Bushleaguer @ Nassau 2003

JoelInNoCal · October 2011

I am in the middle of watching the Pearl Jam 20: The Kids Are Alright.

This was the first time I really got a good look at PJ singing Bushleaguer @ Nassau in New York. I would have really loved to have been at that concert to see not only the song, but the crowd reaction. It sure does seem like at least half the crowd turned on Eddie. That song was played in the 2nd encore. Know Your Rights and Rockin' in the Free World were played after that. I wonder if the crowd left or stayed for those songs, and, more importantly, cheered for those songs.

I noticed that the played Bushleaguer about 30 times in all. Half were outside the US. A bit in Seattle and a few other "liberal" cities. I did see they played in Irvine. That is a "conservative" city. I wonder how it played there.

I for one am glad they played it. We all know Eddie's political leanings (and I think most of the band share the same views). It wasn't a secret then either. Hell, he wasn't shy about it in the Unplugged version of Porch. Gotta take some chances and risks in life, and playing Bushleaguer there was one, for sure.

It didn't hurt their popularity though, I don't think. They are still doing ok.

bootlegger10 · October 2011

I think playing the song was a mistake and somewhat disrespectful at Uniondale (not in other cities though). I think they should have known their audience at Uniondale. If it was a free show, play what you want. But this was a show where NY fans paid to go to the show, and it was less than two years after 9/11 so there was still a lot of emotion at that time (and still is I'm sure). Looking back they probably wouldn't have played that song there at that particular time. If they played Uniondale now (or back in 2006), I think the song would have gone over much differently.

It is NOT Pearl Jam's job to get political at shows, but they CAN choose to get political and can choose when. Maybe it was the right time at Uniondale, or maybe PJ should have just gone out and given the fans a fun night out not thinking about 9/11 or war.

MickeyMouse · October 2011

I was there. It wasn't that bad during the song, but afterwards there were boos and Eddie said some stuff about Bush and the war, and the crowd started with a USA chant (which I just always think is silly). After it was over, it was over. I didn't notice many people leaving, and the rest of the show was just fine.

Get_Right · October 2011

It was a very cool concert moment.
That was a great show-rumor has it there were a bunch more songs to be played

Anyway, its not a good song IMHO and I wished they had skipped it.

But kudos to EV and the band for not giving a fuck and expressing their opinions through the music.

JoelInNoCal · October 2011

bootlegger10 wrote:

I think playing the song was a mistake and somewhat disrespectful at Uniondale (not in other cities though). I think they should have known their audience at Uniondale. If it was a free show, play what you want. But this was a show where NY fans paid to go to the show, and it was less than two years after 9/11 so there was still a lot of emotion at that time (and still is I'm sure). Looking back they probably wouldn't have played that song there at that particular time. If they played Uniondale now (or back in 2006), I think the song would have gone over much differently.

It is NOT Pearl Jam's job to get political at shows, but they CAN choose to get political and can choose when. Maybe it was the right time at Uniondale, or maybe PJ should have just gone out and given the fans a fun night out not thinking about 9/11 or war.

I think at least 1/2 the crowd agreed with your sentiment.

Or maybe your sentiment is more subdued than being outright angry like some of that crowd was. I am sure there was some people in the crowd who may agree with the position Eddie/PJ was taking, but didn't think the song should be played.

I still find the whole thing kinda fascinating.

Newch91 · October 2011

Can't wait to see that part when the Blu-ray set comes in.

Chief Broom · October 2011

Ya know...I don't remember hardly any negative reactions when they played it in MI in '03.
Funny though, that got me to thinking. I saw CSNY in 2006 and I couldn't believe all the people up in arms about the anti bush sentiment on stage. People were getting downright angry. Yelling shit and walking out. Meanwhile I'm sitting there(in my seat that you'd have to crowbar me out of, after shelling out THAT kinda cash), thinking, does nobody realize who we came to see tonight??? I almost got into it when some yuppies started yelling at Neil to "Go back to Canada if you don't like it!". Craziness right??? Disrespecting Uncle Neil like that. :twisted:

Just different audiences you think?

bootlegger10 · October 2011

Chief Broom wrote:

Ya know...I don't remember hardly any negative reactions when they played it in MI in '03.
Funny though, that got me to thinking. I saw CSNY in 2006 and I couldn't believe all the people up in arms about the anti bush sentiment on stage. People were getting downright angry. Yelling shit and walking out. Meanwhile I'm sitting there(in my seat that you'd have to crowbar me out of, after shelling out THAT kinda cash), thinking, does nobody realize who we came to see tonight??? I almost got into it when some yuppies started yelling at Neil to "Go back to Canada if you don't like it!". Craziness right??? Disrespecting Uncle Neil like that. :twisted:

Just different audiences you think?

