Why the hate for USA festivals?

AboveTheWavesAboveTheWaves Posts: 66
edited December 2011 in The Porch
Why do people dislike festival sets in the United States so much?

I don't see what's not to like.. seeing your favorite band with a shitload of other amazing bands in one weekend.

Plus, IMO, GA shows in the US are the only way to get amazing energy. In the seated arenas, it seems people just stand there like statues with arms crossed or holding their $10 beers. In GA, the hardcore fans who want to be up front get there, which makes for an amazing atmosphere
under your tongue, im like a tab.. i will give you what your not supposed to have

in wide open spaces we sing, with strings.. launch a full on musical cannonball.. guided by bells that we bring, they ring.. sound for the sky and the sun, our own waterfall...

one with the raging wind, alive on the highest tides, my ship at sail can climb a mountain.. ride it to the sky
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • djklambakedjklambake PHX, AZ Posts: 2,522
    I dunno... I like the festivals... I think there's hate because the sets are usually truncated. But I mean, if I'm in one place where dozens of bands are playing? Sign me up!
    6/27/98 - East Troy, WI
    6/29/06 - Milwaukee, WI
    9/25/11 - Vancouver, BC
    11/4/12 - (Eddie Vedder) Phoenix, AZ
    11/1/13 - New Orleans, LA
    11/19/13 - Phoenix, AZ
    11/21/13 - San Diego, CA
    10/12/14 - Austin, TX
    10/22/14 - Denver, CO
    8/22/16 - Chicago, IL (Wrigley 2)
    5/9/22 - Glendale, AZ
    5/18/24 - Las Vegas, NV
  • mfc2006mfc2006 HTOWN Posts: 37,489
    I've gone to ACL every year for the last 5 years...I love festivals!!!
    I LOVE MUSIC.
    www.cluthelee.com
    www.cluthe.com
  • djklambake wrote:
    I dunno... I like the festivals... I think there's hate because the sets are usually truncated. But I mean, if I'm in one place where dozens of bands are playing? Sign me up!


    Agreed.. Bonnaroo 2008 was one of the best weekends of my life.. Dark Star Orchestra, an EPIC My Morning Jacket marathon set, the Disco Biscuits playing till sunrise, Chris Rock standup, Sigur Ros, Phil Lesh & Friends, Umphrey's McGee, The Raconteurs, Robert Plant, and one of the most epic Pearl Jam sets i've ever seen in my life, for less then $300 a ticket? WIN.
    under your tongue, im like a tab.. i will give you what your not supposed to have

    in wide open spaces we sing, with strings.. launch a full on musical cannonball.. guided by bells that we bring, they ring.. sound for the sky and the sun, our own waterfall...

    one with the raging wind, alive on the highest tides, my ship at sail can climb a mountain.. ride it to the sky
  • 8181 Needing a ride to Forest Hills and a ounce of weed. Please inquire within. Thanks. Or not. Posts: 58,276
    Bonnaroo was pretty awesome
    81 is now off the air

    Off_Air.jpg
  • ZodZod Posts: 10,800
    Yah when I see PJ I really get into it, so seeing them play 60-90 minutes instead of 2 hours+ seems really insufficient. I'm completely biased though. I'd generally prefer to see one full length pj set over most festivals anyways :)

    That being said, I saw PJ play the virgin festival in Calgary in '09. The diff being, the rest of lineup was unknown and not very good. I think the organizers realized this and schedule PJ for a full set. They played for about 2hours and 15 mins? When I got there, an hour before PJ was schedule to start, everyone else got there too.

    If it wasn't billed as the Virgin Music Festival, I might of almost mistook it for an actual PJ show.

    Actually I really really liked that show. It was GA. The crowd was full of energy. PJ played a bit more of a classic set and it felt really energetic and nostalgic. Good stuff.
  • 8181 Needing a ride to Forest Hills and a ounce of weed. Please inquire within. Thanks. Or not. Posts: 58,276
    Zod wrote:
    Yah when I see PJ I really get into it, so seeing them play 60-90 minutes instead of 2 hours+ seems really insufficient. I'm completely biased though. I'd generally prefer to see one full length pj set over most festivals anyways :)

    That being said, I saw PJ play the virgin festival in Calgary in '09. The diff being, the rest of lineup was unknown and not very good. I think the organizers realized this and schedule PJ for a full set. They played for about 2hours and 15 mins? When I got there, an hour before PJ was schedule to start, everyone else got there too.

