***Lollapalooza Fanviews Here, Aug 5, 2007***

Vedd Hedd

ddirt80 wrote:

Originally Posted by Vedd Hedd
I loved the Pearl Jam part of the show.

I hated the crowd. Too many people, too much pushing, too many people who showed up later only to try to slam their way forward. I ended up moving back after being there since noon.

I will not attend another festival.

I do, though, look forward to a regular Pearl Jam show. with Assigned seats.

I did meet some great people. But there was so much shoving, crowd surfing, people landing on my head, and it was so damn hot.......

It was hard to enjoy an otherwise great show and great moment.


I already have about 3-4 faces from my day that I could probably tie this post's author to. You're at a fucking musical festival lady, not a picnic.

Take your blanket and go to the back. People need to chill the fuck out and relax and enjoy the show....Getting too caught up with everyone else. If it's too intense, you move back. Do what you need to do...Sometimes you have to move around. You are NOT entitled to anything in the General admission area of a music festival...It's going to get crazy....Period.

Unfortunately, it wasn't just an all Pearl jam show, and there is going to be a mix of people there, and not just the Ten club. One of the things we love about Pearl jam is the agressiveness of the band; and unfortunately, they are loved by jocks who don't care about the lyrics for the same reason.

People need to chill out, you say, but apparently they have to be really INTENSE at the show.

Which is fine. I moved back. Three times. But you are wrong, you ARE entitled to your personal space, and you are entitled to not have people land on your neck or your head. And you ARE entitled to not have people burning you with their cigarettes.

I defintiely expected it to be crazy, but I didnt expect people to get hurt. One of my friends eyes was swollen shut from an elbow. No, you are wrong. It shouldnt be like that.

And Im a guy, by the way, who was with a lady who had a crowd surfer land on her head.



Really, isnt it ok to not enjoy yourself at a festival? Apparently, since I didnt have a great time, "I'm wrong".

satansbedbugs

I would like to extend my thanks to the city of chicago for putting up with my drunk ass all weekend and also would like to thank the city of chicago for selling all their drinks for 25 dollars a piece all weekend. I am now in the poorhouse for a while after that weekend of blood, sweat, and tears. Specail thanks to ben harper as well for playing the kidz stage sunday afternoon . Steal my kisses , my 2 hands, and the lullabye song were great. Ed with kings of leon was awesome. Those 2 tamberines can now be forever buried in a sunny tomb in grant park by the fountain. We were about 15 rows from mcready in a sea of people. Thanks to that guy from Ohio for getting me stoned during KOL and My morning jacket. Oh, by the way Delaware is NOT a city in Ohio...lol.. Sorry for not making the pit meetup. Too many beers in the smoldering heat will do that. By the way did anyone else see any cops in grant park, cuz I didnt seee 1 ALL DAY. Great Setlist, Great Energy, From a Great Band.. Thanks PJ for making my vacation a memorable one. sbb

Vedd Hedd

Seriously, Im amazed that so many people are taking offense to my review.
So what?

So I didnt have a great time. I already stated in my post that I like PJ's show, and I thought it was a great moment. Is it really that bad that someone didnt have the best experience?? Does that somehow alter your wonderful experience? With 100,000 people, not everyone is going to have a mind-bending, life-changing experience. I was simply one of the people who didnt have a great experience.

Why am I being told to get over myself? If someone burns you at a concert, and another person falls on your friends head, and yet another elbows your other friend in the eye, plus you are sunburned and hot, and tired, and dont like crowds like that, isnt it ok to not have a good time?

Again, I expected it to be afestival atmosphere, so I knew what I was getting into. Which is why I retreated to safer ground. But why would that anger anyone?

In over 25 Pearl Jam shows that I have attended, I have had a great time at most of them. I was bound to have a bad experience at some point. Why does that seem to piss people off? Why does that make people upset? Its not like I like the band any less, or think PEARL JAM did a bad job, tech difficulties not withstanding.

Strange that my experience would cause people to react like I did something wrong.

Prioronfire22

I don't take offense to your review man, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. You said you've been to 20 + shows so you were right you were bound to have one bad experience. I understand where you are coming from on all of your complaints, sorry to hear that. Personally, I had an amazing time, but this was only my second time seeing them, so that could be why. I was about 30 yards out and I know mike was having problems but it didn't take away from the show at all, for me at least.

krobbinz

Awesome, great time, great crowd located 20 yards to the right of the stage on stones side!

Prioronfire22

it sounds like you were right near me.

kman

VeddHedd,

Sounds like we had very similar experiences.
In my close to 30 PJ shows this does not rank up there as one of my fav's either. But I will say the overall weekend was fantastic and it defintely was great to see PJ out there closing the festival out on Sunday.

