Why United Center kind of sucked (not bashing PJ performance)

IWillLiveForeve · May 2006

RiotAct10 wrote:

Someone bitched about this after the Toronto show. Do people not get and respect that the band doesnt want people going home drunk, so this gives them time to sober up? I just find it pathetic that more then a few fans have come on here crying about not being able to drink the whole time PJ is on stage. Is that why you go to the show, to buy $5 (or more) beers? Because I go to watch and listen to pearl jam.

First of all, is this a PJ decree for the venues? I have no idea, so if you know, let me know. If it is, it sucks. If it isn't, then whoever put in place at the UC should be shot. What the fuck? I have news for the above quoted person: Here in Chicago we drink. I am in no way saying booze up and get behind the wheel, but as a general principle, we know that you don't do that. If I want to drink through the show, then what the fuck business is it of yours? Particularly if I'm getting in a cab after the show.

"MY CHOICE IS WHAT I CHOOSE TO DO, AND IF I'M CAUSING NO HARM WHY SHOULD IT BOTHER YOU?"

pureoc · May 2006

Thought the energy of the crowd and the band responding to that energy was great. Very Greatest Hits friendly set. Not complaining at all, but I have a feeling night 2 is gonna be better and have some more rare stuff. Can't wait for night two. Watching from the 9th row was pretty amazing!!!!

herogroundzero · May 2006

RiotAct10 wrote:

Someone bitched about this after the Toronto show. Do people not get and respect that the band doesnt want people going home drunk, so this gives them time to sober up? I just find it pathetic that more then a few fans have come on here crying about not being able to drink the whole time PJ is on stage. Is that why you go to the show, to buy $5 (or more) beers? Because I go to watch and listen to pearl jam.

don't tell me what i can and can't do at a concert. you are not the king and i didn't vote for you.

it's not the band's decision to cut alcohol sales it's the venue's.

dthomas · May 2006

sometimes venues will cut alcohol sales because of the band and their crowd if it's an expected rowdy crowd etc. That said I saw Van Halen there (don't laugh) and there were many more drunk fans drinking the whole time.

As for the show I posted on the fanview thread. Yeah back of the floor is not good. Except it probably sounds better. 300# is not going to get you good seats until those in the 100s die. seriously.

I bought behind the stage to be safe (bgivens came through with great 10C seats for me though) so I just gave the ticket to some dude for nothing. But if you were behind the stage (i bought on TM two days prior) you'd be closer in proximity than 12th row fan club seats!. and they have stacks of amps facing backwards.

moemoe6434 · May 2006

Milestone wrote:

Exactly. Not to mention chugging wine until the end.

news flash! Ed does not drive after the show.

CrownofThornsMSG1 · May 2006

Hey the band does it as a favor to you. So you dont have to get up and take a piss in the middle of the 1st encore. In Albany they had like two concession stands. And was like 40 minutes for a beer when MMJ was playing and rite after there set. I gave up and was sober and just got high off the music and maybe alittle second hand smoke.

RiotAct10 · May 2006

So I guess people hate me now because they think Im imposing some sort of anti alcohol propaganda. Someone mentioned this is the United Centers policy. I would guess you are wrong. I work at a major concert venue in Columbus, Oh, and it is almost always up the band. Some bands take it off at a certain time. Some do it after the main set, but its almost always the band and their managments descion. In fact Im pretty sure someone from one of the Toronto shows said there was a sign that said something like, "Due to the bands request, Alcohol sales will stop at..." So if you want to hate someone, hate Pearl Jam I guess.

herogroundzero · May 2006

RiotAct10 wrote:

So I guess people hate me now because they think Im imposing some sort of anti alcohol propaganda. Someone mentioned this is the United Centers policy. I would guess you are wrong. I work at a major concert venue in Columbus, Oh, and it is almost always up the band. Some bands take it off at a certain time. Some do it after the main set, but its almost always the band and their managments descion. In fact Im pretty sure someone from one of the Toronto shows said there was a sign that said something like, "Due to the bands request, Alcohol sales will stop at..." So if you want to hate someone, hate Pearl Jam I guess.

it is the venue's decision to stop sales at the START of PJ's set...that is NOT PJ's policy...otherwise beer would not have flowed into the 1st set in TORONTO

don't you get it?

iwasthere · May 2006

I thought the show and venue were great. One of the better shows I've seen I thought. Definately better than the Hartford show the other night. It did help I was front row of the wing of the section nearest to Mike, compared to nearly in the grass the other night in Hartford using a friends 10c tix.

bootlegger10 · May 2006

You should be able to get enough beer into yourself to have fun before Pearl Jam hits the stage. I bet if this was a "what song do you take a piss break during" thread half the folks in here who are complaining about no beer sales during PJ's sets would say "Hell no, I just hold it. Can't miss a second."

