Pearl Jam at MSG is soon , is the aura real? Please share experiences

Lerxst1992

First 2 show MSG run in quite some time. Does this arena bring a  unique PJ experience for fans? Does this place rock and shake for real? Do international fans still consider this “the place” to see the band? Please share stories.

on2legs

Yes

MSG definitely has an aura.  And the place definitely shakes for real. I’ve seen every PJ show there.   But the hype has been blown so far out of proportion that people can leave feeling let down from an otherwise amazing show.  Just enjoy the show and don’t chase an “epic” show.  

CROJAM95

Yes

Lived here my whole life, I love the energy and scene on show day…. 9/11/98 was my 1st show… never forget it

pjhawks

I haven’t seen any PJ shows at the Garden but it’s a special place.  There is just something about it that is hard to define.  You know when you walk and can feel the energy from the building. A Philly guy here but I love the Garden 

pjsteelerfan

wow, 2 whole years since they played in NY, the horror. 

mcgruff10

No

I've been to every msg show since 1998 with the exception of 2022 (damn covid).  I will say there are some legendary shows (night 2, 98, night 1 03, night 2 2010), but overall I think it's just like everywhere else they play.  You get some great shows and you get some just ok shows (2008 both nights, meh). 
I've definitely heard louder crowds in other venues.  Will you have a great time?  Absolutely.  Will the crowd be loud?  oh yeah.  Will the band play better than in other venues?  Who knows.  Would I fly across the Atlantic to msg to see pj?  Probably not.  I'm guessing the crowds are louder in Europe and South America.  

demetrios

Saw Pearl Jam play MSG twice back in 2008. It was alright.

Lerxst1992

on2legs said:

MSG definitely has an aura.  And the place definitely shakes for real. I’ve seen every PJ show there.   But the hype has been blown so far out of proportion that people can leave feeling let down from an otherwise amazing show.  Just enjoy the show and don’t chase an “epic” show.  

Wow, every one!

Yeah, I’m not sure the buildings gonna be shaking this time around with nobody behind the stage. That’s a big decrease in attendance. 

I’m trying to come up with a comparable for the uninitiated, what a PJ MSG concert equates to, the energy and how difficult tickets can be to get. Maybe a Knicks or Rangers conference championship game seven?

on2legs

Yes

Lerxst1992 said:

on2legs said:

MSG definitely has an aura.  And the place definitely shakes for real. I’ve seen every PJ show there.   But the hype has been blown so far out of proportion that people can leave feeling let down from an otherwise amazing show.  Just enjoy the show and don’t chase an “epic” show.  

Wow, every one!

Yeah, I’m not sure the buildings gonna be shaking this time around with nobody behind the stage. That’s a big decrease in attendance. 

I’m trying to come up with a comparable for the uninitiated, what a PJ MSG concert equates to, the energy and how difficult tickets can be to get. Maybe a Knicks or Rangers conference championship game seven?

Personally… as amazing as a PJ show is at MSG, I don’t think a concert reaches the peak energy of a sporting event.  But MSG is the holy grail for a lot of basketball players.  Kobe, Lebron, MJ always brought their best when they played there.  People know the history of the building.   Just ask this guy…

Loujoe

No

Yes it's exciting. Sometimes unbelievable. Always good. Last time I caught both 2016 shows. Kind of a spoiled pj fan. Was not blown away. Msg became too fancy. Not a dirty rock and roll venue anymore. Nice for a family night out.
Just my dumb opinion. 
Hope they prove me wrong this time and blow the roof off.
Have fun all!!

Loujoe

No

.

Lerxst1992

my last pj show there was n1 2016 and Go opening was insane. The trouble with my sports comparison is I detest being at a sporting event if my team loses. I saw Gretzky score 700 and a hat at Nassau but his kings won and went home bitter!

 I’m an isles fan (I know, boo) but love what they did renovating the garden, it’s a premium facility -  I have walking issues now and they treat me the best there vs other venues. Very grateful for that. Wish Ledecky and Belmont would take a page from the garden for those of us w mobility challenges 

josevolution

No

PJ fans have overblown their expectations of this venue yeah it’s a great place to see the band or any band! Personally the best show I’ve see there was U2 after 9/11 by far the loudest most emotional show I’ve experienced! PJ 98 was my favorite from them. 

BlueLedbetter

I'm also interested in this as a European who's saw 20+ shows in GA but sitting at MSG I'm a little worried 

I'm hoping with the huge catchment area and ticket prices even the seats will have hard core fans ?

