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You don’t want Yeasayer to be lonely at the Bowl this weekend, do you?

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This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The media are often critical of the concert industry, what with its high ticket prices, unexplained service fees and often an inability to get a decent seat without dealing with the secondary market. But there is one nifty new feature on the Ticketmaster website that deserves some praise, and that’s the “interactive seat map.” Pictured above as a graphic of the Hollywood Bowl’s seating arrangement, the map allows the user to roll over various sections, and see, in real time, how many tickets are still available.

There is, however, a downside, at least if you’re a promoter. Those with time on their hands and the know-how to use a calculator (needling journalists are among that lot), can instantly see how many tickets remain unsold for major events hours before they’re supposed to go down. Never before has it been so easy to see how concerts are under-performing.

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Sad news, then, to learn that approximately 10,000 tickets remain, as of Thursday morning, for Sunday’s concert with Yeasayer and Baaba Maal, with, as noted in the screen shot above, sometimes more than 500 available in a single section. With a capacity of around 18,000, it’s safe to say there’s going to be plenty of room for your picnic basket and cheese spread.

Yeasayer’s “Odd Blood” received a rave on this blog, courtesy of this writer, thanks to its animated, worldly rhythms and big choruses. It’s a sophomore album that represented a major artistic leap for the group, and one that if the band’s Coachella set is any indication, goes over well in big settings. Headliner Baaba Maal brings a techno-infused rhythmic slant to his brand of Afro-pop.

I would argue that $55 to see the two acts, while far from one of the more expensive tickets this year (looking at you, Roger “$750” Waters), is still too high.Yet if you’ve waited to purchase tickets, and with about 10,000 available chances are you have, you can now get them for 20% off if you use the promotional code “BOWL” at checkout. A Pop & Hiss public service announcement.

-- Todd Martens


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