I think some people who go to shows go to have a good time and not be bothered with politics (which there is nothing wrong with that). Just like you they shelled out a bunch of cash. Not everyone listens to the lyrics.

Jamminonthe1 · October 2011

I was there and I thought it was just great. People did leave after the song, but they certainly were not running for the exits. Eddie said some more things than what was showed in PJ20 that should have been in the movie (maybe they are in the Kids are 20 cut - I haven't seen it yet). I think he handled it well. It was a strange time because you weren't allowed to be pro- or anti-Bush at the time and he obviously took a side on a big stage in NY. I hate when people say bands shouldn't get political or actors shouldn't get political. They have the right like everyone else - it's our choice to ignore them or listen to them. One of the many great moments I've been able to see the band have over the past 12 years as a NYer, including the Betterman standoff between Eddie and the crowd at the Garden that was also featured in PJ20.

What I would love is a disc of Eddie's stories and rants - no music, just Eddie saying shit at shows between songs.

Chief Broom · October 2011

bootlegger10 wrote:

Chief Broom wrote:

Ya know...I don't remember hardly any negative reactions when they played it in MI in '03.
Funny though, that got me to thinking. I saw CSNY in 2006 and I couldn't believe all the people up in arms about the anti bush sentiment on stage. People were getting downright angry. Yelling shit and walking out. Meanwhile I'm sitting there(in my seat that you'd have to crowbar me out of, after shelling out THAT kinda cash), thinking, does nobody realize who we came to see tonight??? I almost got into it when some yuppies started yelling at Neil to "Go back to Canada if you don't like it!". Craziness right??? Disrespecting Uncle Neil like that. :twisted:

Just different audiences you think?

I think some people who go to shows go to have a good time and not be bothered with politics (which there is nothing wrong with that). Just like you they shelled out a bunch of cash. Not everyone listens to the lyrics.

I agree...Except when you go to see a politically fuel band like CSNY...
"In 2006, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young set off on their "Freedom of Speech" tour in support of Young's album Living with War."-WIKI
Living with War was a protest album...I just couldn't believe the reactions to what was obviously going to be some good old fashioned "pissoffedness" towards the administration!

Jamminonthe1 · October 2011

Come to think of it a couple years back in Jersey Ed brought that moment up - with an adamant prefacing that the band would NOT be playing the song - and asked who would boo if they heard it vs who would want to here it. Granted it was a different crowd, time and place, but it got a more positive reaction from the crowd that they would want to hear it.

JoelInNoCal · October 2011

Jamminonthe1 wrote:

Come to think of it a couple years back in Jersey Ed brought that moment up - with an adamant prefacing that the band would NOT be playing the song - and asked who would boo if they heard it vs who would want to here it. Granted it was a different crowd, time and place, but it got a more positive reaction from the crowd that they would want to hear it.

I certainly wouldn't mind if they played it. Not even for political reasons either. I just love it when they mix up their playlists with surprises.

pjl44 · October 2011

MickeyMouse wrote:

I was there. It wasn't that bad during the song, but afterwards there were boos and Eddie said some stuff about Bush and the war, and the crowd started with a USA chant (which I just always think is silly). After it was over, it was over. I didn't notice many people leaving, and the rest of the show was just fine.

I was there, too (Row 5, Mike's side) and this pretty much sums it up. There weren't really boos during the song, but you could definitely feel some tension building. I don't remember if it was right before or right after Know Your Rights that Ed spoke to the crowd, but it's the only time I've seen him backpedal a little. He was trying to calm things down by explaining how it was cool that we were having a discussion of sorts, based on the reaction. I never felt like things were close to getting dodgy, but it was definitely a unique experience. Whether you agree or not, art is supposed to be provocative.

