Rant about lame fanviews

If ever there was a poster child for how narcissistic our world has become, the so-called "fanviews" on this board are definitely it.
I, like most Pearl Jam fans, am obsessed with knowing what happened ONSTAGE at the shows. That's why so many of us follow the setlist threads that were spontaneously invented with the help of generous relayers at the shows. We sit at our screens with baited breath, vicariously living the show with the lucky ones who are actually there. But, of course, all we get to see are the song titles as they are played.
So, when I come to read the fanviews the next couple days after the shows, I eagerly look forward to reading reports ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ONSTAGE. Now, all I read are either: 1) comments from people who weren't there, usually jealous about it and bemoaning the fact that someone else got to be at that show; 2) lame one sentence posts, like "I was so stoked. The pit was awesome. I had a great time." or 3) long pieces of blather about where YOU sat, how much YOU had to drink, what songs YOU finally "got" that you hadn't yet seen (like your childhood obsession with collecting every Happy Meal toy or Pokemon card has carried over to adulthood), who YOU met, what number show this was for YOU, how far YOU traveled, etc., etc., ad nauseum.
Here's a request: if you're going to take the time to actually type something, TRY TO MAKE IT BE ABOUT THE SHOW. Those of us who weren't there would LOVE to hear what Eddie said between songs, what particular Mike solo killed, how long RVM lasted, whether any of the lyrics got messed up or changed, any cool tags at the end of songs, which basses Jeff used, how much Stone rocked out, etc., ANY and EVERY thing that happened ONSTAGE. In contrast, we could give a rat's ass about YOU and your personal experience. Newsflash: we all know how much fun it is to go to a show, get drunk, and meet people, and don't need you to remind us. Get over yourselves. Save that shit for your tweets and twitters and facebooks and IMs or whatever. What we DON'T know and what we want to hear is what actually went down ONSTAGE. You know, your view as a fan, i.e. "fanview".
Thank you. End of rant.
I, like most Pearl Jam fans, am obsessed with knowing what happened ONSTAGE at the shows. That's why so many of us follow the setlist threads that were spontaneously invented with the help of generous relayers at the shows. We sit at our screens with baited breath, vicariously living the show with the lucky ones who are actually there. But, of course, all we get to see are the song titles as they are played.
So, when I come to read the fanviews the next couple days after the shows, I eagerly look forward to reading reports ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ONSTAGE. Now, all I read are either: 1) comments from people who weren't there, usually jealous about it and bemoaning the fact that someone else got to be at that show; 2) lame one sentence posts, like "I was so stoked. The pit was awesome. I had a great time." or 3) long pieces of blather about where YOU sat, how much YOU had to drink, what songs YOU finally "got" that you hadn't yet seen (like your childhood obsession with collecting every Happy Meal toy or Pokemon card has carried over to adulthood), who YOU met, what number show this was for YOU, how far YOU traveled, etc., etc., ad nauseum.
Here's a request: if you're going to take the time to actually type something, TRY TO MAKE IT BE ABOUT THE SHOW. Those of us who weren't there would LOVE to hear what Eddie said between songs, what particular Mike solo killed, how long RVM lasted, whether any of the lyrics got messed up or changed, any cool tags at the end of songs, which basses Jeff used, how much Stone rocked out, etc., ANY and EVERY thing that happened ONSTAGE. In contrast, we could give a rat's ass about YOU and your personal experience. Newsflash: we all know how much fun it is to go to a show, get drunk, and meet people, and don't need you to remind us. Get over yourselves. Save that shit for your tweets and twitters and facebooks and IMs or whatever. What we DON'T know and what we want to hear is what actually went down ONSTAGE. You know, your view as a fan, i.e. "fanview".
Thank you. End of rant.
