why are some pearl jam fans (and veteran 10c'ers) so close-minded about opening acts?

1STmammal2wearPants

I got the opportunity for the first time to sit close to the band, with my 10 row back from center stage seats last night in Mansfield, and it boggled my mind to see so many empty seats up front........are people who have been in the 10c so long so tired of seeing shows that it becomes a chore to get there early? i saw a ton of people arriving just as the show was about to start, and directly after ted leo was over. i guess arriving early and more spread out would have alleviated some of the headaches with the hartford show the night before as well. I got there as doors opened and had no problem picking up my tickets. forgive me for saying this, but if you've never seen a particular opening act before, i'd consider it an added bonus. if you get there and they suck, so be it, but it boggles my mind as to why some people would pass up a prime seating location (like the one i had last night) to see an act that is just as passionate about their music as some of the bigger tier acts, if they are uninitiated with the band. the showing was ridiculously paltry for ted leo.

mauichick

if you're going to multiple shows, it can tough to see the same set over and over by the opener
(i have a friend who refuses to see ben harper again, ever) her loss, but it would have been cool if he and mmj mixed it up a bit for the die hards (yes another spoiled fan comment )

i caught ted leo at the garden shows and really enjoyed them
much more so then when i saw them open for death cab

at mansfield, if it didn't take me 6+ hours to get there, i wouldn't have missed eddie for anything and seen ted leo again after

alot of people just prefer to tailgate and see who they came to see

Fahka

1STmammal2wearPants wrote:

I got the opportunity for the first time to sit close to the band, with my 10 row back from center stage seats last night in Mansfield, and it boggled my mind to see so many empty seats up front........are people who have been in the 10c so long so tired of seeing shows that it becomes a chore to get there early? i saw a ton of people arriving just as the show was about to start, and directly after ted leo was over. i guess arriving early and more spread out would have alleviated some of the headaches with the hartford show the night before as well. I got there as doors opened and had no problem picking up my tickets. forgive me for saying this, but if you've never seen a particular opening act before, i'd consider it an added bonus. if you get there and they suck, so be it, but it boggles my mind as to why some people would pass up a prime seating location (like the one i had last night) to see an act that is just as passionate about their music as some of the bigger tier acts, if they are uninitiated with the band. the showing was ridiculously paltry for ted leo.

Well, it all depends..

I mean... the opening band is just that. A band that not as many people know about or have seen... some people check out the music before the show and if it sucks may not show up for it (which is perfectly understandable) Specially if you are like me and don't need the loud bs in your ear knocking a nother 2 or 3 years off your hearing span (id rather lose my hearing to pearl jam, thank you very much )


I try to stay out there and give love and support to the opener But.. if its horrid or extremely loud (I absolutely LOVE my morning jacket but their equipment was so loud that it hurt my head... ) So if this happens or its just a band i dont care for.. Ill usually go out into the lobby and take a last pre PJ pee and dick around after i have made certain that ed is NOT doing a preset or tune with the opening band

hrd2imgn

I go to all the opening acts out of respect to them, but I have absolutely hated some of them. Ted Leo was playing his/their ass off to no one. They were not great IMHO, but they played well enough. They cut their set at msg 2 so short, wonder if they were sick of playing to an almost empty venue?

ajedigecko

as for me and opening bands......i am throughly impressed with kings of leon. the last time an opening band impressed me, was when urge overkill was the opening act.
at the present moment, kings of leon are at the top of my list.

bootlegger10

Ted Leo was horrible.

slightofjeff

bootlegger10 wrote:

Ted Leo was horrible.

I thought it was alright for an opener. I don't really see how anybody could have that strong of an opinion about them either way.

kitfoo

I personally don't care for opening acts. I didn't pay to see them. Now, if the opener was a popular band, I'd probably stick around.

Floridaman

Kings of Leon impressed the hell out of me. Probably the best opener I've seen at a PJ show. Way better than that Tim Robbins crap during VFC.

Fahka

Floridaman wrote:

Kings of Leon impressed the hell out of me. Probably the best opener I've seen at a PJ show. Way better than that Tim Robbins crap during VFC.

at least that was entertaining.. it was deathcab that made my insides go NOOOOOOOOOOO

wolfbear

We always watch the opener out of respect mostly. Both for the opener and PJ. It paid off for us too when Ed gave us a tambourine for doing so. Even if you don't care for them, it's still a live show and fun.

slightofjeff

kitfoo wrote:

I personally don't care for opening acts. I didn't pay to see them. Now, if the opener was a popular band, I'd probably stick around.

That's kind of silly. Once upon a time, Pearl Jam was an opening band. Following your advice in 1990 or so would have resulted in you missing a helluva a PJ show.

Sometimes, an opening band is the best way to open yourself up to new music. It's not like the opener plays for two hours. Ted Leo played for like 30 minutes at MSG.

To me, it's all part of the concert experience ... watching the opener, then the nervous expectation waiting for the main act.

1STmammal2wearPants

slightofjeff wrote:

That's kind of silly. Once upon a time, Pearl Jam was an opening band. Following your advice in 1990 or so would have resulted in you missing a helluva a PJ show.

Sometimes, an opening band is the best way to open yourself up to new music. It's not like the opener plays for two hours. Ted Leo played for like 30 minutes at MSG.

To me, it's all part of the concert experience ... watching the opener, then the nervous expectation waiting for the main act.

I guess that's what i am getting at here with my initial post -- you've hit the nail on the head. opening yourself to new music. someone said ted leo was horrible, but again, not what i was intending to get out of this thread -- like em or hate em, it's cool when people diversify a bit and at least try out the opening band -- there are other bands out there other than pj.

