So word has spread pretty quickly about this Web page, which claims that Dave Matthews and Michael Franti will be performing a May 1 “goodbye celebration” concert for Smurfit Stone and Macy’s. According to the page, it’ll happen at the Macy’s building.
This, alas, looks pretty suspicious.
First, Dave Matthews isn’t on tour at that time; and Franti appears to be taking a break between shows in Chicago and Miami.
Then there’s the fact that the domain is registered anonymously through Dreamhost. Doesn’t exactly sound like the kind of approach that a professional show promoter would take.
And lastly, and probably most obviously, there’s no place at the Macy’s for such a show, which would likely draw upward of 10,000 people.
So count me as a skeptic. It’d be fun to be proven wrong on this though.
20 responses so far ↓
1 Erin // Mar 20, 2010 at 1:37 pm
No doubt! I’m really glad I wasnt the only one to notice that this seems really odd. I like the part about the Governor in attendance as well!
2 Kim // Mar 20, 2010 at 1:49 pm
I got a flier in the Costco parking lot today. It sounded too good to be true, so I called Macy’s headquarters and they confirmed it!
3 dave // Mar 20, 2010 at 1:51 pm
KPAX says this is for real. Way cool.
4 Jon // Mar 20, 2010 at 2:15 pm
First off, I am a huge fan of both bands and receive email notifications from the DMB official site of ANY new shows that DMB will be playing. I have neither seen nor heard of this show until today and there has been no official word from either of the bands supposedly involved. Though this would be an absolute dream of a concert for me, I have to agree with the author on this one. I this this is complete BS but would be very happy if it were true.
5 Nathan Stephens // Mar 20, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Some one I know saw a flyer at the Public Library about the concert, it also said that Mayor Engen would be speaking at the event. Perhaps a call to the Mayors office would clear things up.
I’ve also contacted Michael Franti’s tour managers and press management about this to verify it. I’ll be sure to post something about it when I hear back. Having a flyer up is strange, and that the new media wasn’t alerted first is strange.
6 Nathan Stephens // Mar 20, 2010 at 4:18 pm
I just go an email from Paul Freundlich w/ PFA MEDIA NYC who handles press for Michael Franti says that there is no such show.
7 Nathan Stephens // Mar 20, 2010 at 4:31 pm
I just got an email from Paul Freundlich w/ PFA MEDIA NYC who handles press for Michael Franti says that there is no such show happening in Missoula with Dave Matthews and Michael Franti. Spread the word that their is a hoax going on.
8 Bob // Mar 20, 2010 at 7:14 pm
I got one of these flyers this morning and was pretty jazzed. I guess you’re right that it looks like a hoax. Too good to be true. But, who should be spanked? Whomever played a prank? Or the CEOs of the companies who have left Missoula high and dry and hurt so many workers? They’ve done so much more harm to us than any pranks have.
9 Andrea Harsell // Mar 20, 2010 at 8:48 pm
I just saw the flyer tonight. Would be an amazing show for Missoula but in the Macy’s building? How would that be possible? Doesn’t seem the space is feasible. Reading the comments above Macy’s headquarters confirmed it, but Franti’s press co. says no. We’ll just have to wait and see. Cross your fingers.
10 teaballin' // Mar 20, 2010 at 9:34 pm
So what if it is a hoax? I love it! Could you imagine? A couple of soulless corporations like Macy’s and Smurfit actually give a hoot about Missoulians! That was the part that was too good to be true…haha
11 D Jones // Mar 21, 2010 at 6:34 am
Maybe Smurfit and Macys will just go ahead and do the right thing anyway. Very least they could do after leaving the community high and dry but then they are more concerned with the bottom line.
12 Rick // Mar 21, 2010 at 10:49 am
I was running around downtown, yesterday, and ran into the PR people, including the videographers from the DMB who were kicking off the press event that everyone’s been talking about. They said that while they couldn’t confirm or deny the Bands performances on May 1, they were out gauging the community response.
I was skeptical and said “yeah like Macy’s or Smurfit would give a darn about Missoula or all their displaced ex-workers! And how could they accommodate they crowds that would come? ”
They said that negotiations were continuing with the Mayors office about closing off the blocks around Macy’s for the party.
They said that Missoula deserves this party and thank you and should not only get prepared for it, but insist that the Mayor and City Council allow this amazing event to go forward!
It really doesn’t matter what the impetus for their thankyoumissoula.com is or was! If these major rip off Corporations who have taken so much from Missoula, want to give give a little of their ill gotten gains back, who am I to complain?
13 Rolly // Mar 21, 2010 at 11:33 am
(this comment has been removed due to potentially slanderous or libelous content. Please remember to be civil in commenting. Thank you.)
14 Meg // Mar 21, 2010 at 12:01 pm
When I first heard about this, I was stoked! Then I looked at the web page again. The first sign this was a hoax – An old photo of the band was used, LeRoi passed away a year and a half ago. Plus, no other contacts or links? No word on DMB’s official site about it. And who was footing the 1 million+ bill to get the band there? Two companies cutting costs by shutting down operations? I contacted the Missoulian, The Blaze, Missoulaevents.net, KPAX, & KECI – all have confirmed this is a hoax. A rooftop concert would have been cool, but obviously too good to be true.
15 Joe Nickell // Mar 21, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Just as a little administrative note, I’m going ahead and approving all comments that generally meet our standards of civility, without an eye toward veracity. Obviously there are contradictory messages here, with some folks saying they know for sure this concert is happening, and some folks saying they know for sure it’s not. The truth will presumably emerge today, as I and another reporter are putting out calls to anyone and everyone who would be involved if this concert were, in fact, happening. In the meantime, we can all have fun with it. :^)
16 Rolly // Mar 21, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Oops! Sorry. I didn’t mean to insult a CEO who also happens to be British royalty. My apologies, Sir Michael.
That said, Smurfit and Macy’s should do the right thing and hold this concert! These businesses were part of our community for so long, it only makes sense for them to have some sort of “farewell thank you” event. I was psyched when I read the flyer that’s circulating!
Besides, they can easily afford it. $50.4 million in bonuses can buy alot of rockstar time!
17 morgan // Mar 21, 2010 at 5:41 pm
wait i thought it was on the 23rd???
18 morgan // Mar 21, 2010 at 5:42 pm
i love franti. saw him this last fall and i would love to see him again! i just hope i didn’t miss it!!
19 Vicky Wood // Mar 21, 2010 at 8:39 pm
I think this would be an amazing thing for those two companies to do for Missoula! The workers of those corporations worked hard and may have worked there for over 40 years. The least Smurfit-Stone and Macy’s could do is fork out a FRACTION of the cost of a new yacht to throw a party for the community.
Even if it is a hoax, which it probably is, with whom should we be angry? The CEOs who put around 500 people out of work with one hand and stuffed $50 million in bonuses into their pockets with the other? Or the perpetrators of the hoax who decided to wander around town handing out poorly made flyers?
20 Plum // Mar 22, 2010 at 9:22 pm
I say bravo, hoax or not, seems to me the perpetrators handing out these fliers brought up some big questions.
C’mon, give the concert, throw the party, Macy’s and Smurfit – your CEO’s can certainly afford it. Sir Michael’s fancy-schmantzy yacht is still afloat even though he’s fine letting the business sink and leave so many employees high and dry. Guess they think those bonuses will cushion their pillows at night…but I sure don’t know how they sleep!
Seems a little “Missoula thank-you” isn’t too much to ask?
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