Made-for-television concert briefly showcases several national acts
By THOMAS BOND
Get Out

Like so many comets, the star-studded line-up of performers at the Summer Music Mania concert will burn brightly, but only briefly, at Glendale Arena Thursday. In the made-for-TV concert which is scheduled for a prime time national broadcast on Fox June 1, Jessica Simpson, Black Eyed Peas, Ludacris, Mario Winans, J-Kwon, 3 Doors Down, Rooney, Murphy Lee featuring Nelly, Eamon and Simpson’s younger sister, Ashlee, are slated to perform only two songs apiece.

That, coupled with the $54 ticket price, is a sticking point with many fans.

“It's not worth it,” says Frank Castaneda, 19, of Chandler. “If they're just doing two songs each, I'd rather spend the money on a CD.”
Syn, an 18-year-old Phoenix woman who uses only one name, agrees.

“If I go to a concert, I want to see a good, long performance for the price I'm paying,” she says.

Then there are guys like Ryan Bartlett, 24, of Tempe, who has a serious crush on the show’s emcee, Jessica Simpson.

“I'd pay $54 just to see her!” he says.

With hip-hop artists rubbing shoulders with pop stars and rock acts, the concert features quite a diverse bill.

“I think it's good because not everybody likes the same stuff,” says Barry Meyn, 32, of Tempe. “There's a lot of variety on the show.”

But the spice of life doesn't appeal to everyone.

“I don't really like the mix on the show,” says Chris Suttle, 22, of Ahwatukee Foothills. “If I'm going to pay 54 bucks it's got to be on music that I like.”

While the Glendale Arena is quite a trek for East Valley residents, the distance doesn't seem to faze concert-
goers.

“The drive doesn't bother me, I've already been to shows out there,” says Erick Ramirez, 24, of Tempe. “If it's somebody I like, it's no problem.”

For Westsiders, they're happy to see top name stars coming to their neck of the Valley, but still wary of the cost.

“It's definitely cool that shows are coming to Glendale,” says Allison Dob, 23, of Glendale. “Usually, I'll spend $30-$35 on a concert and then you get drinks and other things and maybe pay for a taxi on the way home — there’s a lot of other expenses. $54 is a lot of money and there’s only three artists that I really like and would want to go see, so I’d only get two songs from them and have to sit through Jessica Simpson who I hate!”