Evacuation Rules · October 2011

Jamminonthe1 wrote:

Come to think of it a couple years back in Jersey Ed brought that moment up - with an adamant prefacing that the band would NOT be playing the song - and asked who would boo if they heard it vs who would want to here it. Granted it was a different crowd, time and place, but it got a more positive reaction from the crowd that they would want to hear it.

From where I was sitting, the crowd was confused as to what Ed was even saying. The sound system wasn't cutting it in that place. Some people booed at Bushleaguer, some people booed at the Uniondale booers, some people cheered. So what you're hearing on the bootleg is a crowd that is half-confused. The only reason Ed even brought it up was because he (erroneously) thought it was the same venue!

Cob · October 2011

I am still VERY confused as to what happened @ this show and again I wasn't there and I don't live in the New York area. Were people booing because they were/are Bush backers and/or Republicans and they didn't agree with a song being played that wasn't agreeing with their political affiliation?

Or were people booing because they somehow thought that the song was negative about what happened on 9/11??? As I said, I am VERY confused because the song is a dig @ George Bush Jr. (I don't call him W as he was Jr. in Texas FOREVER) and to me doesn't have a thing to do with what happened on that terrible day.

Would the same people if they were (Republicans) be booing today if say a band (or say Toby Keith) came out and played a song that was a dig @ Obama and the singer brought out a mask of Obama or would they be cheering?? As I have stated many times, I know people booed and some people left the show, but I am asking an honest question as to WHY they did this?

SVRDhand13 · October 2011

Cob wrote:

Or were people booing because they somehow thought that the song was negative about what happened on 9/11??? As I said, I am VERY confused because the song is a dig @ George Bush Jr. (I don't call him W as he was Jr. in Texas FOREVER) and to me doesn't have a thing to do with what happened on that terrible day.

I always looked at it as there were people who were probably booing because they just wanted a good ol' fashioned rock and roll show, and others were booing because they think talking negatively about the president was unpatriotic. I wish I was there- I would have been cheering. (And my favorite hockey team plays there so I should have attended).

hadfiiw · October 2011

bootlegger10 wrote:

I think playing the song was a mistake and somewhat disrespectful at Uniondale (not in other cities though). I think they should have known their audience at Uniondale. If it was a free show, play what you want. But this was a show where NY fans paid to go to the show, and it was less than two years after 9/11 so there was still a lot of emotion at that time (and still is I'm sure). Looking back they probably wouldn't have played that song there at that particular time. If they played Uniondale now (or back in 2006), I think the song would have gone over much differently.

It is NOT Pearl Jam's job to get political at shows, but they CAN choose to get political and can choose when. Maybe it was the right time at Uniondale, or maybe PJ should have just gone out and given the fans a fun night out not thinking about 9/11 or war.

So I know that the songs have different meanings to different people but what part of Bu$hleaguer has to do with 9/11? I always saw it as an anti-Bush song and nothing to do with 9/11. Not sure how the two are getting linked.

Just asking as I must be missing something.

Better Dan · October 2011

hadfiiw wrote:

bootlegger10 wrote:

I think playing the song was a mistake and somewhat disrespectful at Uniondale (not in other cities though). I think they should have known their audience at Uniondale. If it was a free show, play what you want. But this was a show where NY fans paid to go to the show, and it was less than two years after 9/11 so there was still a lot of emotion at that time (and still is I'm sure). Looking back they probably wouldn't have played that song there at that particular time. If they played Uniondale now (or back in 2006), I think the song would have gone over much differently.

It is NOT Pearl Jam's job to get political at shows, but they CAN choose to get political and can choose when. Maybe it was the right time at Uniondale, or maybe PJ should have just gone out and given the fans a fun night out not thinking about 9/11 or war.

So I know that the songs have different meanings to different people but what part of Bu$hleaguer has to do with 9/11? I always saw it as an anti-Bush song and nothing to do with 9/11. Not sure how the two are getting linked.

Just asking as I must be missing something.

