Alright, I got back from the Dallas show this morning and I am not happy. The show was great, but certain situations arose that I would like to bring to everyones attention. I had purchased my tickets about three weeks before the show on Opeths site through the pre-sale. I didn't bother bring my confirmation email, figuring that I wouldn't need it. Well, my friend and I got there and were one of the first few people in line. Once they separated the line for will call tickets the shit began to hit the fan. Most of the people who had tickets on will call were not on some 'list' that they had. Then some how they were let in. Maybe because they found their names, I don't know. When I got to me, he said that I wasn't listed. So, he (a worker of the venue) had my friend and I stand aside, while other people on will call and other people who didn't even have tickets got in before we did. We had to stand there and wait until most of the will call people passed us and went inside. The venue worker for some reason said we could go in. Because we got in later than we were supposed to, we didn't get the spot we wanted in the front. Now, my problem isn't really with what spot I got, it lies in the disorganization with whom ever runs the tickets sales through that site. That was just a small issue compared with what happened next. I went to the merch table and purchased a shirt, I then proceeded to ask what was going on at a table next to the merch. The guy, Fye worker, said that if I purchased Ghost Reveries that I could get it autographed by the band. I told the guy that I already own the album because I bought it the day it came out, but wanted an autograph anyway. Then this jackass told me tuff, that if I wanted the bands autograph I'd have to buy the album. I then asked him what's the point of having to buy the album if I already have it? What am I going to do with an extra copy? Being a cooperate bitch he replied, "You can take your first copy and go to Fye and trade it in for something else or give it to a friend." I then told him that this whole situation was nothing but cooperate bullshit and walked off. After the show, they formed a line for the autographs. If anyone was in line who didn't purchase the album there, had to get out of line. They made it mandatory to purchase the album to get the autograph. I'm a dedicated Opeth fan, I bought the album the day it came out, I shouldn't have to buy it again just to get a f**king autograph. So I said screw it and my friend and I went outside to the tour bus. Once they were done signing autographs they came out and proceeded to get on the bus. I called out Peter and Mikael, but they just ignored me and got on the bus. Have Opeth stooped so low that they don't care about their fans enough to sign an autograph even if they didn't buy an album at the show? They were asking $20 for the cd, you know what? I spent $30 on a tour shirt, that should give me enough reason to get an autograph. The way I look at it, I shouldn't have to purchase a damn thing in order to get a signing. I am extremely disappointed with Opeth and probably won't be seeing them in concert anymore. They put a bad taste in my mouth that won't be going away any time soon. I guess that the switch to Roadrunner made them official 'rockstars' and they don't have to give two shits about the fans, only when they pay more money will they do anything. In retrospect, I saw them about two years ago in OKC. After the show, they came outside in the rainy cold weather, were extremely kind guys, and signed autographs until everyone got one. And guess what, no one had to pay a dime. And wouldn't you know it, that was after Deliverance and Damnation were released and, surprise, surprise, those two were released on Koch records. Coincidence, I don't think so.
