A massive undertaking this September - five nights visiting the common people in Chicago, Toronto, Brooklyn, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Madness: "Right then, so what's the smallest number of gigs we can do 'cross the pond, an' still call it a tour? Six sounds right, in'nit?"

Pulp: "Hold my pint."

I tried for the artist presale for the Brooklyn show, but when I clicked the "Buy Tickets" button right at 10 a.m., there were over 3,600 people in virtual line ahead of me (the venue's capacity is 3,000). After waiting 45 minutes or so, it was finally my turn to purchase, but my code wasn't valid (oops) and the only tickets available were $395 (not including fees). Sigh.

I just ended up buying Pulp tix in the balcony on Stubhub (they were marked up about $45 each from the venue price--though the Stubhub fees that were tacked on are criminal and I'm ashamed to admit I paid them...).

In a modernized version of Dante's inferno - scalpers are in the one of the highest circles of hell. Right below ticketcenter executives.