Seeing Pearl Jam in Europe vs US

davidtrios · January 2013

I was just wondering what the differences are in seeing a show in the U.S versus Europe. Does pearl jam play more rarities in the US? Do you think the crowds are better un Europe because they dont play there as often?
Do the crowds have more energy Europe? Do you prefer to see them in Europe vs the US?

dottles · January 2013

People may have far more qualified views than me and I guess most people will have a bias

I've only seen PJ at PJ20 in the USA, but did do 5 Canadian shows.
I've seen 12 shows in Europe.
They are different experiences, I think the USA/Canadian shows get more varied and longer set lists. I think the energy, experience and companionship of European shows sets them apart.
The band seem to love playing to GA crowds, they feed off the energy. Even if you are seated at a European show the levels in the room just seem better. Being able to watch the floor crowd bouncing is awesome. I completely enjoyed the Canadian shows I went to, but the experience, for me, was slightly dulled by the uniformity of seats. I know there seems to be some level of reservation/nervousness about GA in the USA but we don't get the problems people seem to imagine they would. I know there is the merch issue for some/getting beer issue etc... that's just not an issue and plenty of people manage it.
I guess the whole gig experience is different over here, it would be rare to find any pop/rock/indie show with a seated floor, we just don't do it.
I love being with loads of friends, bumping into people randomly, just enjoying myself, so that's probably why I am biased.

Princess Bulldozer · January 2013

dottles wrote:

I think the energy, experience and companionship of European shows sets them apart.

Agreed!

My opinion would be completely skewed as I have seem PJ in Europe 6 times and in the US only twice.
The US shows were:
Montana - standing floor but a concert for Jon Tester.
San Francisco - The Whoracle private concert.

dimitrispearljam · January 2013

at europe i can choose as many friends i want for enjoy the show together with them..

its the only thing matters for me at a pj show,thats why i prefer Europe shows

Eraserhead · January 2013

I love all the North American shows I've done (MSG x2 in 2010 and Canda x4 in 2011). I hate standing, so having all seated shows is always going to be my preference!

That said, I stood for 7 out of the 9 shows in Europe last summer, with Berlin 2 and Oslo being up there as the best I've ever seen.

Brisk. · January 2013

USA > Europe any show of the week.

All depends on what you like at a show.

Brisk. · January 2013

.

Dirty Frankk · January 2013

I prefer GA shows, you get a choose where you want to stand, you can move and jump. I hate having a chairs in front and behind of me....it sucks.
But if you get a lottery first row in US that is the best experience....only the first row.

shetellsherself · January 2013

Please forgive my ignorance... Been out of the live music scene for awhile. Is it just a given that there will never be GA shows in US? I don't get it. Enlighten me plz.

Ewank · January 2013

I would always chose to go to GA shows. I know, you have to wait in line for hours in order to be first row, there´s more pushing, more jumping, you can lose your ¨place¨.....but hell, GA shows are incredible. People screaming, jumping, dancing, waving....become a collective human ¨wave¨ must be a great source of energy for the band.

I mean, just watch this!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2E3uZ-Qe4M

You´ll never get that in a seated show

But like someone mentioned before.....in the US you get the rare songs, the longer setlists, the breaking curfew.

I hope PJ doesn´t pull a ¨greatest hits¨ setlist in South America in April

aennil · January 2013

shetellsherself wrote:

Please forgive my ignorance... Been out of the live music scene for awhile. Is it just a given that there will never be GA shows in US? I don't get it. Enlighten me plz.

i wondered about this as well... anyone?

dimitrispearljam · January 2013

aennil wrote:

shetellsherself wrote:

Please forgive my ignorance... Been out of the live music scene for awhile. Is it just a given that there will never be GA shows in US? I don't get it. Enlighten me plz.

i wondered about this as well... anyone?

noone knows..missoula 12 was a GA indoors show
but most arenas at USA are seated at the arena

dottles · January 2013

aennil wrote:

shetellsherself wrote:

Please forgive my ignorance... Been out of the live music scene for awhile. Is it just a given that there will never be GA shows in US? I don't get it. Enlighten me plz.

i wondered about this as well... anyone?

They did the fundraiser last autumn as a GA floor, and obviously are at festivals. But from what I can tell these are the exception and most shows in the USA are all seated, with it seems, no intention to change that.

aennil · January 2013

dottles wrote:

aennil wrote:

shetellsherself wrote:

Please forgive my ignorance... Been out of the live music scene for awhile. Is it just a given that there will never be GA shows in US? I don't get it. Enlighten me plz.

i wondered about this as well... anyone?

They did the fundraiser last autumn as a GA floor, and obviously are at festivals. But from what I can tell these are the exception and most shows in the USA are all seated, with it seems, no intention to change that.

wow, that must really make a big difference!
so, you do stand up anyway, right? -i guess the chairs will make jumping and dancing a bit more difficult, but don't think i would be able not to!
...this is very interesting...

dottles · January 2013

aennil wrote:

wow, that must really make a big difference!
so, you do stand up anyway, right? -i guess the chairs will make jumping and dancing a bit more difficult, but don't think i would be able not to!
...this is very interesting...