HailHailVitalogy

Yes

The people saying no didn’t go in 2022, which had one of the best crowds ever in the states, and went in 2008 😆 
Absolutely worth it. It will be hit or miss. Hit will blow you away, miss and you’ll still say it’s a good show. Expectations for me this year are low with no seats behind the stage, so not sure we get that place rocking…but 2022 and 2010 that arena was shaking the entire time. If you looked up at the rafters and bridge seats during Porch two years ago, you would have thought it was coming down. 2016 N1 I thought was one of the best main sets I’ve ever seen, it was all band that night. If N2 2010 was at any other venue, it would not have been as magical. 

JimmyV

No

I went in 2022. The crowd was incredible, the show and venue were both just good. I didn't really enjoy NYC and, if I'm being honest, had more fun in Ottawa two weeks earlier. MSG didn't live up the hype for me. Doesn't mean it was bad. It wasn't. 

hihobibo

I went in 2022, as my first time ever in MSG. From the time I was a kid watching WWF, I have heard about MSG being the top of the mountain of arenas. So I went in with high expectations, and I thought it was much different than other arenas I have been to. Nothing mind blowing, yet still cool.  

bootlegger10

No

Seen 4 shows there and none any more memorable than the average.  Granted they were 2008 and 2016.  I enjoyed the 2013 Brooklyn shows more.  But I wasn't at 2003 or 2010.  I would bet on MSG getting really great shows with a few unique things.  Definitely something to look forward to and try to get to at least once.  

PJADED12

Looking to get in the building MSG night 1...pleasee

Jdub5521

They’ve played NYC what like 50 times? Saying every time they play NYC is going to be the best show you’ve ever seen is setting yourself up for disappointment. 

It will kick ass. Just enjoy it. 

MisterEtake2

No

I have seen many shows at MSG, and they have been great.  However, none compare to Barcelona 1 this year.

pjl44

No

I was at the Live at the Garden show and you could definitely feel the motion on the floor. I've been to 5 or 6 Pearl Jam shows there and if I go again it's just proximity. They're great everywhere. There's no reason to stretch yourself on cost or travel time. Even when you're in there it just looks like an arena. We're not talking Red Rocks or the Gorge.

PinoyPJ

pjl44 said:

I was at the Live at the Garden show and you could definitely feel the motion on the floor. I've been to 5 or 6 Pearl Jam shows there and if I go again it's just proximity. They're great everywhere. There's no reason to stretch yourself on cost or travel time. Even when you're in there it just looks like an arena. We're not talking Red Rocks or the Gorge.

i still wanna go! lol eh, looking for N2.......

demetrios

Jdub5521 said:

It will kick ass. Just enjoy it. 

nicknyr15

Yes

josevolution said:

PJ fans have overblown their expectations of this venue yeah it’s a great place to see the band or any band! Personally the best show I’ve see there was U2 after 9/11 by far the loudest most emotional show I’ve experienced! PJ 98 was my favorite from them. 

Absolutely. Still my top concert of all time. Night 3. October 2001. U2. Can’t be matched…. Not one cellphone in sight… Pure emotion. 

on2legs

Yes

nicknyr15 said:

josevolution said:

PJ fans have overblown their expectations of this venue yeah it’s a great place to see the band or any band! Personally the best show I’ve see there was U2 after 9/11 by far the loudest most emotional show I’ve experienced! PJ 98 was my favorite from them. 

Absolutely. Still my top concert of all time. Night 3. October 2001. U2. Can’t be matched…. Not one cellphone in sight… Pure emotion. 

I was there as well. I think I’ve seen U2 at MSG three times and the other two were fantastic in their own right, but the proximity to 9/11 lifted that show to another level.  Extremely emotional, especially when they scrolled the names of those lost.  

Lerxst1992

Yeah, for those of us who left the U2 plane after Joshua Tree,  not so much (I'm probably the only one!)

Lerxst1992

pjl44 said:

I was at the Live at the Garden show and you could definitely feel the motion on the floor. I've been to 5 or 6 Pearl Jam shows there and if I go again it's just proximity. They're great everywhere. There's no reason to stretch yourself on cost or travel time. Even when you're in there it just looks like an arena. We're not talking Red Rocks or the Gorge.

Lack of infrastructure,  accessibility and reasonable egress are factors that impact enjoyability.