For fans outside of NY, What’s with the hype about MSG.

CJ23113

I see  PJ 15 times 8 at msg. Think every time I've seen them outside of msg has been a better show.

on2legs

I’ve seen every MSG show and there have been some legendary ones, some pretty good ones and some just fine ones.  Saying every show there is amazing is overhyping it.  But you do always feel like you just might get something special at the beginning of any show there.  And it’s cool to feel the floor bounce when the crowd really gets into it. 

ponner1us

IMHO, it’s a little bit “there have been some legendary shows,” and a lot bit “NYC” is a lot of fun. Add in the fact that there are 2 Northeast shows on this leg, and there you go. 
2010 MSG II was legendary for sure. 
“And away we go...”

SVRDhand13

MickeyMouse said:

LongRed_again said:

OK fine I'll answer. Every single show they've played there has been legendary. It has nothing to do with the state of the building or how new it is or how much of a dump it might be. There's a reason everyone and their damn friends wants tix to see them at MSG. The band gives everything on that stage and the audience gives everything back. 

Wrong. Those 2008 shows were duds. There’s a handful of amazing shows they’ve done at MSG but I’ve seen just as good or better in Philly and Boston. 

I wasn’t at all of these , but based on the bootlegs, I’d say:

1998, 2003, 2010 = Amazing
2008, 2016 = Good 

MickeyMouse

SVRDhand13 said:

MickeyMouse said:

LongRed_again said:

OK fine I'll answer. Every single show they've played there has been legendary. It has nothing to do with the state of the building or how new it is or how much of a dump it might be. There's a reason everyone and their damn friends wants tix to see them at MSG. The band gives everything on that stage and the audience gives everything back. 

Wrong. Those 2008 shows were duds. There’s a handful of amazing shows they’ve done at MSG but I’ve seen just as good or better in Philly and Boston. 

I wasn’t at all of these , but based on the bootlegs, I’d say:

1998, 2003, 2010 = Amazing
2008, 2016 = Good 

I would put the 2016 shows above the ‘good’ ranking, especially night 1. But both Philly nights were better. 

2008 just had no flow. They’re my least listened to bootlegs. 

SVRDhand13

MickeyMouse said:

SVRDhand13 said:

MickeyMouse said:

LongRed_again said:

OK fine I'll answer. Every single show they've played there has been legendary. It has nothing to do with the state of the building or how new it is or how much of a dump it might be. There's a reason everyone and their damn friends wants tix to see them at MSG. The band gives everything on that stage and the audience gives everything back. 

Wrong. Those 2008 shows were duds. There’s a handful of amazing shows they’ve done at MSG but I’ve seen just as good or better in Philly and Boston. 

I wasn’t at all of these , but based on the bootlegs, I’d say:

1998, 2003, 2010 = Amazing
2008, 2016 = Good 

I would put the 2016 shows above the ‘good’ ranking, especially night 1. But both Philly nights were better. 

2008 just had no flow. They’re my least listened to bootlegs. 

I saw 7 shows in 2016. MSG were the two worst. Better than 2008, but not their best. 

jdesantis1983

I've lived in NJ my whole life, mostly see shows at MSG because of the proximity and they get the biggest acts. Have seen PJ there multiple times, Petty, Clapton, Gilmour, Foos, Kings of Leon. If any of them were playing a show on the same tour in NJ I'd try to see them there but mostly that's not an option, especially since they closed the arena in the Meadowlands. Prudential Center in Newark gets some good shows now and I enjoy going there since it's even closer and more convenient, but the crowd there has never challenged any MSG crowd for any show I've ever been to. If PJ played more shows in NJ I'd prioritize going to those before MSG, but 99% of the time it's closest show they're playing to where I live (Philly is about an hour away and the Philly Ten show is still probably my favorite PJ show I've been to). I guess I take it for granted seeing them at MSG because I'm just as happy to see them anywhere. I get more excited these days when I see them in a city I haven't seen a show in before like Baltimore coming up, or when I saw them in Buffalo/Hartford/Philly, or if Seattle ever happens. For MSG and the fans I think it's a combo of location, significance of the city, and history of the venue for other legendary musicians. For the band maybe it means something coming from their early days playing small venues here like the Limelight, or Letterman, and the first times they played MSG and most of their musical heroes revering the venue also. People get down on MSG II show from 2016, it was my older brother's first show and he really hasn't kept up with their music since around Yield. He was blown away and it was a great setlist for a casual older fan like that, I loved it. You're not going to get Sting taking a car over from his place and walking out onstage on a random weeknight in St. Louis, Milwaukee, or even Boston or Philly, there's always a possibility at MSG. 

Long Red

If MSG is so overhyped, why the hell does everyone from around the damn world try to get tix to all the shows, making it nearly impossible for locals to see their favorite band at their hometown arena? Asking for a friend.

IlliniGuy76

I've seen the band play at MSG & other venues - they don't "bring it" more in NYC/MSG;  it's really just a false narrative.  With that said, someone hit the nail on the head - it's more so the opportunity to see the band in an iconic venue in one of the best cities in the World.  

IlliniGuy76

Lemon Yellow Sun said:

He said the same exact thing when he played at Wrigley Field.

josevolution

Overrated..

PJNB

For me its visiting the city and history of the venue. I am not expecting a better performance than any other show but there has always been a bit of magic with MSG shows and I want to see it in person. That said 1 show and 2 days off after they are going to bring it! 

mcgruff10

I've been to every msg show.  
Legendary shows: 
9/11/98
night 1, 03
night 2, 2010

Amazing shows:
night 1, 2016 main set

Great shows:
9/10/98
night 2, 03
night 1, 10

good shows but nothing special:
night 1, 08
night 2, 08
night 2, 16

I think you could do a break down like this for any city in which pj has played.  

