”The dedication so many folks have shown. There’s signs - 101 shows. 39 shows. Just a lotta nice nice things. For all the people that see multiple shows and keep us on our toes. And we got the light on the front row here. Thank you. We’re gonna miss you. More importantly we know you’re gonna miss each other. Be safe. And be good until we see you again.”
There are many people not on the rail who have seen a lot of shows including myself. I think his comments were as much about us as the rail hoarders
Please do not introduce reason to the parasocial relationship
That is honestly how I feel commenting in this thread because most people clearly have an agenda that I could never introduce any competitive thought into. But the quote was literally directed to the front row haha. I’m not saying there aren’t thousands of people in the building who go to many shows, but we’re at 42 pages of “the band is clearly sick of seeing the same people up front” and idk how it can be any more clear that that’s not the case based on what he said two weeks ago (and Ohana last year for that matter).
I think you glossed over the majority of what people have concerns about with the current GA line situation. Namely that there is a unified group of people that work together to ensure their group gets the best spots in GA and some of them have exhibited aggressive behavior towards outsiders. And not to mention the unwritten rules about holding spots for people and allowing people to leave the line to get merch or disappear for long periods.
I think if anyone has an agenda here it’s the people who are members of the traveling GA clique and benefit from their behavior - because keeping the current system is in their own best interest. In contrast, many here have countered that a random wristband system would make it fair for every fan.
1996: Randall's Island 2 1998: East Rutherford | MSG 1 & 2 2000: Cincinnati | Columbus | Jones Beach 1, 2, & 3 | Boston 1 | Camden 1 & 2 2003: Philadelphia | Uniondale | MSG 1 & 2 | Holmdel 2005: Atlantic City 1 2006: Camden 1 | East Rutherford 1 & 2 2008: Camden 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 (#25) | Newark (EV) 2009: Philadelphia 1, 2 & 4 2010: Newark | MSG 1 & 2 2011: Toronto 1 2013: Wrigley Field | Brooklyn 2 | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore 2015: Central Park 2016: Philadelphia 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 | Fenway Park 2 | MSG (TOTD) 2017: Brooklyn (RnR HOF) 2020: MSG | Asbury Park2021: Asbury Park 2022: MSG | Camden | Nashville 2024: MSG 1 & 2 (#50) | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore 2025: Raleigh
”The dedication so many folks have shown. There’s signs - 101 shows. 39 shows. Just a lotta nice nice things. For all the people that see multiple shows and keep us on our toes. And we got the light on the front row here. Thank you. We’re gonna miss you. More importantly we know you’re gonna miss each other. Be safe. And be good until we see you again.”
There are many people not on the rail who have seen a lot of shows including myself. I think his comments were as much about us as the rail hoarders
Please do not introduce reason to the parasocial relationship
That is honestly how I feel commenting in this thread because most people clearly have an agenda that I could never introduce any competitive thought into. But the quote was literally directed to the front row haha. I’m not saying there aren’t thousands of people in the building who go to many shows, but we’re at 42 pages of “the band is clearly sick of seeing the same people up front” and idk how it can be any more clear that that’s not the case based on what he said two weeks ago (and Ohana last year for that matter).
You have too much invested in insisting that the rest of us understand that the comments were made to you and your friends specifically
Just went to my first DMB show of the summer this week and again have been reminded how much I hate the pit lottery. I mean unless you like people shuffling in and out all night depending on how popular the current song is, saving enough space for their groups of friends to then have loud conversations throughout the entire show, the streamers from the Couch Tour Facebook group who hold their phones up above their head all night, someone else even FaceTimed their friend at home who didn’t mute themself and would occasionally scream, beer runs, bathroom runs, constantly switching spaces with or fitting in friends who materialize randomly, blank stares and boredom when deeper cuts or new songs are played, and my personal favorite: taking group selfies during the show. I can go on.
It’s a different crowd and vibe when all you have to do is show up at doors, I’ve watched it happen over the past few years with DMB and it’ll just create different problems to complain about.
