By Brock

March 27, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this

It’s a matter of taste of course, but there are a few yawners on Chastain’s schedule. The exceptions are Santana/Trucks, Plant/Krauss and Knopfler. I am very excited to see Santana and Trucks, two of the greatest living guitarists whose styles compliment each other. I am sure Derek will sit in with Carlos. I have my tix to that along w/ Knopfler on a Chastain miniseries order.

By Tommy

March 27, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this

What about the Feist show?

By ThirdWheel

March 27, 2008 10:59 PM | Link to this

Brock are you serious??? Like Santana isn’t a bore??? Get Real! Earth Wind & Fire and Duran Duran will blow Santana away…

By Racebaiter

March 28, 2008 12:15 AM | Link to this

They’ve priced themselves out of the market the last few years as far as I’m concerned. I used to go to several concerts a year. The price coupled with obnoxious, loud, rude concert-goers makes it no longer worth it.

By Rob

March 28, 2008 7:33 AM | Link to this

Chastain is the worst. Everytime a decent band plays there, they vow to never come back. I hope all these “music” fans choke on their whole foods chicken and stop going to concerts they don’t really care about. Stay home and listen to your Daughtry albums/AI albums.

By Tommy

March 28, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this

Yeah, I gotta say, whenever I see a favorite act (this year, Plant/Krauss, Crow, Knopfler) is coming to Chastain, I have to pass, because I know audiences will just loudly chat over everything except the pure ‘hits’. In Knopfler’s case, his great short-story style solo material will be lost on this crowd, who only want to hear the encore of “Money for Nothing”.

I wish some of these folks would play the Fox Theatre. There’s a place that instills a sense of reverence for the arts.

By Barry Blakely

March 28, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

A major problem with Chastain, is that it seems more people/companies try to use it to entertain/wine/dine/make a deal with clients, than really go there for a great concert experience…thus more people talking than listening.

And folks, if you’re never seen the Moody Blues live, then you have no idea what a really great rock group sounds like!

By Francine

March 28, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

I’ve never been to Chastain, but I’d love to see the Moody Blues live. I have heard the negative comments before about Chastain, and I would really hate to spend money, make the trip and be PO’d because of the other “concert goers”/diners there. Is it not worth the hassle of Chastain? They are also playing Greenville the next day. Maybe the Greenville option would be better?

By Ann

March 28, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

We love Chastain but NEVER EVER buy tickets past row AA and ideally never past row R. You will hear people eat and talk all night long if you’re back too far because of the noise ordinance in the area. The bands just can’t play any louder. We also never buy for shows that don’t allow coolers. The last thing I want to do after buying a high priced ticket is to buy a high priced plastic glass of crappy wine.

By PJ

March 28, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

Chastain is the best venue with the worst audience in ATL. The location is great. The park is beautiful. I used to go to 4-5 concerts every summer at Chastain. I finally stopped about 4 years ago, because I got fed up with the rudeness of the audience.

I was one of the few who actually went to the shows to hear the music. I made a point to arrive and set up early enough to be finished with dinner before the show started. Unfortunately, too many people seemed to think the artist was there to provide background music for their dinner party.

The line-up this year looks good. I’d love to hear Santana/Trucks and Plant/Krauss, but I won’t go to Chastain, because I know I’ll only leave mad. That’s a shame.

(Sorry for the long rant. As a long-time music lover in ATL, this is a real sore point for me.)

By ThirdWheel

March 28, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

Chastain Park is not that bad… The parking stinks and the food and drinks are overpriced but welcome to Atlanta…. You can’t go anywhere you could pay regular price for something like at Six Flags or Phillips Arena. When the weather is right Chastain Park is great! The best concert I attended out there was the Stevie Wonder Concert. I can’t wait to go again this year and see all of the acts!

By Wilson

March 28, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

When you go to Chastain, you realize that the social aspect (bringing in your own food/drinks, talking, etc.) is at least 50% of the experience. The performers realize that, too. If you can’t handle this, go to a another venue. Why can’t people just get that through their heads and quit complaining. I love the place, personally.

By Ed Mc

March 28, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this

The problem with Chastain is that they sell too many corporate tix. The folks wining and dining clients invite people out for a nice evening, which is great, but so many that are there really have no appreciation for the performers, they’re just out for a fun, expenses paid, evening. For those that are there to actually enjoy the performance, when these party goers try to talk or yell over the performance, naturally those trying to hear the performance get peeved. Chastain needs to do a better job of supporting the arts and focus less on supporting the corporate agenda.

By Bob

March 28, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

Chastain is a great venue except for the volume limitations. If groups could play at their normal sound levels, the crowd could not carry on conversations. I am excited about the new Verizon amphitheater opening in Alpharetta where hopefully we will be able to hear the music over the crowd noise.