Post edited by BrokenGlass on
0
Comments
+1
2010: 5/20 NY, 5/21 NY ... 2011: 6/21 EV NY, 9/3 WI, 9/4 WI ... 2012: 9/2 PA, 9/22 GA ... 2013: 10/18 NY, 10/19 NY, 10/21 PA, 10/22 PA, 10/27 MD
2015: 9/23 NY, 9/26 NY ... 2016: 4/28 PA, 4/29 PA, 5/1 NY, 5/2 NY, 6/11 TN, 8/7 MA, 11/4 TOTD PA, 11/5 TOTD PA ... 2018: 8/10 WA
2022: 9/14 NJ ... 2024: 5/28 WA, 9/7 PA, 9/9 PA ---- http://imgur.com/a/nk0s7
Don't see anything wrong with people posting what you mentioned above.
I will agree though that the people who weren't there who post "man, I wished I was there" or "Oh, you guys are so lucky! I still haven't seen that song" does get a little tiresome. but then again, this is a Pearl Jam forum and people are excited one way or the other about these shows. It's really not a big deal.
Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
St. Paul 2014 • Mexico City 2015 • Philadelphia II 2016 • Ottawa 2016 • Amsterdam I & II 2018 • Wrigley Field II 2018 • Phoenix 2022
Apollo Theater 2022 • Chicago I 2023 • Baltimore 2024
10c #178xxx - seats in Flr 2, Row N
After seeing the setlist from Grand Rapids Friday night, I was afraid we were going to get shortchanged in Cleveland. Boy, was I wrong.
Y'know how they always call the Stones "The World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band"? Saturday night in Cleveland, Pearl Jam took the crown. This was not a show for the faint of heart; it was the polar opposite of Benaroya.
Ed's preshow is always a treat. Last Kiss was better solo unplugged than with the band, I think. And when Ed sang "It Makes No Difference" with MMJ, I was thrilled. That's always been my favorite (of many) Band songs, and they really did the song justice. MMJ are serious musicians and they rocked the house with their set. Best opener band I've ever seen at a PJ show.
The crowd went nuts when the sounds of Master/Slave began to fill the arena and the boys took the stage. Personally, I would have been thrillled if they played the new album front to back, so when they opened with Betterman, I was a little apprehensive. Ed let the crowd sing the entire first verse, and my wife pointed out he was probably saving his voice! Given to Fly was solid and started the band firing on all cylinders. From the point on, it was like being transported back to 1994 or so. I have NEVER seen Ed so animated on stage. During STBC, he had the mike stand planted and ran circles around it. You've seen the set list. In a word, relentless. Mike and Jeff were all over the stage. We got a beautiful Mikey solo to Immortality, but I agree with another poster who said Mike was too low in the mix. I could only really hear his solos in songs where the rest of the band is relatively quiet. I hope the boot is mixed better. I hope you all get to hear Inside Job live - it's a masterpiece. Same with Gone - it's like hearing the Who do a song from Quadrophenia! Severed Hand is fierce live. Matt's drum and cymbal work is masterful in Unemployable.
Other highlights: Faithfull was beautifully rendered. Wait till you hear Ed's falsetto tag at the end of Black, including the "we belong together" tag. Absolutely chilling. The crowd did the "do-do-doo-do-do-do-doo"s for a long while, egging Ed on. He was conducting us with his empty wine bottle. Porch was like being at a PJ house party. And in "Alive", Ed sang a line I've only ever heard him sing once before (memory fails me as to when and where): "She walked slowly into a young man's room, said I'm ready to fuck you..." Intense moment, to say the least. During Alive, Ed was everywhere, standing atop the PA cabinet on stage left, then running over to Mike who was now on our side of the stage, headbutting Mike and grabbing the whammy bar on his old Strat while Mike was soloing. Ed asked if we wanted to hear the dream he had the night before. I think a professional psych could have a field day interpreting that one. Then to wind things up, Mike played THE ENTIRETY of Ledbetter behind his back! The only other guitarist I've ever seen do that was Stevie Ray Vaughn.
A loud, raucous, balls-out rock and roll show happened in Cleveland Saturday night. Thanks guys, and thanks 10c for taking care of us.
I think I'm probably guilty of putting vague posts on the fanviews, mostly because after the shows I can hardly put a coherent thought together. Only the emotion comes through.
