Response From 1st Timers

PJam82

Anyone wanna share stories from people they took to shows (Family, friends, neighbor's kid, etc) ? What's the response from this, or any of the previous tours that has stuck with you? I'm curious as there are a few great responses in the fanviews to the European and Chicago shows...Cheers!

PJam82

I'll start...after LA2 in 06' my cousin, who had never really listened to the band, was completely blown away. He said it was the only time he's been to a concert not knowing the band, and walked away amazed wanting to know more...he saw Eddie in Berkeley and is going to Outside Lands this Friday. This, coming from a 23 years old kid who religiously watches The Hills and True Blood.....

SolarWorld

You are comparing the Hills to True Blood? True Blood is one of the best shows on TV right now. The Hills is everything wrong with TV. Glad your cousin knows what's up with Pearl Jam. Sounds like you need to see what's up with HBO.

Laf9124

Took a friend for her first PJ show tonight(Chicago 2). Thankfully, they played all of her fav songs. After the show she looked at me and said "that was the coolest..anything I've ever seen!" That makes it all worthwhile.

TheJUGGERNAUT29

I took my fiance to the first Camden show last year. Prior to the show she only liked a few PJ songs and never really listened to them. After the show she had a new found love for PJ. They aren't her favorite band, but they moved way up the list after she heard them live. Also, she will be going to the Philly shows with me this year.

Ridin The Wave

The first time I took my boyfriend he said it was like being on the outside of a cult. He was shocked at how into it everyone seemed to be and couldn't get over the energy he could feel. I mean he loved the band and all, but it was really the crowd that blew him away. That was a while ago and now I find that he's the one trying to explain to people how awesome their shows are! haha.

On Friday, my boyfriend's little cousin and his girlfriend came to the Toronto show with us. They won tickets on the radio and were both admittedly not big fans. They more or less listen to rap, dance, hip hop, etc. So this was a huge change for them. I'm proud to say that both of them left the concert sweaty and without a voice. They loved it and now both have Pearl Jam lyrics as their facebook statuses! The whole ride home they were like "and did you see Eddie do....?" "and did you see that guitar guy do....?" and on and on and on.....it was awesome!

slightofjeff

I took my wife to her first show in 2006. For most of our relationship, she looked upon my Pearl Jam habit the way you look upon a monkey masturbating in the zoo. Equal parts amusement and disgust.

On long care trips, her favorite CD to listen to was, "Just not Pearl Jam."

But she went with me to a show in Denver in 2006, because it is her hometown and we were there visiting relatives anyway, and the band was opening up for Tom Petty, who my wife loves.

Both Pearl Jam and TP put on what I thought were outstanding shows that night. In the car on the way home, my wife says to me, "You know, I think I enjoyed Pearl Jam best of all tonight."

That was a shocker.

I considered that to be a victory.

Guitarhero27

slightofjeff wrote:

I considered that to be a victory.

And a reassurance that you picked the right girl! congrats!

CantKeepmedown

I'm friends with a couple who are bigtime music buffs. They go to live shows all the time, and have a very wide range of taste in music. I got them some great tix for the 5/25/06 show in Boston.

I met up with them after the show, and they were blown away. My buddy said, "I can't believe the energy in the building, it didn't stop all night". They couldn't believe how into the crowd was. They said that everyone around them was singing the words to every song, and they weren't even in fanclub seats.

The best compliment they gave was that they said that they would not miss a Boston area PJ show ever again.

Hubmann2513

I took my dad with me to the Columbia show last year for both of our first shows. He really was just into some of their most popular songs like Black, Alive, and Ledbetter. I however had been into the band hardcore since 2006 when I first listened to Avocado. I knew that I was going to be blown away, but I wasn't sure about dad sinc his favorite concerts of the 25 he'd seen were Van halen and Kid Rock. During the whole show he didn't give much of a reaction, unlike me. While I was jumping up and down and singing along with all the ten club members on the floor with me to every song, he just stayed still and observed. Surprisingly enough, the songs he gave the most reaction to were Present Tense and Footsteps. Afterwards he told me it was the best show he had ever seen. He was blown away by how the band fed off of the crowd and how amazing the energy of the whole show was. He isn't exactly a huge Pearl Jam fan still, but he wants to go back to see them again the next time they come around. Pretty cool really.

nevmiles

Took my buddy to the Toronto show on Friday - his first time seeing PJ live . . . . he was blown away. Simple as that. He said "I'm really glad I went". He LOVED that they played RITFW and was able to rock out to many of the "classics" that he knew . . . as he's not overly familiar with many songs after No Code

He LOVES The Fixer though, as I told him to listen to it before the show as they would play it for sure.

