Have you taken your kids to a PJ concert?

2»

Comments

  • acutejam
    acutejam Posts: 1,433
    I took my nearly 11-year-old daughter to the LA shows in 2009 and then to Jack Johnson last fall. Would have taken her earlier, 8-10, but I was waiting for the perfect event -- ahh, the Gibson Amphitheater, couldn't have been a better show. First live song she heard, BHR7, "Rock n Roll is Free If You Want It!"

    At EV solo, he was remarking how many babies were around on the tour.

    Here's LA2 review: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=113423&p=2566630&hilit=Here+10%2F3%2F09+Gibson+Amphitheater#p2566630

    She knew Backspacer better than me, and liked Harper as well.

    Ear plugs are definite, there are actually some very nice silicon kid-sized ones on amazon. I ALSO bought her the full over-the-ear muffs/cans ear protection, kid-sized pink -- and let her decide which she was gonna wear. She went with the muffs, because i had a LONG discussion about hearing loss and what 3 hours of concert level volumes will do to her young ears. But yeah, she took 'em off for Just Breathe and The End, and for a song or two here and there. Ushers or guest services have cheap foam plugs available at most venues.

    A conversation about the sights and smells at a show is a must. Prepare them for it, prepare them for drunk people, stupid people, bozos and what not -- get the dialog going. But I tempered that with the joy folks feel at big events like this, cut 'em some slack -- everyone expresses themselves different. I will say, I think sitting in the 10C seats was a plus for us, we had some really caring fans around us that set a great vibe for the show! Read the review up there.

    Sight lines are a major concern for me, dropping so much on tickets for her to stare at someone's back was stressful. I simply HAD to talk to the folks behind us and work out how she could stand on a seat to see, I'm 6 foot, so we basically stood side-by-side in one seat space, giving the couple behind us a good view over my empty seat. And I wanted to keep a hand on her and likewise for balance. Floor seats would suck for kids.

    For Jack Johnson, GA, we lined up early and got front row of the seats in an Amphitheater, looking over the pit. Awesome!

    And then, hehehe, I fed her a big ol' coke right before the show! Get a bit of caffine and sugar pumping through her! (No soda around the house, so its a treat.) Didn't matter, she fell asleep during the encore, during ALIVE! hehehe. It's a long slog, so be prepared for bathroom and antsyness.

    And now we're doing it all again! Flying down to the Gibson in June for RUSH!!!
    [sic] happens
  • SatansFuton
    SatansFuton Posts: 5,399
    ottonyp wrote:
    That's awesome ottonyp, which show was this? I want to go listen to the boot now.

    It was August 10,2008 in Montreal...I wish there was a copy of the show!!!

    Oh, I didn't realize it was an EV solo show.
    "See a broad to get dat booty yak 'em, leg 'er down, a smack 'em yak 'em!"
  • I took my oldest son who was 15 turning 16 to his first concert in May last year (Pearl Jam concert in Buffalo). He absolutely loved it, and needless to say he is a very hardcore PJ fan now. On a personal note, it was a great opportunity to spend some quality bonding time with him (even if it was through singing and rocking) how great is that. It is a concert that neither of us will forget. I am bringing my youngest son who is 13 turning 14 to the Eddie Solo Concert in Detroit this June and we are both very excited. It is not his first concert tho, he went to see Hedley with my wife this winter.

    2 sons 2 concerts and 2 very different concert experiences. Live is such and amazing ride...Jems & Rhinestones baby!!!
    ...and now i rub my eyes, for he has returned
    seems my preconceptions are what should have been burned
    for he still smiles...
    and he's still strong
    nothing's changed, but the surrounding bullshit that has grown
    and now he's home
    and we're laughing like we always did
    my same old, same old friend...
  • Halifax2TheMax
    Halifax2TheMax Posts: 44,071
    ottonyp wrote:
    I originally posted this on August 11, 2008:

