I seem to be in the minority, and will openly admit that I can't stand Vegas, but PJ at the Sphere makes no sense to me at all. They are not a "visuals heavy" act, I mean we have this giant screen on the current tour and they barely use it for anything interesting outside of the 30 year old DTE video, video of the band, and some random squiggles. Do we really think they are gonna develop two hours of unique visuals to play the Sphere a few times? And if they do, cause money talks, do we really think it will be better than seeing them in say, Philly? With a bunch of drunken idiots there on comp tickets for getting lucky at roulette?
It would be a unique experience and I'd be interested to see what they put together for that venue
Agreed. People are too focused on what the band has done, or what they are doing now. The amazing Pearl Jam is an ever evolving act. I'm very excited to see what visual art would be developed for a potential Sphere show. Perhaps the talented Rob Sheridan is involved, as he did a great job on the Dark Matter tour visuals.
Pearl Jam can always and forever continue to evolve. But they don't need these visuals at all. They distract from the band. And bring no added value.
No one is suggesting that they need the visuals, but perhaps they want to try it because they want to. Besides the visuals, I also enjoy the zoomed in views of the band, and also the audience shots. Pearl Jam is too good of a live act to let anything distract you from them. If anything, the visuals would likely be creatively designed as to enhance the experience and draw you in. I'm sure the team is well aware of all of this as they plan (if they plan, still a rumor).
I seem to be in the minority, and will openly admit that I can't stand Vegas, but PJ at the Sphere makes no sense to me at all. They are not a "visuals heavy" act, I mean we have this giant screen on the current tour and they barely use it for anything interesting outside of the 30 year old DTE video, video of the band, and some random squiggles. Do we really think they are gonna develop two hours of unique visuals to play the Sphere a few times? And if they do, cause money talks, do we really think it will be better than seeing them in say, Philly? With a bunch of drunken idiots there on comp tickets for getting lucky at roulette?
It would be a unique experience and I'd be interested to see what they put together for that venue
Agreed. People are too focused on what the band has done, or what they are doing now. The amazing Pearl Jam is an ever evolving act. I'm very excited to see what visual art would be developed for a potential Sphere show. Perhaps the talented Rob Sheridan is involved, as he did a great job on the Dark Matter tour visuals.
Pearl Jam can always and forever continue to evolve. But they don't need these visuals at all. They distract from the band. And bring no added value.
Amen. And how many people here will complain if they do a Sphere stint, and the setlists inevitably become more formulaic?
I don't understand your logic. "If they do the Sphere, then the setlists will become more formulaic". I'm not seeing the correlation. The band can do several Sphere performances, and yet still remain the amazing Pearl Jam that we all love, with wonderful setlists.
I'm really confused as to how anyone would think that the Sphere would be a bad thing. It would be a brand new and unique experience. I understand 100% to the people saying that they can't stand Vegas. Fair enough. But the Sphere would be a cool new experience for the band, existing fans, and also potential new fans.
Here are my main reasons I don't want them in the Sphere, in order: 1. They are the best live band in existence and don't need to rely on gimmicky visuals to put on a good show. 2. Doing an extended stint at a single venue, especially in Vegas, feels a bit like a sellout move to me. To me, it signals that their careers are winding down, which is obviously sad and something I don't want to happen. 3. Staying in Vegas adds huge cost to 99% of the fans that could otherwise see them in a closer city. 4. Ticket prices will be astronomical, especially the "good" seats that allow you to fully enjoy the screens. 5. The setlists will become formulaic, because the visuals will be designed around specific songs. Otherwise, there is no point in doing a concert there.
TL;DR - it's a gimmicky venue, I don't want to go to Vegas (many will agree with me on that), and setlists will have to be more formulaic.
That makes sense, and I understand your perspective much better now. I hadn't thought about how the visuals would effect the setlist in that way, and hopefully that's something that they could work around.
No denying the huge costs. Everything is getting so expensive lately. I am a bit biased in my excitement for the Sphere, because I live in LA and that is a very short and cheap flight to Vegas.
But in terms of a sellout move, I think it would be more like a short experiment, before they return back to the usual tours.
Both sides are making great points. What gets me is how do they do seniority seating for a series of shows that REQUIRES airfare and hotels. No chance many fans put in for a ticket lottery with huge travel and ticket costs without know exactly where their tickets are before laying out a grand on travel costs.
For U2 the fan club members knew where their seats were and they had two levels of fans. Yes they messed it up (and offered a second chance for the Ultra members) but it can be done.
