Hype For A Show Is Not Good

SVRDhand13

I feel like with Pearl Jam there is too much talk of the "epic" sets that will occur in certain places. So much so that the hype can overshadow how good a show really is.

For example:
I've been to 2 shows- one that was (way over) hyped and one that was (way under) hyped. The result was that even though each show had great setlists, the unhyped one is my favorite because I did't expect anything special.

The two shows were the Gorge Night 2 in 06 and the Hartford show the other night. The Gorge was supposed to be the best thing ever. Everyone was expecting a set unlike any that was ever seen before- especially considering the shows there in 05 and the night before. What we got was an awesome set that in any other place would have seemed awesome- but people walked out of there disappointed. I even heard "boo"s during Yellow Ledbetter.

Then there was Hartford which was in between 2 MSG shows and two Boston shows and was supposed to be a "warm up" or "greatest hits" show. What we got was IMHO the best setlist of the tour and eveyone was freakin ecstatic on the way out of there. With a lot of hype on that show would it have been so good? I doubt it.

Basically what I'm saying is that anything can happen on any given night and my first two PJ experiences prove that. So people in the future don't skip out on shows because you think the members of PJ like a certain area more than another- you never know!

And to the people going to the last show of this tour- chill out. Don't be like me and expect the greatest show ever. Just know that PJ always puts on a fun show and that you'll have a great time. Lowered expectations will make what you get even better.

cbbjr

Agree completely. If you think you went to an "epic" show - and based on the number of people who claim that title for whatever shows they have been to, you probably haven't - just be happy you had a great time. But don't go in thinking one particular show has to be the best just because it is in a particular arena, city, date, stars are aligned, etc. When you have high expectations you can only be correct or disappointed. Much better to go in just hoping to have a good time and then be thrilled when they blow your mind, which they do pretty much every night.

12345AGNST1

This is what ive been saying in the past 3 threads. I agree completely.

SVRDhand13

12345AGNST1 wrote:

This is what ive been saying in the past 3 threads. I agree completely.

Someone's post earlier tonight sparked my desire to right this- maybe it was yours.

I've actually seen a good amount of people discussing it when comparing Hartford to MSG and the first Boston show so I decided to tell how hype affected my two PJ experiences.

over bends

I really like this analogy.

Case 1 - You're expecting to get an A+ and get an A. You got an A but you feel underwhelmed and disappointed.

Case 2 - You're expecting to get an A- and get an A. You got an A and feel terrific because you thought you were getting less.

Though both cases are the same quality, you can't help but feel sweeter in case 2. This is why the only thing hype can do is lead to disappointment, and it's unfair because great shows get overshadowed by what they were thought to be.

SVRDhand13

over_bends wrote:

I really like this analogy.

Case 1 - You're expecting to get an A+ and get an A. You got an A but you feel underwhelmed and disappointed.

Case 2 - You're expecting to get an A- and get an A. You got an A and feel terrific because you thought you were getting less.

Though both cases are the same quality, you can't help but feel sweeter in case 2. This is why the only thing hype can do is lead to disappointment, and it's unfair because great shows get overshadowed by what they were thought to be.

Yes except for Hartford I expected like a B. From now on I am going in with no expectations at all. I don't care it its the last show of the tour, in a city I think they all like, after a night off...

over bends

SVRDhand13 wrote:

Yes except for Hartford I expected like a B. From now on I am going in with no expectations at all. I don't care it its the last show of the tour, in a city I think they all like, after a night off...

The best way to go in with no expectations is not to come on these boards at all. Overanalyzing always wins in straight sets. I usually will only come on after a show to talk about it, otherwise a lot of the juice gets taken out of the show because everything is overthought.

SVRDhand13

over_bends wrote:

The best way to go in with no expectations is not to come on these boards at all. Overanalyzing always wins in straight sets. I usually will only come on after a show to talk about it, otherwise a lot of the juice gets taken out of the show because everything is overthought.

Yea this board was what gave me my expectations. Everyone was saying how the Gorge was the last show for a while and it was so close to Seattle that they are going to do something special. I heard people even say they expect the show to be four hours lol (it was actually half that).

And for Hartford it was "Hartford is going to suck... like usual" haha.