My story dealing with several horrible entitled “railbirds” in GA at Wrigley 2
Comments
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Milwaukee is my city and u was the 3rd person there behind a couple girls from Brazil. I camped out the nigh before at 9pm and it was my first time trying for rail. I knew there were ppl that did it over and over and I decided this is my hometown my city and my first chance to represent on the rail. So I did. I waited in the rain with my friend and waited all night. I met many of the "entitled " fans you speak of traveling from city to city and taking front row every time. I was new some were nice and some were not. They were cool through the night but once it got closer to time u had some old aussie dude with a beard threatenin to fight my friend and saying we didn't belong up there. Sorry we beat you to the front. My friend was so soured by this he hasn't gone to a pearl jam show with me since. Ruined his experience. He had gone every time before. We had earned the rail and apparently these guys didn' wanna share with new faces. He way I saw it. We earned it. I ended up on the rail by Eddie's mic. He didn' acknowledge us once but did every one around us. The familiar faces handed em tambourines wine took their signs and played to em. We didn't get anything. It's like we were invisible to em. So yes he rewards the familiar faces. We were new...we didn't matter. I haven't tried for rail since. could've for wrigley twice and after our experience in Milwaukee we have tried since. So yes try to get up to front and the pool who own it will try to fight you and make you feel like you don't belong there. Very disappointing. I went for rail at radiohead and their fans were way cooler and thom yorke hadn't seen my face before but he still acknowledged my presence. So that's my take. I may try for rail again but my best friend is completely done with it thanks to these ppl who own the band. Milwaukee show could'e been a great experience for us. Instead it pushed us away. And I guess that' what they wanted so they won. Congratulations you own the band. Enjoy{Alpine Valley '03/United Center '06/Summerfest '06 (Both Nights!!)/Alpine Valley '11 (PJ20) (Both Nights!!)/Wrigley Field '13}
"a truant finds home, and a wish to hold on too, he saw the trapdoor in the sun, immortality" PLEASE SUPPORT CCFA!!!0 -
amw101282 said:Milwaukee is my city and u was the 3rd person there behind a couple girls from Brazil. I camped out the nigh before at 9pm and it was my first time trying for rail. I knew there were ppl that did it over and over and I decided this is my hometown my city and my first chance to represent on the rail. So I did. I waited in the rain with my friend and waited all night. I met many of the "entitled " fans you speak of traveling from city to city and taking front row every time. I was new some were nice and some were not. They were cool through the night but once it got closer to time u had some old aussie dude with a beard threatenin to fight my friend and saying we didn't belong up there. Sorry we beat you to the front. My friend was so soured by this he hasn't gone to a pearl jam show with me since. Ruined his experience. He had gone every time before. We had earned the rail and apparently these guys didn' wanna share with new faces. He way I saw it. We earned it. I ended up on the rail by Eddie's mic. He didn' acknowledge us once but did every one around us. The familiar faces handed em tambourines wine took their signs and played to em. We didn't get anything. It's like we were invisible to em. So yes he rewards the familiar faces. We were new...we didn't matter. I haven't tried for rail since. could've for wrigley twice and after our experience in Milwaukee we have tried since. So yes try to get up to front and the pool who own it will try to fight you and make you feel like you don't belong there. Very disappointing. I went for rail at radiohead and their fans were way cooler and thom yorke hadn't seen my face before but he still acknowledged my presence. So that's my take. I may try for rail again but my best friend is completely done with it thanks to these ppl who own the band. Milwaukee show could'e been a great experience for us. Instead it pushed us away. And I guess that' what they wanted so they won. Congratulations you own the band. Enjoy0
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amw101282 said:Milwaukee is my city and u was the 3rd person there behind a couple girls from Brazil. I camped out the nigh before at 9pm and it was my first time trying for rail. I knew there were ppl that did it over and over and I decided this is my hometown my city and my first chance to represent on the rail. So I did. I waited in the rain with my friend and waited all night. I met many of the "entitled " fans you speak of traveling from city to city and taking front row every time. I was new some were nice and some were not. They were cool through the night but once it got closer to time u had some old aussie dude with a beard threatenin to fight my friend and saying we didn't belong up there. Sorry we beat you to the front. My friend was so soured by this he hasn't gone to a pearl jam show with me since. Ruined his experience. He had gone every time before. We had earned the rail and apparently these guys didn' wanna share with new faces. He way I saw it. We earned it. I ended up on the rail