I go to every show by myself,with the exception of some pj shows that i attend with a fellow pj fanatic.
All my friends,family & coworkers are lame asses and either can't afford it or just plain don't go to concerts.
I have had the live concert bug since 1979 when i started attending shows.
wow- all of them??!! Nice! I've missed so many shows over the years because my friends bailed on me in the last minute- no more!!!
www.RLMcDaniel.com
1996: Ft Lauderdale
1998: Birmingham
2000: Charlotte, Tampa
2003: Tampa, Atlanta, Phoenix
2004: Kissimmee
2008: West Palm Beach, Bonnaroo, Columbia
2010: MSG2
2012: Music Midtown
2014: Memphis
2016: Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, JazzFest 2018: Wrigley 1, Fenway 1 2022: Nashville 2023: Ft. Worth II 2024: Baltimore
Going solo to a show works well for me. I can't handle taking a non-fan with me just for company. Also, I can do my "geek fan" thing; hanging around before/after a show, getting autographs, meeting the musicians, etc, when I'm on my own. It can be a real (understandable) hassle to get someone to stand around for hours after a show when they're really not into it! Sometimes it's nice doing a small club gig with a friend or two, but for the larger, more devoted shows I'm my own best company.
"Hello Oregonians. Hello Washingtonians. Hello Portland..where the fuck are we? We're in Ridgefield!"
I have done this a few times, and I don't see that it's a big deal. Once the show starts, it's not like you're gabbing with the people around you anyway.
It maybe sucks if you get there too early and have to sit around by yourself before the band goes on. But once the lights go down, it's like going to any other show.
Maybe I'm strange, though. I work a job where I wind up alone on the road a lot. So I've gotten used to eating meals and going to bars by myself ... flying solo to a concert isn't much different than that.
everybody wants the most they can possibly get
for the least they could possibly do
I have done this a few times, and I don't see that it's a big deal. Once the show starts, it's not like you're gabbing with the people around you anyway.
It maybe sucks if you get there too early and have to sit around by yourself before the band goes on. But once the lights go down, it's like going to any other show.
Maybe I'm strange, though. I work a job where I wind up alone on the road a lot. So I've gotten used to eating meals and going to bars by myself ... flying solo to a concert isn't much different than that.
I'm the same way (traveling for work)...I brought a book to read between sets last night NERD! (I know.) Plus I didn't feel too weird crying through man of the hour, wishlist, arc with no one there I knew watching me. It was a beautiful night, alone or not !!!
The first show I went to alone was Dave Matthews band winter 05 in Toronto. Almost every show since I've gone to alone. It was getting harder and harder finding people to go with, so I just stopped asking people. I'm not a huge fan of going to general admission shows alone, I like to have a seat if I'm at a show alone.
I'm going to NIN on tuesday in Toronto aswell as both of Eddie's shows in Toronto. All three I will be attending alone.
The first show I went to alone was Dave Matthews band winter 05 in Toronto. Almost every show since I've gone to alone. It was getting harder and harder finding people to go with, so I just stopped asking people. I'm not a huge fan of going to general admission shows alone, I like to have a seat if I'm at a show alone.
I'm going to NIN on tuesday in Toronto aswell as both of Eddie's shows in Toronto. All three I will be attending alone.
you make a great point- it is much easier to go to a show lone if you have a seat for some reason
www.RLMcDaniel.com
1996: Ft Lauderdale
1998: Birmingham
2000: Charlotte, Tampa
2003: Tampa, Atlanta, Phoenix
2004: Kissimmee
2008: West Palm Beach, Bonnaroo, Columbia
2010: MSG2
2012: Music Midtown
2014: Memphis
2016: Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, JazzFest 2018: Wrigley 1, Fenway 1 2022: Nashville 2023: Ft. Worth II 2024: Baltimore
I had to go to Velvet Revolver/Alice in Chains by myself because my friends bailed. It wasn't too bad. I had free pit tickets and it was only a twenty minute drive anyway. plus I ran into some people I knew. But I couldn't see myself wanting to do it again.
