It's not just the Black Keys. Why are so many big tours selling poorly?
“Who can afford to go to multiple shows?” says the anonymous tour manager. “Two tickets to a show, you’re talking probably about $200 with fees and everything. You go to a meal around the show, you’re talking at least $100 or $200 for a nice dinner. Then you got parking and babysitters, then you add the VIP stuff to that and you want to make it a special night, you’re talking $500 to $1,000 a night for a couple to go out. It’s capitalism at its best.”
Sleep Token toured the US earlier this year, and came near where I live. The cheapest ticket prices were $700. That's approaching Taylor Swift prices for a popular, but still niche, metal band.
I would pay $700 to see Mayhem play a live De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas with a resurrected Per "Dead" Ohlin (and no Varg Vikernes, because fuck that guy), but I'm not paying $700 to see Sleep Token.
That’s not even “approaching Taylor swift levels,” it’s more. 6th row floor seats for TS were like $500. Nosebleeds were under $200. I’d love to see Sleep Token though
That still seems like a lot. Went to A Day To Remember last week for $25 and at the very least, I'd argue they're less niche than Sleep Token. Godsmack will be around later this year for around $100.
I would tend to agree but this was a mid size arena and it was sold out. Sleep token fans are a bit fanatical, even if they're not a mainstream act per se.