That is simply what life is like beyond the rail and why I hate GA.
To be required to spend multiple days of your life sleeping on a sidewalk and dealing with the politics to get out of it sucks.
My 10C seats are in the rafters now because of GA.
Im 5'5". I would love to be in the rail utopia you describe... or even in the seated "wings" my 10c number used to dependably get. I would even put in extra effort for the rail experience... however, I just cannot take multiple days away from my kids, responsibilities and life. And I am sure if people like me decided to show up 2 days early, then the requirement would become 2.5 or 3 days.
”The dedication so many folks have shown. There’s signs - 101 shows. 39 shows. Just a lotta nice nice things. For all the people that see multiple shows and keep us on our toes. And we got the light on the front row here. Thank you. We’re gonna miss you. More importantly we know you’re gonna miss each other. Be safe. And be good until we see you again.”
There are many people not on the rail who have seen a lot of shows including myself. I think his comments were as much about us as the rail hoarders
Please do not introduce reason to the parasocial relationship
That is honestly how I feel commenting in this thread because most people clearly have an agenda that I could never introduce any competitive thought into. But the quote was literally directed to the front row haha. I’m not saying there aren’t thousands of people in the building who go to many shows, but we’re at 42 pages of “the band is clearly sick of seeing the same people up front” and idk how it can be any more clear that that’s not the case based on what he said two weeks ago (and Ohana last year for that matter).
You have too much invested in insisting that the rest of us understand that the comments were made to you and your friends specifically
”The dedication so many folks have shown. There’s signs - 101 shows. 39 shows. Just a lotta nice nice things. For all the people that see multiple shows and keep us on our toes. And we got the light on the front row here. Thank you. We’re gonna miss you. More importantly we know you’re gonna miss each other. Be safe. And be good until we see you again.”
I loved when he said that. I was tearing up a bit. And he was right - we do miss them and each other!!
They could mean anyone anywhere in the Areana/Stadium because it's just not the front row that there are friendships.
”The dedication so many folks have shown. There’s signs - 101 shows. 39 shows. Just a lotta nice nice things. For all the people that see multiple shows and keep us on our toes. And we got the light on the front row here. Thank you. We’re gonna miss you. More importantly we know you’re gonna miss each other. Be safe. And be good until we see you again.”
I loved when he said that. I was tearing up a bit. And he was right - we do miss them and each other!!
They could mean anyone anywhere in the Areana/Stadium because it's just not the front row that there are friendships.
Just went to my first DMB show of the summer this week and again have been reminded how much I hate the pit lottery. I mean unless you like people shuffling in and out all night depending on how popular the current song is, saving enough space for their groups of friends to then have loud conversations throughout the entire show, the streamers from the Couch Tour Facebook group who hold their phones up above their head all night, someone else even FaceTimed their friend at home who didn’t mute themself and would occasionally scream, beer runs, bathroom runs, constantly switching spaces with or fitting in friends who materialize randomly, blank stares and boredom when deeper cuts or new songs are played, and my personal favorite: taking group selfies during the show. I can go on.
It’s a different crowd and vibe when all you have to do is show up at doors, I’ve watched it happen over the past few years with DMB and it’ll just create different problems to complain about.
That is simply what life is like beyond the rail and why I hate GA.
To be required to spend multiple days of your life sleeping on a sidewalk and dealing with the politics to get out of it sucks.
My 10C seats are in the rafters now because of GA.
Im 5'5". I would love to be in the rail utopia you describe... or even in the seated "wings" my 10c number used to dependably get. I would even put in extra effort for the rail experience... however, I just cannot take multiple days away from my kids, responsibilities and life. And I am sure if people like me decided to show up 2 days early, then the requirement would become 2.5 or 3 days.
Your seats are in the rafters because of PJ premium tickets and the fact that the ten club doesn’t get all of the best seats to allot to members in the lottery. You can get side rail or at least second row if you just came early the day of the show, try it next tour— plenty of new faces at this year’s shows.