Great thread, good discussion! Might not just be an age thing, but yeah, solo shows are on the horizon for me. I need the "Release" of Pearl Jam shows, or EV. I was "this" close to $pending bucks to get out to Boston this past weekend ... solo. But I leave for Hawaii with the family in another week so back-to-back trips was just too pricey.
I have a good crew of friends, but each likes totally different music. 2-3 years ago when I arranged for 12 of us to all attend RUSH together, it was nuts, didn't enjoy myself. I usually just pick one friend, buy the tix and treat 'em. We've been chattin up hitting Vegas for shows for awhile ... first step, travelling to see a show.
I used to follow the Dead on the West Coast and loved it. While I was with a large group of friends, many, many times I was "alone" throughout the show. Well, technically I was at the shows.... I was hangin on the rail at the Greek in the late 80s with a buddy and his pals and the Dead were SUPER late going on, and I went, "Huh, i'm not where I'm supposed to be." I wandered off and whamo, show started. Whatever.
Business trips I check out movies solo, I eat at sushi bars solo. Love it. Had a solo Ace Frehley tix for SoCal but trip got cut short....
So I bought EV Santa Cruz single and was stoked, me and Eddie! And then yeah, I started calling friends and we all went with single seats. Berk1 I went with a complete stranger, 10C member who is probably starting to regret it because of how thankful I've been -- 2nd Row!
So now I'm totally ready, Gorge or down to LA LA land, Santa barbara on my list. I got a good wingman for Bridge School, totally into all music and he won't miss that. But WHEN PJ comes out here again, I'm catchin as many as I can!
Like many others have said, I find it hard to get friends to go to shows these days....well, friends who would appreciate PJ shows as much as I do. And living in Houston, I've had to travel the past few years....and I don't have any friends who are die hard enough to do that. Did Vegas in '06 and both MSG shows this year solo. Also doing the Ed shows in Chicago by myself. The first time I went alone was a little strange...but I love it now. Have met some really great people and I've found I can focus and appreciate the show much more when it's just me.
ive been to a ton of shows by myself. i go to shows to see the band and the music which i can do on my own very easily. it may seem kind of depressing to people, but the truth is, you go there, watch the band, then go home. its not the end of the world if you are by yourself. i would rather be by myself than with someone who doesn't really appreciate the music.
I have been to most shows out of Colorado Pearl Jam shows by myself. Seattle, Vegas, Hawaii, San Diego and soon Chicago. I can't rely on my friends to have the cash flow and some of them don't like the music I like. I'm not one that needs someone to hold their hand. I am very independent and if I want to do something I do it even though it may present some challenges for a girl traveling alone. Life is too short not to do the things you want. There are advantages to going to shows alone; I come and go as I please, I don't have to hear them whining about how they want to go home and having to deal with my friends that get stupid drunk at shows.
Denver 94 Red Rocks 95 1 & 2 Denver 98 Seattle 98 1 & 2 Vegas 2000 Denver 03 Vegas 03
Seattle 04 1 & 2 Denver 06 1 & 2 Vegas 06
Honolulu 12/02/06 & 12/09/06
Seattle 12/09/2013
Denver 10/22/2014
EV San Diego 1 & 2 EV Chicago 1 & 2 2008
EV Honolulu 1 & 2 2009
EV Austin 11/09, 11/11 2012
RNDM Boulder 11/18/2012
I'm not one that needs someone to hold their hand. I am very independent and if I want to do something I do it even though it may present some challenges for a girl traveling alone. Life is too short not to do the things you want. There are advantages to going to shows alone; I come and go as I please, I don't have to hear them whining about how they want to go home and having to deal with my friends that get stupid drunk at shows.
Amen.
I traveled alone to see some shows in June from Finland, and I'm a girl too.
Won't let the light escape from me.
Won't let the darkness swallow me.
I've been to a ton of Pearl jam shows by myself, most of my friends aren't into them or can't make it for some reason.
Hmm, lets see
Montreal, Ottawa & Toronto '05 (drove up and across alone rockin' out to PJ the whole time)
Albany '06
Hartford '06
Boston I & 11 '06
MSG I & II '08
Hartford '08
Boston I & II '08
EV Boston I & II
And I'll keep going alone if I need to
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will know peace.
