*** Charlotte Fanviews Here 10/30/13 ***

mcrok

TamaDrummer91 wrote:

Fanviews are subjective, people, please keep this in mind. I posted a short review earlier, this is my long review for personal closure. :P

I went into Charlotte with moderately high expectations and good vibes. I liked the outside of the arena, the inside looked nice, staff was friendly, and I was content with with my 10C seats. All was good to begin, but I could tell after Pendulum the night was most likely going to decline. To be frank, the overall crowd was average at best and the section around me was terrible. I mean that, absolutely terrible. They stood there like trees, texted on their phones, talked very loudly to one another about 70% of the show (only shut up during Betterman so they could sing), and to beat it all...someone kept farting! It smelled horrible. :fp:

The acoustics were a bit muddy (I was in section 103, so not in the nosebleeds by any stretch) and I thought the volume from the band was way too low. During Off He Goes, I couldn't hear Ed because the asses around me were talking so loud. The setlist was ok. It had so much potential to be a really good set, but after Ed saw how much the crowd only responded to greatest hits or sing alongs; that's the route he rightfully took. I don't blame him, but as a result the encores were lacking and some of the best songs were marked off in turn.

Being at Charlottesville the night before, I can tell you how different the crowds were, how much more energetic the band sounded in Cville compared to Charlotte, and how muddy the acoustics are in the Time Warner compared to the John Paul Jones. The crowd and the band in Cville were on fire and such good spirits. Charlotte found a slightly tired band from the night before and a crowd that was huge in size but relatively small in energy. Overall, the band did sound tight, and many great songs were played. Immortality was a nice rendition and Off He Goes was great from what I could hear over the people around me talking.

I can narrow this down to 2 principles. On a bootleg, the show will hold up moderately well. But looking at what was taken off the set and having the band play for a shorter length of time when no curfew has been reported points towards the band giving the greatest hits crowd what it wanted and left as soon as they could. Was it a phoned in performance? No. But it was a terrible environment I was in, and I truly question whether the band gave it their all. In Charlottesville, there was no question about it. If you went to Charlotte and had fun, I couldn't be happier for you and I could see why you would enjoy the show if you were in a decent part of the crowd. But I have mixed feelings for the reasons aforementioned.

Blasphemy! j/k

Interesting that your detailed description is right on par with what I would say. I think most of us who went to Cville agree. It would be hard not to after that experience. Really, the only thing that could have made it better would maybe be a front row rail location in Clt. But even then, I would take a reserved seat, even public on sale to be part of the Cville show than be on the rail in Clt. And just so everyone understands...it wasn't just about the setlist in Cville---the whole experience was out of this world. They have to start playing smaller/better acoustic venues so we can have more shows like Cville. It is a win-win.

It was so obvious compared to the previous nite they were wiped. But hey, these guys are so badass that most ppl would never know. Like I said before, how could they not be. No one can be that high (trust me, we were flying) without coming down.

Btw, I just rolled out my Cville poster and my Wife and I studied it a bit. It is awesome and has an awesome message...it has to be the best of the tour. Should have bought two of those instead of Clt (i only bought two bc it was my 20th).

TamaDrummer91

Pitts still has the best poster IMO. I agree though, the CVille poster is badass and has a very important message. It addresses the question of educating ones self, our obsessions, and the question of free will. Charlottes poster is eye candy, but not much to sink your teeth into. I slightly prefer CVille poster over Charlotte.

Porchsitter

TheGossman wrote:

Porchsitter wrote:

TheGossman wrote:

I was so excited when I found out the band was finally coming back to Charlotte. Last nights show was great. The band didn't seem tired at all to me, especially Ed. I've seen over 40 shows but I've never been as close to Ed as I was last night. I've never noticed just how much the guy puts into every performance. He was up there sweating his ass off, giving it his all. Jeff seemed to be in a fantastic mood, smiling and laughing all night. My only complaint is all the cell phones in the pit, people texting and taking videos really annoys the shit out of me. I understand you paid for your ticket, but holding your phones up in the air to record an entire song is disrespectful, especially when you are blocking people's view. Can't wait for Dallas and OKC

I tried keeping the cell phone in the pocket as much as I could (only photos), but I will admit I recorded video on the final 90 seconds of "Porch" only because Ed was like ten feet away and that was a great moment. That being said there was one guy in my area who recorded video on damn near every song for the night. This happened to me at Soundgarden earlier this year in Atlanta, and it bugged the shit out of me as well. I try to keep it at a minimum even with pics and I'm sure people get bugged whenever I do, but I will never try to record an entire show.

I just don't get it man. Its not only disrespectful to fans that are behind you but also to the band. I saw people in the 3rd row texting, I'm just like, come on, give me your spot if you would rather stare at your phone.

