Billboard
Concert Boxscore for the 2009-06-17 issue
Thu Jun 18, 2009 2:36pm EDT

Tina Turner

. March 3-4, 7-8, May 3, 2009 at O2 Arena, London, U.K.

. Gross sales of $9,207,835 Ticket prices: $141.65, $70.83

. Attendance: 86,458 Capacity: 89,080

. Number of shows: 5 Number of sell-out shows: 0

. Promoter: Marshall Arts Ltd.

Dave Matthews Band, Willie Nelson

. May 29-30, 2009 at Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.

. Gross sales of $4,810,650 Ticket prices: $75

. Attendance: 65,215 Capacity: 66,015

. Number of shows: 2 Number of sell-out shows: 0

. Promoter: Live Nation

Billy Joel & Elton John

. May 30, 2009 at Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario

. Gross sales of $3,317,879 Ticket prices: $254.24, $67.31

. Attendance: 19,293 Capacity: 19,293

. Number of shows: 1 Number of sell-out shows: 1

. Promoter: Live Nation

Elton John & Billy Joel

. May 26, 2009 at Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario

. Gross sales of $2,918,654 Ticket prices: $248.66, $65.83

. Attendance: 17,973 Capacity: 17,973

. Number of shows: 1 Number of sell-out shows: 1

. Promoter: Live Nation

Santana

. May 27-June 14, 2009 at The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas, Nev.

. Gross sales of $1,895,601 Ticket prices: $151, $125, $85, $75

. Attendance: 13,811 Capacity: 16,340

. Number of shows: 12 Number of sell-out shows: 4

. Promoter: AEG Live

Fleetwood Mac

. May 15, 2009 at General Motors Place, Vancouver, British Columbia

. Gross sales of $1,855,616 Ticket prices: $170.02, $42.18

. Attendance: 13,934 Capacity: 13,934

. Number of shows: 1 Number of sell-out shows: 1

. Promoter: Live Nation

Cafe Tacvba

. June 13, 2009 at Foro Sol, Mexico City, Mexico

. Gross sales of $1,751,239 Ticket prices: $56.06, $14.95

. Attendance: 58,906 Capacity: 58,906

. Number of shows: 1 Number of sell-out shows: 1

. Promoter: OCESA/CIE-Mexico

Phish

. May 31, 2009 at Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.

. Gross sales of $1,710,423 Ticket prices: $49.50

. Attendance: 34,906 Capacity: 34,906

. Number of shows: 1 Number of sell-out shows: 1

. Promoter: Live Nation

Leonard Cohen

. May 16-17, 2009 at Radio City Music Hall, New York, N.Y.

. Gross sales of $1,665,982 Ticket prices: $254.50, $129.50, $90, $69.50

. Attendance: 11,864 Capacity: 11,864

. Number of shows: 2 Number of sell-out shows: 2

. Promoter: Concerts West/AEG Live

Bette Midler

. June 9-10, 12-14, 2009 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nev.

. Gross sales of $1,365,798 Ticket prices: $250, $175, $140, $95

. Attendance: 11,431 Capacity: 13,769

. Number of shows: 5 Number of sell-out shows: 0

. Promoter: Concerts West/AEG Live

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Mister D: All ya gotta do is Become A Fan - just read the message below from Bette’s boys and help them out. Thanks a lot. It only takes a second:

Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns needs more fans in order to get a custom fan page URL. We need 1000. Please help us out and become a fan! Once we make it to 1000, you are free to drop! Help out a brother. Click the share button at the bottom of the fan page and let your friends know we are here! It’s painless.

CLICK HERE AND THEN SCROLL DOWN. LOOK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PAGE

Thanks, Mister D

OrlandoSentinel.com
Commentary
Drugs or medication? It’s Vegas, who cares!
Commander Coconut
ENTERTAINMENT
June 12, 2009

When I last went to Las Vegas almost four years ago, I made a list of reasons I’d never return: expensive; garish; badly dressed people; horrible traffic; too many ventriloquist, impressionist and magician shows; taxes and service charges on everything (now I know how Orlando tourists feel); the feeling you’re being had.

But when Bette Midler set up shop in Miss Dion’s old stomping grounds at the Caesars Palace Colosseum, I had to go back.

Midler is, after all, the People’s Diva; she says she beat out the Octomom and S. Palin for the coveted title. And she’s the only performer of her kind in America. Cher? Pshaw! Celine? Ha! Miss Ross? Get a grip!

