Why Smaller Towns Are Missing Out On Big Concerts

The concert business has gotten crazy. It's contracted so much that even the smaller bands are playing bigger venues and selling out.

I came across something online this week that honestly gave me chills—a concert review for Pierce the Veil, Sleeping with Sirens, and Beach Weather at the Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas.

The show reportedly drew 20,000 fans.

Now, don’t get me wrong—I’m not knocking the bands. In fact, I’m praising them. That kind of draw is nearly impossible to compete with in a smaller market like ours.

Lubbock Has Seen Them Before—Just Not Like That

Pierce the Veil has played Lubbock at least four times: in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2022. I’m not sure about the final attendance for their 2022 stop, but it likely pulled in around 3,000 people—a respectable crowd, but a fraction of what they saw in Dallas.

Unlike mainstream rock staples like 3 Days Grace, Pierce the Veil taps into a younger, more engaged fanbase. That crowd shows up, especially in big cities where production value, support acts, and social media moments are amplified.

Lubbock Isn’t the Problem—But It’s Not the Priority

This isn’t about infrastructure, despite what some might say. The myth that “if you build it, they will come” doesn't hold water here. If it did, we’d see more bands routing through San Antonio and El Paso, too.

What we’re seeing is a shift toward only playing the biggest cities and venues where guaranteed turnouts and high-dollar ticket sales are the norm.

The Harsh Truth for Fans in Smaller Markets

The reality is simple: Lubbock isn’t a destination stop for many rising or peak-level acts anymore. Unless a band is on the way up and building momentum—or on the way down and cashing in on nostalgia—our chances of catching them are slim.

So if you see your favorite artist booked in Dallas or Austin, you might want to hit the road. Because in the era of mega-tours and TikTok-fueled hype, 20,000 beats 3,000 every time.