I'm with you, but in that case I just have to shrug it off as people who were probably dragged along by the person they're with who is there to see the show. At least that's what I hope.

mrussel1

Not to keep harping on what a drag Charlotte was... but...

The setlist was pretty damn good. I was on the floor. Went up to get a beer at 8PM (a good one, no schwag) and I never got close. By 820, I hightailed it back to make the opener, still thirsty. Once Sirens started, I asked the guy next to me how the beer line was. He said fine. I went up cuz I was thirsty as hell. 4th show, I can miss Sirens. Well, I missed Sirens, Setting Forth, Not For You and I finally said screw it as soon as Immortality started because I hadn't heard it on the tour yet. I was very annoyed.

This is obviously not the fault of PJ, but that arena SUCKS. Sound wise...beer wise and how about the damn line to get in? It was crazy.

Anyway, the show was better than 98% of any concert I've ever seen in my life. But I was lucky enough to be at both Phlllys and GA in C'ville. Comparatively, this was weakest. But it was for a lot of reasons, not just that the band was a bit spent (me too). I'm just saying that the whole venue was poorly done. Wells Fargo and JPJ are far superior in a lot of different ways. It will be interesting to see if they come back soon to Charlotte.

Capstoner

Thanks Tenclub for the great seats!! Good review from CLT http://co.vrvm.com/charlotte/pm_101754/ ... d=zgzgZUeH

he.who.forgets

Great show as always, my first and only of the tour. I felt the early part of the set was a little disjointed and a bit sloppy; Ed's lyrics werent really synced with the band, it seemed. Last Exit felt a little out of place but Present Tense was awesome, one of favorite tunes and I was thrilled to hear it. And while I enjoy the mid set acoustic sit down, it kind of throws off the momentum of the show. All in all a great gig though. Decent seats (114, row N seats, closer to the aisle nearest the stage) and had great neighbors. Getaway's live debut was awesome and for the most part, all the new songs sounded really really good.
Signed,
Play the South

encompassing trip

My only show this tour. Thanks Pearl Jam and 10C for the sweet tix. I don't care what anyone says... The band was tight last night and I loved every second.

As for the crowd in GA section. Tame, polite, and having fun.

MaxGoldenrod

The acoustics were outstanding in the 2nd row

Freaking awesome show, this after having endured the GA pit in Amsterdam, Wrigley, and even to a part the HUGE crowd in Atlanta last fall.

Finally seeing Immortality (I just about flipped my shit when I heard the intro)
Getaway for the first time
Stone's tits

Running into people I've met over the years, meeting new ones, it's all good.

I feel like I got the shit beat out of me today, and I love it!

I agree with the person who said they wonder how much longer there will be. When people (namely family and friends) ask why I would want to see one band 3 or 4 times in a year, I tell them that we are all getting older and it will only go on for so long, and when I was younger I couldn't afford to see a show, let alone many. So, now that I can afford it, and have the added benefit of working for an airline with other benefits, fuck it, I'm gonna see as many shows as possible without pushing my wife to the divorce attorney!

Was last night awesome? 2 words:

FUCK YEAH!!!!

Can't wait for Dallas and OKC in a couple of weeks.

raivo

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but if anyone has a spare poster from Charlotte show, please PM me. Can't believe that of all the shows I didn't get a poster from this. Thanks.

freshymad

I don't want to compare how good or bad a show is. Idealistic as it sounds, that would be like putting a rating on the love this band shares with us. The last thing I want from a love is for it to be quantified.

"I pull you close, so much to lose, knowing that nothing lasts forever." I'm getting old; we all are. I held and felt every note and gave everything in me that is true in return. I had such an immediate experience being in the pit. Odds are that I'll never be that close again. It's everything I could wish for. That Charlotte music is in me and my heart is still on fire.

I can see wanting that fire to continue, but I don't understand buying fan club tickets to multiple shows when these tics are so limited. It directly takes away that intimate experience from another fan. I really don't understand it, if the purpose is to compare shows and generate satisfaction from having attended the "best" show.

RVCJJ3J

JM44800 wrote:

TUTMAN08 wrote:

Look for the good and appreciate it.

This right here, thank you for sharing!!!!!!!

Totally agree. Some people see the glass 2% empty.

NDJeff7

I hardly ever post in the forums here but I don't get how that was a "bad" show. My wife and I had great 10club seats (sec 106 row A) and she was out of her mind because McCready came over to us during Alive and she got to strum his guitar! We only get to one show per tour so they're all special.

I was thinking that it was a greatest hits show but that I didn't really mind because the reason they're hits is because they're damn good songs. Good flow to the set and great energy from the band. I was at Wrigley in GA and I'd say I enjoyed this show more.

