19 Reply by Bill S (edited by Bill S 2011-01-15 11:48:32)

  • From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Re: Disppointed with Crossroads 2010

Rocket wrote:
Don&Jocelyn wrote:
lvbluesboy wrote:

And lose Bill Murray as host(?). Ugh. How could he say they were finally getting to the good stuff right after Trucks and company were on? Please. If that was actually the sequence he should be drawn and quartered at the very least.

Maybe it didn't come across on the DVD, but for those of us who were there, it was VERY obvious that Bill's tongue was firmly in his cheek when he said that. Derek and company had just completely smoked the stage and when Murray said that, everybody just laughed. He provided some good comedy relief to break up the acts on a very hot day when a little humor was just what the doctor ordered.

(Actually, the doctor probably would have ordered water at less than five dollars a bottle, but alas, Toyota Park didn't get that prescription. For that reason, I'd very much like to see the venue moved in four years.) tongue

I agree on all points, Bill was great-no one was comfortable until hours after sunset that day! 
The water should have been gratis! They would have sold more other beverages that way, but I say Forget Chicago Next Time!

Rock ON & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

Y'all got my dander up!! This event needs to be in a major city. Pick one that doesn't get hot in the summer...unless you want to hold it in January or in Canada, or maybe in Buncomb county, NC. There's worse things than heat...could have been raining or lightning! Yeah, the $5 water was outrageous, but if you think changing cities is gonna change that, you ain't been paying attention to commercialism and supply and demand, at least in The USA! That ain't limited to Chi-town boys and girls (In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the promoters would be the same people raking it in at any new venue). Even if you spent $100 on food and water...that means you got 12 hours of world class music for $200. Where else you gonna get a deal like that?? I just paid $85 for a ticket to see a two hour Joe show....water not included.
Chicago Crossroads was a great event two times in a row, with one of the greatest assemblies of musical talent EVER! I enjoyed every minute of it and would go back in a heartbeat.
If you can't stand the heat...

Bill S

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"

20 Reply by Don&Jocelyn (edited by Don&Jocelyn 2011-01-16 23:06:18)

  • From: Central PA
  • Registered: 2010-04-28
  • Posts: 272

Re: Disppointed with Crossroads 2010

Bill S wrote:

Y'all got my dander up!! This event needs to be in a major city. Pick one that doesn't get hot in the summer...unless you want to hold it in January or in Canada, or maybe in Buncomb county, NC. There's worse things than heat...could have been raining or lightning! Yeah, the $5 water was outrageous, but if you think changing cities is gonna change that, you ain't been paying attention to commercialism and supply and demand, at least in The USA! That ain't limited to Chi-town boys and girls (In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the promoters would be the same people raking it in at any new venue). Even if you spent $100 on food and water...that means you got 12 hours of world class music for $200. Where else you gonna get a deal like that?? I just paid $85 for a ticket to see a two hour Joe show....water not included.
Chicago Crossroads was a great event two times in a row, with one of the greatest assemblies of musical talent EVER! I enjoyed every minute of it and would go back in a heartbeat.
If you can't stand the heat...

Bill S

Fair enough, Bill, but to my credit, I never said they should move Crossroads to another city. I said they should move the venue. Maybe Soldier Field will be available the first weekend of June 2013?  big_smile

I'm fully aware that Chicago isn't usually a hundred degrees in early June, so no worries that I was dissing your weather. I'm sure that was why they moved Crossroads from Texas to Illinois in 2007. But for Toyota Park to charge such outrageous prices for water on such a hot day -- and to turn off the cold water in all the restrooms, to boot -- was irresponsible at the very least. I have no idea how many people had to be hauled out for dehydration or other health issues, but cutting everyone a break on the water would have demonstrated a little concern for all those people baking in the sun.

Jocelyn and I enjoyed our visit to Chicago, and would love to return, if only to stop by Cooper's Hawk Winery for some more of their Sauvignon Blanc!

And of course, I would be remiss if I did not say that the hospitality shown us by a family in Crystal Lake, Illinois the night before the show was second to none! If by some outrageous coincidence Eric Clapton decides to move Crossroads to, say, Hershey, Pennsylvania, we'll be happy to return the favor!  wink

21 Reply by Rocket (edited by Rocket 2011-01-17 11:50:47)

  • Rocket
  • Rocket
  • BONAMEGAMETAL
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  • From: San Francisco
  • Registered: 2006-04-26
  • Posts: 10,275

Re: Disppointed with Crossroads 2010

I personally had no issue except an unusable overheated iPad I had hoped to use during lulls. I ate zero food there, I drank one drink, used no sunscreen, and had a terrific overall time!!! I'd do it again unquestionably in the rest period before a heartbeat even.

I said it should be moved.  I should have premised it on no longer using the same stadium! It is obvious that a grass field would have been totally better last year! While I agree it should be in a major city, and, frankly, it is very difficult to find a city with as many "crossroads" as far as airlines bringing in the masses, as Chicago.  The water deal was an inside Chicago-style scam and that was totally wrong, whether the blame lies on only one or two people!!!  My dear friend was beyond dehydration and moving dangerously close to heat STROKE, not heat exhaustion, heat stroke.  Scary situation.  Long, long, long lines amongst the huge crowd to buy overpriced water in little bottles (many people needed 10+ of those, that's 50 bucks, half the admission price!!! A deal for the given entertainment, but not making it a third of the way through the day and health at issue is no deal at all) and not allowing EMPTY plastic bottles above a certain size-shame, shame, shame to quote Jimmy Reed. 
Does the event have to be outdoors?  Does it have to be in the summer? I'd say yes both counts.  Does it have to be in Chicago to have credibility, affordability, and ease of access? No.  Could it be held on a grass field stadium almost anywhere? Yes! Would the field be recoverable quickly, for say, baseball in a few days? Maybe to not likely. Could there be a football field or grass soccer field available somewhere? Certainly.  Will the global economy be still be stalled in 2013?  Perhaps, but who knows! Must a certain margin of charitable profits be met? Absolutely! I'd say the whole event is in question, but the location must change in my opinion.  I believe that if not many, certainly a few of the large cities in the US of A can handle the logistics and hospitality as well as Chicago, some better (Granted not many!...proper planning aside). So, I apologize to my dear friend for the offense I generated.  It's not personal, ESPECIALLY given the grand time we had gathering the day prior (although you might not be able to handle a sixfold increase in crowd size if Joe plays again next time yikes )!!!!!!  Lots of options, but it shouldn't have to be a foregone conclusion that Sweet Home Chicago is a necessary inclusion into the songs setlist, let alone best venue city.  Honestly, I recant and say I see no real reason to 100% eliminate Chicago from any future consideration. Wherever it is contracted, best take care of people as part of taking care of business is all I say. 

Rock ON & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
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  • From: Southern New Jersey, USA
  • Registered: 2006-04-23
  • Posts: 2,966

Re: Disppointed with Crossroads 2010

I kinda' think Mr. Clapton likes Sweet Home Chicago for its music history and being home to Buddy Guy.  Also, I remember people complaining about the blistering heat in Texas when it was there.

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