Slaves' Wages

"The reason is vocal soreness," says Interscope Records spokesman Chris Lehman as to why the Audioslave show was canceled last week. Yet, the day after the cancellation, posters went up along El Cajon Boulevard promoting the band's appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live later that same day.

Audioslave's May 17 show would have been House of Blues' first rock concert by a big-time band. Tickets sold out immediately when they went on sale May 1. The new downtown venue has a capacity of a little over 1000.

"I predict when Audioslave comes back it will be at [SDSU's] Open Air Theatre," said one insider who suggests the band could pack the 5000-seat outdoor venue. In addition to Cox Arena and Coors Amphitheatre, House of Blues Concerts controls booking at the Open Air Theatre.

Reportedly, Audioslave would have been paid $75,000 for their appearance. Ticket sales brought in about $40,000. When their San Diego show is rebooked, the bottom line for the band and HoB will likely increase if held at a larger venue.

The band's agency, CAA, said where the band plays in San Diego is up to House of Blues Concerts. HoB talent buyer Candace Mandracia and general manager David Swift didn't return calls.

The band's management, the Firm, referred questions about the San Diego make-good date to Interscope Records. Interscope's Lehman said the band will play San Diego, but he did not say when or if it would be at the House of Blues.

In January 2003, the Used was booked to play a sold-out show at the Scene, a now-defunct all-ages nightclub in Kearny Mesa. The band claimed a "family emergency" forced them to cancel their Scene show...yet, they appeared the next day on MTV's TRL. When the Used came back to San Diego, they played Soma, which is three times larger than the Scene was.