by Eddie's mic. He didn' acknowledge us once but did every one around us. The familiar faces handed em tambourines wine took their signs and played to em. We didn't get anything. It's like we were invisible to em. So yes he rewards the familiar faces. We were new...we didn't matter. I haven't tried for rail since. could've for wrigley twice and after our experience in Milwaukee we have tried since. So yes try to get up to front and the pool who own it will try to fight you and make you feel like you don't belong there. Very disappointing. I went for rail at radiohead and their fans were way cooler and thom yorke hadn't seen my face before but he still acknowledged my presence. So that's my take. I may try for rail again but my best friend is completely done with it thanks to these ppl who own the band. Milwaukee show could'e been a great experience for us. Instead it pushed us away. And I guess that' what they wanted so they won. Congratulations you own the band. EnjoyNick0
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I changed my mind on the way to GA line Monday morning at 4:30 and decided to just go sit in the merch line instead. Because...1. I didn't want to sit out in the rain all day and 2. I had a feeling there was a good chance of a rain delay so it wouldn't have mattered if I wasted a day or not. I spent the day with my family instead and ended up being a great day/night. Had pretty much the same experience as you did. When we went in the GA entrance at around 5:45.......after having issues with my wifes ticket, saying it was invalid....we ended up about 15 deep right in front of Mike and were excited about it. Knew it was going to be a shit show as soon as they announced to leave the field. All we wanted was to be in the general area again. Got back on the field, a little closer than we were before but basically the same people around us and everyone was cool. Then two bitches pushed through yelling at everyone to go back o their original spots....are you fucking kidding me? When they got in front of us they ended up in front of some guys wife who was really short and now they were blocking her view so the guy tells them they are just as much assholes as they're claiming anyone else is. On top of that one of the girls kept holding up a sign during the show blocking our view.......how the F can you bitch about other people about one thing and then do stupid shit yourself but justify it by saying it's a concert and people hold up signs. Between those two clowns and the dude that thought it was 1988 and saying shit like "anyone that tries to get some where they weren't before the delay will have to come through me". GTFO. Everyone that sat in line knew there was a chance of a delay.....you rolled the dice but you can't bitch that you didn't get exactly where you were before the delay, not how GA works. Plus these are the same people that complained about other people following the rules of not lining up before 8am and created their own unofficial line before 8...which is the equivalent of creating a GA list. But they think it's ok make up their own rules if it benefits them. Luckily 99% of the people we were next to were fantastic and just rolled with it. Great two shows!Like a word misplaced...nothing said...what a waste0
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Zod said:OceansJenny said:
Happy to show up 1 hr prior for GA and be 5 rows back. The rats can have fun with their rail and imaginary celebrity.It was easier with Arena's because the pits were so much smaller. Could show u at doors and get 5th or 6th row.I must be getting old. I'll always for GA because reserved's start behind GA, thus even the back of GA is better than any seat. However if given the choice to go back to the old system of all seats. I might lean towards to the seats to avoid dealing with the lineupsDC '03 - Reading '04 - Philly '05 - Camden 1 '06 - DC '06 - E. Rutherford '06 - The Vic '07 - Lollapalooza '07 - DC '08 - EV DC 1 & 2 '08 (Met Ed!!) - EV Baltimore 1 & 2 '09 - EV NYC 1 '11 (Met Ed!) - Hartford '13 - GCF '15 - MSG 2 '16 - TOTD MSG '16 - Boston 1 & 2 '18 - SHN '21 - EV NYC 1 & 2 '22 - MSG '220 -
mikeliska said:Rail people are the worst. I love me some GA but prefer to stand around in the back where there's plenty of room.www.RLMcDaniel.com
1996: Ft Lauderdale
1998: Birmingham
2000: Charlotte, Tampa
2003: Tampa, Atlanta, Phoenix
2004: Kissimmee
2008: West Palm Beach, Bonnaroo, Columbia
2010: MSG2
2012: Music Midtown
2014: Memphis2016: Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, JazzFest
2018: Wrigley 1, Fenway 1
2022: Nashville
2023: Ft. Worth II
2024: Baltimore
2025: Hollywood II0 -
two words SAD BASTARDS0
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P34RL J4MM3R said:That dude and his 6'-5" son were very annoying. They really pissed off about 50 people just constantly pushing up to the front. I tried to block him for about 10 minutes, then he just went back and around and pushed his way in. He ended up 2 people over from me and just kept looking at me and smiling like "HAHA, I got up here anyway." Total tool. I would never act that way. I would never act that way when my children were watching....I'd be mortified to treat many fellow fans like that.Enjoy difference. Without it we're all boring!0
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Its getting worse every tour - Springsteen method please!