By David Lee

March 28, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this

zzzZZZzzz Boring

By Truth B Known

March 28, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

I will never go back to Chastain…too many drunks, and wanna be high class new money folks for me. If they will take the tables away I may consider going back. To pay that much money only to hear the drunks drowning our the artist is a waste of time and money.

By Anastasia Beaverhausen

March 28, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

The crowd at Chastain is the real challenge; along with the low volume. Great venue - and seating arrangement - but too many folks are there to socialize than hear the music. I’m hoping to see more respect given to the musicians this year - particularly for the more acoustic shows.

By Who?

March 28, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

What century are these acts from and why in God’s name are they still touring? Shouldn’t the people watching these acts be somewhere playing bingo?

By CL

March 28, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

TBK: Try one of the concerts with “No Tables.” This year includes: Sheryl Crow, Duran Duran, Plant/Krauss and James Taylor. The corporate downers won’t entertain their prospective clients without a table in front of them. But keep in mind that also means “No Cooler/No Carry Ins.” So if you want a brew, you’ll be paying top $. You’ll still have people on their cellphones being obnoxious but at least at those, there’s more of us than them.

By Jess

March 28, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

Wilson, you hit the nail on the head. The social aspect is 50%, and it ruins the show for everyone else. I’m guessing you’re one of the Whole Foods chicken eating talkers? Thanks for ruining all of the shows I’ve been to at Chastain in the past 5 years or so. Seriously. You have no business being at a concert, or in public in general. Do us a favor and next time you want to be social, go to Applebees. Great. Thanks.

By boots

March 28, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

Agree about the crowds at Chastain. I’ve been to fraternity parties with better behaved crowds. Last year at an Amy Grant concert, some drunk kept shouting out repeatedly to her and really disrupted the show. And that was at an AMY GRANT show! If I pay that much, I don’t want some idiot behind me screwing things up. The security at the show should be much tighter and toss those kinds of people immediately.

By missy G

March 28, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this

It has been years since I went to Chastain because of the awful drunks who think I came to see and hear them, I’ll never go back regardless of who is performing. I wish some of the acts would consider the Fox for a show and forget the awful crowd at Chastain

By Thomas

March 28, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

Huh? I have seen Steely Dan twice at Chastain and Fleetwood Mac years ago. Even got an invite with free tickets to a Cheap Trick/Loverboy (should be Blubber Boy) concert and have never had a problem with noise or drunks. The Steely Dan Concerts were the best.

P.S. You have never seen a rock band until you have seen Van Halen with David Lee Roth or, for a small setting Is it Man or Astroman? in a small venue. Alas, sadly, Is it Man or Astroman? has disbanded. Apparently they made enough money to fix the ship and have left Earth for their home world.

By Mike

March 28, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this

Chastain concerts with old, boring acts for old and boring people. James Taylor…yawn. Learn a power chord and then maybe I’ll listen. Speed metal rules!

By Mac McLemore

March 28, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

**Doobies/Chicago - the best by far. I’ve seen the Doobies 16 times and they get better each time I see them.

Watch out if we get to see Tom Johnston’s daughter Lara, too. She may be “in the house”. What a treat, if she sings with the Doob’s. I predict she will be one of the next great superstars of pop music. She blows everyone on American Idol away and is only 18 years old.**

By jb

March 28, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this

I have to say, I skipped Chastain for 8 years due to consecutive bad experiences -the crowd talking and even requesting that we “sit down” because they were too busy hogging down cheese dip to get up and dance to BB King, BUT I finally broke down in 2006 to see John Prine and was EXTREMELY happy and surprised. Maybe it’s because he’s not mainstream at all and everyone there was delighted to hear him, but it was great. Last year we saw Rat Dog -and again -a great experience without a bunch of talking and rude people. Of course I think it may depend on who you’re seeing, and I really want to see Santana/Trucks, Knopfler, and Plant/Krauss -all of which promise to bring in some 50-year-old corporate a-holes, but I think this time if they want to talk, I’ll just tell them to shut the H**L up and leave if they can’t. I’ll be largely preggo (especially for the July shows), so maybe they’ll back off… So, look for the raging pregnant lady if you’re at these shows and feel free to join me in shutting up any rude neighbors.

By Brock

March 29, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this

I upgraded my 4—25 Santana tix this am to box seats for 4-26. A nonsubscription show hopefully will mean less chatter, and being very close helps too. Yee haw!

By Lauren

June 22, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this

I am driving almost 5 hours just to go to the Chicago/Doobie Bros. concert. This will be our first time at Chastain. We have tickets in Box 2 row 1. Are the box seats good? How close to the stage are they? Is this going to be an area where people are doing more socializing? I really want to enjoy the concert!!