (and that's not even including any tip to the folks actually checking the coats).

FIVE BUCKS.

ten bucks for two. to check coats. to see a show in which you're going to be dropping no less than $20 a round (see mention of $6 PBR's above, and reference your date's preference for top-shelf liquor, who must be excused for having been generous enough to buy the tickets) throughout the evening.

unbelievable.

for what was spent to check coats and get the first round, me and a bunch of friends would be drinkin ALL NIGHT at the hynes or the worthen or just about anywhere else in downtown lowell. we'd have even done ok with that much over at lelacheur when we went to see the bosstones with the dropkicks a couple of summers ago. (ah, now THAT was a show...)

unbelievable.

methinks some places just don't get what rock and roll is all about.