Safety at shows

meme · August 2006

So, I've been listening to a lot of old old boots lately.

I know about the band's comments in the aftermath of Roskilde, that they wrote a song for the victims and so on. But what really has been driving home for me how devastated the must have been is the fact that in EVERY SINGLE SHOW I've been listening to (about 30 now) between 1990 and 1992, Ed talks about safety... "be careful" "take care of each other" "is everyone ok?". EVERY SINGLE SHOW.

This seemed a good time to bring this up, just before their playing a festival again... and before a long streak of General Admission shows (one of which I'll be lucky enough to be at).

Take care of your neighbors, be civil... you should do this out of sheer concern for human life, but if you can't grasp that do it because if something happens this time I don't think your favorite band will survive it.

neartodeath · August 2006

moshing went out with acid wash jeans

fraude · August 2006

I agree with you, safety is has, is and always will be a big issue at events like this. I think that we as PJ fans should set the example and start acting upon the beliefs of the band we so dearly love. Care about your complete total stranger standing behind you at a PJ concert pushing you in the back. Justy ask him/her nicely to stop doing it and that is one step closer to something we, in the end, we all want. Which is, to enjoy the best fuckin' band in the world.

lurkin · August 2006

hope you have better luck with that than I did in san fran 1st nite.

I had to abandon my position, about 3 off the rail, mike's side, just after maybe 5 songs in, due to unending supply of large, out-of-control, just bulling their way in cause they could, fuck-wad males, feeling entitled to best spots in the house even though they obviously hadn't spent their entire day waiting in line for those spots. I was spending all my energy just trying to stay near my friends. The crushing was a little crazy a times. And when I did try to push back to get some people literally off my back, it just resulted in a surge coming back at me twice as strong. Wasn't feeling safe with that either.

I was pretty surprised to hear Ed saying, later in the show, that it spoke so well of the crowd that there appeared to be an equal amount of women as men on the rail. Must have meant people were taking care of each other. What he maybe didn't get, was that if you didn't have a couple of strong people, generally a gal's man or a strong woman, around you, or maybe the rail itself to hang onto, as a female you really had no protection. At least that was my situation.

It was great thru Sonic Youth, no trouble even though the house was mostly full, everyone was cool and civilized. But as soon as PJ came on, out came the assholes. Such a bummer. I always thought we were a better crowd than that.

Sorry for the long rant, but I guess I just had to get that out. Thanks for the opportunity, and I really do wish you all luck with so many GA shows ahead. Perhaps you can give us a better example.

Take good care, stay safe and rock your socks off !!!

stonesgstring · August 2006

Generally speaking GA shows are safe. You always get the few stupid fans but that goes with every band.

If you don't like being squashed though avoid the middle of Ga pits. It's gets pretty tight but people tend to look out for each other.

meme · August 2006

Sorry to hear that.
I've only ever been in first row once, at a Springsteen concert...18 years ago or so

. I swore I'd never do it again, cause as you said all my energy went into trying to stay up. But this will be my only chance to be in first row at a Pearl Jam show, so I'm thinking about trying again... at 35

I'll have Verona to enjoy the music, and Milan to get squashed

lurkin wrote:

hope you have better luck with that than I did in san fran 1st nite.

I had to abandon my position, about 3 off the rail, mike's side, just after maybe 5 songs in, due to unending supply of large, out-of-control, just bulling their way in cause they could, fuck-wad males, feeling entitled to best spots in the house even though they obviously hadn't spent their entire day waiting in line for those spots. I was spending all my energy just trying to stay near my friends. The crushing was a little crazy a times. And when I did try to push back to get some people literally off my back, it just resulted in a surge coming back at me twice as strong. Wasn't feeling safe with that either.

I was pretty surprised to hear Ed saying, later in the show, that it spoke so well of the crowd that there appeared to be an equal amount of women as men on the rail. Must have meant people were taking care of each other. What he maybe didn't get, was that if you didn't have a couple of strong people, generally a gal's man or a strong woman, around you, or maybe the rail itself to hang onto, as a female you really had no protection. At least that was my situation.

