The Jonas Brothers, who are about to tour on an album due in June, did a teleconference today with the print media.
I got to ask one question, about the Grammys - "You didn't win Best New Artist, but you did get to perform with Stevie Wonder. So was that a good tradeoff?" - that drew a reverent but rather dull reponse.
Anyway, here are some highlights, including a squabble over ticket prices and a little fudging on an Elvis Costello question:
Reporter: Last year to see the Jonas Brothers it was $47.50. This year, the top ticket price is $89.50. I've had parents tell me over the half the arena costs $89.50. I'm curious, in this economy, how do you explain and justify that kind of ticket price?
Jonas brother (not sure which one): In the staging of this tour we really wanted to add ... to do this in the round, so we had way more top-selling tickets in the front row and up close. The stage is built in a way that it's going from 140 feet from point A to point B all the way across the arena, so there is not just one row of 20 seats in the front row. The entire bottom half of the arena, plus the upper deck is essentially a front row ticket...
Reporter: OK, but how do you explain the ticket price in this economy. It's still pretty huge jump?
Jonas: We wanted to provide a bigger and better show for our fans, and this was one of the ways we had to do so.
Reporter: OK, so you don't have any concern about the ticket price?
Jonas (tense): Sir, I think you've asked your follow-up question. We'd like to move on, thank you very much.
***
Reporter: Out of curiosity, did you see the South Park episode. What did you think? Is that something you could laugh at?
Nick Jonas: I think we also like to be open to make fun of ourselves. You know, we'll be the first to. We did it on SNL and it was kinda fun. But I think for us, we're so focused on what we're doing on this tour and our album and everything, we didn't have too much time to see it.
[Are you buying that?]
***
Reporter: I always get the impression that you guys are very controlled, which is something I don't necessarily associate with teenagers. Does it ever get a little heavy? Does it ever get frustrating for you guys? Do you ever want to be normal kids for a while?
Joe Jonas: Um, what people don't really understand is that we are secretly over the age of 40, and so we already lived through our shelf-life time, so we are going back and trying to reinvent ourselves.
***
Reporter: It's been said that your influence has got the proportions of something like Beatlemania. I was wondering if you guys see any similarities in yourselves?
Jonas brother: I think the Beatles are the Beatles and no one can touch that and we're honored that some people say that, but for us, we're just trying to be ourselves and just trying to be inspired by a lot of things - artists like the Beatles, Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash, Prince. Just continue to learn and have fun.
***
Reporter: You guys have mentioned Elvis Costello a lot and I just wanted to ask what's your favorite Elvis Costello album and why?
Nick Jonas: I think for me my favorite would have to be a compilation of the first 10 years of his work. It's the first thing I was introduced to of his. I'm not one of those people who is offended by compilation CDs. I think they're a great way for people to be introduced to an artist...
[OK, does that mean he can't name an Elvis Costello record? Granted, few teenagers could but he's supposed to be a huge fan. Nick, check out "Get Happy" all the way through.]
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Posted
Mar 18 2009, 02:31 PM
by
Scott Mervis