SHOW COUNT: (170) 1990's=3, 2000's=53, 2010/20's=114, US=124, CAN=15, Europe=20 ,New Zealand=4, Australia=5
Mexico=1, Colombia=10 -
DirtyFrankAndBeans said:Brisk. said:What did these people look like? Americans?
Sorry I don't like to read epic walls of text.
I won’t forget what all 3 of these people look like and I will be scanning the front of the GA line at my next show. The rudest woman on the rail was American dark hair early 30s she was with the dude I’ve seen a lot long blonde curly hair coming out of his hat. The next lady was close in age she was Hispanic. The biggest D-bag was early 40s white guy real nerdy looking with glasses bragging about his 300 bootlegs he owns.
Enjoy difference. Without it we're all boring!0 -
Big Bank Hank said:For some people Eddie tossing them a tambourine or giving them some wine or touching them, is like the biggest deal ever, and they will still be telling stories about it 25 years from now. I don't care about any of that, more power to them if they are willingto invest all that time & energy. I am totally cool with lower reserve side stage, plus it's really nice having a seat & cupholder plus easy bathroom access once Even Flow starts playing. Pearl Jam catching a shot of me on the rail during a show & posting the video later really won't make any difference in my life. Now if I happen to run into one of them in some random place & just be able to hang out & talk about ways to make the world a better place, real deep shit, that would be meaningful. Icon worship is a illusion, human to human interaction & finding ways to become better humans is where it's at. Besides Eddie has already played 3 requests for me from this board over the past 5 years, so I already feel kinda guilty about that, so I figure it's better to let others go up front with their signs & maybe they can get a song played or a shoutout & that will be a much more meaningful experience than it would be for me. I see the world through a rocking horse of time. Those people up front at the Seattle show earned it, lining up 4 days before in 90 degree heat, it's totally not worth it for me, plus when you get douche bags trying to muscle themselves in & cutting in front & just being down right disrespectful it can make for a really long night. I do have one question: If you are center rail, how in the hell do you take a piss? Empty bottle? Port a Potty? It seems like it would be really hard to get back the where you were before.
Star Lake 00 / Pittsburgh 03 / State College 03 / Bristow 03 / Cleveland 06 / Camden II 06 / DC 08 / Pittsburgh 13 / Baltimore 13 / Charlottesville 13 / Cincinnati 14 / St. Paul 14 / Hampton 16 / Wrigley I 16 / Wrigley II 16 / Baltimore 20 / Camden 22 / Baltimore 24 / Raleigh I 25 / Raleigh II 25 / Pittsburgh I 250 -
OceansJenny said:Shakescky said:pashapasaman said:What sickens me is that i see the same people front row every show. What is the goal actually?? So that they can shake eddie’s hand?
the sound is way better if you are at the back actually
i’ve been in rail once in madrid
wasn’t my best experience, and i experience similar stuff like in this post. People fighting for spots
lame
Happy to show up 1 hr prior for GA and be 5 rows back. The rats can have fun with their rail and imaginary celebrity.
But hey, who knows, maybe there is a little celebrity club amongst them where they are trying to outdo each other too! Stranger things certainly do happen...0 -
JH6056 said:OceansJenny said:Shakescky said:pashapasaman said:What sickens me is that i see the same people front row every show. What is the goal actually?? So that they can shake eddie’s hand?
the sound is way better if you are at the back actually
i’ve been in rail once in madrid
wasn’t my best experience, and i experience similar stuff like in this post. People fighting for spots
lame
Happy to show up 1 hr prior for GA and be 5 rows back. The rats can have fun with their rail and imaginary celebrity.
