Lucinda to the rescue

Remember a while back when everyone was getting REALLY pissed off about the ludicrous "convenience" fees charged by Ticketmaster and their ilk, and it seems as though the swell of rage was finally going to lead to someone doing something about it?

Yeah.

That didn't end up happening, I guess.

But if elected officials won't help us on this one, and neither will the free market or the will of the people or God himself, at least the divine Miss Lucinda Williams will.

"I cannot, in good conscience, sit back and watch my fans get blatantly
gouged." Lu said in a press release issued earlier this week. "As an attempt to offset these fees, we are going to offer a standing credit at our merchandise table to everyone attending our upcoming US shows in 2009."

The discount, according to the release, is about $7 on clothing and $5 on CDs. The credit also is good for buying merch from her Web site, lucindawilliams.com, until July 31 in a likewise fair-minded nod to fans who attended shows before this announcement.

I think I can speak on behalf of many of her fans when I say, "Thanks, Lu!" We already knew, from how you write and perform your wonderful songs, that you feel our pain in general. But it's nice to know you have our back on this matter, too.