*** ACL Festival Fanviews Here 10/12/14 ***

vedpunk said:

Anyone go to both ACL shows? How did the crowd compare to both?

I went both weeks. Might depend on where you are, but I reckon the crowd was better the second week for both PJ and the Replacements. PJ's set was better for a festival. A few in there which lost almost everybody like Down, You Are, Yellow Moon ... but they were interspersed with the likes of Jeremy, Black, etc. and it didn't lag like the middle section last week. I'd say the peak of both shows for crowd response was Jeremy. I think Yellow Moon was a poor choice to follow, but after it was done, it was a home run with the finishing songs.

Replacements killed it again. Started off with Alex Chilton and Left of the Dial (as opposed to leaving them until late), and never let up. Paul playing while laying in a hammock was hilarious. Shattered his guitar properly at the end. I really hope it wasn't their last show.

Pearl Jam 9/10
Replacements 10/10

If anyone who was at the festival either weekend has video of the sign language interpreters for Pearl Jam, I'd be grateful for a link. Thanks!

This was my 15th show and another great one. Festival set list for sure, but the crowd was great and the band fed off of it.

Was a bit disappointed to see Release was scratched as opener, and also a little bummed that I didn't get any songs I haven't heard yet, but it was a really fun show. Yellow Moon was a strange choice for me and briefly settled a really energetic crowd, but Lukin > Porch punched everyone in the face and they forgot about it.

We were just a few feet from the rail directly in front of sign language folks. Ed was enamored by them and came to sit right by them to watch several times, eventually high fiving the woman doing Black during Mike's solo.

Being close on Stone's side, I must disagree with the post suggesting he was off. He looked to be in great spirits, rocking his couple of solos, duck walking and bouncing a bit. He was late to join the full band bow at the end because he was at the front of the stage waving at folks (and drinking a Stella).

Mike was badass as always. The globe assault during Porch was funny. It shattered on about the third guitar swing and pieces looked to fly right past Jeff's face.

Immortality in the 6 spot was nice, and Severed Hand was rockin. Great sing alongs to the hits and overall great crowd response.

Loved the show, honestly. But do wish the band would end the Binaural embargo for shows I attend and especially wish they'd stop playing Light Years the show before I see them EVERY TIME! I will get that song one day.

Final notes - the Peruvian guy bit was really cool, especially when they located him in the crowd. He was so appreciative. Baba was a brilliant choice. Crowd absolutely loved it and sang loud. Ledbetter dedication to the neighbors was funny and during Ledbetter Ed called for another tambourine and tossed it to a wounded vet in a wheelchair up front. Great moment.

" Yellow Moon was a strange choice for me and briefly settled a really energetic crowd, but Lukin > Porch punched everyone in the face and they forgot about it."

I can see what you mean but Yellow Moon is a badass slow to midtempo song and people should be glad to hear it but they probably don't know it so they don't respond appropriately.

Yes, they did royally screw up evolution! I was bumming to see release was crossed off the setlist. Fantastic show though.

darth said:

Also I respect a group like The Replacements but they did have some dick fans. My wife and I were sitting and picked out spot for Pearl Jam along with several other PJ fans and all they did was complain about being in their way and how without their band we wouldn't have PJ blah blah. We and most the PJ fans in the area just ignored them and let the old punk hippies dance to their 3-chord band but ah well not everyone can have fans as great as our.

Lets be real though. Pearl Jam is a hard band to open for because most of their fans arent known as being up to date on their history. We've seen Frank Black and Sonic Youth ignored to the highest degree and now probably the most important rock band of the 80s in the Replacements. Im hearing that the rail was much more responsive during weekend 2 so thats good. But yeah i dont recommend mega fans of the opening band ever going to a PJ concert just for them. It gets akward. LOL. Glad both bands tore it up on Sunday

Really good show - killed it. And the casual fans knew it (one comment overheard during the exodus "I've never seen them live before so I dunno if they're always like that, but that was killer." Hit three of my checklist points: Small Town opener, Down and Immortality. Shocked they ticked off those last two items considering this was a festival.

The setlist was festival-sized, but that's not a festival setlist with Immortality and Down and You Are - definitely some chum for the fans.

Every time I see them I wonder how in the f--- Rolling Stone omitted Mike from its greatest guitarists list. Good gosh. Maybe RS wasn't smoking something organic . . .

Gaslight Anthem was also great. That was my first exposure to them, but won't be the last.

Yeah ACL beats everyone in running a clean and organized festival. Very family friendly. Amazing food and a more relaxed atmosphere than any of the other big ones.

We brought our toddler this time and after taking the usual common sense parental precautions we had zero worries.

Always love ACL and this year was extra special. Best 80s band and the best 90s band closing the fest together.

txhorns16 said:

My bro and I got to lift Aldo up in the air for Ed to see. His buddies had to tell/show him every song playing on their phones through text during the concert. He could definitely feel the music though. Makes you appreciate the little things, especially good friends.

We must have been right next to you, because Aldo was right next to us.