I was over 500 comments ago since I’ve been on here. Are the sphere comments rumors or wish list stuff? Any actual rumors? Seen a Toronto and NOLA comment too. I’m currently sitting in Fenway waiting for the guys to hit the stage. Ready to loosely plan 2025!
This guy(Facemeltor) was pretty good for this Tour(2024)
As far as the Sphere goes - no rumors, just information to digest:
1) Ed visited the sphere twice during the U2 residency.
2) At LV1, Ed polled the audience as to how many travelled to the show, and how many were locals. After the crowd responded, he looked toward somebody in the wings off to the side of the stage and said something to the effect of ’See, about 50-50. About half travelled for the show.’ Then he confirmed the band heard him by looking around the stage.
3) Later in the evening of LV1, Ed made a quick comment about being back next year.
4) The big screen behind the stage sure was Sphere-esque, the way they used it.
Pay attention to this guy.
He did the same thing at Napa, and its likely inaccurate
For a band that spent over a decade skipping so many localities, its unfortunate he believes a very unscientific poll which is strongly skewed towards what he wants to be true, to try to win an apparent disagreement with his band.
"Its a democracy." Yeah, right. He will unfortunately probably get his way.
I’m sure it is somewhere on the 29 plus pages, but hoping for NOLA in late April. Not a festival guy but Jazz fest is a blast. They can make a quick cash grab and work their way east or west off it.
I always wanted to go to Jazz Fest, and the lineups are always great. But I heard it gets too uncomfortably crowded, and that would surely sour the experience for me. Hopefully Ohana Fest isn't too crowded.
I've been to Jazzfest both times they played there (2016, 2010).... and honestly, it's underwhelming. I would pass on it again. They get a two hour slot (typically 5-7 pm on Saturday), the crowd is huge and inattentive. A lot of people there for Jazz as opposed to headlining acts.. they want to set up their blanket on the lawn and don't you dare crowd their space.
and it's fucking hot. NOLA in early may - think 90-degrees and 100% RH.
oh... and no merch. Only Jazzfest licensed gear is allowed to be sold at the venue. No posters, no tshirts. in 2010 they made an exception for a pearl jam tshirt and did not make that exception again in 2016... which was fine with me considering they sold them after on the website... but for those that like the merch...
And I also have a pet peeve in that Jazzfest headliners have a contractual clause saying they can't play houston 90-days before/after... which is bullshit... houston is 7 million people and 6 hours away... but it's also kind of irrelevant because Houston isn't getting a show anyway...
I'm a 27 year old New Orleans native that works in the music industry down here, for local musicians as well as LiveNation.
Unfortunately, unless PJ plays Jazzfest again, I doubt we'll ever seen Pearl Jam in New Orleans ever again. Which sucks because Pearl Jam seem to have developed a strong bond with the New Orleans and Team Gleason community that I'd almost hope it'd become a PJ destination event at this point like Chicago or Boston or Ohana etc etc.
Your live music options in NOLA when it comes to big name known artists are growing slimmer and slimmer month after month, at least post covid. Venue options that aren't the Smoothie King Center where the Pelicans play which holds on average around 20(!!!!) concerts and a basketball season a year since covid, are few and far between. The taxes the state apply to almost everything a tour needs to survive is driving these artists away from even talking to bookers representing Louisiana venues. Add increasing ticket prices and low demand across ALL demographics (except, maybe, country.... sometimes) in NOLA to all of this and you're having more shows get cancelled or underselling down here to the point where it doesn't seem feasible for bands to WANT to come down here.
For instance, the venues Pearl Jam has played in Louisiana since their inception have all been different sizes, but some of those aren't even around anymore, but have also never been replaced.
The Municipal Auditorium they played in 1991 opening for the Chili Peppers/Pumpkins was flooded by Katrina and has been sitting abandoned for the last 20 years. A 95 year old historic 7,500 capacity auditorium STILL STANDING but left to rot. Our replacement was Champions Square, a nice flat plot of concrete with a stage and a 7,000 capacity viewing area that held shows with everyone from Hootie and the Blowfish to Slipknot to Tyler, The Creator to Skynyrd. SMG (Superdome Management Group) have read the room when it comes to shows in NOLA and have chosen not to utilize Champions Square as a concert venue for the last 14 months. The last big name band to play was 3 Doors Down and Candlebox.
