That depends on where they are playing. California is not Massachusettes. California is composed of some very red counties and some blue counties that contain the large cities.
I suspect they won't do well in San Diego, Bakersfield, Fresno, or Redding. Conversely, I don't believe they will even go to San Francisco -- I doubt there are country music fans there.
They will likely do well in Los Angeles, mostly because there are 12-15 million people within driving distance of any major arena.
Got plans for the 8th?
Save Mart Center - Fresno, CA September 6, 2006
Arco Arena - Sacramento, CA September 8, 2006
Oakland Arena - Oakland, CA September 9, 2006
Staples Center - Los Angeles, CA September 14, 2006
MOst of the time, the big country stars have a big enough following in the major cities on the west and east coast, that they can play the bigger arenas in these areas and fill up 1 show.
Since the Dixie Chicks are much more country VH1 "pop", doesn't surprise me.
I worked in the music industry in my 20's. I was an audio engineer recording music and worked with some labels developing potential bands to be signed to deals. I know how the system works.
When I heard this week that the Dixie Chicks were on the top of the billboards with over 500,000 units sold during the first week, I rolled my eyes. I suspect their label bought a good percentage of those cds to inflate their sales numbers. They have a lot of money invested in this band, and while the Dixie Chicks are doing everything they can to kill their popularity, their record company, Sony music, is going to have to do everything possible to work behind the scenes to make it look like their sales are as strong as ever. Major damage control.
And the reason their radio play is soo poor, is that the major record labels, (knicknamed the big 5 since 5 corporations own the majority of all music distribution thoughout the world), are currently being investigated by the governement for the "pay-ola" system. Where they send money and gifts to record station music directors and djs to give certain artists heavy rotation play.
With Sony's hands tied with no "payola" going on, the Dixie Chicks have been getting almost no radio play from the country radio stations.