    If it wasn't billed as the Virgin Music Festival, I might of almost mistook it for an actual PJ show.

    Actually I really really liked that show. It was GA. The crowd was full of energy. PJ played a bit more of a classic set and it felt really energetic and nostalgic. Good stuff.
    Bonnaro needed a third disc to fit it all on the boot ;)
    81 is now off the air

    Off_Air.jpg
  • Are you talking about a hate for music festivals? Or GA style seating?

    I'd say the US has more music festivals out there than any other country.

    If you mean GA seating versus assigned seats...it's not really up to us.
    350x700px-LL-d2f49cb4_vinyl-needle-scu-e1356666258495.jpeg
  • AndySlashAndySlash Posts: 3,263
    81 wrote:
    Bonnaro needed a third disc to fit it all on the boot ;)

    it actually fits on two, though.
  • Newch91Newch91 Posts: 17,560
    I'd love to hit up a festival like Bonnaroo or Lollapalooza.
    Shows: 6.27.08 Hartford, CT/5.15.10 Hartford, CT/6.18.2011 Hartford, CT (EV Solo)/10.19.13 Brooklyn/10.25.13 Hartford
    "Becoming a Bruce fan is like hitting puberty as a musical fan. It's inevitable." - dcfaithful
  • I'm getting sick of festivals simply because the crowds ALWAYS SUCK. People talk over the music, drink too much, start fights, and generally just treat each other like shit.

    I'm getting sick of festivals.

    At Lollapalooza 2008 I was nearly trampled to death by idiotic Rage fans rushing the stage. At Lolla 2009 drunken Tools fans picked fights. At Lolla 2010 I was called a c*nt to my face by a drunken Lady Gaga fan.

    I went to Ultra this past year in Florida and coked up assholes nearly ruined the festival for me. This is a dance festival, and people were sitting and talking over dance legends like Duran Duran, Underworld and Hybrid. People even called the lead singer of Erasure a "faggot" on multiple occasions.

    When I went to Outside Lands in SF this year the crowd was okay for the most part (more people were smoking weed than drinking, so at least they were mellow) but I literally couldn't hear The Roots or Muse thanks to all the jerks talking. And some dick bootlegger throttled himself into my while trying to catch footage of Sia.

    It'll take a GREAT line-up of lesser-known acts (where people actually don't talk and listen to the damn music) for me to go to a festival this year.
  • whispering handswhispering hands Under your skin Posts: 13,527
    djklambake wrote:
    I dunno... I like the festivals... I think there's hate because the sets are usually truncated. But I mean, if I'm in one place where dozens of bands are playing? Sign me up!


    Agreed.. Bonnaroo 2008 was one of the best weekends of my life.. Dark Star Orchestra, an EPIC My Morning Jacket marathon set, the Disco Biscuits playing till sunrise, Chris Rock standup, Sigur Ros, Phil Lesh & Friends, Umphrey's McGee, The Raconteurs, Robert Plant, and one of the most epic Pearl Jam sets i've ever seen in my life, for less then $300 a ticket? WIN.
    This.. was one of the greatest weekends of my life as well..
  • drsluggodrsluggo Posts: 4,742
    Bonnaroo is the exception to my GA complaints... Lollapalooza was the worst PJ show I've seen and ever since then I just hate festivals for my favorite bands.

    1. Shorter sets - Lolla was like 20 songs?
    2. Greatest hits sets - gotta please the 10,000s fans that are there that might not know PJ so well
    3. Crowds that are into it at the very front, but very not into it as you go back. Lots of loud talkers, etc
    4. If there are other bands you want to see on other stages, you cant be up close and see everyone unless you're one of the people that shove their way upfront as PJ takes the stage. And if you're in the back you deal with the people for #3.
    5. Festivals are usually much more expensive than a PJ show, so if you're main interest in PJ you're getting WAY less bang for the buck when you combine higher costs and shorter sets.