I think it was just the toll of the 3 days and that heat on Sunday that got to a lot of people. I was just trying to survive by the time PJ came out.
Although it does piss me off when we make it a point to get out there early afternoon on Sunday to get a spot established (mind you after a late night Sat) in that freaking heat Sunday only to have a bunch of peeps push there way up front and stand literally 2 inches in front of me and think nothing of it. Call me old I guess. Then the crowd surfing which resulted in some major blowouts around our group had me looking over my shoulder most of the show. Moving out of the area at that point was not an option. Way too crowded where we were at (just left of soundbooth) to get outta there.

That is my fanview. Again, not everyone is going to have the same experience out there. Not bashing the show at all just not one of my favs.

krobbinz

Junkhead Aic wrote:

it sounds like you were right near me.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e352/laurenlb803/lollacrowd.jpg

halfway between the light and the edge of the picture is about the location

Joanne

kman wrote:

VeddHedd,

Sounds like we had very similar experiences.
In my close to 30 PJ shows this does not rank up there as one of my fav's either. But I will say the overall weekend was fantastic and it defintely was great to see PJ out there closing the festival out on Sunday.

I think it was just the toll of the 3 days and that heat on Sunday that got to a lot of people. I was just trying to survive by the time PJ came out.
Although it does piss me off when we make it a point to get out there early afternoon on Sunday to get a spot established (mind you after a late night Sat) in that freaking heat Sunday only to have a bunch of peeps push there way up front and stand literally 2 inches in front of me and think nothing of it. Call me old I guess. Then the crowd surfing which resulted in some major blowouts around our group had me looking over my shoulder most of the show. Moving out of the area at that point was not an option. Way too crowded where we were at (just left of soundbooth) to get outta there.

That is my fanview. Again, not everyone is going to have the same experience out there. Not bashing the show at all just not one of my favs.

I too was to the left of the sound booth which we thought would be far enough back to enjoy. Wrong. That area was totally brutal. Everyone needs to recognize that there were so many people there, different areas acted differently. Around the sound booth was brutal. I knew you were all probably taking care of each other up front and you had waited there all day too. But some of us in the near front were fighting for our lives for the spots we staked out and it was hell. We're not old, we know we're at a festival, everyone gets their chance to see them but it doesn't have to be PJ or your life.

Vedd Head can love the show and hate the crowd.

I personally had every member of some basketball team stand 4 inches in front of me over and over again until the surfing started. Then they were someone elses problem.

chipboy

I had my pre-teen son with me and we were about 10 feet from the front early in the day and sitting on a blanket trying to stay cool when the mad push came after Lupe Fiasco. After nearly getting trampled we got out of there and took the rail under the big screen. We met some really cool people from Indiana and New York and had a much better time with air to breathe and a little room to dance. We were a little bummed out that we got pushed out but everything happens for a reason and when Ed came running down and slapped his hand during Crazy Mary we knew why. Great time.

InHiding19

krobbinz wrote:

Awesome, great time, great crowd located 20 yards to the right of the stage on stones side!

Dude, I was probably righ next to you. Eddie ran right by us during the encore break. I don't even care that it was a greatest hit set list, the crowd was wild as shit.

lalalalaaaaaaaa

Vedd Hedd wrote:

Why am I being told to get over myself? If someone burns you at a concert, and another person falls on your friends head, and yet another elbows your other friend in the eye, plus you are sunburned and hot, and tired, and dont like crowds like that, isnt it ok to not have a good time?

Of course it's ok to not have a good time. But I think people are telling you to get over yourself because these are silly reasons to not have a good time at a festival.

If you were sunburned, you should've worn sunblock or stayed in the shade more. If you were tired, you should've slept more. If the people around you were too violent and nutty, you should've moved to an area where they weren't. You can't claim some spot at a festival like that and expect everyone around you to act like you. And if you were too hot, you shouldn't have bought a ticket to a 3-day outdoor festival that takes place in August in Chicago.

ajedigecko

chipboy wrote:

I had my pre-teen son with me and we were about 10 feet from the front early in the day and sitting on a blanket trying to stay cool when the mad push came after Lupe Fiasco. After nearly getting trampled we got out of there and took the rail under the big screen. We met some really cool people from Indiana and New York and had a much better time with air to breathe and a little room to dance. We were a little bummed out that we got pushed out but everything happens for a reason and when Ed came running down and slapped his hand during Crazy Mary we knew why. Great time.

that is good to hear, that everything worked out.

Vedd Hedd

Saturnal wrote:

Of course it's ok to not have a good time. But I think people are telling you to get over yourself because these are silly reasons to not have a good time at a festival.

