Is it just me, or has the PJ concert experience changed?

AA295481

Has the atmosphere and the crowd at P.J concerts changed?, I remember a time when the music mattered most of all, and their concerts were made up of people who just enjoyed their music, now it seems more like a well oiled machine, where the dollar has become more valuable then the music. It is evident everywhere around the show, with merchandizing, and people wanting the highest dollar for tickets? I ask myself, " when did it all change?" I remember hearing the same thing about the Rolling Stones in the late 80's on. To those people who refuse to go to their concerts now, I finally see their point. I think a lot of scalpers around the show are gonna be eating a lot of tickets, and I could care less..I actually find the thought of that quite humorous.


I've seen PJ in Chicago for EVERY show since '92 ( even small venues). I think 2009 might have been the last time I see them, I find it's not even worth it anymore

Smellyman

lots of things change after 23 years.

but ti still about all the PJ fans and THE MUSIC.

tickets were scalped for udgodly amounts in the 90's

Merch? No idea, I was never into it.

Ewank

Do you realize that this Chicago show is THE ONLY ONE that there has been in a while? And that it is THE event to be at, hence the demand? Scalpers have always been around. Heck, even for the Eddie solo tour last year there were a bunch of scalpers ( not with so ridiculous prices).

As for merchandise....do you also realize that unfortunately, most bands nowadays get their money through merchandise and tickets for concerts? records mean not much now. That is why you see some other bands, such as The Who or Paul McCartney ( yeah, not so good examples) putting up Platinum packages all inclusive at ridiculous prices. Pearl Jam, at least, hasn´t succumbed to that way of business with VIP or PLatinum tickets. You are not forced to buy the merchandise. But you know that it helps the band directly.

It is not that the PJ concert experience has changed, it is that times have changed and there is not much we can do about it.

TouringFan2000

Name an activity or an event like this that hasn't changed in the same timeframe you're talking about. Going to a ballgame, going to a movie, going to the mall ... Jesus, even going to the gas station ain't the same as it was in 1992. I know what you're getting at ... but there's no way you can expect something like this to stay the same. We still follow a GREAT band and there's still a great experience to be had if you don't get caught up in some of the shit that goes on around a show.

100Kings

If it's not worth it quit going and quit whining. So lame :fp:

TunnelThroughDenial

It's just you

London Bridge

How about the money put out for a losing NFL game.
There is never a losing PJ show

ladydocNYC

Smellyman wrote:

lots of things change after 23 years.

Exactly.

Nothing can stay the same. They're managing it all pretty gracefully if you ask me.

Yeah, it's different, but at the heart it's still about the music.

long road walker

it has totally changed, you just have to change with it,

you are better off going to 3-4 low demand shows, than 1 corporate big one, at least nowadays

its all about personal preference and variety, you go see them in Buffalo , Hartford if on east coast, guarantee it will blow your mind and be btter than an MSG show, ive been to all and thats the truth, MSG has had some classics but just as many as Hartford, etc. look thru the hype, hell thats what pearl jam is all about anyway

Wrigley ? yeah kick ass time, if you got tics awesome,,, great time, if not dont sweat a little show in charlotte can be just as good, and 1/2 the headache

spryguy09

I've definitely noticed...way more rain delays than before!

brianwilson

I noticed the change during the Riot Act tour. This had nothing to do with Roskilde, IMO (I saw the Binaural tour after Roskilde).

The band's show was a little more polished after 2000. Pete Townshend even said something like that (after the VH1 Honors show, which I was at and it was killer). PT meant it as a compliment. Still my favorite band and show to go to. They put on the best show even if you're a moderate fan (I've taken moderate fans and they were blown away).

Maybe it's the addition of Boom.... Juuuust kidding.

Stephen Flow

It has changed... we now listen to concerts live via a webcam that is stashed outside of the venue...

Lifted

I feel you. I thought the exact same thing at the spectrum shows. im hoping with the ga pit this tour, my live experience will be reborn, as its been dead since 2007. not because the band isnt great, but because of all the distractions that come from being 100 yards away with disintersted people.

SV60079

WE have ALL changed! I'm no longer 28 (1st show), I'll be 50 before the fall tour starts. Music, especially PJ, keeps me young and alive inside. Nothing can take that away from me.

Eraserhead

Everything has chains... absolutely nothing's changed...

nickburrows14

I hope I get to moan and whine when PJ play the UK!

thuq

It's interesting you noticed a change in 2007, which is when they started playing shows essentially every year. The band and fans have evolved and back in the 90's, the whole music thing was different. The Merch issue is dependent on fan demand. Personally, I've gotten over it. To me it was never about the merch. I think Wrigley and when they play larger festivals, you get a lot of fair weather fans. Eddie himself has gone through a lot as I'm sure most of the band. The band seems a lot happier it seems since 2000. I admit, I've caught them a lot less as time passed. But it must be hard for them to keep things new. Maybe they need to take out even flow/daughter/jeremy/betterman/cordury for a while. It seems with every album there's a song or two that must be played

Jack Straw

I agree with the OP. Setlist shirts? Come on. 4 posters? Selling merch two days before the show to people who dont even have a ticket and just want to sell it on EBay? It's sickening. All that matters is money. The show is still great, but it's not the same. Early 90's Eddie would slap the shit out of this guy now.

fear4freedom

I heard Kid Rock is going to do a tour that is 20/20/4

$20 tickets
$20 shirts/posters
$4 beers

How can he do that and PJ cannot even come close? PJ must want more money nowadays

nukeboot

It's all about the money?