I think it was what the OP said...at that time..so close to 9/11 it was seen by a majority of people to be unpatriotic or "unamerican" to be against bush and/or the war. In early 2003 I remember hearing some people say that PJ sucks because they were against the war. :oops: What an embarrassment on those people's part...

Cob · October 2011

hadfiiw wrote:

bootlegger10 wrote:

I think playing the song was a mistake and somewhat disrespectful at Uniondale (not in other cities though). I think they should have known their audience at Uniondale. If it was a free show, play what you want. But this was a show where NY fans paid to go to the show, and it was less than two years after 9/11 so there was still a lot of emotion at that time (and still is I'm sure). Looking back they probably wouldn't have played that song there at that particular time. If they played Uniondale now (or back in 2006), I think the song would have gone over much differently.

It is NOT Pearl Jam's job to get political at shows, but they CAN choose to get political and can choose when. Maybe it was the right time at Uniondale, or maybe PJ should have just gone out and given the fans a fun night out not thinking about 9/11 or war.

So I know that the songs have different meanings to different people but what part of Bu$hleaguer has to do with 9/11? I always saw it as an anti-Bush song and nothing to do with 9/11. Not sure how the two are getting linked.

Just asking as I must be missing something.

This is the same thing I am asking.

Evacuation Rules · October 2011

Cob wrote:

I am still VERY confused as to what happened @ this show and again I wasn't there and I don't live in the New York area. Were people booing because they were/are Bush backers and/or Republicans and they didn't agree with a song being played that wasn't agreeing with their political affiliation?

Or were people booing because they somehow thought that the song was negative about what happened on 9/11??? As I said, I am VERY confused because the song is a dig @ George Bush Jr. (I don't call him W as he was Jr. in Texas FOREVER) and to me doesn't have a thing to do with what happened on that terrible day.

Would the same people if they were (Republicans) be booing today if say a band (or say Toby Keith) came out and played a song that was a dig @ Obama and the singer brought out a mask of Obama or would they be cheering?? As I have stated many times, I know people booed and some people left the show, but I am asking an honest question as to WHY they did this?

There was a "rule" implemented after 9/11 that you're not allowed to say anything bad about the president or else you are "unpatriotic" and "unamerican". This rule was implemented by the same people who now bash Obama mercilessly. Total hypocrites.

The Currents Will Shift · October 2011

SVRDhand13 wrote:

Cob wrote:

I always looked at it as there were people who were probably booing because they just wanted a good ol' fashioned rock and roll show, and others were booing because they think talking negatively about the president was unpatriotic. I wish I was there- I would have been cheering. (And my favorite hockey team plays there so I should have attended).

A lot of people here are looking at this moment with sort of rose colored glasses. This was the one moment which could have gotten ugly. I was there that night and live on long island, and that was a completely absurd thing to do that night in my opinion. A lot of people don't realize on this board that long island is a little more "red" than the parts further west. So that crowd wasn't all city folk that would appear at MSG. From my vantage point some fights started in the crowd, and next to me 100's (believe it or not, still fanclub seats) side of stage a lot of people threw things in Ed's direction. The end of the show had absolutely no air in it and many people in the 300's left after he stomped on the mask. Just a stupid moment and could have turned into a real bad situation. He should have learned from playing it a week earlier in Denver (I believe). He pitted fans against eachother and it was a bit naive. That is probably why they stopped playing it after that.

JoelInNoCal · October 2011

The Currents Will Shift wrote:

SVRDhand13 wrote:

Cob wrote:

I always looked at it as there were people who were probably booing because they just wanted a good ol' fashioned rock and roll show, and others were booing because they think talking negatively about the president was unpatriotic. I wish I was there- I would have been cheering. (And my favorite hockey team plays there so I should have attended).

A lot of people here are looking at this moment with sort of rose colored glasses. This was the one moment which could have gotten ugly. I was there that night and live on long island, and that was a completely absurd thing to do that night in my opinion. A lot of people don't realize on this board that long island is a little more "red" than the parts further west. So that crowd wasn't all city folk that would appear at MSG. From my vantage point some fights started in the crowd, and next to me 100's (believe it or not, still fanclub seats) side of stage a lot of people threw things in Ed's direction. The end of the show had absolutely no air in it and many people in the 300's left after he stomped on the mask. Just a stupid moment and could have turned into a real bad situation. He should have learned from playing it a week earlier in Denver (I believe). He pitted fans against eachother and it was a bit naive. That is probably why they stopped playing it after that.