If you were sunburned, you should've worn sunblock or stayed in the shade more. If you were tired, you should've slept more. If the people around you were too violent and nutty, you should've moved to an area where they weren't. You can't claim some spot at a festival like that and expect everyone around you to act like you. And if you were too hot, you shouldn't have bought a ticket to a 3-day outdoor festival that takes place in August in Chicago.

I agree, but its not like Im blaming other people for this. I just didnt have a good time, and I simply stated that I prefer the 10c club crowd to a festival.

I was sunburnd, but that wasnt a big deal. I was tired, not from lack of sleep, but from the heat. And I DID move, three times. I didnt expect them to act like me, but I DID expect them to act respectful. Again, im not talking about a "dancing crazy" crowd. Im talking about getting burned by a cigarette, getting kicked in the head, and getting elbowed in the eye...(not all me, friends of mine.)

And I DIDNT have a 3 day pass, just a Sunday pass....

Im not sitting here blaming others, although, there were some seriously disrespectful people in the crowd.

Some things were under my control, some things were not.

But you put all of them together, and they are not silly reasons for not enjoying the show.

Heat
Sun
Crowd
Injuries
Length of day
Shortened setlist
Sound problems
Injuries
Lack of trains to and form where I live (I didnt mention that before)
Festival atmosphere

Add that up, and Its a pretty bad time.

And as I said, I wont be going to another festival if its the same type of situation. This was only the 2nd festival I ahve ever been too, the other being Summerfest in Milwaukee, and that was WAY different.

These are not silly reasons.

Vedd Hedd

Junkhead Aic wrote:

I don't take offense to your review man, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. You said you've been to 20 + shows so you were right you were bound to have one bad experience. I understand where you are coming from on all of your complaints, sorry to hear that. Personally, I had an amazing time, but this was only my second time seeing them, so that could be why. I was about 30 yards out and I know mike was having problems but it didn't take away from the show at all, for me at least.

Thats cool. Im glad you, and a lot of others had a good time. It seems like there were "pockets" where things were ok, and other areas where things were bad. But overall Im glad most of the people had a good time.

kman, I agree. Not one of my favs.

Maybe it will be like the Ice Bowl someday, where people reflect on it and say, "wow, can you believe we did that?"

Although I love the cold weather, so I wasnt as effected.


Saturnal, I forgot one thing. I knew it was going to be hot. (Why do they hold this thing in August?) But like any other fan I wasnt going to let the heat stop me from trying to see them. Maybe I was a little naive on how the crowd was going to be...I knew it was going to be crowded, but I didnt think it would be that close. I mean, I couldnt even dance, or jump up and down without hitting someone. And Im slightly claustrophobic as it is.

I chalked it up to a learning experience. Festivals are not my thing, man.:)

Joanne

No one has mentioned ed's speech about Perry Ferrell's dream and how it was recognized and how playing Lolla ("in 1990 um? somthing") was very important to the band and who they become. He listed off all the band who played that certain lolla with them and what bands were still around. It was fun to be reminded that Ice Cube and Ministry were on that tour. It was clear it meant a lot to him to remember to say it. It seemed like he chose his words before coming out and the band responded too. All the while that he was talking Boom was playing Life Wasted Reprise chords and ed finally, quietly sang, "I've faced it, a life wasted, I'm never going back again." I thought that spoke volumes to where they started and where they are today. (and it says something about festivals too) Life was crazy then. They almost didn't make it as a band. So much has happened since then and we're all better people for it. sure because it was lolla and a big festival, they had to play some better known songs. But his speech spoke volumes as to we know what and who got us to where we are and we're grateful.

Then they launched into Alive and, well, it was super moving.

Just wanted to add that.

MarkerInTheSand

rearviewmirror kicked me in the face. fucking awesome version.

whodunnitb4

Teddyledbetter wrote:

Here's my experience for the day...
Got out of bed at 2AM grabbed my rain jacket and assorted line garb and headed down to the line-up area. We got to the line by 3AM.
Slight rain sprinkle but we hunkered down by a line that started right next to the road. A few cars drove by with the usually taunting and called us freaks. By 5 AM the rain was pouring down. Everyone was soaked and cold. A few people bailed... A few of us took the blue trash liners out of the garbage cans and gave ourselves an extra layer of protection from the pelting rain and wind. It was actually pretty cold for a while! Around 6ish security moved us in to the staging area away from the street.
Fast forward-- 11ish Gates open- walk through staging area and full stride/run to the left sdie of stage. {Damn do I need to work out more!} Feeling my age down the second steps... the festival workers and crew were all calling names and such as we whizzed by....

Secured our spot for the day. Mike's side on the rail directly in front of the people doing sign language interpretation. My new friends and I spread out along the ground and took a well deserved nap.
We had a great group of new friends all around us- Sharing water, ice and stories all day! We stayed on the ground chilling until Kings of Leon took the stage. Awesome set- My first time seeing them live. Some young girls were offering us money for our rail set-up and we all laughed at them! Just then Ed takes the stage with KOL! As if I'm giving up my position!