Just went to my first DMB show of the summer this week and again have been reminded how much I hate the pit lottery. I mean unless you like people shuffling in and out all night depending on how popular the current song is, saving enough space for their groups of friends to then have loud conversations throughout the entire show, the streamers from the Couch Tour Facebook group who hold their phones up above their head all night, someone else even FaceTimed their friend at home who didn’t mute themself and would occasionally scream, beer runs, bathroom runs, constantly switching spaces with or fitting in friends who materialize randomly, blank stares and boredom when deeper cuts or new songs are played, and my personal favorite: taking group selfies during the show. I can go on.
It’s a different crowd and vibe when all you have to do is show up at doors, I’ve watched it happen over the past few years with DMB and it’ll just create different problems to complain about.
That is simply what life is like beyond the rail and why I hate GA.
To be required to spend multiple days of your life sleeping on a sidewalk and dealing with the politics to get out of it sucks.
My 10C seats are in the rafters now because of GA.
Im 5'5". I would love to be in the rail utopia you describe... or even in the seated "wings" my 10c number used to dependably get. I would even put in extra effort for the rail experience... however, I just cannot take multiple days away from my kids, responsibilities and life. And I am sure if people like me decided to show up 2 days early, then the requirement would become 2.5 or 3 days.
Your seats are in the rafters because of PJ premium tickets and the fact that the ten club doesn’t get all of the best seats to allot to members in the lottery. You can get side rail or at least second row if you just came early the day of the show, try it next tour— plenty of new faces at this year’s shows.
What happened was all more senior members who would normally get good floor areas and close-wings were bumped out of the floor into the wings. These people still have great spots and often just want and accept their seats.
Many people who went/go for GA are people with higher numbers and also new and 'dupe' accounts probably nearing 1,000,000.
And yeah, add in the premium ticket stuff.
My low to mid membership number was/is probably the worst place to be.
I actually stopped going to shows around 2018. Part of it is kids and responsibility. Part of it was my wife had beer spilled on her and groped twice at Wrigley GA. I'm too old to jockey around people and deal with all that. Maybe I would show up in the morning. I guess it depends on time and place.
Just went to my first DMB show of the summer this week and again have been reminded how much I hate the pit lottery. I mean unless you like people shuffling in and out all night depending on how popular the current song is, saving enough space for their groups of friends to then have loud conversations throughout the entire show, the streamers from the Couch Tour Facebook group who hold their phones up above their head all night, someone else even FaceTimed their friend at home who didn’t mute themself and would occasionally scream, beer runs, bathroom runs, constantly switching spaces with or fitting in friends who materialize randomly, blank stares and boredom when deeper cuts or new songs are played, and my personal favorite: taking group selfies during the show. I can go on.
It’s a different crowd and vibe when all you have to do is show up at doors, I’ve watched it happen over the past few years with DMB and it’ll just create different problems to complain about.
That is simply what life is like beyond the rail and why I hate GA.
To be required to spend multiple days of your life sleeping on a sidewalk and dealing with the politics to get out of it sucks.
My 10C seats are in the rafters now because of GA.
Im 5'5". I would love to be in the rail utopia you describe... or even in the seated "wings" my 10c number used to dependably get. I would even put in extra effort for the rail experience... however, I just cannot take multiple days away from my kids, responsibilities and life. And I am sure if people like me decided to show up 2 days early, then the requirement would become 2.5 or 3 days.
Your seats are in the rafters because of PJ premium tickets and the fact that the ten club doesn’t get all of the best seats to allot to members in the lottery. You can get side rail or at least second row if you just came early the day of the show, try it next tour— plenty of new faces at this year’s shows.
What happened was all more senior members who would normally get good floor areas and close-wings were bumped out of the floor into the wings. These people still have great spots and often just want and accept their seats.
Many people who went/go for GA are people with higher numbers and also new and 'dupe' accounts probably nearing 1,000,000.
And yeah, add in the premium ticket stuff.
My low to mid membership number was/is probably the worst place to be.
