why doesn't Pearl Jam play longer concerts

DewieCox wrote:

I think they've gotten too lazy or disinterested as a band to pull it off, though. They can't seem to even find the time to rehearse properly or record a few songs.

Eddie: "We don't need to rehearse" (before the 09 tour I think) And who fucks up the songs most often? Eddie with the lyrics... hehe.

DewieCox wrote:

I'm on the "hell yeah go ahead and play 3 hours train". They just need to back off the tempo of the plethora of songs that have gotten way too fast and add a few more . Slowing stuff down is gonna help Ed with the singing too. I don't think it would be as difficult as some are making it out to be.

The notion that their songs are too difficult to play for that long seems pretty ridiculous to me. If Rush can play their tunes for 3 hours, anybody can. You think Cameron is a machine, you've obviously never watched Neil Peart play drums.

I think they've gotten too lazy or disinterested as a band to pull it off, though. They can't seem to even find the time to rehearse properly or record a few songs.

Agree with this. Unthought Known is like a minute faster live

dimitrispearljam wrote:

they cant keep the quality if they play more time..same more shows per tour....they cant even take breathes after 2 hours show..
its impossible with the energy they play their shows..at that age..

thats why they are the best band in the planet..cos their live shows has the same top high quility always..
and no need fancy clothes or lights or scenes to make the show better..
its the best already..

if they do a 60 shows tour and 3 hours set,the quality will go down right away..

no have to mention..there are bands out there that tix prices are double than pj and plays 45-60 min show only..

i respect Bruce,he is huge..amazing..but he cant do what eddie does on stage for more time than eddie

Have you been a Springsteen show DImi? He's knocks PJ out the park. He has far more energy than Ed at a gig, the guy is a machine. He's called The Boss for a reason. And he does this 3hours plus EVERY NIGHT. No 10 or 12 shows over 3 weeks. 89 gigs he played last year. He's got another 44 gigs scheduled for this year already.

I think their sets are likely tailored to keep the band excited to play, able to maintain a level of quality, and perhaps their own sanity/drive/motivation.

Bruce is a fucking anomaly. A robot, or an alien.

I've played in bands for awhile, and it is not easy to do what they do. In fact, I'm amazed they can go as long as they do for multiple nights in a row.

JonnyPistachio wrote:

I've played in bands for awhile, and it is not easy to do what they do. In fact, I'm amazed they can go as long as they do for multiple nights in a row.

Exactly. Well said!

Most bands you'll find that are doing three-hour shows are jam bands. Now, I like some of these groups but that's not what I come to PJ for. Pearl Jam is not now, nor have they ever been, a jam band. They're a rock band that delivers amazing live versions of all their songs. And, given some of the meandering versions of RVM I've heard, I'm not sure they should be. I'd rather see 25-30 songs from this band any day before seeing a 14-minute version of Corduroy. That's not what they do. I would like to see deeper cuts that we've been getting as of late, but the shows are plenty satisfying

Next will come people complaining about PJ releasing too many albums in the last few years. :fp:

Your Camaro's hood wrote:

I guess my new favorite thing is to complain about how much people complain.

Now PJ concerts aren't long enough?? Is this really what it's come to from the "fans". Wow.

AC257443 wrote:

Saw the boss at abravanel hall (where the symphony plays) in slc a looong time ago. Very laid back venue with bruce perched on a barstool most of the show, which was about 3.5 hrs long. pj at the e center in slc in 2009 was about 2.5 hrs long. Since the comparison was brought up....there is no comparison between the two. No way the boss could match the energy pj put out for that amount of time, it was electric and I felt exhausted. If they push 3hrs at Wrigley, no matter the setlist, well then life will be good! Can't fucking wait....

Bruce is in great shape and shows it. I haven't seen him in person but everything I have seen on TV he puts a ton of energy into his performances. That being said, maybe its a bit of an illusion because when he sings, his face and neck strain so hard he looks like hes been constipated for a week. He also seems to sweat profusely which may add to the illusion that he is putting out more energy that he really is.

To answer the OP. I have always been impressed by the length and their shows and don't need them to be any longer. I wouldn't complain if they did but I am happy with 28-30 songs. Besides Eds voice is usually trash by the end of a show. Maybe if he didn't drink so much during the show and quit smoking it wouldn't be but he does and it is.

And Rush is a non-jam band that has been playing 3 hour shows for years.

With that said, if anyone has seen G'n'R lately, they play 3+ hours and are really boring. But each person in the band has their own solo and I'm not sure the people in the crowd can even name all the musicians in the band let alone want to see/hear them solo.