    Just my opinion, of course. But I'd take a PJ show over a festival anytime and unless the festival was close I'd never travel to one. Bonnaroo, again is the one exception since that show was long with lots of surprises.
  • DS1119DS1119 Posts: 33,497
    I personally want no part of general admission anymore. I got that all out of my system in the nineties. It was fun, don't get me wrong but I'm over it. I still think I have mud in my ear from Randall's Island! :lol:
  • RoccoT.....312RoccoT.....312 Chicago Posts: 165
    I might be besisted on this one, but here it goes any way. lollapalooza the last 7 or 8 years, how ever long they've been in grant park chicago, has been so awesome to go to. their is nothing cooler then jamming out with 80,000 people over three days to some of the greatest band of past, present, and future. in downtown chicago with the skyline sourounding you. it is truly beautiful. other fest are in the middle of a cornfield, or some hell hole. but lolla is in one of the world most beautiful, clearn, and FRIENDLY cities. i plan accordingly, i know what im getting into, and i GO WITH THE FLOW. i know some peeps can't do that and always find something negitive to say. you know what type of person you are and if you know you can't handle larger crowds and IDOITS then its NOT FOR YOU. the kids are kids, they get drunk, talk, and fight. but i have witness very very little of this, INSIDE the park. people tring to get in without a tix is another story. yes the set list are shorter and more hits then deep cuts, but you got to get every band in to play, and they want to make it appealling to both ture fans and causal ones too. PJ at lolla in 07 was IMO outstanding, and it wasn't short. they played for two full hours. they may of only played 20songs but eddie was talking non stop to the crowd and telling storys. im sure if he did less of that (which i like and wouldn't want him to do) he could of fit in ten more songs.
    Alpine Valley, PJ20 9-3-2011
    RNDM: Lincoln Hall, 11-13-2012
    Wrigley Field, An Evening with Pearl Jam 7-19-2013
    BMO Harris Bradley Center, 2014 Fall Tour 10-20-2014
    RNDM: Double Door, 3-15-2016

    th_chicagobanner.jpg
  • i don't really get the shorter sets argument.. yeah, there not 33 song marathon shows, but the US festivals generally get a full length PJ show.. the shortest being Lollapalooza which was like 22 songs.

    In europe 2010, those festivals got shit sets. Most of them were 10 song main sets with a 5 or 6 song encore.. weak as hell.

    but the US festivals they have played.. Virgin fest, ACL, Outside Lands, Bonnaroo and Lolla all have had basically full PJ sets, averaging in about 25 songs.

    and the Bonnaroo setlist was better than most PJ only gigs i've been to. Once "Hard to Imagine" started, I knew they weren't trying to please the casual fan.. they played to the freaks that night.
    under your tongue, im like a tab.. i will give you what your not supposed to have

    in wide open spaces we sing, with strings.. launch a full on musical cannonball.. guided by bells that we bring, they ring.. sound for the sky and the sun, our own waterfall...

    one with the raging wind, alive on the highest tides, my ship at sail can climb a mountain.. ride it to the sky
  • djklambake wrote:
    I dunno... I like the festivals... I think there's hate because the sets are usually truncated. But I mean, if I'm in one place where dozens of bands are playing? Sign me up!


    Agreed.. Bonnaroo 2008 was one of the best weekends of my life.. Dark Star Orchestra, an EPIC My Morning Jacket marathon set, the Disco Biscuits playing till sunrise, Chris Rock standup, Sigur Ros, Phil Lesh & Friends, Umphrey's McGee, The Raconteurs, Robert Plant, and one of the most epic Pearl Jam sets i've ever seen in my life, for less then $300 a ticket? WIN.


    And don't forget about Kanye :lol:
  • my 2nd show ever in 98 barrie ontario, was like a mini pj festival guess sort of like the alpine shows, pj should do that more often imo if they want to play festivals, then they can pick their own bands, and you can hold them in football fields etc,
  • I went to see them at Jazzfest in 2010. Here were the problems:

    1. Short set (1hr 45 min)
    2. They were a headliner but they started at 4:45 in the afternoon (no light show)
    3. Lots of technical problems (their crew only had 30 minutes to set everything up)
    4. TONS of really drunk people who don't really care about PJ
    5. Greatest Hits setlist (except for Tremor Christ)

    And that's without mentioning the link up they tried to do with a group of soldiers in Afghanistan that was really messed up. Listen to the bootleg, the delay is almost laughable.