To be fair, PJ did play Bushleaguer about 19 times after this incident. Some overseas. Some in the U.S., particularly in very red Irvine.

Thorns2010 · October 2011

Cob wrote:

hadfiiw wrote:

bootlegger10 wrote:

I think playing the song was a mistake and somewhat disrespectful at Uniondale (not in other cities though). I think they should have known their audience at Uniondale. If it was a free show, play what you want. But this was a show where NY fans paid to go to the show, and it was less than two years after 9/11 so there was still a lot of emotion at that time (and still is I'm sure). Looking back they probably wouldn't have played that song there at that particular time. If they played Uniondale now (or back in 2006), I think the song would have gone over much differently.

It is NOT Pearl Jam's job to get political at shows, but they CAN choose to get political and can choose when. Maybe it was the right time at Uniondale, or maybe PJ should have just gone out and given the fans a fun night out not thinking about 9/11 or war.

So I know that the songs have different meanings to different people but what part of Bu$hleaguer has to do with 9/11? I always saw it as an anti-Bush song and nothing to do with 9/11. Not sure how the two are getting linked.

Just asking as I must be missing something.

This is the same thing I am asking.

I think the connection people are making is that Bu$hleaguer is picking on the president, who wants to go to war to 'avenge' the 9/11 attacks. Therefore Pearl Jam must be anti-America.

VinylGirl · October 2011

I was there, but not down in 10c seats- I wa higher up, and I can tell you that there were plenty of boos during Bushleager. I know because I kept saying 'wtf is the matter with these people'. But I was saying that the whole night. I don't know if you all remember, but it wasn't just that song, Ed made some comments throughout the night about Bush- and the crowd didn't want to hear it. It was a hard time and they just wanted to hear the band. Most of us lost someone (if not more) we knew or cared about on 9/11 and peoples feelings were all mixed about Bush. Now, I don't want to hear from the glee club how "oh, those weren't 10c seats so they weren't real fans booing". Bullshit- plenty of us NYer's get shut out of 10c seats every tour.

The Currents Will Shift · October 2011

SVRDhand13 wrote:

Cob wrote:

To be fair, PJ did play Bushleaguer about 19 times after this incident. Some overseas. Some in the U.S., particularly in very red Irvine.

I understand they played many times after that incident, but the next ime they played stateside was in mountain view a full month later. There were many shows in between Uniondale and mountain view. The reason that they pulled it for a little while was because of that reaction in Uniondale. That was the first time I had taken my wife to one of their shows and she was pretty damn worried about the possibility of a riot as well as some of my fellow jammers sitting next to me. It was the most uncomfortable I felt at a concert. I've been to over 100 shows, 20 of them were PJ.

I'm just glad they toned down the mask thing after that.

on2legs · October 2011

I was there at the show and it was truly bizarre. It was really unbelievable to hear people booing their favorite band, but I do understand why they did it.

Living less than an hour drive to NYC, I have many relatives and friends that live or work in the city. My brother-in-law worked at 7 World Trade Center at the time of the attack, one of my best friend's wife worked in the Trade Center Towers and fled when the first plane hit, and a kid from my hometown was killed in the attack. Being from the NYC area, everyone I know either knows someone who worked in the towers and escaped or knows someone who wasn't so lucky to make it out. It dominated the news here more than anywhere else.

Regardless of the politics of George Bush, many people in this area remember him as the guy who came to ground zero shortly after the attack and stood up for New Yorkers. He showed up at the World Series at Yankee Stadium a month later when everyone was convinced that terrorists were going to blow the stadium up. The paranoia was unreal. I remember being at all three world series games at the stadium that year and how the entire crowd would stop watching the game and look up whenever a plane flew over the stadium. You literally held your breath until the plane made it past the stadium.