I actually stopped going to shows around 2018. Part of it is kids and responsibility. Part of it was my wife had beer spilled on her and groped twice at Wrigley GA. I'm too old to jockey around people and deal with all that. Maybe I would show up in the morning. I guess it depends on time and place.
That Wrigley experience sounds awful, I'm sorry.
I will say though, if you've kept your membership up since '04, you're mistaken as to the quality of the seats you would get if you won the lottery; you've been here longer than me, and between St Paul in '23 and Nashville this year, I've landed around center ice in the lower bowl both times.
GA folks can do their thing. You can get close without the nonsense of lining up. What sucks is that TM is eliminating the best reserved seats for 10C members and pushing us further back to sell premium seats. The days of a full 10C sections in the 100s next to the stage seem to be over. Member since 98.
GA folks can do their thing. You can get close without the nonsense of lining up. What sucks is that TM is eliminating the best reserved seats for 10C members and pushing us further back to sell premium seats. The days of a full 10C sections in the 100s next to the stage seem to be over. Member since 98.
This ^
PJ: 2013: London (ON); Buffalo; 2014: Cincinnati; 2016: Sunrise, Miami, Toronto 1-2, Wrigley 2; 2018: London (UK) 1, Milan, Padova, Sea 2, Wrigley 1-2, Fenway 1-2; 2021: SHN, Ohana, Ohana Encore 1-2; 2022: LA 1-2, Phx, Oak 1-2, Fresno, Copenhagen, Hyde Park 1-2; Quebec, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto; MSG, Camden, Nashville, Louisville, St. Louis, OKC; 2023: St. Paul 1-2, Chicago 1-2; Fort Worth 2; Austin 1-2; 2024: Vancouver 1-2, LV 1-2, LA 1-2, Napa, Barcelona 1-2; Indy; Chicago 1-2; MSG 1-2; Philly 2; Boston 2; Ohana 1-2; 2025: FL 1-2, ATL 1-2, Nash 1-2, Pit 1-2.
EV Solo: 2017 Louisville and Franklin, 2018 Ohana, 2019 Innings Fest, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Dublin and Ohana; 2021 Ohana Friday (from beach) and Saturday; 2022 Earthlings Newark; 2023 Innings Fest and Benoraya 1-2.
Gutted: London 2 2018, Sacramento 2022, Noblesville 2023
I think it would be quite refreshing to come here and listen to some "new folks" discuss how they won the "GA line lottery" and were able to get rail. Giving everyone who has GA seats an opportunity to get rail would be fantastic.
And nobody would have to sleep on the streets for 36 hours.
Take me piece by piece..... Till there aint nothing left worth taking away from me.....
I think it would be quite refreshing to come here and listen to some "new folks" discuss how they won the "GA line lottery" and were able to get rail. Giving everyone who has GA seats an opportunity to get rail would be fantastic.
And nobody would have to sleep on the streets for 36 hours.
I think it would be quite refreshing to come here and listen to some "new folks" discuss how they won the "GA line lottery" and were able to get rail. Giving everyone who has GA seats an opportunity to get rail would be fantastic.
And nobody would have to sleep on the streets for 36 hours.
This is the way. 👆🏻
1996: Randall's Island 2 1998: East Rutherford | MSG 1 & 2 2000: Cincinnati | Columbus | Jones Beach 1, 2, & 3 | Boston 1 | Camden 1 & 2 2003: Philadelphia | Uniondale | MSG 1 & 2 | Holmdel 2005: Atlantic City 1 2006: Camden 1 | East Rutherford 1 & 2 2008: Camden 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 (#25) | Newark (EV) 2009: Philadelphia 1, 2 & 4 2010: Newark | MSG 1 & 2 2011: Toronto 1 2013: Wrigley Field | Brooklyn 2 | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore 2015: Central Park 2016: Philadelphia 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 | Fenway Park 2 | MSG (TOTD) 2017: Brooklyn (RnR HOF) 2020: MSG | Asbury Park2021: Asbury Park 2022: MSG | Camden | Nashville 2024: MSG 1 & 2 (#50) | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore 2025: Raleigh
What sucks is that TM is eliminating the best reserved seats for 10C members and pushing us further back to sell premium seats. The days of a full 10C sections in the 100s next to the stage seem to be over. Member since 98.
the band and its management are responsible for this change, not ticketmaster. sure, they painted it as securing more tix for the fan club, but let’s not pretend that was the underlying rea$on.
