Chicago 2 - Wasn't the crowd's fault...

yellowbetterman

Regarding some posts that the crowd was bad at Chicago 2. I went to both shows, and the crowd at the first night was very respectful and quiet. It felt like a West Coast show I attended.

Here's my opinion for the shift in crowd demeanor: It was all over TV and radio in Chicago that Ed had been at Wrigley with Chris Chelios, who had the Stanley Cup. Of course, everyone knew Chelios would show up at the concert to showboat.

While it was cool to see the Stanley Cup, Chelios should have brought it out DURING an encore towards the end. Instead, he cockteases the crowd at the beginning from the balcony and gets the crowd revved up...for an acoustic concert. I think he got everyone's expectations up for a awesome night of surprises, and people got restless when the surprises weren't there.

Also, I'm guessing Eddie wasn't as well-rested for night 2, given he had been on a pub crawl from Wrigley to the theater.

My friends and I were shocked that Night 1 was better than Night 2. I wish he had done all of Brain Damage!

like.echoes

Am I the only one who thinks it's lame that Chelios brought the Stanley Cup to the show?

IwasBit10

pjamamy wrote:

Am I the only one who thinks it's lame that Chelios brought the Stanley Cup to the show?

Yeah, and especially all the fans going nuts for it. To make it worse, it's the Red Wings cup!!

And I kinda agree with the OP. He definitely revved up the crowd and was kind of a distraction in the anticipation of waiting for Ed. Oh well.

prrlJAM26

Sounds like Chelios was pretty much rubbing it in the fans' faces that he got to hang with Ed all day...JEALOUSY

voodoopug

prrlJAM26 wrote:

Sounds like Chelios was pretty much rubbing it in the fans' faces that he got to hang with Ed all day...JEALOUSY

Cheli is from chicago, operates a business in Chicago and loves Chicago. he was and always has been each time I've met him, genuine.

yellowbetterman

I was concerned about the feedback I would get for this post, but now I can say what I feel: Chris Chelios ruined Chicago 2. I'm a big fan of Eddie, but I don't understand his friendship with a showboater like Chelios.

Dylan Stone

yellowbetterman wrote:

Also, I'm guessing Eddie wasn't as well-rested for night 2, given he had been on a pub crawl from Wrigley to the theater.

Is ths true?

Did he say that at the show or something?

swtlew

The crowd was definitely more rowdy for the second show. I'm sure that's why he stopped Brain Damage (throwing the sheet music emphatically). For such a mellow song some of the Floydsters went a little over the top. But the fans overall were pretty good.

I know Chris and he brings the Cup to Chicago not to gloat but because he's originally a Chicago guy and there are a lot of Chris Chelios fans here. Some of which are also big Blackhawk fans, who are happy for him and in awe of the Cup in any display. Pretty funny to see Sean Penn, John Cusack (I believe the JC Ed spoke about, and Chelios in the same box. Anyone know who, if anyone special, the couple in the same box was during Hard Sun? McCandless'? Vedders? Or just over-enthusiastic claim jumpers?

I think it was just a Friday night show and people got a little too energized. Thursday was better but a drop from a 10.1 to a 10 is ok in my book.

yellowbetterman

That's my guess. He probably got to bed late, woke up to go to a day game at Wrigley. Then there's a rain delay...you gotta think he had a couple drinks at the game. Then I'm sure he and Chelios didn't stop at church for 5pm mass.

IwasBit10

GTFLYGIRL wrote:

Is ths true?

Did he say that at the show or something?

Yeah, i wanna know this too. I don't remember him saying anything at the show about it.

And I will always like Chelios for his contributions to the city and the Blackhawks. Was definitely a favorite player of mine growing up. But when he walked in, holding the cup, my friend and I just looked at each other, like what the fuck? I heard Cheli was parading around the city all day with it. I'll cheer Cheli, but not for the cup when it belongs to red wings.

Vedd Hedd

yellowbetterman wrote:

While it was cool to see the Stanley Cup, Chelios should have brought it out DURING an encore towards the end. Instead, he cockteases the crowd at the beginning from the balcony and gets the crowd revved up...for an acoustic concert.

Uhhh....Acoustic concert?

Neither concert was acoustic.

It was pretty much varied.

Vedd Hedd

yellowbetterman wrote:

I was concerned about the feedback I would get for this post, but now I can say what I feel: Chris Chelios ruined Chicago 2. I'm a big fan of Eddie, but I don't understand his friendship with a showboater like Chelios.

Oh god.

That show was not ruined. What are you talking about?

Vedd Hedd

pjamamy wrote:

Am I the only one who thinks it's lame that Chelios brought the Stanley Cup to the show?

For the team that wins the cup, each player get to bring the cup with them wherever they go for a certain amount of time.

Some players have a party and serve chicken wings out of it. Some feed their dogs food out of it. It has ended up in many a strip club. Its like your metal friend for a week. Its been to hundreds of concerts.

Since Chris Chelios and Ed were friends from way back when they were teenagers, I didnt see it that odd that it was at an Eddie Vedder concert.