Ultimately Bush's handling of the post 9/11 foreign policy proved to be complete disaster, but the band playing that song so close to NYC ripped the scab off a wound that will likely never heal for people in this area. I respect the band's right to play it - its a uniquely American right to mock and criticize the president. But I think in hindsight they would agree it was not the right time or place to to pick that fight. I don't think the band meant any harm or disrespect to the people of New York.

It was just a weird, weird night. In some ways I'm glad I was there and in other ways I wish I didn't have to see that all play out.

The Currents Will Shift · October 2011

VinylGirl wrote:

I was there, but not down in 10c seats- I wa higher up, and I can tell you that there were plenty of boos during Bushleager. I know because I kept saying 'wtf is the matter with these people'. But I was saying that the whole night. I don't know if you all remember, but it wasn't just that song, Ed made some comments throughout the night about Bush- and the crowd didn't want to hear it. It was a hard time and they just wanted to hear the band. Most of us lost someone (if not more) we knew or cared about on 9/11 and peoples feelings were all mixed about Bush. Now, I don't want to hear from the glee club how "oh, those weren't 10c seats so they weren't real fans booing". Bullshit- plenty of us NYer's get shut out of 10c seats every tour.

You are definitely right about the comments all night. I felt that Ed let this show get away at the end. It kind of pissed me off at the time that I was leaving a show feeling that way. I will say that at least they acknowledged it on the blu-ray /DVD. The band definitely recalled it for a reason, because it was unique and to me a low point in my relationship with the band. It wasn't the right time and place for that.

The Currents Will Shift · October 2011

on2legs wrote:

I was there at the show and it was truly bizarre. It was really unbelievable to hear people booing their favorite band, but I do understand why they did it.

Living less than an hour drive to NYC, I have many relatives and friends that live or work in the city. My brother-in-law worked at 7 World Trade Center at the time of the attack, one of my best friend's wife worked in the Trade Center Towers and fled when the first plane hit, and a kid from my hometown was killed in the attack. Being from the NYC area, everyone I know either knows someone who worked in the towers and escaped or knows someone who wasn't so lucky to make it out. It dominated the news here more than anywhere else.

Regardless of the politics of George Bush, many people in this area remember him as the guy who came to ground zero shortly after the attack and stood up for New Yorkers. He showed up at the World Series at Yankee Stadium a month later when everyone was convinced that terrorists were going to blow the stadium up. The paranoia was unreal. I remember being at all three world series games at the stadium that year and how the entire crowd would stop watching the game and look up whenever a plane flew over the stadium. You literally held your breath until the plane made it past the stadium.

Ultimately Bush's handling of the post 9/11 foreign policy proved to be complete disaster, but the band playing that song so close to NYC ripped the scab off a wound that will likely never heal for people in this area. I respect the band's right to play it - its a uniquely American right to mock and criticize the president. But I think in hindsight they would agree it was not the right time or place to to pick that fight. I don't think the band meant any harm or disrespect to the people of New York.

It was just a weird, weird night. In some ways I'm glad I was there and in other ways I wish I didn't have to see that all play out.

Thanks for sharing that, because it is exactly how I felt at the time. Just a bizarre moment for me as well.

abhijeet · October 2011

JoelInNoCal wrote:

To be fair, PJ did play Bushleaguer about 19 times after this incident. Some overseas. Some in the U.S., particularly in very red Irvine.

Irvine isn't 'Red' like say the South of the US, Irvine is 'Red' because it's a bunch of rich guys who want lower taxes. Not quite the same as playing the song somewhere in the Midwest.

JE79371 · October 2011

I heard Bushleaguer in Nashville two weeks earlier and there was a similar crowd reaction. There was a patriotic fervor at the time surrounding the invasion of Iraq that started weeks earlier, and George Bush's approval rating was at 70%. It was uncomfortable to experience so much negative energy at a Pearl Jam concert but Alive ("The freedom of speech is still...alive.") and Sonic Reducer put the crowd back in good cheer.

Byrnzie · October 2011

bootlegger10 wrote:

it was less than two years after 9/11

All the more the reason why they should have played it IMO. If America doesn't want any more 9/11's then they should be all the more critical of war mongers like George W Bush taking office and increasing the chances of the U.S being attacked again.

Bushleaguer @ Nassau 2003

Comments