The venue they circled back to in 1992, Tipitina's (aka Professor Longhair's house), almost went under in the last 10 years or so, but was bought by New Orleans funk legends Galactic, then almost went under AGAIN due to covid. They used to get a bunch of touring artists come through, and it's even considered a mecca to some musicians, but just like every other independent music venue in the world it struggles to make enough money just to keep the doors open.
The UNO Lakefront Arena that hosted those 3 scorching shows from Fall of 93' when Eddie took his drunk ass to Bourbon street and got himself arrested only makes sense if they chose to do multiple nights. The venue itself was built in 1983 and opened with a concert from PRIME "All Night Long" Lionel Ritchie. and guess what? It hasn't been renovated since that day. I kid you not, when you walk into this 9,000 capacity arena, you literally get transported back to the 80's. It looks like a Stranger Things set. I personally believe they've outgrown this venue, but you never know. Billy Strings has called this venue his home for the last 3 years during New Years. Widespread Panic took over this venue post 93 grunge era and has played this venue 32 times since 1997. A month after PJ played, Nirvana played one of their final shows of 1993 here. Pearl Jam would revisit here in 2003 on the Riot Act tour.
The venue they chose for their anit-ticketmaster tour was a venue that was once graced by The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. Tad Gormley hasn't held a proper concert since it was the home of the first (now-defunct) Voodoo Fest in oh gee, let me see, 1999!!!!!! It just won't happen here.
I'd very much like them to come back to the Smoothie King Center. For whatever reason they played there on the Binaural tour, but never again. And I believe PJ's website even wrongly lists this date's venue as the UNO Arena, but this audio of the show clearly shows a ticket stub which state it was at the New Orleans Arena (aka Smoothie King Center thanks to brand deals):
I wasn't at the 2010 Jazzfest show. I planned to see them for the first time at Voodoo in 2013 as a 16 year old, but that fell through and is one of the bigger regrets of my life. But the 2016 Jazzfest show holds a special place in my heart as my first PJ show. People forget, but that setlist was UNREALLLLL for a festival setlist. They OPENED with State Of Love and Trust which has only happened 1 other recorded time in the 90's. God's Dice!! In Hiding! Mid-set Long Road! the 4th to last time Of The Earth was played! and The Real Me with Big Sams Funky Nation, who I've had the pleasure to work with since then. I'll never forget that show!
And i'm sure if you go look at any of the comments on the videos i've shared, you'll see 100s of other people who have commented saying they were there and will never forget those nights.
I think theres a very reasonable chance they could play this year if they have anything planned in the US in April or May...
Please come back PJ. Nola loves and misses you.
Great write up! I was just telling someone the other day that even New Orleans doesn’t seem to be getting big acts anymore. Living in south Alabama, I have limited choices nearby. It now seems that tours jump from ATL then to Houston completely bypassing New Orleans. I saw PJ in 2010 and 2016 at Jazzfest and 2013 at Voodoo Fest and enjoyed all of them. For festival sets they really mixed it up. For Tremor Christ in 2010 Ed mentioned they had recorded that song in New Orleans so there is definitely some history with the band. Like you said…..come back to NOLA PJ!
Anyone else noticed Metallica got my message this morning and announced a no repeat weekend at Rogers in April? See... told you spring in Toronto is a great idea...
Pearl Jam can do a no repeat weekend in Toronto too! Maybe I'll make 2 trips...
Houston, Texas... Believe it or not, there are 7 million people here... must be a couple of fans who'd love to see you play.
Anyone else noticed Metallica got my message this morning and announced a no repeat weekend at Rogers in April? See... told you spring in Toronto is a great idea...
Pearl Jam can do a no repeat weekend in Toronto too! Maybe I'll make 2 trips...
Jazzfest cannot pay the fee for Pearl Jam anymore. If they go back out next year I expect fall dates around Ohana. Maybe ACL in Austin. I do believe that the band likes going to Europe in the summer with their families, but the poor ticket sales might keep them away. And I hate Metallica most overrated band of all time.
I'm done complaining about off days in between shows. We were a mess on Monday morning. Thankful for the extra day of rest between shows. Can't even imagine how the band feels.
I like to joke that you know it is a Metallica song if there is at least 2 minutes of music before the first word is sung.
as a youngster, I was a metalhead. Specifically, Metallica and Megadeth. My first foray into alternative scene, when I listened to the cd, I was like "45 minute album? I was RIPPED OFF". Then I realized that was normal. Imagine my horror when I got into punk and the 28 minute album. haha
"Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk" -EV 8/14/93
Man…. Imagine if PJ went to a place like Blacksburg, VA in 2025….
