DAILY DIRT: From Spunky Puddle to Mary’s Igloo, it’s time to get out the atlas

As much as I enjoy Bruce Springsteen, I won’t be attending any of his 2023 concerts … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 344 of The Daily Dirt.

1. If you’re a regular reader of The Daily Dirt, you likely know how much we appreciate unusual names of towns. Here’s our latest finds from across this great country:

• 1. Ding Dong, Texas: There are 22 people who live here, and all are fond of Hostess pastries.
• 2. Spunky Puddle, Ohio: This is officially listed now as a “ghost town.”
• 3. Three Way, Ariz.: FYI, it’s right near Clifton.
• 4. Boar Tush, Ala.: The town’s post office closed in 1885.
• 5. Handsome Eddy, N.Y.: It’s not too far from Sparrow Bush. 
• 6. Hygiene, Colo.: Would the rough side of town be called bad Hygiene?
• 7. Mary’s Igloo, Ak.: Find Nome on the map, then look northeast.
• 8. Tightsqueeze, Va.: I think it should be Tight Squeeze.
• 9. Idiotville, Ore.: I know a few people should take up residence in this place.
• 10. Monkey’s Eyebrow, Ky.: It’s Kentucky. Enough said.

2. For those about to rock, we salute you.

Old AC/DC fans probably just smiled, but that comment is directed more toward anyone looking at attending a major concert in 2023. If so, get ready for some major upticks in many ticket prices. Tickets for some of next year’s shows are already on sale, or soon will be.

News this week about ticket prices for Bruce Springsteen’s 2023 tour has more than a few heads shaking. The price of some floor seats for Springsteen concerts rose to more than $4,000 (apiece), due to the Ticketmaster’s “dynamic pricing system,” which adjusts the price in real time due to demand.

Dynamic pricing, also called “Platinum Seats,” “enables market-based pricing (adjusting prices according to supply and demand) for live event tickets, similar to how airline tickets and hotel rooms are sold,” says Ticketmaster on its website, according to a story by Chris Jordan on yahoo.com Jordan said the Springsteen ticket prices are in accordance with industry norms for similar acts. Paul McCartney’s recent “Got Back” and Harry Styles tours used dynamic pricing, and the cost of tickets went into the thousands. I have but one word for all this kind of news: Yikes.

3. Speaking of The Boss, here’s my five favorite Springsteen songs:

• 1. “Sherry Darling” (1981): I saw Springsteen in concert once, in the mid-to-late 1980s in Cincinnati, and the man played for four hours. Incredible.
• 2. “Born To Run” (1975): Every time this comes on the radio when I’m in my Kia, I crank it up. Way, way up.
• 3. “Glory Days’ (1985): I always loved this video, especially the part showing the clip of Dwight Gooden and the Mets on the TV in the background when Bruce is talking about life with an old girl friend..
• 4. “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out” (1975): Was there ever a better right-hand man for a rock star tan Clarence Clemons?
• 5. “Prove It All Night” (1978): Bruce’s longtime wife, Patty Scialfa, is an amazing singer in her own right. If for some reason, you’ve never heard any of her work, try “As Long As I Can Be With You” or “Lucky Girl”.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Like The Boss, Steve was born to run.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Has anyone actually ever seen Steve run?