JimmyV

I personally am shocked to learn something is overhyped in NYC.

rockyroc17

For me, I grew up watching the Live at the Garden DVD and that show kind of inspired me to play music. So I've always dreamed of seeing Pearl Jam in that building because I've watched that DVD so many times. Also, being in a building where Zeppelin played and other icons, always seemed like a place I wanted to see a show in.

ponytd

I went to both shows in 16. My first time in the Garden and NYC for that matter . Night 1 was awesome, and I think the only concert I've been to where the floor shook for a concert. Night 2 was good, but not great. I've always wanted to see them at MSG one because it's a legendary venue. It's been around for a long, long time. Most of the other iconic venues are gone. Boston Garden is gone, madhouse on Madison is gone, and while there are newer versions of these places, they're not iconic. MSG is one of the few left in this country, so for me it was more about just being there in that venue. Hell, i'd go see PJ anywhere but always wanted to see them in NYC and in Seattle and been lucky enough to see them in both places.

RF123172

It is the history.  Especially with so many old venues being torn down and replaced.  For a band, it is the equivalent of playing the Ed Sullivan Show back in the old days.  As a venue itself, it is not up to the modern standards of many newer venues today.  But they did a great job in the recent update.  On the whole, it is the audience feeding off the excitement of the bands enthusiasm to be there.  Although at many shows I feel the NY audience can be a little jaded.  And I am a lifelong (62) New Yorker.

F Me In The Brain

overhyped but the reasons it is so desired are listed out well here, for the most part.

Easy access to city

Historical city for US

Historical venue

Fun city

Northeast crowds go apeshit

The band seems to love to play there

A perfect storm

I would rather see them in Philly, as it is closer for me, but love to see them in NYC.

Yefa

I've seen the last 8 Pearl Jam shows at MSG.  I won't be at this one due to a previously planned trip.  As was mentioned upthread it's "The World's Most Famous Arena" and many people know about it long before they see a show or game there.  That's not true of every major city venue by a long shot.  As was also mentioned, it has been around for many years.  The old buildings in Boston and Chicago and Philly are no longer in use.  For me personally, I was born in Manhattan and grew up primarily in Connecticut.  My first show at MSG was Dylan & Petty with my Dad in 1986.  Since then I've seen PJ, Springsteen, Neil Young, and other favorites there.  So it holds a lot of history for me.  

BennyLaRue

Now ask about NY pizza!

CROJAM95

for me its the bars around the venue, the fact I can take a train in from long island and not worry about a car ( Like I will at the Forum in LA)....THE energy is real, not Scalping prices real

Id recommend going to anyone, but dont be a fool and pay thru the nose......no show is worth those stupid secondary market prices

SVRDhand13

JimmyV said:

I personally am shocked to learn something is overhyped in NYC.

No offense but the first time I visited Boston I asked my parents “where’s the rest of it?”  

23scidoo

For me it's the one of the two dream places to see the band..
made it to the other..

cutz

23scidoo said:

For me it's the one of the two dream places to see the band..
made it to the other..

I think you should consider Philly, my man. 

I've seen PJ a bunch of times and when i think of some of the best shows i've seen, MSG shows doesn't come to my mind. 

xavier mcdaniel

great place for visiting NBA players, especially in the last 20 decades except for 2012-13, 2011-12 and 2010-11 which represent the only Knicks winning seasons since 2001.   

spankyMP

SB129840 said:

People talk about night 2 ‘98 and night 2 2010, but that’s really it. The most talked about NY show is Randalls Island night 2, not even an MSG show.

Those three shows were amazing, so glad I got to be there for each one.  Charlottesville 2013 was on par with them for me, but I was second off the rail for that one, so easily upped my experience.

spankyMP

cutz said:

23scidoo said:

For me it's the one of the two dream places to see the band..
made it to the other..

 I think you should consider Philly, my man. 

I've seen PJ a bunch of times and when i think of some of the best shows i've seen, MSG shows doesn't come to my mind. 

I enjoyed the last three nights at the spectrum. Philly is a good recommendation!

pearldavidson

Philly gets better shows IMO.

Lerxst1992

JimmyV said:

I personally am shocked to learn something is overhyped in NYC.

Like Fenway?

spankyMP

spankyMP said:

SB129840 said:

People talk about night 2 ‘98 and night 2 2010, but that’s really it. The most talked about NY show is Randalls Island night 2, not even an MSG show.

Those three shows were amazing, so glad I got to be there for each one.  Charlottesville 2013 was on par with them for me, but I was second off the rail for that one, so easily upped my experience.

It all comes down to the experience people had. At Randall’s island II it was my first show, all GA, we made it up to the front of the pit, my friend got pulled up on stage, Eddie with the duct tape, In My Tree was incredible, it didn’t rain, 32 songs, 3 hour show...

MSG night 2 1998: First six songs right out of the gate excellence, Ed throwing the mike over head and climbing up, Breath campaign success, overall set list quality...just an amazing night.

MSG 2 2010: they were on fire all night, Ed getting choked up during Better Man, slow lukin, sweet lew, black red yellow, the real me, MSG shaking, 35-song setlist, encore 2 was incredible I still get goosebumps listening to it...

speaking of MSG shaking I guess do the evolution 2003 has to get a shout out.