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The Smashing Pumpkins were in town last night, playing a sold out show at the Auckland Town Hall.
Don't be surprised if this is the first you've heard of it. Billy and the band only announced the show a month ago and managed to slip under most people's radars.
Obviously, enough people heard about the show - it was sold out. But then, the Town Hall isn't a massive venue.
Five years ago, this wouldn't have happened. (And not simply because Billy was off doing his depressingly self-involved solo thing.) It might not have been front page news, but it would have been a bit of a big deal.
Today, it's just another gig. One that came a week after Metallica, Simply Red and Adam Lambert and a week before Pendulum and Leonard Cohen.
That's six international acts gracing our stages in just two weeks.
We're talking Grammy Award-winning, chart topping artists covering every genre and fan base. In two weeks.
It's fantastic - but insane.
How can New Zealand - and let's be honest, Auckland, because that's where 90% of the gigs happen - support this level of touring?
The average concert ticket is about $100. Not including the cost of transport and refreshments (and babysitters for a lot of people). By the end of the night, you're looking at an average spend of $260 per couple. And that's assuming you haven't treated yourself to dinner beforehand.
For a lot of people, that's a once-a-year kind of night out. Maybe three or four times if you're a DINK [double income, no kids].
Which means you're going to be pretty selective when it comes to choosing who you see.
For some people, it's an easy decision. Seeing Leonard Cohen is a once-in-a-lifetime experience (at least that's what people thought when he came here last year... Which probably explain why there are still tickets left to next Thursday's concert).
Other acts - like Robin Gibb - are passable. It was with a pitying but not-altogether-surprised look that a colleague told me about yesterday's GrabOne deal& Robin Gibb tickets, half price.
Likewise, I'm not surprised Bon Jovi had to downsize from Mt Smart Stadium to Vector Arena for his December show. Bon Jovi may be an 80s rock icon but Mt Smart? To quote Jon, he was living on a prayer.
Of course, it's fantastic that we've got such a high calibre and variety of acts visiting our shores. But promoters need to think long and hard about who they bring over to New Zealand and when.
Because the only thing worse than disappointing fans by cancelling a show, is making them pay to rattle around a half-filled venue.
Read more of Joanna Hunkin's blogs here.
