Pet Shop Boys Community

markus wrote: Wed 23 Jul 2025, 1:27 pm I came up with the idea of a "qr code album" sold as an album on paper sleeve, handed out as a flyer, a billboard sign...you name it. Perfect for a band like Psb having trouble making listeners play their latest songs - at the concert just scan the code and start streaming.

I should probably start a business but can't be bothered.

The idea is good, but personally I'd love to buy records at shows, singles. Even if it's more expensive, but it's nice.
I know for sure that in St. Petersburg, in 98th year they sold cassettes and disks in the hall of the Oktyabrsky concert hall.

In 2009 they also sold cd's at Pandemonium. And in Prague, Stockholm and Helsinki they sold T-shirts and stuff. And the quality of printing on t-shirts was disgusting. Especially with Yes logo.

If a person spends 30-70 Euros for a ticket + 20-30 Euros for food + 30-40 Euros for a T-shirt and another 30-40 Euros for beer, he can scrape up the money for a record.

If it was profitable enough, they would have course sell records and CDs on tour.

My favourite band Arab Strap often have exclusive CDs on sale at their gigs - usually just in cardboard, printed sleeves. They get them manufactured themselves, without their record company involved, so I guess make more money from the sales. Any remaining at the end of tours get sold on their website and Bandcamp. It's a great treat each time.

A CD in a card sleeve surely has to be smaller and lighter than a folded up T-shirt, so taking them around on tour with all the other equipment, flight cases, etc. surely isn't an issue. I guess it's just something PSB have never considered.

Mind you, wasn't the 'About' double CD documentary available on the 'Somewhere' tour? Not sure if it was only available there and nowhere else though?

TwizzleUK wrote: Thu 24 Jul 2025, 5:18 pm Mind you, wasn't the 'About' double CD documentary available on the 'Somewhere' tour? Not sure if it was only available there and nowhere else though?

You could also order it at the online PSB store.
There was a Nightlife CD ROM on the US leg of that tour, wasn't there?

leesmapman wrote: Thu 24 Jul 2025, 5:50 pm

TwizzleUK wrote: Thu 24 Jul 2025, 5:18 pm Mind you, wasn't the 'About' double CD documentary available on the 'Somewhere' tour? Not sure if it was only available there and nowhere else though?

You could also order it at the online PSB store.
There was a Nightlife CD ROM on the US leg of that tour, wasn't there?

https://www.discogs.com/release/1096928 ... NiPo3gz6Sb

My favourite band Arab Strap often have exclusive CDs on sale at their gigs

Sod’s Law that when I finally get to a gig they only have vinyl! Amazing gig though.

When there CDs on a merch table, I always buy one. If an exclusive, even better. They fit in your pocket for the journey home, and I don’t need more t-shirts.

Spittingcat wrote: Fri 25 Jul 2025, 10:40 am

My favourite band Arab Strap often have exclusive CDs on sale at their gigs

Sod’s Law that when I finally get to a gig they only have vinyl! Amazing gig though.

When there CDs on a merch table, I always buy one. If an exclusive, even better. They fit in your pocket for the journey home, and I don’t need more t-shirts.

On Arab Strap's upcoming tour, it's gonna be vinyl actually - an LP with acoustic versions of tracks from the last studio album.

Can't see PSB doing a whole album of acoustic versions, however!

Could you imagine if they did a tribute to icon Ozzy Osborne and covered his song 'Dreamer'?
https://youtu.be/LCCiwPEdEpg
It's a slow song with sustained vocal notes and even a couple of high bits. I can imagine Neil singing it.

Hey guys, just a general remark I want to make. Please if you go to these Dreamworld 2025 concerts, please feel welcome to write here about the experience so I can live vicariously through you!
Things like the atmosphere, highlights, how it felt to make eye contact with Neil, how the fans were, etc.

Parkol wrote: Wed 23 Jul 2025, 7:27 pm

markus wrote: Wed 23 Jul 2025, 1:27 pm I came up with the idea of a "qr code album" sold as an album on paper sleeve, handed out as a flyer, a billboard sign...you name it. Perfect for a band like Psb having trouble making listeners play their latest songs - at the concert just scan the code and start streaming.

I should probably start a business but can't be bothered.

(...)personally I'd love to buy records at shows, singles. Even if it's more expensive, but it's nice. (...)

Did they used to sell records at concerts? I grew up in the 2000's, and gigs have only really ever had merchandise at them from my experience I'm pretty sure.
Why would you buy records at a concert, opposed to something much more exclusive.
I love band merch. Here in Melbourne, the days and weeks after any major concert you tend to see people out in public sporting the merch from the gig. So it's like a flow-on effect of the cultural impact.
Plus regular concert goers tend to wear things from previous concerts of the same music genre. So it's a whole sense of community and a good incentive to accumulate new t-shirts for the next gig.

