[swervedriver]

Are you going (or planning to go) to the Devin Townsend Project at the Palladium in Worcester?

Feel free to discuss anything related to this show here!

Anyone want to pre-game for the Geek Metal show with some Geekery around town? Was discussing hitting Higgins armory museum and That's Entertainment! comic/game/kaiju/toy store prior to.

depending on my workload that day, I probably won't be up for hitting too much preshow stuff, but I'm absolutely going to the wretched palladium

At least there's a decent bar near the Palladium.

At least there's a decent bar near the Palladium.

which bar is that? If I get there early enough I'll try and meet up there

Irish Times across the street. When I saw Dev at the Palladium in October 2010 I actually ran into him there before the show having lunch. Pretty cool

Irish Times across the street. When I saw Dev at the Palladium in October 2010 I actually ran into him there before the show having lunch. Pretty cool

I think that place is closed, if I remember correctly from metal fest and meshuggah

I'm referring to Armsby Abbey. http://armsbyabbey.com/. It's tiny and can attract some really annoying hipsters. However, the beer, food, and staff are pretty awesome. It's within walking of the venue, opposite direction of the CVS.
Irish Times has been dead a couple years now. Not really sure what's still there. Rumors flew for years that the city wanted the Palladium gone then they revalued the property and taxes went up in excess of 200%. So who knows? Maybe they're keen on clearing out everything that isn't as "classy" as that there DCU center (aka "oh you need handicapped parking? Well sorry the 'close' spaces are 3 blocks from the only doors we'll let non-VIP people enter.")

Not really sure what the pre-show schedule is. Depends largely on who I run into while walking the dog and if I've got VIP tickets or not.

I'm referring to Armsby Abbey. http://armsbyabbey.com/. It's tiny and can attract some really annoying hipsters. However, the beer, food, and staff are pretty awesome. It's within walking of the venue, opposite direction of the CVS.
Irish Times has been dead a couple years now. Not really sure what's still there. Rumors flew for years that the city wanted the Palladium gone then they revalued the property and taxes went up in excess of 200%. So who knows? Maybe they're keen on clearing out everything that isn't as "classy" as that there DCU center (aka "oh you need handicapped parking? Well sorry the 'close' spaces are 3 blocks from the only doors we'll let non-VIP people enter.")

Not really sure what the pre-show schedule is. Depends largely on who I run into while walking the dog and if I've got VIP tickets or not.

yeah that tax thing is true. They are paying an insane amount of money. The parking lot rumor didn't make sense considering there are 3 huge parking lots in that area (one across the street from the palladium, the major Taylor aka where I park and the little place behind the palladium that will rip you the fuck off depending on the event. I think I paid $25 to go to rock and shock one year and it was $10 every other time.

yeah that tax thing is true. They are paying an insane amount of money. The parking lot rumor didn't make sense considering there are 3 huge parking lots in that area (one across the street from the palladium, the major Taylor aka where I park and the little place behind the palladium that will rip you the fuck off depending on the event. I think I paid $25 to go to rock and shock one year and it was $10 every other time.

My understanding of the parking lot rumor was the building owner spoke reacted relatively immediately after getting hit with notification of the increase. So, he was in full on "ARRRGH YOU DUMB BUGGERS" mode and said something stupid. Realistically, he'd never go through with it so long as MassConcerts is around. A 50-ish space lot will never generate the sort of revenue for him that rental of the existing facility does. The greater danger lies in, if he wants out that bad, his selling the place. However, the NewCitySquare development is much better positioned for transit, has a 4,300 space parking structure, and took years to attract enough interest to start development. That coupled with the ad I saw asking $2million for the Palladium in the Phoenix over a year ago suggests he's going to die before it goes anywhere.


So far as Palladium parking goes, I just gave up and went with the street after awhile. Among my show buddies, I'm the only one who ever had a windshield busted and a tire pierced both of which happened in a lot while I was at a festival. Hell, one of the street parking advocates couldn't get the passenger window up for a year and still has the car as well as all his CDs. Plus, it's freaking sweet knowing what I'm paying to park ahead of time without advanced demographic studies of every event in the area.

yeah that tax thing is true. They are paying an insane amount of money. The parking lot rumor didn't make sense considering there are 3 huge parking lots in that area (one across the street from the palladium, the major Taylor aka where I park and the little place behind the palladium that will rip you the fuck off depending on the event. I think I paid $25 to go to rock and shock one year and it was $10 every other time.

