Down beat; Promoters see very few stand-outs, but fans cheer the lower ticket prices.(Arts-Events)

Byline: BEN WENER Orange County Register

On paper, it would seem to some that this might be the worst year of concerts in ages.

Do some comparisons. Last year's top grossers: the Rolling Stones, U2, Paul McCartney, the Eagles, Rod Stewart, Elton John. The year before that, widely considered the low point of the decade so far, Prince, Madonna, Metallica and Bette Midler stood out.

The year before that? Bruce Springsteen, the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Cher, Simon & Garfunkel, Aerosmith and the Dixie Chicks dominated.

Now the bad news: Apart from Springsteen, Madonna and the Dixie Chicks, none of the above is due to perform this summer. (The Stones are threatening to return by fall, however.)

"Last year was really unusual because of …