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
its fans choice the way want to post and feel what to write atthe review..
amd like it or not the last years alot of peoole do that in facebook pages or their walls..its faster and easier...i wish we had here the traffic is there..ill give u an exable cos im doing the secret santa...half of people entering santa and i need their username for that ,dont know their username here...they asking me where to find it after they log in...
"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
“..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
You're entitled to your opinion about fanviews, but it truly puzzles me, because it's like you think everyone should value the same things and therefore report on the same things (because you report on what you think is worth reporting on). Who sees things that monolithically?? Seems really odd.
My one review was pretty long, and frankly didn't have much detail at all about the songs themselves (beyond the ones I was overjoyed to hear listed), and was a lot more about the vibe and the mood and the audience energy and the band energy, because that's what stood out and what made me write my first review in 57 shows.
As for the folks who weren't there, I think it's cool to read from those who appreciate the setlist or some detail and wish they'd been there (I've been that person as well). It adds to the appreciation when people write about wishing they'd been there. Why does that bother you?
Everyone will continue to write about what they want from shows (including the ones who weren't there), but just wanted to post and say it seems crazy to me to even expect or want fanviews that just talk about the aspects you think are worth talking about. Seems to not appreciate the wide variety of personalities and PJ values this community has. But you know... to each their own...
Boston 10/17/10, East Troy 9/3/11, East Troy 9/4/11, Missoula 9/30/12, Worcester 10/15/13, Hartford 10/25/13, Charlottesville 10/29/13,
St. Paul 10/19/14, New York 9/26/15, Quebec City 5/5/16, Boston 8/5/16, Boston 9/2/18, Boston 9/4/18, Quebec City 9/1/22, Camden 9/14/22, Oklahoma City 9/20/22
Maybe beg 10c to make you a mod. That way maybe a few people will care what you're crying about. Otherwise you're out of luck, because obviously no one cares.
And your definition of a fanview is 100% wrong. If you want to fucking know how long rearview mirror lasted or how mime killed the solo on black, go to YouTube.
'10- MSG 1-2 '11- PJ20
'12- MIA; DeLuna '13- Wrigley; Pitt; Brooklyn 1-2; Philly 1-2; Baltimore; Seattle
'14- Denver '16- Philly 1-2; MSG 2
'17- Pilgrimage Music Fest (Eddie)
'18- Fenway
Dublin 02 Arena - 22/6/10. Belfast Odyssey Arena - 23/6/10. London Hyde Park - 25/6/10. Berlin Wuhlheide - 30/6/10.
Manchester MEN - 20/06/12. Manchester MEN - 21/06/12
Still, I hope that some folks who are lucky enough to go to these epic shows will be generous enough with their time and insight to share some cool moments that happen onstage. Some of your comments to my rant criticized me for not thinking in the inclusive spirit of the PJ community, where all perspectives are welcomed, but I think cool people taking the time and making the effort to share insights into the performance helps the communal spirit.
Another thing these comments have made me realize is that social media is having a huge impact on how people are communicating these days. Having searched the fanviews from 2006 when someone called me out for an example of an "epic" one I posted, they were a lot longer and more insightful. That could be down to the fact that they predate twitter and instagram, and that culture now demands brevity. Proof of that is someone's comment to my rant "TLDR", which I had to google to find out that an acronym actually exists for "too long didn't read". That is sad to me, as is many of the criticisms posted here in which people are indignant that I should expect them to actually read or write something literate that is also longer than a sentence or two. (I'm sure someone won't miss the opportunity to respond "TLDR" to this post, too.)
To veddertown, I get the sarcasm of your fanview, but I'm not complaining about the fanviews being too short, I'm complaining about the content being inane. Your example is longer, but still lousy at communicating something interesting. Still, I would much rather read that kind of fanview then stuff like, "Sorry to the girls who my hammered buddy passed out on top of. Hope it didn't fuck up your show too much."
In my original rant, I wasn't claiming that I was right about anything or that there is a required format for fanviews. I was just expressing my frustration that I can read three or four pages of fanviews and still barely know what happened. It's because I love PJ shows, I wish I could have been there, and I'd love to know as much as I can about it all.