My understanding of the parking lot rumor was the building owner spoke reacted relatively immediately after getting hit with notification of the increase. So, he was in full on "ARRRGH YOU DUMB BUGGERS" mode and said something stupid. Realistically, he'd never go through with it so long as MassConcerts is around. A 50-ish space lot will never generate the sort of revenue for him that rental of the existing facility does. The greater danger lies in, if he wants out that bad, his selling the place. However, the NewCitySquare development is much better positioned for transit, has a 4,300 space parking structure, and took years to attract enough interest to start development. That coupled with the ad I saw asking $2million for the Palladium in the Phoenix over a year ago suggests he's going to die before it goes anywhere.


So far as Palladium parking goes, I just gave up and went with the street after awhile. Among my show buddies, I'm the only one who ever had a windshield busted and a tire pierced both of which happened in a lot while I was at a festival. Hell, one of the street parking advocates couldn't get the passenger window up for a year and still has the car as well as all his CDs. Plus, it's freaking sweet knowing what I'm paying to park ahead of time without advanced demographic studies of every event in the area.

I figured they were planning another multi level garage that encompassed the entire block, not just the palladium when those rumors were going around.

I did notice the type of upcoming shows changed, all of a sudden they're catering to the "pauly D" crowd, which kind of proves they are hurting for money. Although profitable, it strays big time from the palladium which typically books metal/hardcore acts, and the annual Insane Clown Posse show. I've always felt the place wouldn't hurt if it expanded it's musical booking tastes, however, most non-metal/hardcore bands will opt to play Boston instead.

In over 200 shows I've been to in my life, the closest I've ever had to problems was in Poughkeepsie when someone was arrested and searched against my Chevy Blazer, I had to hit a car wash after wards because you could still see their nasty handprints all over my old beat up truck. Other than that, haven't had too many issues, and I've been to shows in some really ghetto places, like Newark and stuff

I figured they were planning another multi level garage that encompassed the entire block, not just the palladium when those rumors were going around.

Nah. Plans weren't that logical. The owner threw a temper tantrum and apparently spoke without really consulting the tenants whom he'd pass the increased operating costs along to. It worked out fairly well, all in all. The city got an earful about their taxation practices (which affected multiple businesses in an area where those are dying off bit by bit). Multiple news outlets picked the story up. For some customers, the sentiment shifted from "that filthy, dingy, shit-hole of a venue" to "the area INSTITUTION where I saw my first real concert at 15."

I did notice the type of upcoming shows changed, all of a sudden they're catering to the "pauly D" crowd, which kind of proves they are hurting for money.

Well, it's better to try new sources of revenue than bleeding the old ones dry. If the promoters took exceptionally obscene cuts of door and merch, then there's a fair chance management would need to look elsewhere for a 2,000+ person all-ages venue. The Palladium is easier to get to than The Orpheum and not next to freaking Fenway like House of Blues or in Providence like Lupo's at The Strand.

yeah It sucks when things are in Boston, when I went to the HOB, I parked near Guitar center and it actually wasn't that bad, I think $10, which is irony considering if it's game day, forget about it.

I think eventually this rate raise is going to put a HUGE strain on the Palladium. They've already noted they too a huge hit and their not happy about it. Pretty sure concession prices are going to see a spike.

I'm a little worried about next year's metalfest. At that dubstep show at the comcast center over the summer, and then country fest at Gillette a few weeks back, the cops ramped up and arrested people left and right. I can see them doing the same here, even though I believe, and this is a stretch, that the metalfest crowd is more laid back

yeah It sucks when things are in Boston, when I went to the HOB, I parked near Guitar center and it actually wasn't that bad, I think $10, which is irony considering if it's game day, forget about it.

I think eventually this rate raise is going to put a HUGE strain on the Palladium. They've already noted they too a huge hit and their not happy about it. Pretty sure concession prices are going to see a spike.

I'm a little worried about next year's metalfest. At that dubstep show at the comcast center over the summer, and then country fest at Gillette a few weeks back, the cops ramped up and arrested people left and right. I can see them doing the same here, even though I believe, and this is a stretch, that the metalfest crowd is more laid back

I don't miss being metro-Boston and needing to figure out how to read a baseball schedule anytime I wanted to do something. $10.00 increases like I see under normal conditions in Worcester are one thing but one of the lots I used for shows it jumped by about $30.00.

We'll see if the rate increase sticks. From what I gather, it didn't go down well. Business owners were appealing. Fans got a name and number then proceeded to bombard a member of the city government. So we'll see if someone decides they won't get reelected unless they back down and something changes.

Honestly, I would've welcomed the cops when I used to hit the NEMHC. The Hardcore posses were attacking people randomly and there were times where I'd be amazed if they weren't way past capacity.

TONIGHT!!!!!!!!! *Does Lucky Animals spastic dance!*