Cosmic Superheros

Sitting in with a terrific band from NC

I’ve been asked to sit in with a terrific band out of the Raleigh, NC area, Cosmic Superheros, pictured above. I’m not in the photo but what a great looking band photo, right? The rehearsals, along with life’s obligations, has put me way behind on my articles lately so I missed posting last Thursday’s article.

However, I’ve got a small break in rehearsals this week so I’m back on the keypad scratching out some fresh stuff for my regular Thursday release, and to make up from last week I’m doing two articles this week, and maybe a podcast. Maybe. Coming up on Thursday we’ll discuss the closure of Sam Ash Music Stores and it’s impact on the music products industry and musicians.

However, a quick bit of thought food in today’s piece. If you’re a fan of the pop-punk band, All Time Low, you may have heard they had to cut their show in Singapore short after the band’s frontman, Alex Gaskarth, became ill from food poisoning. Gaskarth was later taken to the hospital and released the following day, according to a post shared on Instagram by promoter LAMC Productions.

However, it seems some fans were upset after LAMC Productions released a statement saying fans will not be offered a refund for the truncated concert, but instead will be eligible for a $30 promo code that they can use at any LAMC show in the next year.

This reminded me about a Tom Petty show that I attended in 2006. I was in Indianapolis for a conference and knew Petty was playing the local amphitheater while I was in town, so my wife and I decided to grab tickets and head out the show. After all, who wouldn’t want to hear Tom sing the lines, “But she grew up tall and she grew up right, with them Indiana boys on an Indiana night” in Indiana?

After the Black Crows came out and played a tiring 45 minute set of music that nobody had ever heard before TP&HB’s took the stage and ripped straight into, “Listen to Her Heart”. About six songs in the band came to the crowd favorite, “Mary Jane’s Last Dance”. Unfortunately, by this time a major midwestern thunderstorm had blown up and although we were seated under the pavilion shed, the wind, rain and dangerous lightning forced the show to be called off. After the power was knocked out twice Tom announced that it was too dangerous to keep going and told the audience they needed to get off the lawn and get to safety and immediately left the stage.

It was a let down for sure, but I understood the danger. I didn’t receive a refund and didn’t expect a refund. However, it was evident as we walked to the car through the parking lots that many fans were clearly angry that the show was cancelled and they were not going to get a refund.

I’d love to hear if you’ve had a similar experience. Did you get a refund, a credit to another show? Do you think you should have received a refund? Why or why not?