FlowersOnTheRun wrote:
I think Houston is a lock. It's the 4th largest US city proper by population, 5th MSA by population. He hasn't played there for almost 6 years (since November 2012). Only other US cities between the sizes of Houston and Austin's MSA that have been untouched for as long are Las Vegas (last full show 2011, 28th Largest MSA), Charlotte (last 2010, 22nd Largest MSA) ,Orlando (23rd Largest MSA) San Antonio (last arena show 1993, 24th Largest MSA) and Riverside-San Bernardino (never played, 13th Largest MSA). Out of these, Riverside-San Bernardino doesn't have an arena of appropriate size for Paul to play. CalJam Fest happens in San Bernardino with big rock acts, but the Foo Fighters are headlining this year. San Antonio is out because it is within an hour drive of Austin, and despite not having a full arena show since 1993, was played in 2014 at a small theater gig. I think we'll see some major Out There 2014 cities revisited as well this fall. Los Angeles (2nd Largest MSA), Dallas-Fort Worth (4th Largest MSA), Phoenix (11th Largest MSA), San Francisco (12th Largest MSA), San Diego (17th Largest MSA), Denver (19th Largest MSA), Pittsburgh (26th Largest MSA) and Kansas CIty (30th Largest MSA) are all 2014 Out There MSAs that are larger than Austin. I'd also add Raleigh-Durham, which are side by side cities that are in seperate MSAs, unplayed since 2002. Then a few notable smaller cities with strong music presence, like Nashville. Paul has left out the Southwest and parts of the south on the last few tours. I think this tour will be focused on those major markets. Something like:
Smaller gigs, likely in New York (the only NYC gigs this year), LA (maybe a small surprise gig and a Hollywood Bowl gig could generate publicity)
San Francisco, CA (or specifically, Santa Clara at Levi's stadium)
Los Angeles, CA /San Diego, CA depending on smaller gigs
Las Vegas, NV - at the new-ish T-Mobile Arena
Phoenix, AZ - at the Talking Stick Resort Arena
Denver, CO - either Pepsi Center or a night or two at Red Rocks for publicity sake (maybe one of the smaller July gigs?)
Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
Austin, TX (ACL Weekend One)
Houston, TX - probably either Toyota Center, or the Astrodome.. He played Minute Maid last time, and based on the pattern from that year's St Louis gig, I'd assume this time will be an arena, either Toyota or NRG/Astrodome)
Austin, TX (ACL Weekend Two)
Orlando, FL - Amway Center
Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
Raleigh, NC - PNC Arena
Charlotte, NC - Spectrum Center (NC could be a one or the other gig, but especially now that the bathroom bill is technically repealed, I think it's back on the map)
Pittsburgh, PA or Philadelphia, PA (likely Philly in this case at the Wells Fargo Center again)
Out of these, I could maybe see 2 nights in Philly, Denver or LA depending on venue.
May want to check the radius clause on Austin City Limits.