Last-12-Exit

my view of Eddie during porch.

http://instagram.com/p/gIfuWvzVMe/#

DriftingByTheStorm

NDJeff7 wrote:

I hardly ever post in the forums here but I don't get how that was a "bad" show. My wife and I had great 10club seats (sec 106 row A) and she was out of her mind because McCready came over to us during Alive and she got to strum his guitar! We only get to one show per tour so they're all special.

I was thinking that it was a greatest hits show but that I didn't really mind because the reason they're hits is because they're damn good songs. Good flow to the set and great energy from the band. I was at Wrigley in GA and I'd say I enjoyed this show more.

It wasn't a bad show, man.
I wrote an overblown reply last night but shelved it.
The bottom line is this:
Charlotte was a fine show.
It will make for a damn fine bootleg.
In many respects it is a bootleg collectors show.
But a lot of folks who were at Charlottesville were spent,
And the show fell flat for these folks.
(Pretty sure we were in the minority, because of all the beautiful people I met in GA, only one pair of girls were actually at Cville, most of the rest, Charlotte was their first &/or only show)

It wasn't bad, it just was a hard show to love after the night before.
My biggest complaint was the set list order, and for those sold to pearl jam at birth, it may have been the nail in the coffin. the song choices were fine. a bit on the mainstream side for the entire first set, but fine. the ORDER was hard to follow though. And it was no ones fault. Looks good on paper, will sound good on bootleg, but lots of quick ups, quick downs, long stretches with no singalong or not well known lyric songs, some long energy draining slow spots, and all the fan favorites and best loud new songs scratched from the late sets left the encores extremely polarized between mainstream hits (diehards have heard a million times) and songs that frankly I'm not even sure the hardcores love (or at least very hard to get the crowd in full swing for: Real Me, Watchtower, Bee Girl) ...

If the energy was off or the show was perceived as bad, it was, IMHO, e set list order itself, not he band or fans that fell short. Two examples that are solely order related: present tense and DTE. both amazeball songs. both probably should be held for their more traditional late first set positions, as they really make your head spin too early in the game. Can't say why. Just how I feel. Seen others here say basically the same, so I know it isn't JUST me.

NDJeff7

I'd agree with you on Bee Girl, Real Me and Watchtower. Those definitely aren't my favs and I wouldn't have minded hearing a couple of others in their place instead. I've seen them about 12 times and this show falls right in the middle of the pack for me. Not a bad show (Chicago '03 is my least fav mainly because Ed was sick) but not a great show for me like Boston '94 or Alpine '03.

In the end just a fun solid show.

mrussel1

Having been in C'ville GA, I would agree with Drifting's assessment... with one HUGE exception. I was absolutely thrilled they played Real Me and Watchtower. It was the highlight of the set for me. Real Me is a sick tune and Jeff just goes apeshit on it. I had not seen in on the tour yet, so I was thrilled. Watchtower is a rarity, for same reason. I was disappointed that crowd seemed out of it for Real Me. Even in a 10C section, I think I was the only one screaming Doctor, Daniel, etc.

Cob

I don't really understand why people are so concerned about the crowd at shows, I don't really care, if the bands plays well or kicks ass is all I care about, I don't care about the people around me, I usually just watch each song and then after the song I clap, cheer and raise hell.

TamaDrummer91

Still my largest cause of unease with this show was the cutting of wash, leash, speed of sound, and leaving here. Instead the encores are basically a hits parade and the show ended quickly. It makes me believe either the band was tired or they just realized playing longer for that crowd wasn't necessary. Either way, it's hard for me to say this is a good show as a result. Trying my best not to compare it to CVille, but IMO Charlotte standing by itself as a show is really questionable. I wouldn't call it bad by any stretch, but average at best or slightly below average at worst. The crowd, the set list, and the bands spirits or energy from the crowd are all kind of sketchy to me.

Cob

I have seen TONS of PJ set lists with songs scratched out.

TamaDrummer91

Cob wrote:

I don't really understand why people are so concerned about the crowd at shows, I don't really care, if the bands plays well or kicks ass is all I care about, I don't care about the people around me, I usually just watch each song and then after the song I clap, cheer and raise hell.

1. Ed realizes a crowd isn't responding to rare songs, you get great songs like wash or leash taken off the set.
2. The band feeds off the crowds energy. Every great or the best pj shows have really good crowds. If you could see the band in CVille the night before, you can see what energy from feeding off the crowd I'm referring to.
3. Personally I cannot get into a gig of I'm trying to dance and people around me are looking at me like I'm silly. They just stand there and text on their phones. It's not only a mood killer but disrespectful. When the crowd was talking to each other the whole night like the crowd was around me, I couldn't focus on the music. All I could hear was them screaming in each other's ear. Nothing pertaining to the show either, just small talk.

This is why crowd matters.