By the way, the QR Code thing makes zero sense to me.

DopeFiend wrote: Fri 01 Aug 2025, 8:03 pm
Did they used to sell records at concerts? I grew up in the 2000's, and gigs have only really ever had merchandise at them from my experience I'm pretty sure.
Why would you buy records at a concert, opposed to something much more exclusive.
I love band merch. Here in Melbourne, the days and weeks after any major concert you tend to see people out in public sporting the merch from the gig. So it's like a flow-on effect of the cultural impact.
Plus regular concert goers tend to wear things from previous concerts of the same music genre. So it's a whole sense of community and a good incentive to accumulate new t-shirts for the next gig.

By the way, the QR Code thing makes zero sense to me.

The only time I ever recall "records" sold as merch at anything were at a Barenaked Ladies gig at my university before they were famous and they were selling cassettes, and for PSB the interview CD which, iirc was sold at the Somewhere residency. There's the Closer to Heaven "Run Girl Run" CD too I guess.

I'd be leery about buying vinyl unless I was seated and not in the pit, but also, I'd be leery about taking vinyl to get signed at a concert too. There's tons of "big" stuff I'd love to take for signing by people but I wouldn't have the nerve to take my valued pieces out in public where they could potentially get damaged by someone (other than myself).

DopeFiend wrote: Fri 01 Aug 2025, 8:03 pm Hey guys, just a general remark I want to make. Please if you go to these Dreamworld 2025 concerts, please feel welcome to write here about the experience so I can live vicariously through you!
Things like the atmosphere, highlights, how it felt to make eye contact with Neil, how the fans were, etc.

Parkol wrote: Wed 23 Jul 2025, 7:27 pm

markus wrote: Wed 23 Jul 2025, 1:27 pm I came up with the idea of a "qr code album" sold as an album on paper sleeve, handed out as a flyer, a billboard sign...you name it. Perfect for a band like Psb having trouble making listeners play their latest songs - at the concert just scan the code and start streaming.

I should probably start a business but can't be bothered.

(...)personally I'd love to buy records at shows, singles. Even if it's more expensive, but it's nice. (...)

Did they used to sell records at concerts?

By the way, the QR Code thing makes zero sense to me.

Ever since the download era all the advertisment for new music happens inside the Spotify app. For band like Psb while touring the concert is the only other space. The qr code system could bring back something that got lost: music industry visibility on the street.

Gabby wrote: Fri 01 Aug 2025, 8:40 pm
The only time I ever recall "records" sold as merch at anything were at a Barenaked Ladies gig at my university before they were famous and they were selling cassettes, and for PSB the interview CD which, iirc was sold at the Somewhere residency. There's the Closer to Heaven "Run Girl Run" CD too I guess.

I remember The Cranberrries sold the live CD of that night concert (Reunion Tour) directly after the event so people could take home a nice souvenir (if I remember well Erasure did the same in 2005)

Danger wrote: Sun 03 Aug 2025, 4:40 pm

Gabby wrote: Fri 01 Aug 2025, 8:40 pm
The only time I ever recall "records" sold as merch at anything were at a Barenaked Ladies gig at my university before they were famous and they were selling cassettes, and for PSB the interview CD which, iirc was sold at the Somewhere residency. There's the Closer to Heaven "Run Girl Run" CD too I guess.

I remember The Cranberrries sold the live CD of that night concert (Reunion Tour) directly after the event so people could take home a nice souvenir (if I remember well Erasure did the same in 2005)

They did yes. As much as I like this gesture, as a big fan of live shows, I would not be eager to pay for a CDr (which the Erasure shows were, also the only way to produce them so quickly after each show). CDrs are the worst physical containers, as they were not meant to last and are very sensitive to heat. The CDrs I have (from other bands) and purchased dating back 20 years do not play anymore and I keep them securely stored.

I also see a lot of (older) PSB promos on (official) CDrs that go for a lot of money, doubt they still play flawlessly.

oakey wrote: Sun 03 Aug 2025, 4:52 pm I would not be eager to pay for a CDr (which the Erasure shows were, also the only way to produce them so quickly after each show).

Matter of tastes, for me it's a souvenir 100 times better than a set of pins sold for €20...

Still have my War of the Worlds Amsterdam concert CD set which they burned right after the concert. CD1 was done already, CD2 you had to wait for. CD3 had some nice photos of the concert.