So in short - I think PJ won him over . . . not enough for him to join the 10C or be a hardcore fan, but definitely enough to see them again for sure.

Jimmy Cashew

I took my sister, her boyfriend and my housemate to London O2 for their first Pearl Jam gig. I was more excited to see my sisters reaction than seeing the band again as she always said she liked them but never had any of their albums. As Release ended I looked across and she had a huge smile and tears rolling down her face, it was a precious memory.

She stuck by my side all night jumping and getting really into it! Afterwards she cried and told me it was one of the greatest experiences of her life, the others had a great time too. What made it even better was seeing my sister yesterday and shes still singing release and talking about it. She then showed me the 6 albums she brought at the weekend....

Cinnamon Girl

slightofjeff wrote:

I took my wife to her first show in 2006. For most of our relationship, she looked upon my Pearl Jam habit the way you look upon a monkey masturbating in the zoo. Equal parts amusement and disgust.

nice analogy!

RiotAct10

These are nice stories. Thanks to those of you who have shared.

Wilds

I hope to have a story like some of you soon.

That monkey analogy fits my wife perfectly. I'm trying to get her into the band, but she is pretty much a lost cause when it comes to music.

I made the mistake of taking her to the VH1 Who Tribute.

I loved it of course, but it was a TV show. Pearl Jam blew everyone on stage away, and had the best crowd reaction, but the crowd was still pretty dead. The smattering of Pearl Jam fans were great, but for the most part the energy was non existent.

She did not find any love for the boys that night.


She is coming to LA 2 with me...... so I hope that will be the beginning of some type of respect/enjoyment of the band.

A satellite forever orbiting

my dad's response: this is like a cult.

he did enjoy the show, though.

petrocs

slightofjeff wrote:

I took my wife to her first show in 2006. For most of our relationship, she looked upon my Pearl Jam habit the way you look upon a monkey masturbating in the zoo. Equal parts amusement and disgust.

Funny...thats how my fiance had thought of my obsession until I took her to NYC1 in 08

justam

A satellite forever orbiting wrote:

my dad's response: this is like a cult.

That's what my husband says too. :?

Ridin The Wave

Hubmann2513 wrote:

I took my dad with me

How could I have forgotten to mention this in my first post!!! I took my dad with me to the Detroit show in 2006. He loved it.

I'll admit, he was so excited to be going to a "rock show" that Pearl Jam could have done anything and he would have loved it, but he truly did enjoy himself. When we were crossing the border and the border dude asked why we were coming into the States, he blurted out "we're going to a rock show!" It was like he couldn't wait to tell someone.

The best part though was when we were lining up to go in - This was the tour where they had those wicked numbered hoodies. Knowing how bad I wanted one, my dad looked pretty defeated as we inched closer to the door and saw the HUGE pile of people congregating around the merch booth. So, when I said, "well let's take a chance and go the other way to see if there's another merch booth on the other side," his eyes lit up. He handed his ticket over first and as soon as they let him through, he started running. It was hilarious. Here is my 60 year old father running through an arena to try and get me a sweater! So, as I rushed after him, I could hear him saying "Hurry up Jody, I see one, I see one, I SEE ONE!" Needless to say, we made it to the booth before anyone else, got myself a sweater and my dad bought a hat that he wore proudly all night!!

He loved Pearl Jam, but loves his ear drums more so he probably won't be coming back to another show! He said the highlight for him was watching me go nuts over each and every song!

And unrelated to Pearl Jam, he was absolutely blown away by Jim James' voice - MMJ opened that night!

Minou

Well, I've been a fan since 1991 but had never seen them in concert until Molson Ampitheatre last week. I know, I can't believe it either. I came home and immediately joined 10c. I'm still high off the experience; it was absolutely thrilling to see them live. I particularly loved the craziness of the fans because it allowed me to dance the dance without being all....Canadian and reserved about it. I'm addicted and must, must, must see them again as soon as possible. Front row, please--I figure my chances of proposing to Eddie would greatly increase that way.

JordyWordy

i brought some friends to shows, most of them knew the band already, were excited, and loved it.

But, there were 2 who watched from the VERY back of the field at a festival (where u can hear both the main stage and the dance tent,lol), drunkenly, and not really listening. when i met them after the show (id been up front of course) they just said that they didnt get it. Fair enough.