But hey, who knows, maybe there is a little celebrity club amongst them where they are trying to outdo each other too! Stranger things certainly do happen...
i have witnessed some performances. i have soaked up a lot of memories.0 -
I enjoyed the hell out of GA at Wrigley, but after dealing with a lot of the nonsense already mentioned in this thread, I sure am looking forward to my SEATS in Boston.0
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pjl44 said:Team All Reserved Seating 2019
+1
|9.5.93Gorge|2.6.95Moore|5.7.98AROSpace|7.21.98Seattle|7.22.98Seattle|10.21.00PHX|11.5.00Seattle
|11.6.00Seattle|6.6.03Vegas|6.7.03PHX|5.25.06Boston|7.22.06Gorge|7.23.06Gorge|9.21.09Seattle|9.22.09Seattle |10.6.09LA|11.19.13PHX|11.29.13Portland|12.6.13Seattle |10.22.14Denver| 8.8.18 Seattle | 8.10.18 Seattle
EV Solo |7.15.11 Benaroya|7.16.11 Benaroya|4.13.12PHX|10.30.14Redmond|
TOTD 11.11.16 San Fran0 -
I stopped following some chick on insta when she posted a pic of a bunch of hands with numbers on them during the Europe tour this year. She was even in the comments section bragging about how "the list" is a necessary and good thing, etc to those calling her out on it. Can't remember her name now but she's from England and I would imagine is one of these "rail rats" referred to here.
Star Lake 00 / Pittsburgh 03 / State College 03 / Bristow 03 / Cleveland 06 / Camden II 06 / DC 08 / Pittsburgh 13 / Baltimore 13 / Charlottesville 13 / Cincinnati 14 / St. Paul 14 / Hampton 16 / Wrigley I 16 / Wrigley II 16 / Baltimore 20 / Camden 22 / Baltimore 24 / Raleigh I 25 / Raleigh II 25 / Pittsburgh I 250 -
Mikusxkm said:For all of you that had to deal with the rude and disrespectful people in GA I am sorry. I unfortunately or fortunately, however you want to look at it, usually get pretty good seats at most events. I’m handicapped and could not stand up for a 20 minuet line let alone a 3 hr concert. Seattle second night and Chicago 1st night were my first PJ concerts. I’m was PJ concert newbie, they were AMAZING, life altering and I could go on and on!
Handicaped seating in both Chicago and Seattle were somewhat “seat yourself wherever”, despite numbered seats. I’m not complaining at all. What a great, open, happy group of about 20 each night. I’m a bit bossy as my tall husband (Chicago trip) and my fairly short daughter (Seattle trip) can confirm. We had people in wheelchairs and walkers and usually their companion. When everyone took their places it was obvious (both nights) that some people in wheelchairs were not going to easily see the band, even with my husband seated. So being bossy I kind of started rearranging the people around us. At first they all said no, I am ok, I am here and can kinda see them and can hear them. I finally just scooted mysel and husband behind a couple of people and their companions. My husband had a chair to sit in, and did. When he wanted to stand he went to the back. Seeing this, many companions did the same. So with some gentle suggestions and offers to move around I think everyone single person in our small section had an awesome view. Was I in the “front, center row”? I was not. I was actually in the back row, but I am pretty tall and seat height in a walker is a couple inches higher than a wheelch, or the actual seats.
By the time the concerts were amping up we all knew most everyone’s names and had started telling our PJ stories or our stories that land us in the gimpy section. We bought beers for each other, sang loudly and had an amazing good time. None of us really cared about the seat numbers on tickets. We wanted to make damn sure that everyone had the best possible view for their circumstances.
I’m not suggesting you become handicapped so you get decent seats to events. Obviously our lives can make everyday things difficult, but you try and make the most of a situation. I made friends and had 2 awesome trips with the highlight of seeing the best band ever.