Floor seats are quite close together and therefore it does restrict movement in my opinion, but then I am used to GA. Those who are used to seating seem as passionate about it's benefits as I am about GA.
The view can also be restricted unless you are near or at the very front, if you get a really tall person in front of you, you can't move to get a better look. If you are lucky enough to win front row, then win win I guess, but for the majority this isn't the case.

ilockyer · January 2013

If Pearl Jam wanted to have GA in the arenas they play, they could do. Other bands that play the same venues do it with no problem. The fact that ticket seniority is a perk of 10c membership means that this is unlikely to change as it would risk annoying a great number of fans (who would probably complain at first but still attend).

As for what's better, I'd say the rarities and longer sets make the actual performances from the band much more enjoyable, but a dead crowd such as that in Ottawa in 2011 can kill enjoyment of what would otherwise be a pretty good show. Are GA crowds and great performances/shows linked, not at all, the 2 night stand in Toronto proves that for starters.

Personally, I pay my money to see the band on stage, to enjoy what they are there to do. Ideally that would be GA, purely because it's what I'm used to, but I don't think it matters a great deal. If you don't get 10c tickets you can usually get more than 2 of you "seated" together so you can enjoy the show with your friends. This is of course less likely in markets like New York. I'd rather see the band play a long and varied set in a seated venue, than plough through a 2 hour greatest hits set in a GA crowd. I'm lucky though, I've done both.

RH256879 · January 2013

ilockyer wrote:

If Pearl Jam wanted to have GA in the arenas they play, they could do. Other bands that play the same venues do it with no problem. The fact that ticket seniority is a perk of 10c membership means that this is unlikely to change as it would risk annoying a great number of fans (who would probably complain at first but still attend).

I agree that this seems to be PJ's choice -- I've seen plenty of GA shows in venues where PJ has played seated (Forum in LA comes to mind -- PJ 2006 was seated, saw Muse there around the same time, GA).

I have to disagree about the 10c membership though. Aren't there plenty of European 10c members who want that same perk?

It just seems to me to be their choice to mostly do seated shows in US. Which seems a little strange, since the event that would sour any band on GA shows took place overseas.

YieldToNothing · January 2013

i've seen liek 12 shows in europe and over 50 in the US

US will get those epic setlists, but the energy has been lacking from the crowd sicne after the riot act tour

europe shows have shit tons of energy. SHIT TONS. (outside of scandanivia, lol)

i was telling friends at berlin this past summer that if they played a setlists like philly 3 or 4 there, people would die.

europe is not a bunch of 35plus year olds with their arms folded.

Kathi · January 2013

RH256879 wrote:

ilockyer wrote:

If Pearl Jam wanted to have GA in the arenas they play, they could do. Other bands that play the same venues do it with no problem. The fact that ticket seniority is a perk of 10c membership means that this is unlikely to change as it would risk annoying a great number of fans (who would probably complain at first but still attend).

I agree that this seems to be PJ's choice -- I've seen plenty of GA shows in venues where PJ has played seated (Forum in LA comes to mind -- PJ 2006 was seated, saw Muse there around the same time, GA).

I have to disagree about the 10c membership though. Aren't there plenty of European 10c members who want that same perk?

It just seems to me to be their choice to mostly do seated shows in US. Which seems a little strange, since the event that would sour any band on GA shows took place overseas.

Nope, at least not that I know of. Europe doesn't really ever get seated floors for rock shows, so if PJ did that, the majority of European fans would be annoyed, as it's simply not what we're used to. I'm yet to go to a seated PJ show (hopefully will attend the London one), but I just don't think a non-GA crowd can produce the same energy.

Leezestarr313 · January 2013

I've seen both too, and I am also preferring GA. The seated thing has the advantage of having your stuff and spot safe, but the energy in a GA crowd is so much fun! In Berlin last summer I had a blast dancing in the crowd, interacting with other fans, making friends and meeting friends. Like others said, the EU crowd seems to be a little more alive, but that may also vary with your seniority and the area where your seats are. In Toronto '11 I had a great ticket buddy and we had lots of fun, but on the first night we were in kind of a bad spot with nobody really getting into it. Also, I was having a seat at the edge of a row and when I started dancing a little in the aisle, a woman came and warned me not to do that :sick:

Even if you don't like to be in the actual pit, you can still have a great show, being with people you like, just having a great time.

As for the setlists ... I would love a US setlist in a GA setting. But here's hope for Chicago

ilockyer · January 2013

Leezestarr313 wrote:

As for the setlists ... I would love a US setlist in a GA setting. But here's hope for Chicago

We came kind of close this summer in Europe. It was good that they toured here without product to sell as we got much better setlists than the previous couple of tours. If only our venues didn't have stupidly early curfews...

Seeing Pearl Jam in Europe vs US

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