I actually prefer to go to shows alone. Usually I get into such a zone that I block out everyone around me, including friends. I don't want to talk to anyone once the performance has begun (like going to the movies). And I'm not one to dissect a show immediately afterwards.
This isn't to say I haven't met some great people prior to shows over the years. Once, a couple days after 9/11, I had a pastor and his artist wife buy me ice cream and beer all night! Maybe someone will take pity on my poor soul tonight...
I have gone to a number of shows by myself. I would rather go by myself than not go. I have found, I usually end up sitting by cool PJ fans. A few times I met peope at pre-show parties/benefits.
I have gone to the following shows by myself...had a blast!!!
EV solo in 2000, I think it was (in LA)
Gorge 2003
Denver 7/3/2006
San Diego 7/6/2006 (I think it was)
I almost went to Hawaii 2006 by myself...but had some fellow PJ fans join me at the last minute!
Since all my old friends "grew up" I've been to LOADS of shows alone..mostly smaller club shows, punk rock and that sort of thing but I did see PJ at Lolla last year. Stood there by myself for 9 long hours to see PJ. It was totally worth it.
So anyone else go to shows by themselves? Any good experiences? Any bad ones? Any funny ones?
Pearl Jam March 92, Columbus Ohio. Bought 2 tickets, my friend couldnt make it, so I gave 1 ticket away to someone outside the venue wanting so bad to go to the show. He almost kissed my in front of 50+ people waiting outside Newport.
Eleven was opening for the show.
Breeders (93 I think) Newport Columbus
John Spencer & The Blues Explosion was opening.
excellent thread that just helped me make a decision.
I will be going to apw festival and the eddie show in nj on the 7th alone. I wanted to go but was worried about doing it alone, thanks to what everyone said here i said screw it and just booked the trip.
"I'll ride the wave where it takes me"
09/19/05, 05/09/06, 05/10/06
not everyone understands being so passionate about music -- some people think it's obsessive to go to a social event alone--
I like having someone along to share the fun but I do go solo whenever circumstance requires -- it's an oportunity to enjoy the experience on a whole different level
also, anyone else here an only child? i learned early on how to do things on my own
"We feel like we could play just about anything, and you fuckers would know it."
EV
"Hey, it’s not like we come into your house demanding bacon and eggs... what I’m saying is, if you offered us pancakes, we’d eat pancakes."
EV
I have never gone to a show alone, but I can see myself doing so in the near future as not alot of my friends or family share interest in some of the bands I want to see. I would probably go to shows alone more often if I lived closer to a big city that has alot of venues. Right now the places I go to the most are about a 45 minute to an hour south into Massachusettes and it's nice to have somebody with you for the ride there and back and standing in lines. Once I'm in there I could care less where they go.
not everyone understands being so passionate about music -- some people think it's obsessive to go to a social event alone--
I like having someone along to share the fun but I do go solo whenever circumstance requires -- it's an oportunity to enjoy the experience on a whole different level
also, anyone else here an only child? i learned early on how to do things on my own
Middle child, but I completely agree with you on this. My buddy backed out on me at the last minute and I went to the mansfield shows alone, met alot of cool people. did my own thing, and had a fucking blast. I think I'm actually going to the Aug. 22 show alone if one of my buddies doesn't step up to the plate soon.
Detroit 03, Toronto 03, Toledo 04, Kitchener 05, London 05, Cleveland 06, Detroit 06, Cincinnati 06, Chicago 07, Mansfield 08, EV Chicago 08, East Troy 11, Pensacola 12, EV Jax 12, Wrigley 13, Pittsburgh 13, Dallas 13, OKC 13, Detroit 14, Ft Lauderdale 16, Miami 16, Tampa 16, Jax 16, Sea 18
WPB Pearl Jam this year as my friend I was meeting down there caught a terrible flu
Rolling Stones United Center Chicago 2003, wife was very pregnant (had the baby a month early the next day!) so I went by myself. My parents were there, just not sitting with me. Went to the pre party and had a great time anyway, nice people sitting near me.