Wow. Some folks really don't pay much attention to what this band does when it comes to giving.

And last night is the perfect example of their generosity.

Chicago is a big union town. You can bet that PJ had to cut some serious checks to play as late as they did.
They could just as easily have played a brief second half and split. And other bands just wouldn't have come
back out at all.

KG179574

TunnelThroughDenial wrote:

It's just you

+1

foodboy

what i have found is that the show itself is still great. but the setlists of the tours now have become like a bruce springsteen tour where he plays mostly the same group of songs and throws out a nugget or two to "the old fans". which is a shame as he and this band has so much material that could really mix it up on a regular basis. ya i know you say they do but they really don't. if you go to 4 shows in a row you will hear a number of songs 3 or four times. or every time you see them do we really have to hear evenflow, daughter, betterman, etc. each and every time? yes they are great songs but there is so much i would like to still hear but i would have to attend 20 shows just to hear a few nuggets. i know there are many who can listen to the same songs every night but i find it a little much and have now reduced my attendances. some of you may be happy for that ,but that's my point of view from over 40 years of concert going.

tschav

I'm thinking the next PJ show I see will keep me away from the boards and PJ social media streams as much as I was on before last night. You buy into rumors, leaks, expectations and hype that takes away from just remembering that you get to see your favorite band play a unique set.

Social media ruins the mystery of the shows:
- Setlist leaks (I totally regret seeing what could have been for Wrigley, before the show happened)
- People watching the shows through a phone, trying to stay still for the shot and not live in the moment
- Those videos go to YouTube, where everyone can start making expectations for a future show

As for the money side of things, people are going to buy lots of shit for big shows, and I'm sure many buy/flip merch to see multiple shows without breaking the bank. To each their own. As long as it doesn't get in the way of my experience, good for them.

ryph raph

The 2nd time "I saw Pearl Jam" was in a bar with 600 other people. After the show, as I was walking out I realized that the experience was already changing. That was 21 years ago. The experience is a moving train.

kenshunt

Stephen Flow wrote:

It has changed... we now listen to concerts live via a webcam that is stashed outside of the venue...

lmao, and watch a guy jog in one spot for like 30 mins

BR190441

I couldn't agree more! Was at the London show (lucky to get a seat). Crowd was silent, boring, and no one to party it up with! Felt out of place! I guess it will feel more like this since we'll all have to enter a draw for tickets. Not looking forward to dealing with other ticket agents; my luck in draws suck! It was a great ride! Why did they change the policy anyway?

GD274660

Jack Straw wrote:

I agree with the OP. Setlist shirts? Come on. 4 posters? Selling merch two days before the show to people who dont even have a ticket and just want to sell it on EBay? It's sickening. All that matters is money. The show is still great, but it's not the same. Early 90's Eddie would slap the shit out of this guy now.

So tell me what your alternative is to try to sell merchandise to 43,000? Just have them up for sale at the few stands they have there starting at 530pm 2 hrs before the show? That sure sounds like a recipe for a stampede.

They gave people multiple opportunities, you know, thinking about the fans.

DP17

member since 92'

everything changes! I do know EDat timrs readsthese!!! so let's hope you read this one! yes I was


3rd ROW.. after a few songs I was getting into the SHOW then the STORM came! Let's see I was
directed too go in UNDER the seats. So I tried to get there, wasn't happening!! as that AREA was PACKED QUICKLY!!! Then I stood in the RAIN
for over 45 minutes! FINALLY a worker at the stadium directed us too go up and under the grandstand seats!
We did, after another 1 HOUR standing drenched we could return too our seats! IMPORPERLY THAT
is y there were the WRONG FANS in GA!! causing STUPIDNESS!!

NOT the BANDS FAULT or 10 club's FAULT.. NO MANAGEMENT SKILL by wrigley workers!!! was that
the 1st time a rain storm has happened during a CONCERT at wrigley?? I think NOT..

FAST FORWARD! the band I assume has NO IDEA this was taking place 100's of us DRENCHED!!!

Choccoloccotide

spryguy09 wrote:

I've definitely noticed...way more rain delays than before!

Corduroyboy

It's all changed. It's called TIME! Look back when we would have to send a self addressed stamped envelope to Bala Cynwynd, PA to have our tickets mailed to us! Yes things have changed. And talk of merchandise, the poster craze of 2006 was a catalyst for that. And the band answered. People were going ape shit for posters, flipping them on ebay (we all remember 9ersfan and his insane poster prices before the show began) and the band answered by giving us posters even after the shows. And look now, 10 albums later. It's going to change. We are all older now. The band is older. Things change. Do I wish it was 1996 with the No Code Tour going on again, hell yes. But am I happy at 2013 and how things are with all that's going on. Now go back to answering your rotary phone.

PeArLgOoNeR

I don't think it's changed too much.. I've only seen PJ in Europe, but here the fans are still intensely into the music from start to finish.. from Alive to Bee Girl.. from the first row to the last row.. the atmosphere is still second to none