Fast Forward- A friend that didn't want rail / didn't put in the time, brought us water, gotus posters, and brought us the little fans- Nice job mate!

During KOL and MMJ we noticed the sign language interpreters in front of us have set-lists and lyrics to help them. Made friends with them and recieved a dinner roll from one of their provided meals. Nourishment well needed!

Minutes before PJ takes the stage we get a glimpse of the set list and see the first three songs- "We gasp- Damn, We are going to get killed up here!"

The Show-
Ed's guitar was the one fucked up- Listen to Corduroy- The New Blue Gibson?
Conversations earlier determined that this was his new favorite guitar?
We also noticed that Matt's drum set was Black and not the traditional Gold we had seen in the past... New gear overall contributing to some of the sound problems?

Fast Forward- Crazy Mary- Ed pops down from the stage and watches the bottle work down the front rail of the crowd... I get the bottle and get killed from behind with the bottle hitting my face- Ed's makes a face like damn that had to hurt...I pull forward and take a drink and pass it on down to my new friends from AZ, Australia, and the UK...Everyone gets a drink as the bottle works it way to the right.... First time for me getting the bottle- I was stoked! The guy to the right of me and I high five afterwards!

As were are rocking out and jumping around the crowd surge was evident. Got a little rough at times but we worked the over-wrap-arm technique to keep them out. Worked too hard to give it up!

Last bit...(Scored a pick from Mike via his tech.) Security friend from beginning hooked me up! My only negative comment from the night is What the fuck... with the cameras? Blocked a lot of the view- They could have done some thing better with their postion... the guy that was on the left, him and his cord holder helper took the set-lists from Mike & Jeff- WTF? Don't they have zoom lenses or something?

Just want to say hey to Amy, Sandra, and Emily- Thanks for a great memorable Day!

Set list from the Sign language folks- http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c233/tmlaabs/IMG_1543.jpg

I want to thank you, the Aussie women, and the boys to the right of you on the rail for making my experience all the more special. I stood behind you the entire time and didn't move once. Have to apologize to you and the other guys for crashing into your backs but the crowd was going crazy and a couple of girls were trying to body slam to the front. I couldn't feel the heat, didn't feel exhausted, or sunburnt knowing PJ was coming on after all of this. I'd do it all again. Wish I could piss in a cup, though. Enjoy Alpine Valley.

crazymerrie

My boyfriend and I got to Lolla a little before 9am… waited for the early morning showers to calm a bit. We met some totally cool people in line at the entrance… thanks to those people for being so cool. We were sad about not getting Vic tix but got to hear about the show from a few people who had been there. Everyone was super nice about letting us get our huge backpack prechecked so we wouldn’t be waiting so long once the gates opened. Then we ran to the sound of starwars music and ended up first row, front and center for the rest of the day. We each left once individually in the 11h time before PJ played (traumatic trying to get in and out of our spots). But the time went by soooo fast. We had brought cards and magazines, but didn’t get either out at all. We enjoyed chatting with people around us. It was hot as fuck and we were def. dehydrated and hungry for most of the day… but it was sooooo worth it. Ed came out once early in the day and it was a nice high to get us through until 8 and then when PJ came out it was like we had only been there 5 min, drinking beer and chillaxing in the air conditioning. I felt great, my bf felt great and we rocked hard the whole show.

I can’t explain how much fun I had. We made two posters while waiting… one said “stone ain’t nothing to fuck with” We were on the railing so we just held it out in front of us and didn’t have to block anyone’s view and stone totally saw it and gave us the chest pat to let us know he thought it was cool!

Although it was a lot of hits… It was the experience that made it so worth it. After the show my bf and I just hung out a bit and took pictures of how trashed grant park was… we wanted some photos to try to explain how massive this whole thing was and how many people where there and what the day was like and what the show was like… but its really tough to put that into photos, let alone words.

My bf said its probably not worth telling people about it at work or anything, cause no one but PJ fans really understand. Hes right. I told one of my coworkers about it and he was like “better you than me.”

Being that close to ed and the gang was awesome. Spending the whole day surrounded by PJ fans was awesome. Rocking out to PJ live after not having done so for over a year was awesome. Seeing Ed and Ben Harper play together 2x in one weekend was awesome. Even lance Armstrong and Dennis Rodman were awesome. I am still on a high from this show.

Prioronfire22

krobbinz wrote:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e352/laurenlb803/lollacrowd.jpg

halfway between the light and the edge of the picture is about the location

I was right by the guard rail in that pic It's weird I dont see myself, but I see people that were right near me.