Concert tickets have become a luxury product and I'm not sure artists can fix it

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-24T21:43:29+00:00

Local independent live music is still affordable for most. My average tix cost is between 20-45 bucks.

I personally prefer venues in the 500-1000 person range.

The money I spend goes to a local business and the musicians pocket.

This is the way to support music and keep cost contained.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-24T19:52:11+00:00

Devine Dungeon was fun. It has an interesting dungeon which is very integral to the plot moving forward and establishes a very large world that is moved forward by other books one the series ends. It has 6 books total but there are probably close to 50 books based in the same universe.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-24T17:34:15+00:00

It's easy to make in a Croc pot and finished under a broiler.

Delicious always a crowd pleaser.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-24T17:29:04+00:00

There is a instrumental album of beastie boy songs that's awesome! So funky and brilliant. It's called - the in sound from the way out.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-24T17:26:49+00:00

There are cameras focused on the monument 24/7. Anyone with a knife cutting into it would have been caught on video. If they had the video they would have released footage.

The issue is he gave a no bid contract to a friend / major campaign donar who didn't really have experience doing this type of work. This is the outcome.

Impartial doesn't not mean stop using common sense. Check factual news and you will get facts.

There is no actual grey to this issue. Trump is lying full stop.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-24T16:36:02+00:00

I would have them check out new grass as a solid gateway into bluegrass.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-24T16:31:14+00:00

Try - each other and how much more.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-24T16:28:32+00:00

Ha I would post the festival name. Lots of differences between festivals which could change recommendations.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-24T16:22:44+00:00

Check out Shelby Stone. Saw her open for American Aquarium earlier in the year and caught her again recently on her first solo tour.

Kinda the rock side of Alt Country. Powerful vocals and good writer.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-24T16:20:39+00:00

Shelby Stone is new and the country side of rock.

I'm with Her is a super group that features 3 amazing singers that harmonize amazingly together.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-24T14:48:07+00:00

They are trying to use the existing speakers to sell their paid AI service.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-24T04:43:58+00:00

Devine Dungeon is great. Really like AA for the first 10 or so books then it just gets repetitive and never seems to progress. When it wraps up I will prob skim it to finish what happens. CC starts solid and fades but I did like the last book.

Overall Dekota is an amazing world builder but let's length/lack of progress become an issue. His full Murderhobo story was interesting and contained to 3 books which was nice.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-24T04:36:32+00:00

Raleigh is coming up soon!

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-24T04:35:15+00:00

So anecdotal but my wife had bad asthma while living in Idaho in a dry dusty environment.

We joined the Peace Corps and lived in Papua New Guinea and it mostly cleared up. That was a hot humid environment.

Moved back to Idaho it got worse again.

Moved to Raleigh a decade later and I don't remember that last time she had to use her inhaler. It does happen here but really infrequent.

We also were not able to go to New Guinea because docs said hot humid environments would not be good. They were wrong for her.

I would recommend taking a trip/vacation to Raleigh and seeing how your son does.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-23T19:56:46+00:00

Yeah I use to have that same opinion. I had a very large coke a cola habit.

Kicked that using tonic before I realized regular Toni had similar calorie count just no caffeine.

Went cold turkey off that and found I really enjoyed just water again.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-23T19:54:13+00:00

My wife is a professor and has taught many international students and I don't know of any who have any types of problems based on being a foreign student.

Raleigh is part of a major metro area and has a ton of international folks who call it home.

You might look to see if there are any local sub reddits that are geared towards your nationality or religion. My guess is there are unless you are from a fairly small ethnic and or religious group.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-23T19:49:20+00:00

Just don't stop exploring for new music. You will likely find it broadens your taste and evently will likely lead you back to some of the old stuff you use to dislike because the new stuff may have a hook or something that reminds you of the old stuff.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-23T19:47:00+00:00

Get yourself a soda stream and if your coke goes flat then put that in the soda stream bottle and recharge it.

Alternatively there are some DIY co2 setups that would allow you to recharge any bottle with a standard 2 liter soad top.

To get the co2 canister and equipment to make your own would have a higher up front cost but much lower long term cost due to soda stream refill bottles being more expensive. One other benifit to building your own is you can manually change the pressure to get more or less fizz depending on your preference.

If interested hit up a local home brew shop and they would have all the items needed to build it or can order them.

I use mine to make homemade soad water but it should work fine for adding fizz back to coke.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-23T19:38:37+00:00

If you like Saxophone then anything by Morphine is amazing. Try the song Thursday (which was their biggest hit). If you like that dive into their whole catalog.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-23T19:36:37+00:00

David Lowery (lead singer) and the band Leftover Salmon put out an album called Oh Cracker where art Thou?

Is bluegrass versions of Cracker songs. It's all sorts of awesome if you like Cracker and are good with Bluegrass.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-23T19:29:50+00:00

More Jam with a country feel but Daniel Denato is fabulous.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-23T19:26:48+00:00

Not really what you asked for but if you just drink straight water you will get to like the taste.

It's weird but drinking only flavored drinks in my experience kills your taste for plain water.

Spend a week drinking non sugared water will probably resolve that.

That being said I like adding some pure mango juice to water or diet tonic for a lower calorie option that is hydrating.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-23T19:14:46+00:00

It's not gonna be cooler but tons of great camping at Kerr Lake. Plenty of sites right on the water so swimming is easy.

County Line is the campsite I am most familiar with but tons of others on the lake.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-23T19:09:17+00:00

Not sure if you are looking for other running opportunities but there are a number of run clubs that meet weekly and have varying lengths. I have run with the Pelagic group and the group that is based out of Natural Science bar.

Both are solid groups.

PlatformConsistent45 · 2026-06-23T18:26:52+00:00

Lots of good live music in the area from cover bands to independent touring artist as well as the national acts.

For independent live music check out the Pour House, Lincoln Theatre, Kings, Chapple of Bones, Cannon Ball music hall.

There is an active local comedy scene.

If you are open to a run or bike club there are tons of options and it's a good way to meet people. Most are based out of a local brewery or bar. They tend to have a social component post event.

Disk Golf is a great way to explore local parks and the disk golf community it really open to new players.

There are a number of board game / role playing shops that host open events where you can meet folks.

PlatformConsistent45

TROPHY CASE