Show cancelled - ARRGH!

I got notice today that the Wilco show that was to happen Wednesday here in Winnipeg has been cancelled. Going on their website, it states that one of the guitarists has the chicken pox (no, I'm not making that up), and their shows in Winnipeg and Duluth had to be cancelled.

The Duluth show is rescheduled to early September with tickets for the cancelled show honored for that gig. But the only word on the Winnipeg show is that they'll try to do one in 2008. Ticketmaster is to credit my credit card.

But this is really annoying because of how good my seats were for Wednesday. Here's the deal.

I heard about the show before tickets went on sale, and asked my friend Susan if she wanted to go along. She said "sure." "OK, so I'll get tickets, maybe even a pre-sale thing." "Oh," said Susan, "don't go for the Folk Fest pre-sales. They aren't good." "Really?" "Really. Don't do it." "Umm, ok."

That was news to me, but I trust her judgment. My friend Jen had also sent me a different pre-sale thing - House of Blues - as she's on that mailing list and knew I was interested in Wilco.

As a test, I tried both pre-sales to see what I could get for seats. They yielded the same results. Initially, it was row 18 on the main floor. Pretty good I thought. If it was just me, I might have gone for that. But Susan's instruction was clear.

Next day I try again, and now the pre-sales are in the balcony, and not even the first row there. Hmm, I think to myself. Have I made a mistake by not buying in earlier? I still hold out.

Actual day of sale comes around, and at the opening time - 10 AM - I'm on line buying tickets. Ticketmaster does its little search for the "Best Available" seats, and comes back with a response: row 1.

Yes, the First Row! Off to one side, but still the Frist Row! I've never been in the first row for a show.

And now with the cancellation of the concert, I still won't be.

Roger, Wilco, over and out.