    And getting in and out of those festivals sucks. Worse than PJ20 if you can believe it.
  • demetriosdemetrios Posts: 94,948
    The crowds. Oh yes, the crowds. Not everyone going to "the" festival event is a Pearl Jam fan so it's not a great scene to start of the bat. Many festival events don't have fences for sections. Like a VIP reserved passes up front etc.. Those that don't, it sucks when people who come late to the show just to see the main event (let's say Pearl Jam) arrive from the very back and push/shove their way to the very front. IT SUCKS!!! There will always be groups of idiots who do this not caring for the women & children around them. They will push & shove the shit out of you so step away before they step all over you.

    Another reason why festival show's suck is the smell. Yes, the smell (well for the majority of those festival shows). For those being outdoors from the break of dawn to night till the band comes up on stage (Pearl Jam) it stinks in there. We are not talking about the marijuana / smoke. It's that BO that makes you throw up. Not everyone there has good hygiene. And it's sucks when you are crowded tight with one or with a group around you. So yeah, I would say you are "hardcore" if you can take that much powerful body odor smell being up front in the first 30 or so rows.

    But the biggest thing that sucks about festival show's is the pushing & shoving. Here you have your reserved seat. You are the boss of that view the whole night. Nobody can push you around or cause any bruises. IMO, you get to enjoy the live music MUCH better here with @ reserved seated show's then huge open arena standing/pushing festival show's.
  • this is a conversation just for pass the time..easy..pj on stage..music,people happy for have a good time....


    ALPINE 2011...Who hasnt good time??unique,amazing experience..

    pj on stage...that says all..
    "...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
    "..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
    “..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
  • Gary CarterGary Carter Posts: 14,067
    this is a conversation just for pass the time..easy..pj on stage..music,people happy for have a good time....


    ALPINE 2011...Who hasnt good time??unique,amazing experience..

    pj on stage...that says all..
    yea if it only was that easy for non pj festivals. what D said in his long winded post is true. people here are assholes in general. i had some asshole at philly 4 before encore 1 started give me a dirty look as i was exiting the row i was in and i was very polite. i probably shoulda be an ass and walked all over his feet and been rude and maybe i wouldnt have gotten a dirty look, lol. people generally just suck here.
    Ron: I just don't feel like going out tonight
    Sammi: Wanna just break up?

  • metsfan wrote:
    this is a conversation just for pass the time..easy..pj on stage..music,people happy for have a good time....


    ALPINE 2011...Who hasnt good time??unique,amazing experience..

    pj on stage...that says all..
    yea if it only was that easy for non pj festivals. what D said in his long winded post is true. people here are assholes in general. i had some asshole at philly 4 before encore 1 started give me a dirty look as i was exiting the row i was in and i was very polite. i probably shoulda be an ass and walked all over his feet and been rude and maybe i wouldnt have gotten a dirty look, lol. people generally just suck here.
    then we are in the same results of the one conversation we did in the past metsy ...Europe festivals are different,people not act this way..
    "...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
    "..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
    “..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
  • Gary CarterGary Carter Posts: 14,067
    then we are in the same results of the one conversation we did in the past metsy ...Europe festivals are different,people not act this way..
    yes we are and it's sad americans are idiots during concerts and it's more sad i'm saying that bout fellow americans. i love my little box at seated pj concerts but just for a few times i'd love GA pj shows here.
    Ron: I just don't feel like going out tonight
    Sammi: Wanna just break up?

  • Bonnaroo 2008 was fan-fucking-tastic!! They played a 3 hour set with 3 encores and it was one of the best nights of my life!! And I thought it would be a 'hit' heavy show but it wasn't, it was an awesome setlist IMO. PLUS a bunch of other acts I really enjoyed seeing, NOT Kanye! That guy is a dumbass, Fuck Kanye!

    I would go back to Bonnaroo again.
    He who forgets will be destined to remember.
  • Of The AggieOf The Aggie The ATX Posts: 1,542
    Festivals are ok if you want to see the smaller acts. But for the larger acts it's a pain to try and see anything. I hate GA seating because of the pushing and shoving and because I'm 5'3" and I really can't see anything.
  • josevolutionjosevolution Posts: 30,717
    Meh been there done that , I'll choose an indoor concert over a festival 7 days a week ...
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • KingJeremyDKingJeremyD Posts: 2,313
    I went to both Sao Paulo concerts...I was pleasntly surprised that how much I liked general admission...I have no problem with general admission..But, I wouldn't like to stand all day long at a festival...I am getting to old to stand all day waiting....Just drains all your energy..

    Jeremy
Sign In or Register to comment.