There's Pearl Jam, The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Robert Johnson......and then everybody else.
I'm a 50 + yr old woman , so needless to say none of my friends are into Pearl Jam, I have no problem going to a show alone. I am a huge Neil Young fan too, I have a group of friends that I meet up with all over the country at his shows so I have no problem buying a single ticket and going by myself.
Some of those Neil young fans also go to see Pearl Jam and I meet up with them there too. However I was the only one in our group to get tickets to Ed'd Boston 2 show, so I went by myself and I was glad I did, the show was great.
I've been to several shows by myself in my long career of show-attending... because as many others have said, I'd rather go alone than miss a great show! I've been to a couple of Pearl Jam shows by myself (New Orleans '03 and Albany '03), I went to a Blind Melon show myself, Pete Yorn, Brad, and my absolute so-glad-I-didn't-miss this: Alice in Chains in November 1992. That was one of the best (non PJ!) shows I've ever been to in my life and I would have missed it, had I been too self-conscious/afraid/whatever to go by myself.
I went to Ed solo/Boston 2 by myself on Saturday night for a different reason, though...things are a little tight financially for my husband and I right now, so it saved $100 by me going alone.
There is nothing wrong with going to shows by yourself. Some people are so hung up about it, though, and think it's so strange...
Comments
1996: Ft Lauderdale
1998: Birmingham
2000: Charlotte, Tampa
2003: Tampa, Atlanta, Phoenix
2004: Kissimmee
2008: West Palm Beach, Bonnaroo, Columbia
2010: MSG2
2012: Music Midtown
2014: Memphis
2018: Wrigley 1, Fenway 1
2022: Nashville
2023: Ft. Worth II
2024: Baltimore
Upcoming: 2025 Hollywood, FL Night 2
EV- 08/09,10/2008.06/08,09/2009
It maybe sucks if you get there too early and have to sit around by yourself before the band goes on. But once the lights go down, it's like going to any other show.
Maybe I'm strange, though. I work a job where I wind up alone on the road a lot. So I've gotten used to eating meals and going to bars by myself ... flying solo to a concert isn't much different than that.
for the least they could possibly do
I'm the same way (traveling for work)...I brought a book to read between sets last night
I'm going to NIN on tuesday in Toronto aswell as both of Eddie's shows in Toronto. All three I will be attending alone.
10/05/00 Toronto, 09/13/05 Hamilton, 09/19/05 Toronto,
05/09/06 Toronto, 05/10/06 Toronto, 08/12/08 Toronto EV,
08/13/08 Toronto EV, 08/21/09 Toronto, 05/10/10 Buffalo
1996: Ft Lauderdale
1998: Birmingham
2000: Charlotte, Tampa
2003: Tampa, Atlanta, Phoenix
2004: Kissimmee
2008: West Palm Beach, Bonnaroo, Columbia
2010: MSG2
2012: Music Midtown
2014: Memphis
2018: Wrigley 1, Fenway 1
2022: Nashville
2023: Ft. Worth II
2024: Baltimore
Upcoming: 2025 Hollywood, FL Night 2
why is that? I've gone solo to both and I didn't really tell the difference.
for the least they could possibly do
Pearl Jam bootlegs:
http://wegotshit.blogspot.com
I have a good crew of friends, but each likes totally different music. 2-3 years ago when I arranged for 12 of us to all attend RUSH together, it was nuts, didn't enjoy myself. I usually just pick one friend, buy the tix and treat 'em. We've been chattin up hitting Vegas for shows for awhile ... first step, travelling to see a show.
I used to follow the Dead on the West Coast and loved it. While I was with a large group of friends, many, many times I was "alone" throughout the show. Well, technically I was at the shows.... I was hangin on the rail at the Greek in the late 80s with a buddy and his pals and the Dead were SUPER late going on, and I went, "Huh, i'm not where I'm supposed to be." I wandered off and whamo, show started. Whatever.
