The Larely Beagle – The Community Newspaper of Larely, California

Larely, CA – Jam-Band Parking Lot Economists announced their worry today about the value of marijuana steadily weakening against the value of a Widespread Panic concert ticket.  They fear this weakening could upset the very delicate nature of the “drugs for goods” trading system that has been keeping the jam band tour industry afloat since the mid 1960′s.

Figures show that a ticket to the current 2008 Fall Tour is being traded for an average of 3.3 grams of marijuana – almost a full eighth, whereas a ticket for a 2006 Summer Tour show traded for an average of 2.8 grams of marijuana – typically referred to as a “concert eighth”.  Factoring in inflation, gas prices, and the state of the current non-jam band parking lot economy, that’s still an increase of just over 10%.  Conversely, the cash price of a ticket has actually come down 4.2% over that same time span.

While it isn’t possible to pin-point one specific reason for the decrease, many believe the increase is being driven by ticket holders who are wary of marijuana quality amidst a sudden influx of shitty Beesters and imitation Kush on tour. Parking Lot economists are hopeful that once quality rebounds, the market will correct itself and the amount of grams needed per ticket will decrease.  However, there are no guarantees this will occur.

While the presence of LSD, pharmies, hash, opium, and cocaine can provide short term aid, it’s no secret that marijuana is the cornerstone of the jam-band parking lot economy.  It is often the preferred currency to acquire t-shirts, elaborate glass water pipes (for tobacco use only), veggie falafels, fat tire ale, tie-dyed tapestries, and rare bootlegged shows.  It’s quite possible that a failure for the value of marijuana to bounce back could prove catastrophic to not only the entire Widespread Panic Tour, but also the upcoming 2009 summer festival circuit.   If that happens, venue operators and band managers alike are prepared to go to Washington D.C. to petition congress to step in with an aggressive bail-out package that would give money to bands, managers, and venue operators to help lower ticket prices.

Many concert-goers also expressed their concern as many of them have already been affected by this crisis.  A concert-goer known only as “Captain Kief” said the rising weed quantity needed per ticket limited him to seeing only 17 shows on Widespread’s 2008 Spring Tour (instead of the full docket of 22).  “I had to miss two of the three shows at the Wharf and all three shows in Chicago because I knew I had to conserve my stash in order to make the NYC and DC shows.  That just ain’t right, man.  We’re struggling out here.”