The next week at their house I played a 2006 boot on a nice big sound system and they loved it, were so into it. They were asking who it was etc...... i told them and they were like "really? Shit, i must have been SO drunk to ignore that!" lol.

MayDay10

I took my GF to Hartford 06 and East Rutheford 06. She liked it a lot. She wasnt floored or anything. She does like Pearl Jam. She loooved the Eddie Vedder show in DC, and enjoyed a Philly show this summer.

I believe she considers PJ her favorite band, but she really isnt that much into music. She listens to her ipod during runs, and its my playlist, so it is extremely PJ heavy.

I had to work it in there, but she allows me to frame and hang PJ posters in our place and she really thinks they look nice and cool.


On the other hand, I went to the Toronto show and her heart wasnt too broken I didnt bring her along. I am going to 4 Philly shows and she thinks its excessive and only desires to go to one show, and will go on Halloween as well, only if nobody else I know around here wants to go.


For the Philly shows, especially the 30th, Ill have a good handful of 1st timers.

curmudgeoness

Well, my husband and I went to our first show last year -- Camden 2 -- after years of listening/ being fans. Why did we wait so long? It's a long story, dealing mostly with childcare (special needs kid), a bit with money, and also a bit with our tendency to move frequently. We were in the back row of the covered seating, and we were totally blown away; I think I saw God at the end of RVM.

So, we went home, could not stop talking about the show, and decided to grab some tickets for Mansfield 1 as well. We were going to go to Hartford, too, but already had theater tickets for that night.

Since our boys were nine and eleven, and childcare for an overnight trip would cost as much as two concert tickets, we asked the kids how they felt about going. My younger son loves music -- big fan of the Beatles, PJ, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Beethoven; he already sang along to "Dirty Frank" and to "Black" (his favorite song), and he was thrilled to go with us. My older son rarely listens to music, but he admitted he did not mind all of the PJ mom plays in the car , and said sure, why not.

Well, both boys had a great time; my younger son was dancing, jumping and singing as much as I was, and we all were pounding on the seats for all we wre worth during "Betterman." My younger son now blasts PJ on his stereo at every opportunity; my older son, the one who does not listen to music, wants an iPod for his birthday so he can "listen to Pearl Jam 24/7." They are going to all four Philly shows with us (in costume 10/31), they can't wait, and, again, they were screaming almost as much as I was when I bought the tickets.

HeavyHands

curmudgeoness wrote:

I think I saw God at the end of RVM.

This is almost exactly how I felt when the did it in their Chicago 1 setlist two nights ago. Awesome!

blondieblue227

great thread!

mca47

Yeah, some great responses in here!!


Good stuff!

j-bug

HeavyHands wrote:

curmudgeoness wrote:

I think I saw God at the end of RVM.

This is almost exactly how I felt when the did it in their Chicago 1 setlist two nights ago. Awesome!

:shock:

thats what Love Reing O'er Me felt like at the O2.

pjfan021

to a girl with me to night 2 that knows about 5 songs tops. After the show she said that it was great that they actually sound just as good live as they do on their records. Also said that it got her interested in going out and picking something up from them! My favorite part is she mentioned how that after seeing them, the radio stations really don't do them justice with their song selection. Pretty much my reaction after my first show and last night was now my 8th.

Backspacer_Backer

i took my buddy, who has always really liked PJ but never bothered to go to a show, to Sunday's show in Chicago. a little background on him - he spent part of his misguided youth studying to become a minister before flipping and becoming an avid atheist several years ago. so it was especially great when he said after the show that "this was way more of a religious experience than I ever got from church"

he plans to join the 10c now and go to shows whenever he can.

blondieblue227

Minou wrote:

Well, I've been a fan since 1991 but had never seen them in concert until Molson Ampitheatre last week. I know, I can't believe it either. I came home and immediately joined 10c.

welcome! glad to have you here.

Yellow Bedwetter

i brought the same girl (friend of mine) to her first PJ and EV show...East Ruth II 06 and NJPAC 08 respectively..im at work so i cant draw this out but we had a blast at both...i got her into poster collecting too

took my bro (18 y/o at time) to his first PJ show at Hartford last summer...the setlist was the best i'd ever seen so he obviously didnt kno as much but he rocked out to Ten stuff, radio favorites, and YL but he kept goin on about "i wish we had weed" but i dont like to smoke or drink much at PJ shows cuz i get high off the crowds and i dont like to have to pee during songs (i pity the ppl that leave during Even Flow while Mike melts all our faces with his behind-the-head solos)