Business trips I check out movies solo, I eat at sushi bars solo. Love it. Had a solo Ace Frehley tix for SoCal but trip got cut short....
So I bought EV Santa Cruz single and was stoked, me and Eddie! And then yeah, I started calling friends and we all went with single seats. Berk1 I went with a complete stranger, 10C member who is probably starting to regret it because of how thankful I've been -- 2nd Row!
So now I'm totally ready, Gorge or down to LA LA land, Santa barbara on my list. I got a good wingman for Bridge School, totally into all music and he won't miss that. But WHEN PJ comes out here again, I'm catchin as many as I can!
(Hmm Greek for MMJ...)
Seattle 04 1 & 2 Denver 06 1 & 2 Vegas 06
Honolulu 12/02/06 & 12/09/06
Seattle 12/09/2013
Denver 10/22/2014
EV San Diego 1 & 2 EV Chicago 1 & 2 2008
EV Honolulu 1 & 2 2009
EV Austin 11/09, 11/11 2012
RNDM Boulder 11/18/2012
Amen.
I traveled alone to see some shows in June
Won't let the darkness swallow me.
Hmm, lets see
Montreal, Ottawa & Toronto '05 (drove up and across alone rockin' out to PJ the whole time)
Albany '06
Hartford '06
Boston I & 11 '06
MSG I & II '08
Hartford '08
Boston I & II '08
EV Boston I & II
And I'll keep going alone if I need to
being a taper its just as easy..I come and go as I please...
This isn't to say I haven't met some great people prior to shows over the years. Once, a couple days after 9/11, I had a pastor and his artist wife buy me ice cream and beer all night! Maybe someone will take pity on my poor soul tonight...
I have gone to the following shows by myself...had a blast!!!
EV solo in 2000, I think it was (in LA)
Gorge 2003
Denver 7/3/2006
San Diego 7/6/2006 (I think it was)
I almost went to Hawaii 2006 by myself...but had some fellow PJ fans join me at the last minute!
Just recently went to EV in Boston 2 by myself.
It's nice in the desert....please play here PJ!
Pearl Jam March 92, Columbus Ohio. Bought 2 tickets, my friend couldnt make it, so I gave 1 ticket away to someone outside the venue wanting so bad to go to the show. He almost kissed my in front of 50+ people waiting outside Newport.
Eleven was opening for the show.
Breeders (93 I think) Newport Columbus
John Spencer & The Blues Explosion was opening.
I will be going to apw festival and the eddie show in nj on the 7th alone. I wanted to go but was worried about doing it alone, thanks to what everyone said here i said screw it and just booked the trip.
09/19/05, 05/09/06, 05/10/06
I like having someone along to share the fun but I do go solo whenever circumstance requires -- it's an oportunity to enjoy the experience on a whole different level
also, anyone else here an only child? i learned early on how to do things on my own
EV
"Hey, it’s not like we come into your house demanding bacon and eggs... what I’m saying is, if you offered us pancakes, we’d eat pancakes."
EV
Middle child, but I completely agree with you on this. My buddy backed out on me at the last minute and I went to the mansfield shows alone, met alot of cool people. did my own thing, and had a fucking blast. I think I'm actually going to the Aug. 22 show alone if one of my buddies doesn't step up to the plate soon.
WPB Pearl Jam this year as my friend I was meeting down there caught a terrible flu
Rolling Stones United Center Chicago 2003, wife was very pregnant (had the baby a month early the next day!) so I went by myself. My parents were there, just not sitting with me. Went to the pre party and had a great time anyway, nice people sitting near me.
Never fully trust the people who are going to the show just to go to a show. They dissapoint. Lame.
Some of those Neil young fans also go to see Pearl Jam and I meet up with them there too. However I was the only one in our group to get tickets to Ed'd Boston 2 show, so I went by myself and I was glad I did, the show was great.
I went to Ed solo/Boston 2 by myself on Saturday night for a different reason, though...things are a little tight financially for my husband and I right now, so it saved $100 by me going alone.
There is nothing wrong with going to shows by yourself. Some people are so hung up about it, though, and think it's so strange...