If you've never seen Lou, you go anyway. I saw him in the 90s when he was touring with Luna as the opening act, and sure, it wasn't "At Max's Kansas City" or anything, but it was cool as hell. He played stuff from Songs For Drella in addition to solo works and one or two VU tunes... totally worth it.

I would go. If the headliner sucks, you can always leave.

And how often does your favorite Japanese noise rock band play in your town, anyway?

Maybe next time, they'll be appearing in a smaller venue, with more reasonable prices.

I think you have to take the main act out of the question. Would you pay $50 to see the opening act? If so, then buy the ticket, and if you end up enjoying the Lou Reed part of the event, it's like a free bonus.

Hhmm. 43 is a bit steep but:

+Walking distance means you can have a beer and enjoy the show without any designated drivers along. Heck maybe a pal whho's also a fan can stay over and it'll be a party!

- Lou Reed. Not that bad. I mean if you don't fancy him you can leave. But it's also Loud reed. How long hasn't that man been playing? He's a legend! Legends are built of something, lets see what he can do!

If I had the dosh, I'd go.

The way I'm seeing it as I type this: it might be worth half the ticket price alone just to see the yuppies who'll show up to "have a couple of glasses of chardonnay and hear Lou Reed sing that 'Take a Walk on the Wild Side' song" react to Melt-Banana.

And I have to keep reminding myself that for all of his artistic missteps over the years, Lou Reed did write several of my favorite songs. Maybe he'll play a couple of them.

I have another day or so before tickets go on sale to think about it. Thanks, everyone!

FIFTY BUCKS to go to the Orange Peel and stand up for six hours and not be able to see anything and wait 20 minutes to get a very small $5 beer? Yargh. Oh. Wait. It's Lou Reed. Fuck. Still. I'm not sure I'd pay $50 to see Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and John Lennon on their Back From the Grave Reunion Tour.

Wow, New York is almost 20?

If you've got the money, go. It'll be worth 1/2 cart of groceries.

Melt Banana and Lou Reed? WOW. What a psycho bill.

If you have the money to spare, go - even if he sucks, it will be entertaining.

If you're strapped - Melt-Banana tours on a pretty regular basis - I think I've seen them four, five times. So if you miss it... oh well.

Go, and don't look back. If nothing else, you can at least say you saw Lou Reed and be all smug about his downfall when he comes up in conversation at parties.

I've got a question--you say that Melt-Banana is one of your favorite Japanese noise-rock bands. But are they also one of your favorite bands without the qualifiers?

That's £21.40. I wouldn't even think twice about it, if I wanted to go.

I've got a question--you say that Melt-Banana is one of your favorite Japanese noise-rock bands. But are they also one of your favorite bands without the qualifiers?

They're in my top thirty, along with Boredoms, Merzbow, and Incapacitants.

And you're in Asheville? Yeah, you should totally go.