Pinstrps

Kings of Leon Rocked! They have a new fan here!

obiwon76

From my perspective, I dont like sitting through the opening act. For the DC show, I was at M&S up until 15 mins before PJ hit the stage, and the place was packed with 10C members. I think we prefer to have a drink and share stories than sit through 45 mins of a band who I've never heard before.

ovechkin8

sleater kinney and sonic youth were thebest opening bands ever.

ted leo was alright, but he didn't make me a fan.

pjalive21

didnt like KOL but sat thru the whole set in Tampa, except for one song i felt like i was listening to the same song for 30min

HermanBloom

Opening acts usually suck and are way too loud. Ted Leo is not the worst I've seen but tired of them after 4 shows. There are so many PJ fans that follow the band now that they don't want to sit through any opening sets. PJ is at the echelon now where they shouldn't be having opening bands. It was great at the Gorge shows when it was just a night with Pearl Jam. Please get rid of them.

Rhinocerous Surprise

nathanastin wrote:

Opening acts usually suck and are way too loud. Ted Leo is not the worst I've seen but tired of them after 4 shows. There are so many PJ fans that follow the band now that they don't want to sit through any opening sets. PJ is at the echelon now where they shouldn't be having opening bands. It was great at the Gorge shows when it was just a night with Pearl Jam. Please get rid of them.

Um... no. If only because it's pretty obvious that the band loves watching KoL, MMJ etc play live.

Bonesmagoo

I agree, it's really a shame no one is willing to go see another band up that close. They've had some tremendous opening acts including this one. My Morning Jacket and Death Cab are two of my favorite bands now. Even if you end up hating the opener it's at least worth checking them out. Who knows, it might end up being the next Pearl Jam.....but those ten club snobs will still have that ticket framed and claim they were there. Pffft.

mouthfulofsoup

Why does it matter? We are going to see Pearl Jam, if people wanna see the opening acts, more power to em...but I don't think we should be expected to. Personally, I think PJ has the worst opening bands ever, (with the exception of Sparta who are amazing.) We went in for some of Ted Leo my first show of the tour & they were ridiculously loud & annoying. Maybe eqipment or something, but I literally had to plug my ears it was so bad. Needless to say I didn't bother the next 3 shows.

I agree with whoever said they should get rid of the openers...more PJ time!!!

Hinny

Now I love me some KOL, but after seeing them play the same opening set about 7 times over, I figured I might give them a miss in the 8th and 9th times before I caught them one last time in the 10th, in 2006.

Then to make up for that I caught their opening set twice in 2007.

This is KOL, whose stuff I really do enjoy. But if it's some shitty band I've dismissed after the first show (ahem Futureheads!), the only way I'd see another opening set with them is if it's a GA show and I just gotta be stuck in there to jostle for positions

pdalowsky

the opening act always have a hard night....

people are not there for them, they are a nuisance getting in the way of a PJ show, but now and then they can really entertain - take the Vandalls from the 2000 shows....my god they were ace..

but its gotta be said, some opening bands are shit...simple really.

1STmammal2wearPants

pdalowsky wrote:

but its gotta be said, some opening bands are shit...simple really.

Oh no doubt, but the fact that someone says they don't want to hear a band because they've never heard of them is pretty stupid imo. at least allow yourself to be open to the possibility that you might like them.

Rhinocerous Surprise

1STmammal2wearPants wrote:

Oh no doubt, but the fact that someone says they don't want to hear a band because they've never heard of them is pretty stupid imo. at least allow yourself to be open to the possibility that you might like them.

I know it's not the case with PJ's openers, usually, but I've seen some pretty amazing local bands by catching the opening act that I'd never have heard of otherwise. But then, I also had to see Paddy Casey before PJ - the sacrifices you make for a GA Pearl Jam show, huh?

Deadpool

I can't stand MMJ or KOL to sit through them. They are really garbage in my opinion. Pearl Jam has some really bad openers. I do have a newfound respect for Death Cab after seeing them at Bonnaroo but I dont like all of their music. I haven't seen Ted Leo so I will not comment. I have sat through a lot of bad openers over the years. Which would include the following.

At the Drive In//Opening for Rage Against the Machine
Rocket from the Crypt// opening for Soundgarden
Ugly Kid Joe// Opening for anyone in the mid 90's
Dresden Dolls// opening for Nine Inch Nails
Ted Nugent// opening for Metallica
Kings of Leon, MMJ// opening for Pearl Jam
3 Doors Down...opening for anyone will put you to sleep
Against Me// Opening up for Foo Fighters


Those are just a few that come to mind.

Tuolumne Mama

IMO everybody has to start somewhere! I have been fortunate enough to see many good opening acts such as Aerosmith opening for ZZTop and Fleetwood Mac when Buckingham- Nicks joined them opening for the Jefferson Airplane in the early 70's. Both bands developed followings as result not to mention enhanced the experience. Seems many of the you here are not very open to experiencing new things anymore. Also PJ was the Opening Act for the Stones only three years ago. Too bad you elitists would've missed it.j\k

Get_Right

I never see the openers. never.
Robert plant opened for the who and I skipped it.
I go to see the main act and would rather hang with my friends-plus the sound is usually terrible for the openers.

Rhinocerous Surprise

Wow... I never realised how many people skip the opening act. I always thought of it as a pretty great part of live music - like the appetiser before the main course.

1STmammal2wearPants

Get_Right wrote:

I never see the openers. never.
Robert plant opened for the who and I skipped it.

wow folks. just wow.

ItIsEvolutionBaby

totally dependent. I've seen Idlewild which i thoroughly enjoyed but Ted Leo - to me - wasn't that pleasant. To each his own...