Funny and profane, the dance-sing-act gal’s “The Showgirl Must Go On” revue comes with the 18 Caesars Salad Girls, the three Harlettes and a crack band. You get your hits (”Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Wind Beneath My Wings”), your Sophie jokes (wish I could repeat them in a family newspaper, whatever that means) and the Diva’s smart choices in material, arrangements and kitsch.

I was thrilled, for instance, that she still does John Prine’s masterful song about aging, “Hello in There,” and that there was a number featuring Delores DeLago, the wheelchair-driving maniac.

This is the fourth time I’ve seen Midler, and she reminds us that 30 years ago, we were on drugs while now we’re on medications. Even divas age: Bette is 63. Continued…

Sweepstakes Prize:
ONE (1) GRAND PRIZE: A voucher for a two (2) night stay at Caesars Palace, two (2) Roman Ritual Passes, and two (2) tickets to Bette Midler. Approximate Retail Value (”ARV”): $750 USD.

For more info: Click Here

Mister D: I was just informed by CC of Delve Into The Divine that performances of Bette Midler’s The Showgirl Must Go On on Tuesday October 13th, 2009 have been cancelled. No reason has been given by ticketmaster.

So thanks to CC for the heads up.

Mister D: Better watch it before it gets ripped down….

Review: EW.com
‘Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List‘ premiere: Stalking the A-list
Jun 9, 2009, 11:25 AM | by Michael Slezak
Categories: ‘Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List’

Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List has always been funniest when its titular star is at her most pathetic — cluelessly hosting home-shopping programming, enduring countless local media appearances in a desperate attempt to sell concert tickets — so you’d think it might be problematic that as the brassy redhead heads into her fifth season, she’s got two Emmys, widespread critical acclaim, and the ability to sell out concert halls across the nation. And that’s why it’s such a stroke of genius that Griffin is now focusing her attention on stalking true A-listers to learn the secrets of their success. I mean, what better way to downgrade your rising star than by placing it next to a real-live supernova?

Last night’s Las Vegas encounter of the Bette Midler kind proved just how far Griffin has to go before she can upgrade her status to the penthouse suite — and hilariously so. Take that scene on the elevator, where Griffin asked Midler to hide her water-bottle label, to avoid any additional licensing expenses for the Bravo network. “If anyone’s cable, you are,” quipped Midler with a good-natured laugh that nonetheless summed up the differences in the two women’s careers. Or how about that visit to Midler’s Caesars Palace gift boutique, a far cry from Griffin’s method of having her assistants tack her T-shirts to cork boards in the lobbies of the venues she plays. (”When I’m around you, I look like I have class,” howled Midler.) Not to worry, D-List fans: Our gal may be flirting with an upgrade to C+ or B- status, but she’s not too big for her reality-show britches.

It helped, of course, that Midler played her superstar part brilliantly, gently dissing Griffin’s cameo appearance at her Vegas concert — “I have to say, though, the little bit? Not so great.” — and later asking, “Kathy, what are you gonna wear when you’re burning in hell?” It’s those kinds of put-downs that bring out Griffin’s best zingers (”I don’t know, but I’ll have a good gay pick out something red and fabulous.”). And of course, there was that fame-struck woman on the Vegas strip, completely ignoring the star of the show and stating directly and catatonically into the camera. “She broke the fourth wall like on Moonlighting with Cybill Shepherd,” Kathy quipped.

And really, it’s Griffin’s ability to always dig deep and come up with another self-deprecating or absurd pop-culture observation that makes her the best celebreality star on television. I howled when Griffin admitted the way she was planning to spin her brief phone chat with the legendary Stevie Nicks — “I will be telling my friends I met, I hung out with, I had a meal with Stevie Nicks.” — and loved the way she described choreographer Toni Basil as dressing “like a cookie.”

I’m hoping that for the remainder of the season, Griffin steers away from bits like that stay at a Holiday Inn Express, a not-funny-enough and totally scripted contrivance that (outrage alert!) let three tasty cinnamon rolls go to waste. With brilliantly disinterested assistant Jessica having “moved on” (sniffle) we’re left only with Tom and Tiffany as semi-mute members of Kathy’s posse. Sure, it’s always funny to see Griffin (and Midler) humiliate the befuddled “tour manager”/token straight guy, but no one’s going to be quoting Tom or Tiffany the morning after the show, right? Good thing there will always be funnier non-celebs in the wings, like the NARAS receptionist who couldn’t stop laughing after mistakenly introducing our star as “Kathy Griffith.” As long as unexpected indignities like that lurk around every corner of Griffin’s fameosexual journey, then D-List will remain must-see TV.