Basically, I have zero patience for drunk people as they ruined my poster last night and repeatedly fell into me during the first 8 songs. Instead of getting to listen to my favorite song for the first time after 20 concerts (Low Light) I had to deal with some drunkards. Luckily they pissed off so many people they got kicked out. Drive into a wall for all I care, just don't hurt anyone else.

slightofjeff · May 2006

StonerJoe wrote:

Dude THANK U SO MUCH!!!! Weak setlist my ass.

yeah, I don't understand people. It's like they go in with five super-rare songs in their head that they just have to hear, and if they dont then it's, "oh, the setlist was weak."

If I had been there last night, I would have heard three old PJ songs I've never heard live before ... one of which is basically 16 years old. And I'm a PJ veteran.

I would have heard two other Vs. songs that I've only heard once before, one of which I haven't heard in 11.

I think people get so damn spoiled with the bootlegs and what not.

slightofjeff · May 2006

Beer is not the most important thing in the world. If I was some sort of alchoholic who couldn't enjoy myself without booze, yeah, it would suck.

However, at a PJ show, it would be easier to get over.

I'm not telling people not to drink at PJ shows, although I never have (kind of feels like getting drunk at church). I'm just saying if for some reason you aren't able to .... it shouldn't ruin your night, or something's out of whack with your priorities.

PJChicago · May 2006

StonerJoe wrote:

Dude THANK U SO MUCH!!!! Weak setlist my ass.

Well maybe "weak" wasn't the right word. I have seen a lot of PJ shows and i was caught up in the hype that I would see some old school songs or something a little more out of the norm. My big complaint was that they need to put "Betterman" and "Daughter" to rest for this tour. I was hoping to hear Why Go or Garden and especially MITS. i thought they could have subbed those in there somewhere. It was a great show, just not the setlist I was expecting. Is that a little better explanation?

Pearls&Stones · May 2006

stevieraveon wrote:

Funny you mention lighting up. Guy next to me took a hit from his hitterbox during first song (Release)... security came and kicked him out. First song, holy crap that would have sucked.

No joke....

May God strike me down if I embellish any part of this story...

A few years back, group of about 10 of us got lawn tickets for Tom Petty. Third song in, security tosses 3 people in our group for smoking weed. Third song that night.... "Mary Jane's Last Dance." It was so funny. I think they ended listening to the show in the lot. I sure wasn't leaving the show early with them.

WorriedAboutYou · May 2006

PJChicago wrote:

No Why Go, no Garden, no MITS. kind of weak setlist compared to most. Baba was great but could have put those three in there somewhere. I'm sure night two will get a nice setlist, but I can't make it tomorrow. Still, they rocked out like the old times though.

Poor sales=Poor set. Chicago got "Toronto'ed". The tarps will be out tonight yet again.

slightofjeff · May 2006

PJChicago wrote:

Well maybe "weak" wasn't the right word. I have seen a lot of PJ shows and i was caught up in the hype that I would see some old school songs or something a little more out of the norm. My big complaint was that they need to put "Betterman" and "Daughter" to rest for this tour. I was hoping to hear Why Go or Garden and especially MITS. i thought they could have subbed those in there somewhere. It was a great show, just not the setlist I was expecting. Is that a little better explanation?

Though I certainly wouldn't complain about not seeing Betterman or Daughter at a particular show, I'm against retiring songs, or putting them to rest for a whole tour.

Those are also some of the coolest moments of a show, when you're there, seeing the ENTIRE arena singing along. and not just we numbnuts near the front.

Why United Center kind of sucked (not bashing PJ performance)

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