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No/Opening Acts - Unfair?

deweildeweil Posts: 245
edited November 2013 in Given To Fly (live)
The first time I saw PJ, Mudhoney and Iggy Pop opened.
Last time I saw them (non-festival), Band of Horses played (I missed them however).
Now Mudhoney and Midlake are opening, but just on select shows on the West Coast...

Anyone else feel like the other cities are being shortchanged? Not that I won't be happy with just PJ, but I enjoy openers (when they're good) as mood setters/introduction to new music. In comparison:

Neil Young openers over the years - The Pretenders, Lucinda Williams, Wilco, Patti Smith...

U2 - PJ Harvey, Fun Lovin Criminals (why???)

RHCP - Foo Fighters! Queens of the Stone Age!

Dylan - Merle Haggard, Dion, Bob Weir,

The Stones used to have bands like GNR and PJ open for them. Now they don't, and I think it's a shame, especially at those ticket prices but also, it's an honor to open for such bands. PJ is one of those bands that groups like Gaslight Anthem, Midlake, etc would all love to open for...why not give them (and us) the opportunity?

Thoughts? Sad to lose the openers? Who'd you want as lead-in?
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • WildsWilds Posts: 4,329
    I imagine you will be in the minority opinion.


    1. Just the thought of getting additional Pearl Jam is worth the idea of no opening band.
    2. Just say no to overpriced Beer pre-show, when forced to attend the opening band for the off chance that EV will play one song with them.

    The only opening band I've ever seen PJ open with that I was really happy about was The Ramones in 1995.

    Other than that I've seen Sonic Youth 8 more times than needed. Lot's of Ben Harper. (Which was great, but not 5 times in a row.) etc. etc.


    An evening with Pearl jam is a dream come true.
  • kenny olavkenny olav Posts: 3,319
    Yeah, it would be unfair to those who get opening acts. Pearl Jam has such a huge catalog now, they should get more time.
  • BELLZDEEPBELLZDEEP Posts: 289
    Holding your ground in GA sucks when you gotta wait for an opening band to play and finish to 'get to the good stuff'
  • scratched vinylscratched vinyl Posts: 742
    I don't think it's unfair necessarily, since the ticket just says Pearl Jam, but I personally definitely prefer an opening act. I like hearing more music, and more often than not they bring a band I'm interested in seeing.
    Bad Religion, Sparta, My Morning Jacket, Black Keys, Mudhoney, Kings Of Leon, are all quality bands. I love the bang for your buck of an opening band.

    For anyone who likes more music than just Pearl Jam, I don't see any reason to not want an opening band. If PJ played longer then sure, that would be awesome, but I don't see it happening.
  • NYCPJNYCPJ nyc Posts: 764
    While I've enjoyed a few of the openers over the years (MMJ, Band of Horses), I'm there to see PJ and hopefully this makes for a longer PJ show and they wont run into any local rules regarding a drop dead time to end the show.
    6/3/06 (East Rutherford 2)
    6/24/08 (MSG1)
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  • Break The SkyBreak The Sky Posts: 1,276
    If it means getting more PJ I'm so okay without an opening band.
    If hope can grow from dirt like me ...
  • F5AgainstOneF5AgainstOne New Hampshire, USA Posts: 1,462
    deweil wrote:
    The first time I saw PJ, Mudhoney and Iggy Pop opened.
    Last time I saw them (non-festival), Band of Horses played (I missed them however).
    Now Mudhoney and Midlake are opening, but just on select shows on the West Coast...

    Anyone else feel like the other cities are being shortchanged? Not that I won't be happy with just PJ, but I enjoy openers (when they're good) as mood setters/introduction to new music. In comparison:

    Neil Young openers over the years - The Pretenders, Lucinda Williams, Wilco, Patti Smith...

    U2 - PJ Harvey, Fun Lovin Criminals (why???)

    RHCP - Foo Fighters! Queens of the Stone Age!

    Dylan - Merle Haggard, Dion, Bob Weir,

    The Stones used to have bands like GNR and PJ open for them. Now they don't, and I think it's a shame, especially at those ticket prices but also, it's an honor to open for such bands. PJ is one of those bands that groups like Gaslight Anthem, Midlake, etc would all love to open for...why not give them (and us) the opportunity?

    Thoughts? Sad to lose the openers? Who'd you want as lead-in?
    Funny, I thought the cities that do have openers were getting the short end of the stick.
    EV Solo Boston 6/16/11
    East Troy 9/3/11
    East Troy 9/4/11
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    Amsterdam 6/27/12
    Wrigley Field 7/19-20/13
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    Seattle, WA 12/06/13
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  • Sprunkn7Sprunkn7 Posts: 5,286
    I'm down with more PJ time. I hope it works out that way....
    Thank you fellow 10 clubber for saving my ass....again!!!
  • StrykerStryker Upstate, NY Posts: 585
    People seem to be under the impression that no opening act = more Pearl Jam

    I just don't see that happening. Don't get me wrong, I hope to hell they prove me wrong, but I can't see them playing for four hours each night of the first leg. Maybe a few shows will get some bonus PJ, but I wouldn't hold my breath, Buffalo.
  • BMF2004BMF2004 Posts: 129
    I'm glad to see them take a page out of the Springsteen book. No opener, just come out and rock for 3 hours or more! :D
  • WobbieWobbie Posts: 30,638
    I love seeing bands with no openers...just saw the black crowes with that set-up...it was heaven :mrgreen:
    If I had known then what I know now...

    Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
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  • deweildeweil Posts: 245
    Interesting perspectives - thanks for the comments!

    I'm no expert but is there any evidence that no openers = longer PJ shows? Because if this were the case, I would definitely agree with those that value no openers vs openers.

    Also, since drinking isn't a priority for me, things like pregaming/paying for expensive beer inside aren't issues I've considered and usually, when I'm GA, I make nice with those around me so my spot is secure when I go off to the bathroom, etc. Isn't this common practice?
  • bootlegger10bootlegger10 Posts: 16,092
    Well, they had longer shows on the first leg and I think it was due to the lack of an opening act.

    We will confirm in the west coast leg if the lack of an opener impacted show length (which we know it did).
  • ceskaceska New York Posts: 1,129
    PJ came on anywhere between 8:20 and 8:30 each night. With openers in the past, they came on around 8:45. But at two of the three shows I went to, they played til about 11:30 though, which I think is later than usual. So the slightly earlier start and slightly later ending are giving us ~30-40 extra minutes of PJ.
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