In 2018 I saw 4 concerts in 5 weeks at 3 different venues (Aimee Mann - Dixie Dregs - Kaki King & Sixto Rodriguez). I managed to schedule a few business appointments near those venues, so that I could purchase the tickets at the box office(s). The ticket prices ranged from $25 - 75, The savings from no ticket fees allowed me to attend the two least expensive shows for free. I also got an actual ticket stub as a bonus for that effort.
Today bands try to make money touring and break even on the album sales. The album is now used to promote the tour, instead of the other way around back when the business model was the exact opposite. So, I don't see the issue of concert ticket prices getting any better.
These days concerts often devolve into either a social media photo op or a mass karaoke session. The cell phone generations are not entirely to blame. Anyone who attended a show in the 80's or 90's at Chastain Park in Atlanta know all about the wine & cheese crowd who had season tickets ("best seats") and who subsequently talked throughout the entire concert. I'll never forget my first outdoor concert in Austin, because virtually no one in the crowd was talking during the music. Austin has a reputation as a music town for very good reasons.
As many others have noted, a pretty simple solution is to stick to smaller venues (1,000 seat or less is my standard) with good acoustics and sound systems.