    I don't even know how to put into words what happened last night.... Basically, me and my daughter Jenna waited around in the parking lot of the venue from 3:30 till 7:30 waiting to see Eddie. Finally at 7:20 I see a security guard walking away from the door he had been guarding all day heading down the street to alternative entrances, so we follow him. Two seconds later a man pulls up in a van with Eddie's bodyguard and Ed. Jenna and I start yelling to Eddie and waving,"Hi" to him, and he definitely spotted us. Before long people begin to assemble so the guard instructs them to drive around the building to the back entrance (where we had been waiting all day). So Jenna and I sprint around the entire venue chasing after Eddie's van. By the time I get to the backdoor Eddie is almost all the way in the door. I hurry to try to take a picture, when suddenly Eddie's bodyguard sternly reprimands me!! A few seconds later, Ed's bodyguard sees me looking in the opened door and he says something like, "You over here, come here"! I hesitated a few moments, as I thought he was going to take my tickets away from me. Next thing you know, Eddie pokes his head around the corner, and upon seeing me, he says, "Him, yes him, get him in here"! So again the bodyguard motions to me to come in, and after hearing Ed, I go walking in. Then Ed says to me, "Dude where is your daughter, get your daughter man"! I thought she was right behind me, so I turn around and notice someone had closed the door. I open the door and to my relief she is standing there with this woman she had been talking with all night. I yell to her, "Jenna, hurry up, come on, Eddie wants to meet you"!
    Upon walking back in, Eddie is standing there waiting for us with his bodyguard. We talk for a little while, I take two pictures of him with my daughter, then Jenna takes two pictures of the two of us, Eddie autographs my PJ shirt,and then he reaches in his pocket and says to my daughter, "Sorry honey, I don't have a guitar pic with me". He then reaches to the back of his head and removes his hair tie, and gives this to her. After talking a few more minutes, he says, "It's been great meeting you Jenna and 'pops', but I have to go to work now"! Jenna and I then exit screaming and yelling to a round of cheers from the rest of the fans outside who witnessed what had just happened!
    But that was just the beginning of an amazing night. After Eddie had sang nearly a dozen songs, he began telling the story of how he had met Jenna before the show and that this was the first concert she ever attended. He went on to say, "I don't know exactly where she is out there, but I now she is somewhere". Then a guy right next to us yells out, "Jenna is up here Eddie". Then Eddie commented that what he really wanted was for her to come down to the stage so he could sing a song just for her! I led Jenna to the stage, where we were greeted by Ed's bodyguard, who led us backstage. We then watched from there as Eddie performed "Drifting", after which Eddie made the announcement that Jenna had made it to the stage. Because Jenna was so nervous, Eddie set up TWO chairs on stage (one for her and one for me). Shortly after being seated the crowd began singing "Happy Birthday" to Jenna and Eddie said, "No,No,No...I have my own song for her". When the crowd continued to finish the song, Eddie played and sang the remainder of the song. Then he proceeded to sing "Forever Young" to her!! Once he finished he handed my daughter his pic saying, " I told you I would get you a pic before the night was through"! He then I believe, asked the crowd for applause for us and he gave Jenna a hug for the road!
    I just want to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to Eddie for providing my daughter (and me) with a night we will NEVER, EVER forget!!! His hospitality to us was amazing!! This is all my daughter has been talking about since it happened!!! Truely an epic night!!! Oh and by the way, to the woman with 'Petunia', my daughter is already missing the both of ya'!! Hope I wasn't to wordy!!!! Peace and Keep On Rocking In The Free World !!!!

    Dude,

    1. I remember reading this upon your original post and

    2. Was this Albany or DC? I seem to recall the on-stage part as I wasn't back stage to witness the intro. Eitherway, awesome for you and your daughter and maybe I was too....................