GA folks can do their thing. You can get close without the nonsense of lining up. What sucks is that TM is eliminating the best reserved seats for 10C members and pushing us further back to sell premium seats. The days of a full 10C sections in the 100s next to the stage seem to be over. Member since 98.
Do they have a choice though? Is that the deal they have to cut to get the tickets they do secure? With their touring frequency, what kind of leverage do they have at this point? I think they still do very well by us as members and try to cut them a fair amount of slack in the present environment for live music.
What sucks is that TM is eliminating the best reserved seats for 10C members and pushing us further back to sell premium seats. The days of a full 10C sections in the 100s next to the stage seem to be over. Member since 98.
the band and its management are responsible for this change, not ticketmaster. sure, they painted it as securing more tix for the fan club, but let’s not pretend that was the underlying rea$on.
Right. Ticketmaster is simply the conduit. The band chose to have PJ Premium seating. They could follow Robert Smith's lead if they wanted to, they'd just make a little less money.
Just bring back seats. Rows 1-2 and 9-10 are lottery and the rest are seniority. And yes, this band does not have the pull with TM they used too when they only tour a handful of shows every other year. Dave Matthews can get pull, fucker hasn’t stopped touring since 1993, hits Phoenix every year. Hell Chris Stapleton hits Phoenix more than PJ ever has. And why wouldn’t they, we’re only the 5th most populated city in the U.S. (sorry ranting on two different subjects)
Post edited by Foriginal Sin on
Chicago 6/29/98, Alpine Valley(EV) 6/13/99, Alpine Valley 10/08/00, Chicago 10/09/00, Phoenix 10/20/00, Orlando 4/12/03, Tampa 4/13/03, San Diego 6/05/03, Vegas 6/06/03, Phoenix 6/07/03, Chicago 6/18/03, Alpine Valley 6/21/03, Orlando 10/08/04, D.C. 10/11/04, Chicago 5/16/06, Chicago 5/17/06, LA 7/12/08, Chicago 8/23/09, Chicago 8/24/09, LA 10/07/09, San Diego 10/09/09 (Front Row Center, Finally), Phoenix(EV) 11/4/11, Wrigley 7/19/13, Phoenix 11/19/13, Denver 10/22/14, Wrigley 8/20/16, Wrigley 8/22/16
I’ve done GA for Springsteen a bunch of times, before this tour and I had lamented the lottery system for his shows not being used for his current tour. I'm not a fan of having to line up days before in order to get up front, but I respect those that are able to devote the time to it. I had only done GA for PJ once a few years ago. Did it 4 times this tour, twice in Florida and twice in Pittsburgh. Florida was a disaster for N1 and then PJ security made sure a new process was in place for N2 to take care of those who were lining up. However, people still came that morning thinking it was the same process, lined up in the casino, and had to be reintegrated into the actual line. Same thing happened with merch, where 15 people lined up right outside of where the merch was being sold an hour before it went on sale thinking they were first in line, which was ridiculous since they walked right past the tons of people already in line.
Pittsburgh was the only time I've ever done the camping thing and, honestly, I definitely had anxiety doing it because of the reputation of the "rail riders" and being an outsider, challenges of camping, and not to mention devoting almost the entirety of my trip to waiting in line. The experience was so much different than I expected. I ended up on the rail both nights and was within the first 15-25 between the two nights. I was ahead of a few of the rail regulars on N2 as well. I have no doubt that there have been situations that have been negative and that there are certain individuals who contribute, if not directly perpetuate, the negativity about the "rail mafia." However, my experience was extremely positive and the ones who do it regularly took my friend and I in, couldn't have been more welcoming, and helped take care of us with anything we needed for which we weren't prepared. There was a situation with the N2 line where there was contentiousness because a handful of people started forming a line right in front of the arena, while the designated spot (which was on the official PJ map) was across the street. Those people were ultimately integrated into the line and still ended up on the rail.