2010: Cleveland 2012: Atlanta 2013: London ONT / Wrigley Field / Pittsburgh / Buffalo / San Diego / Los Angeles I / Los Angeles II 2014: Cincinnati / St. Louis / Tulsa / Lincoln / Detroit / Denver 2015: New York City 2016: Ft. Lauderdale / Miami / Jacksonville / Greenville / Hampton / Columbia / Lexington / Philly II / New York City II / Toronto II / Bonnaroo / Telluride / Fenway I / Wrigley I / Wrigley - II / TOTD - Philadelphia, San Francisco 2017: Ohana Fest (EV) 2018: Amsterdam I / Amsterdam II / Seattle I / Seattle II / Boston I / Boston II 2021: Asbury Park / Ohana Encore 1 / Ohana Encore 2 2022: Phoenix / LA I / LA II / Quebec City / Ottawa / New York City / Camden / Nashville / St. Louis / Denver 2023: St. Paul II 2024: Las Vegas I / Las Vegas II / New York City I / New York City II / Philly I / Philly II / Baltimore
There’s been quite a lot of bands announcing 2025 dates this week. If PJ have got dates planned, hopefully they don’t make the same mistake that they made this year and get in too slow.
If they come back to europe next year i really hope for a double date somewhere on a friday and saturday as i wont be able to take more than a friday of work due to my co worker being on maternity leave. London, berlin,rome,amsterdam, just make it a friday saturday show🙏🙏🙏
Holy shit. I really have nothing to do with Iron Maiden at all. But looking at their 2025 European tour and the 28 concerts - twenty-eight - can only make you envious. Especially when you look at Pearl Jam this year. From Budapest to Dublin. From Helsinki to Lisbon. Royal Arena, OVO Hydro, 3Arena, Paris La Défense Arena. And the old men have been on stage for 50 years. If Pearl Jam only played a third of these cities, I'd be happy. You can see how low expectations have become compared to other bands.
Going tonight in Ciudad de Mexico with a friend who had "See Metallica One Time" on his bucket list. I was never a massive fan, but man Fade to Black and One are some great songs.
Going tonight in Ciudad de Mexico with a friend who had "See Metallica One Time" on his bucket list. I was never a massive fan, but man Fade to Black and One are some great songs.
Definitely a band you should see at least once live.
If stadiums only or the sphere are what’s ahead then Philly 2 could be my last show. I’ll never go to MetLife or citifield for anything. Rather stay home.
Comments
He did the same thing at Napa, and its likely inaccurate
For a band that spent over a decade skipping so many localities, its unfortunate he believes a very unscientific poll which is strongly skewed towards what he wants to be true, to try to win an apparent disagreement with his band.
"Its a democracy." Yeah, right. He will unfortunately probably get his way.
Pearl Jam can do a no repeat weekend in Toronto too! Maybe I'll make 2 trips...
2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
2017: RRHoF 4/7 2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4 2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18
2022: MSG 9/11 2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
2025: Pittsburgh 5/16+5/18
ISO Hollywood & Nashville 2 tickets. PM me to coordinate a drop!
"...I changed by not changing at all..."
-EV 8/14/93
-EV 8/14/93
2012: Atlanta
2013: London ONT / Wrigley Field / Pittsburgh / Buffalo / San Diego / Los Angeles I / Los Angeles II
2014: Cincinnati / St. Louis / Tulsa / Lincoln / Detroit / Denver
2015: New York City
2016: Ft. Lauderdale / Miami / Jacksonville / Greenville / Hampton / Columbia / Lexington / Philly II / New York City II / Toronto II / Bonnaroo / Telluride / Fenway I / Wrigley I / Wrigley - II / TOTD - Philadelphia, San Francisco
2017: Ohana Fest (EV)
2018: Amsterdam I / Amsterdam II / Seattle I / Seattle II / Boston I / Boston II
2021: Asbury Park / Ohana Encore 1 / Ohana Encore 2
2022: Phoenix / LA I / LA II / Quebec City / Ottawa / New York City / Camden / Nashville / St. Louis / Denver
2023: St. Paul II
2024: Las Vegas I / Las Vegas II / New York City I / New York City II / Philly I / Philly II / Baltimore
(Cough)toobadidon’treallylikeMetallica(cough)
Ah, yes please!