    Peace!
    09/15/1998 & 09/16/1998, Mansfield, MA; 08/29/00 08/30/00, Mansfield, MA; 07/02/03, 07/03/03, Mansfield, MA; 09/28/04, 09/29/04, Boston, MA; 09/22/05, Halifax, NS; 05/24/06, 05/25/06, Boston, MA; 07/22/06, 07/23/06, Gorge, WA; 06/27/2008, Hartford; 06/28/08, 06/30/08, Mansfield; 08/18/2009, O2, London, UK; 10/30/09, 10/31/09, Philadelphia, PA; 05/15/10, Hartford, CT; 05/17/10, Boston, MA; 05/20/10, 05/21/10, NY, NY; 06/22/10, Dublin, IRE; 06/23/10, Northern Ireland; 09/03/11, 09/04/11, Alpine Valley, WI; 09/11/11, 09/12/11, Toronto, Ont; 09/14/11, Ottawa, Ont; 09/15/11, Hamilton, Ont; 07/02/2012, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/04/2012 & 07/05/2012, Berlin, Germany; 07/07/2012, Stockholm, Sweden; 09/30/2012, Missoula, MT; 07/16/2013, London, Ont; 07/19/2013, Chicago, IL; 10/15/2013 & 10/16/2013, Worcester, MA; 10/21/2013 & 10/22/2013, Philadelphia, PA; 10/25/2013, Hartford, CT; 11/29/2013, Portland, OR; 11/30/2013, Spokane, WA; 12/04/2013, Vancouver, BC; 12/06/2013, Seattle, WA; 10/03/2014, St. Louis. MO; 10/22/2014, Denver, CO; 10/26/2015, New York, NY; 04/23/2016, New Orleans, LA; 04/28/2016 & 04/29/2016, Philadelphia, PA; 05/01/2016 & 05/02/2016, New York, NY; 05/08/2016, Ottawa, Ont.; 05/10/2016 & 05/12/2016, Toronto, Ont.; 08/05/2016 & 08/07/2016, Boston, MA; 08/20/2016 & 08/22/2016, Chicago, IL; 07/01/2018, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/03/2018, Krakow, Poland; 07/05/2018, Berlin, Germany; 09/02/2018 & 09/04/2018, Boston, MA; 09/08/2022, Toronto, Ont; 09/11/2022, New York, NY; 09/14/2022, Camden, NJ; 09/02/2023, St. Paul, MN; 05/04/2024 & 05/06/2024, Vancouver, BC; 05/10/2024, Portland, OR; 05/03/2025, New Orleans, LA;

    Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.

    Brilliantati©
  • Michelle10
    Michelle10 Posts: 148
    My Daughter is 4, so no shows for her yet. But I used to play Pearl jam to my belly when I was pregnant, I had a Pearl Jam mix cd that played in the hospital while I was in labor for her, I used to sing her long road while I rocked her and she's been listening to them every since. She doesn't like all of the songs (nor is she allowed to listen to all the songs) but I continue to brainwash her daily =) I hope one day she finds a passion for music like I have, and then I pray its not for people like mariah carey and nickeleback :lol:
    "Well I guess there's nothing wrong with what you say, but don't sell me there can't be better ways" ~ PJ
  • My son's elementary school graduation was the morning of night 2 at MSG in 2008. What better way to celebrate than at a Pearl Jam concert? What a great show.
    The wisdom that the old can't give away

    How I choose to feel is how I am
  • Great topic! I've been wondering the same thing. My kids are 5 and 3 and they love PJ. They beg me to put it on when we are in the car! Not sure I would do an areana with them, but for sure an Ampitheatre lawn seats!
  • Lukin19
    Lukin19 Posts: 545
    My wife was 7 months pregnant when we saw PJ back in 2000. Nedless to say my now 10 year old son has been begging to go to a show for a long time. I'm taking him to see EV for his first concert experience (he says he will wear earplugs). If all goes well hopefully he can graduate to a PJ show if they tour in September.
  • Im 17 and I am taking my dad to see Ed in LA :D

    He isn't a hardcore PJ fan, but he loves the songs he knows (which is quite a few because I am constantly blasting PJ in our house lol)
  • j gaston
    j gaston Seattle Posts: 25
    First show was for my son's 13th birthday - Mercer Arena 12/1993. No fantastic Ed story like Jenna+Dad but it was soooo fun and amazing. Actually a security guy offered earplugs to me - I was obviously the clueless one. Best memories are walking in the crowd with my kiddo past all the gawkers and scalpers into the venue - My sullen teen boy looks at me with shiny saucer eyes and says - "Mom, EVERYONE here is cool". And on our way the we out, we look dazed at each other and say together - "When can we go again?".

    We've been to lots of shows together since but of course he's moved on in the real world - I'm left behind in this sic PJ wasteland. We're both way too old for this now - but he might go with me once more for PJ20. :P
    /Users/j2sue/Desktop/Boston 5:17:10.JPG
  • ejh76
    ejh76 Posts: 133
    ottonyp wrote:
    I originally posted this on August 11, 2008:

    I don't even know how to put into words what happened last night.... Basically, me and my daughter Jenna waited around in the parking lot of the venue from 3:30 till 7:30 waiting to see Eddie. Finally at 7:20 I see a security guard walking away from the door he had been guarding all day heading down the street to alternative entrances, so we follow him. Two seconds later a man pulls up in a van with Eddie's bodyguard and Ed. Jenna and I start yelling to Eddie and waving,"Hi" to him, and he definitely spotted us. Before long people begin to assemble so the guard instructs them to drive around the building to the back entrance (where we had been waiting all day). So Jenna and I sprint around the entire venue chasing after Eddie's van. By the time I get to the backdoor Eddie is almost all the way in the door. I hurry to try to take a picture, when suddenly Eddie's bodyguard sternly reprimands me!! A few seconds later, Ed's bodyguard sees me looking in the opened door and he says something like, "You over here, come here"! I hesitated a few moments, as I thought he was going to take my tickets away from me. Next thing you know, Eddie pokes his head around the corner, and upon seeing me, he says, "Him, yes him, get him in here"! So again the bodyguard motions to me to come in, and after hearing Ed, I go walking in. Then Ed says to me, "Dude where is your daughter, get your daughter man"! I thought she was right behind me, so I turn around and notice someone had closed the door. I open the door and to my relief she is standing there with this woman she had been talking with all night. I yell to her, "Jenna, hurry up, come on, Eddie wants to meet you"!
    Upon walking back in, Eddie is standing there waiting for us with his bodyguard. We talk for a little while, I take two pictures of him with my daughter, then Jenna takes two pictures of the two of us, Eddie autographs my PJ shirt,and then he reaches in his pocket and says to my daughter, "Sorry honey, I don't have a guitar pic with me". He then reaches to the back of his head and removes his hair tie, and gives this to her. After talking a few more minutes, he says, "It's been great meeting you Jenna and 'pops', but I have to go to work now"! Jenna and I then exit screaming and yelling to a round of cheers from the rest of the fans outside who witnessed what had just happened!
    But that was just the beginning of an amazing night. After Eddie had sang nearly a dozen songs, he began telling the story of how he had met Jenna before the show and that this was the first concert she ever attended. He went on to say, "I don't know exactly where she is out there, but I now she is somewhere". Then a guy right next to us yells out, "Jenna is up here Eddie". Then Eddie commented that what he really wanted was for her to come down to the stage so he could sing a song just for her! I led Jenna to the stage, where we were greeted by Ed's bodyguard, who led us backstage. We then watched from there as Eddie performed "Drifting", after which Eddie made the announcement that Jenna had made it to the stage. Because Jenna was so nervous, Eddie set up TWO chairs on stage (one for her and one for me). Shortly after being seated the crowd began singing "Happy Birthday" to Jenna and Eddie said, "No,No,No...I have my own song for her". When the crowd continued to finish the song, Eddie played and sang the remainder of the song. Then he proceeded to sing "Forever Young" to her!! Once he finished he handed my daughter his pic saying, " I told you I would get you a pic before the night was through"! He then I believe, asked the crowd for applause for us and he gave Jenna a hug for the road!
    I just want to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to Eddie for providing my daughter (and me) with a night we will NEVER, EVER forget!!! His hospitality to us was amazing!! This is all my daughter has been talking about since it happened!!! Truely an epic night!!! Oh and by the way, to the woman with 'Petunia', my daughter is already missing the both of ya'!! Hope I wasn't to wordy!!!! Peace and Keep On Rocking In The Free World !!!!

    awesome story! i loved the bit about you leaving your daughter outside! Classic! Im happy for both of you, something you and your daughter will remember forever. I bet you didnt tell your wife the bit about losing your daughter! haha too funny.
  • pjamaholic
    pjamaholic Posts: 1,225
    I took my daughter who was 9 back in '03 when I had a spare ticket that my husband didnt want to use. I also took her when she was 12, and then again at 15 so she's seen the band 3 times. My other daughter I took at the age of 14. I didnt use earplugs for my 9 year old because we were closer to the back than the front, but I'd recommend them if you're up front with someone who's not used to going to concerts.
  • dwhite76
    dwhite76 Posts: 2,801
    Vedd Hedd wrote:
    If so, what were their ages?

    Did you give them earplugs?

    More importantly, if they were small, did they need a ticket? Small kids dont need tickets for sporting events, airfare, train, etc....just curious about concerts.
    Some Venues dont allow kids under 5 to rock concerts. I know I read that in one of the up comming Eddie shows. It was on their web site. It was either SD,LA,LongBeach, or Santa Barbra. So if any one is planning on taking a small child make sure you call the venue and speak to some one with a BRAIN. Or your night could be ruined :cry:
    Some words when spoken...Can't be taken back...