Mister D: Hey BetteHeads, just wanted to let you know that Mihai wrote me and told me about his Divine experience seeing, well, The Divine Bette Midler, so I asked if he wouldn’t mind me sharing his email. Of course, he said, “yes!”

Hi Don,

How are you ?

Im still super super happy after my weekend in Vegas. So as you already know, i bought my ticket a week prior to the 29th of May show. I got to buy a AA Forch seat. And then i decided to buy some cheaper ones for 45 dollars, 2nd mezzanine for Saturday the 30th of May. So when i got to the Colosseum, before i got in i saw Toni Basil walking through the casino, i smiled at her and she smiled back. Such a sweet lady. And then when the usher took me to my seat i realized i was right in front of the stairs where she plays her Ukulele, during the Glory of Love number. So that made me so nervous and excited. While waiting for the show to start i noticed the second mezzaning was closed. But the usher said they will open it for the next show.

The show started and she was very close to me the entire time. I couldnt take my eyes off of her. She was in such a good mood. I think she had a friend there, because she kept looking his way and making faces at him. One of the best moments, was during When a Man Loves a Woman, when one of her shoes fell off her foot and she threw the other one and sang barefooted. And then after Bette Midler finished singing Wind Beneath My Wings she started shaking hands with some people on the left side of the stage ( my left ) and then i stood up and was praying for her to come shake my hand too, and not to skip me. And she did come to me and we shook hands. She is such a wonderful person. I looked at her and she shook hands with everyone that raised their hand. So what i felt in that moment… not enough words to describe it.

On Saturday, i was kind of sad, because my seats were so far away ( but as usual i bought my friend the ticket ), so that was all i could afford. But when i got up to the second level, there was a pretty girl that gave me the big news. The second mezzanine was still closed, and she was upgrading tickets. So she gave me a section6 front orchestra ticket row OO. Could have i asked for more ? Well, yes… I went down and got my seat, and right before the show started i noticed on row LL there was an empty seat right by the stage, so i ran to the usher and asked if i could switch places, and he told me that, yes, but later in the show. And i did so, after she sang The Rose. It was amazing. I saw her so close again.

There werent many things changed, just the jokes. And the lady at the store said they wont sell Bette posters, because the Cher ones are doing really bad and they are discontinuing them. And she also said, that they will not release KMB, and that the copy in the store is a personal copy from Bette. And that a live CD of TSMGO is unlikely to be released, since she released Jackpot. But other than that they have cute new stuff there at the store.

Well this pretty much sums up my Divine weekend.

I really want to go again in August. But i wont buy tix so far ahead, since i heard people in the first row bought them the day of the show or a week before, just as i did.

Have a great day and thanks for reading….

Love,
Mihai

Thanks, Mihai!!!!

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Bette Midler “The Showgirl Must Go On” Celebrates 100th Show at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, June 7

LAS VEGAS, NV — (Marketwire) — 06/01/09 — Bette Midler has entertained Sin City with her brash humor, leggy Caesar Salad girls and bawdy gags since Feb. 2008 in “The Showgirl Must Go On,” and fans can’t seem to get enough. The Divine Miss M. commemorates a milestone on June 7, celebrating her 100th performance of “Showgirl,” which has enjoyed sold-out audiences and critical acclaim.

To commemorate this special occasion, the following offers are centered around the 100th show:

– Fans can partake in the spectacular pricing of $100 rear orchestra tickets (normally priced at $190) for performances from June 2-28. From now until June 7 tickets can be purchased by calling 1-877-7BETTEM (723-8836) or logging on Ticketmaster.com keyword “100 Bette“. Tickets may also be purchased in person at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace Box Office, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

– Serendipity 3 inside Caesars Palace is giving Bette fans the opportunity to create a special sundae for the diva. Check out the show’s Facebook page with details on how to submit a sundae recipe for a chance to win tickets. Also, the first 100 guests to dine at Serendipity 3 on Sunday, June 7 will receive a free frozen hot chocolate with purchase of an entrée. Serendipity 3 is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information or to book a reservation call 877-346-4642.

– Those who witness show on June 7 will be in for a treat, as the Divine Miss M. has many new and fabulous surprises in store for her 100th performance.

Critics have hailed “The Showgirl Must Go On” as “a razzle dazzle spectacular,” according to Daily Variety. The Los Angeles Times proclaimed, “Bette Midler is brash, funny, schmaltzy, surprising, poignant, charming, provocative, witty, bawdy and, of course, divine,” and the New York Daily News says Miss Midler “hits the jackpot” with the biggest show of her career.