Eddie Vedder
Chris Chelios
John Cusack

All chicagoans who made it big. its no wonder they are friends.

JoWesley

There were some fans from Michigan in attendance who were happy to see the Cup.

efroten

I disagree about blaming Chelios for this. But then again, I may have had a worse time due to the crowd directly around me. I was towards the back of the 1st balcony where the stupid "CHELIOS!!!!" bitch was that wouldnt shut the fuck up. It seemed like all the loudmouth drunks were around me, and standing up talking and hanging out in the back by the stairs.

For gods sake, the crowd was so drunk it couldnt even do the sing-a-long for the damn cubs song!

And while this wasn't really a full "acoustic" concert, it was meant to be a quieter more mellow show than a PJ show at say the United Center. And the crowd seemed to totally forget that. After a while Ed realized what the crowd wanted and started in on the crowd participation songs.

And I agree with the person who made the comment about night one feeling like a west coast show, I was the last show in San Diego and while Ed was getting pissed at the crowd in SD, he was still in a better mood than the last night in chicago.

Vedd Hedd

efroten wrote:

For gods sake, the crowd was so drunk it couldnt even do the sing-a-long for the damn cubs song!

What do you expect from Cubs fans. They are a classless bunch.

I dont think Ed was in a bad mood. I think he was feeling out the crowd, realized there was much more energy than the night before, and altered the setlist.

Most of the screamers were women, from what I heard.

Yeah, thursday was more laid back, more locals. I think there were more people from all around on Friday, as it was the last show on the tour, and a Friday night.

lostpuppy

Cubs suck

I couldn't see the cup, but that would have been neat.

drsluggo

81shark wrote:

Cubs suck

I couldn't see the cup, but that would have been neat.

Oh STFU...

BTW though, I think part of the thing that sucks about Ed playing when a bunch of celebrities are there... I dont think there's that feeling of 'lets play a few more' because he wants to get back and hang out with them. And there's nothing wrong with that, but I was really hoping for just an insane last show and it was good, but nowhere near night 1 IMO.

So I won't blame the crowd even though in the TC secion I was in they were awful (screaming/yelling, singing out of tune, talking during songs, etc), but I will blame the fact that he had some many friends there.

DarbyCrash

My friend Sashka and I went to the show last night (my husband is not a fan, I think I have mentioned that here before). I was in Balcony 1, row M seat 314...and around a bunch of total idiots who were not there to enjoy the show and Ed, but to chug beer, high five eachother and be as obnoxious as possible. The people in the row in front of us got up a total of 20 times (not kidding) to get more beer. DURING the songs. There was a couple sitting to the front/right of us making out the entire time and spilling beer all over themselves and us. At one point I got so pissed at the guy behind me for blowing this earpiercing whistle in my ear, I turned around and told him to shut the fuck up. We got into an argument about it and it almost ruined Masters of War for me. I felt kind of bad for flipping out on him, so I turned around to apologize and he promised not to whistle. Ok, all good.

But seriously, as for the other folks...WHY the fuck bother going to see Ed at such a nice venue, when it is CLEAR that he has had it with the people screaming out requests (I remember him mentioning something about putting quarters up his ass), only to get drunk, yell and scream YELLOW LEDBETTER!! Why??

And what was with the girl jumping up on the stage during Let My Love Open The Door??? It amazes me how some people lose total control of themselves when handed a beer.

Other than all of that nonsense, Ed was fantastic and fucking funny too!! It was great to see him in such a beautiful theater.

mkumer24

DarbyCrash wrote:

But seriously, as for the other folks...WHY the fuck bother going to see Ed at such a nice venue, when it is CLEAR that he has had it with the people screaming out requests (I remember him mentioning something about putting quarters up his ass), only to get drunk, yell and scream YELLOW LEDBETTER!! Why??

And what was with the girl jumping up on the stage during Let My Love Open The Door??? It amazes me how some people lose total control of themselves when handed a beer.

Other than all of that nonsense, Ed was fantastic and fucking funny too!! It was great to see him in such a beautiful theater.

I think people need to realize that people that post on this forum, love Ed and truly appreciate his music. But obviously there are many other breeds of fans. You have people who love his music, are solid fans and respectful. You also have some "fans" that have heard Ten and some Vs on the radio. You probably also have some people who have just heard of Pearl Jam and that's it, just going to have a good time and drink. You just gotta realize there is a spectrum of fans.

So when you think of these low breeds which might represent say, 10% of the crowd. They don't know Ed is annoyed with screamers. They don't care or appreciate what a unique setting they're in. They want to hear some recognizable songs, get drunk, and have a good time.

It's just something that will never go away. However, it would be greatly reduced if they had no alcohol. That's the only fix I could think of. Or possibly having some kind of drink limit.

I'm glad you still enjoyed the show even with some of the dbags around you.

NeilJam

pjamamy wrote:

Am I the only one who thinks it's lame that Chelios brought the Stanley Cup to the show?

Sounds pretty cool to me that Lord Stanley was at the show.

He should have let the Cup sit on the stage.