Thank you to the kind, generous and fun people who only enhanced the concert and of course thank you Pearl Jam for being you, best band EVER, kind and their incredible generosity to so many worthy causes. These may be my only PJ concerts (I certainly hope not) so I will think positively and remember how am incredibly grateful for the music I heard and the people I met in both cities. Everyone was so very kind and wonderful. So thanks to Seattle and Chicago, you have some great citizens.
Perhaps at your next big event remember that each one of you can choose the high road and regardless of your physical view of a concert, or whatever event, your kindness will make your experience much much better.
You seriously make me that much prouder to be a PJ fan, you are AWESOME!!!
One of my favorite/best "PJ Community" memories was also one of my recent most fave shows ever, Charlottesville '13, when after trying to help a guy in a wheelchair who had tried to get into GA but didn't have a ticket, and obviously coudn't see from the reserved seats behind GA, I tried to help him up where we were but that wasn't happening. So when I saw a PJ crew member going by, I waved them down, pointed the guy out, and just said "Hey, if there's anything you can do to help him..." and he went over, talked to the guy, and next thing I saw was the guy being escorted to the GA entrance, wristbands in hand!
What I did NOT know until the show was over was, once he got to GA, and let's be clear, it was a ton of people who like every GA show some had waited all day (maybe even all night the night before) to be on the rail, as this guy came in the audience parted like the Red Sea when they realized he was behind them, and they let him all the way up to the rail on Mike's side! Then he got guitar picks, a tambourine, and just had the time of his life.
When I saw him after we hugged and we were both literallly in tears, because 1) it was an unforgettably AWESOME show and setlist (like your 2 shows Seattle 2 and Wrigley 1!), and also just because of how everyone had worked together to get this guy to where he could see and then the band took over.
I'll always love that and since then whenever I walked by the sections for differently-abled people, I try to always stop and say hi and ask if anyone needs anything. I also gave a guy an Ed guitar pick out of the blue at one show.
Love your post, you're the best kind of "bossy", and it's an honor to be a fan with you!Post edited by JH6056 on0 -
Next time someone tries to claim it was their spot just remember how Bill Cartwright would grab rebounds. Those elbows didnt play around0
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Thanks Pete said:amw101282 said:Milwaukee is my city and u was the 3rd person there behind a couple girls from Brazil. I camped out the nigh before at 9pm and it was my first time trying for rail. I knew there were ppl that did it over and over and I decided this is my hometown my city and my first chance to represent on the rail. So I did. I waited in the rain with my friend and waited all night. I met many of the "entitled " fans you speak of traveling from city to city and taking front row every time. I was new some were nice and some were not. They were cool through the night but once it got closer to time u had some old aussie dude with a beard threatenin to fight my friend and saying we didn't belong up there. Sorry we beat you to the front. My friend was so soured by this he hasn't gone to a pearl jam show with me since. Ruined his experience. He had gone every time before. We had earned the rail and apparently these guys didn' wanna share with new faces. He way I saw it. We earned it. I ended up on the rail by Eddie's mic. He didn' acknowledge us once but did every one around us. The familiar faces handed em tambourines wine took their signs and played to em. We didn't get anything. It's like we were invisible to em. So yes he rewards the familiar faces. We were new...we didn't matter. I haven't tried for rail since. could've for wrigley twice and after our experience in Milwaukee we have tried since. So yes try to get up to front and the pool who own it will try to fight you and make you feel like you don't belong there. Very disappointing. I went for rail at radiohead and their fans were way cooler and thom yorke hadn't seen my face before but he still acknowledged my presence. So that's my take. I may try for rail again but my best friend is completely done with it thanks to these ppl who own the band. Milwaukee show could'e been a great experience for us. Instead it pushed us away. And I guess that' what they wanted so they won. Congratulations you own the band. Enjoy
KIDDING!! I know you're not the guy, just making a joke because it did sound like exaclty what the guy would say about himself if he were going to reply as someone else0 -
Every major band has its obsessive entitled fans.
U2 which does basically the same show every night has them. They follow the band to every show and insist on being on the rail every night even though the show is spread out across the arena floor.
Springsteen has them. When he does arena tours you're going to see the same people in the pit every night. How they get there is a mystery. They are referred to as "pit pigs".
Let them have the rail.
Stand back 20 ft or more from the rail and have a great time.0
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