I experienced a group of people who had become close throughout this that easily could've treated me like an outsider, but didn't. They went out of their way to look out for me and make sure I was welcome and had a great experience. The bottom line is that while there is certainly a good argument to make for changing the way PJ organizes GA, this is the way it is and it feels like there's an undue amount of hate toward those who are able to do this consistently. I don't know how many times I'll be able to camp out like that again, but I'm glad I had the experience and got to meet everyone I did on this tour.
Comments
Where's the scalper at?
"...I changed by not changing at all..."
To be required to spend multiple days of your life sleeping on a sidewalk and dealing with the politics to get out of it sucks.
My 10C seats are in the rafters now because of GA.
Im 5'5". I would love to be in the rail utopia you describe... or even in the seated "wings" my 10c number used to dependably get. I would even put in extra effort for the rail experience... however, I just cannot take multiple days away from my kids, responsibilities and life. And I am sure if people like me decided to show up 2 days early, then the requirement would become 2.5 or 3 days.
1996; 9/28 New York
1997: 11/14 Oakland, 11/15 Oakland
1998: 7/5 Dallas, 7/7 Albuquerque, 7/8 Phoenix, 7/10 San Diego, 7/11 Las Vegas
2000: 10/17 Dallas
2003: 4/3 OKC
2012: 11/17 Tulsa(EV), 11/18 Tulsa(EV)
2013: 11/16 OKC
2014: 10/8 Tulsa
2022: 9/20 OKC
2023: 9/13 Ft Worth, 9/15 Ft Worth
"...I changed by not changing at all..."
Never sold any of those. ^^^
Many people who went/go for GA are people with higher numbers and also new and 'dupe' accounts probably nearing 1,000,000.
And yeah, add in the premium ticket stuff.
My low to mid membership number was/is probably the worst place to be.
I actually stopped going to shows around 2018. Part of it is kids and responsibility. Part of it was my wife had beer spilled on her and groped twice at Wrigley GA. I'm too old to jockey around people and deal with all that. Maybe I would show up in the morning. I guess it depends on time and place.
I will say though, if you've kept your membership up since '04, you're mistaken as to the quality of the seats you would get if you won the lottery; you've been here longer than me, and between St Paul in '23 and Nashville this year, I've landed around center ice in the lower bowl both times.
Gutted: London 2 2018, Sacramento 2022, Noblesville 2023
Giving everyone who has GA seats an opportunity to get rail would be fantastic.
And nobody would have to sleep on the streets for 36 hours.
Till there aint nothing left worth taking away from me.....
"Welcome to Rail Club. The first rule of Rail Club is: You do not talk about Rail Club."
1996; 9/28 New York
1997: 11/14 Oakland, 11/15 Oakland
1998: 7/5 Dallas, 7/7 Albuquerque, 7/8 Phoenix, 7/10 San Diego, 7/11 Las Vegas
2000: 10/17 Dallas
2003: 4/3 OKC
2012: 11/17 Tulsa(EV), 11/18 Tulsa(EV)
2013: 11/16 OKC
2014: 10/8 Tulsa
2022: 9/20 OKC
2023: 9/13 Ft Worth, 9/15 Ft Worth
1996; 9/28 New York
1997: 11/14 Oakland, 11/15 Oakland
1998: 7/5 Dallas, 7/7 Albuquerque, 7/8 Phoenix, 7/10 San Diego, 7/11 Las Vegas
2000: 10/17 Dallas
2003: 4/3 OKC
2012: 11/17 Tulsa(EV), 11/18 Tulsa(EV)
2013: 11/16 OKC
2014: 10/8 Tulsa
2022: 9/20 OKC
2023: 9/13 Ft Worth, 9/15 Ft Worth