“The Showgirl Must Go On” is performed approximately 100 times a year, five nights per week at 7:30 p.m.; the show is dark on Mondays and Thursdays. Visit bette.aeglive.com for more information on “The Showgirl Must Go On” at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. For additional information on The Divine Miss M., please visit her Web site www.bettemidler.com.

For the latest and greatest news on Bette Midler “The Showgirl Must Go On,” check out her fan page on Facebook

About AEG Live

AEG Live, the live-entertainment division of Los Angeles based AEG, is dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance, touring for a variety of programming and multi-media production. One of the largest concert promotion and touring companies in the world, AEG Live is comprised of special event, broadcast and exhibition divisions, and operates and owns numerous state of the art venues nationwide. Recent AEG Live tours and productions include Celine Dion “A New Day…,” which just ended a landmark five year run at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace and “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs,” an international tour of the artifacts of King Tut. Recent and current promoted concert tours include Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Prince, Bon Jovi, Usher, Nickelback, Kenny Chesney, Rod Stewart, and Paul McCartney. AEG Live also co-produces the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Goldenvoice, the company’s southern California-based regional promotion division, created and operates the award winning annual Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.

About Caesars Palace

Caesars Palace is the world’s best known resort-casino, celebrating the glory that was Greece and the grandeur that was Rome, in an 85-acre destination location that sets the standard for entertainment, dining and luxury. The 4,300-seat Colosseum spotlights renowned headliner entertainers such as Bette Midler, Cher, Elton John and Jerry Seinfeld. For more information, visit caesarspalace.com or call (702) 731-7110 or (800) 634-6001. Journalists can download information and photos at media.harrahs.com.

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Guardian Unlimited
June 1, 2009
Zoe Heller tells Hay audience of casting concerns for film of The Believers
Novelist was told ‘quintessentially English‘ character may be played by US star Bette Midler

Following the successful adaptation of her last novel, Notes on a Scandal, Zoe Heller’s latest book is to be turned into a major Hollywood film, the novelist told an audience at the Hay festival yesterday.

But while Heller had nothing but praise for the performances in Notes on a Scandal, which earned Oscar nominations for stars Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett, she confessed to having some concerns about the casting of The Believers.

“I was talking to the agent about who would play Audrey [one of the book's central characters] and she said: ‘Zoe, I have words for you. Bette. Midler’.”

Heller, who is British but lives in New York, said she had always considered Audrey as quintessentially English.

“I said, hmm, jolly interesting casting. Gosh, I don’t know. I suppose she is a very versatile actress …”

Audrey, the English-born wife and mother of a dysfunctional leftwing New York family, has been described by some reviewers as “the vilest ever in literature”. She swears continually, shows little compassion for the other characters – even her three children – and is vindictive and cruel.

Heller said she had been surprised by the outpouring of hatred for Audrey, adding that readers could not approach fiction hoping to find characters they like.

“Sue me if it’s not interesting,” she said, “but it’s not my job to make people that you like and want to have tea with.”

She said many critics had misread a central event towards the end of the novel, where Audrey appears to experience some kind of transformation. Her intention was that this would be read as a cynical act, not that Audrey had actually softened. But many critics thought quite the opposite and described the plot as being “soap-operatic”.

“This is the first time for me that there has been quite a drastic difference in my reading of the book and others’,” said Heller. “Of course I pay lip service to not caring about this, say that I just put it out there and it’s for others to interpret, but really I wanted to hold seminars and say ‘no, it’s not really that way’.”

Asked which of her characters were the hardest to say goodbye to and whether any of them would be resurrected in a later book she said: “None of them. And never.”

She described as “such baloney” a suggestion from her interviewer, UCL English professor John Mullen, that novels were more meaningful for readers if the writer felt an intense connection to its characters.

“I worry when I hear other authors talk about the way they write; how so-and-so just came to them and how they cried when the book was finished. I just don’t feel that way about my characters.”

She said that although she does not usually do much research for her novels, she did spend a lot of time learning about Orthodox Judaism, so as not to misrepresent it. “I knew that if I didn’t there would be some rabbi from Long Island who would stand up and say ‘that’s not the way we do it’.”

In fact Heller said she spent so much time studying the Talmud that her husband became concerned. “I would tell him that I was off for another class on the Talmud, and he would say, ‘Oh no, you’re not going to convert are you?’ But that didn’t happen.”