It was great thru Sonic Youth, no trouble even though the house was mostly full, everyone was cool and civilized. But as soon as PJ came on, out came the assholes. Such a bummer. I always thought we were a better crowd than that.

Sorry for the long rant, but I guess I just had to get that out. Thanks for the opportunity, and I really do wish you all luck with so many GA shows ahead. Perhaps you can give us a better example.

Take good care, stay safe and rock your socks off !!!

chadwick · April 2007

ive never seen PJ yet so i cant add a memory of their show.i can add a
lil story or two tho.i was at the rolling stones steels wheel show in Ames,IA
back in the late 80's.the opening act was living color.this was at cyclone stadium.a football field/stadium.we had our 4 seats,folding metal chairs.
right smack in the center of the field.everyone was seated during the living color gig.soon as mick and the boys came out everyone jumped on their chair.
to see, we had to do the same.im a large dude so i guess i was blocking the view of the dude behind me.he pushed me off my chair.im cool so i calmly get back on my chair.were rockin out, then yet again, im pushed off my chair.
im calm and cool.i get back on my chair and look @ the dude.hes kinda pissed off @ me.so were jammin to the stones when yet again im pushed, but this time quite hard off my chair by this asshole.i looked @ him like i was going to rip his head off his shoulders and stuff.he never pushed me off my chair again.2nd lil story is my bro and his buddy went to a poison gig..haha..
front row sum pricks were smashing these chics, chics is why they went to the show anyway..haha..but yea some assholes smashing chics, everybody..
my bro,big dude like myself,grabs this chic who got thrown around and knocked down.shes cryin and bruised up.my bro saves her.shes glued to him the rest of the night.

end of story..

meme · April 2007

Hi Chadwick, I lived in Ames for a couple of years!

Well, since you bumped this thread up from the dead... I really thought I would die in Milan. I was in fourth row or something. I made it through 3 songs or so and then had to go back for my life. I really enjoyed the show after I went back. I guess pits are not for me... I'll stay away in London

JanetWeiss · April 2007

I thought I would die in Bologna. First PJ show after 10 years and the biggest disappointment of all. I gave up (central) front row after a hour and I don't know how I could stay there so long. Didn't enjoy almost anything, I was too scared.
At the following shows I found a spot Stone side, which was really nice and things went better.
But that show was a nightmare.

chadwick · April 2007

i dont do front row or mass confusion, pushy shoving very well.
i'll start crackin skulls if sum dude/dudes wanna get to stupid..
i feel bad for the ppl who get hurt tryin to enjoy a wonderful time with
a band they love..im cool sittin in my seat @ a distance..heck with it..
sum folks are outta hand..

Kirkwood · April 2007

Paris was also not fun to be in front, couldn´t focus on the music at all. But in Prague it was awesome, friendly surrondings. And I rememeber that Prague hade like 40 % of the standing area reserved, a little bit expiencier tickets but it was totally worth it. Why couldn´t all arenas have that?

Pegasus · April 2007

JanetWeiss wrote:

I thought I would die in Bologna. First PJ show after 10 years and the biggest disappointment of all. I gave up (central) front row after a hour and I don't know how I could stay there so long. Didn't enjoy almost anything, I was too scared.
At the following shows I found a spot Stone side, which was really nice and things went better.
But that show was a nightmare.

really?
it was really really hot, but otherwise the pushing wasn't particularly bad compare to some other shows (Paris, and though I wasn't in the pit I know Milan, in particular, also Pistoia).

I've seen the footage of SF II, and it looks really comfy to me

so a word of advice to the americans coming to Europe this June:
if you thought SF was bad, stay the hell out of the pits here!
it's not nasty in general (although there's always some dicks), but it's always densely packed, hot and agitated.

tips: it's always calmer on Stone side, and the more on the side you are (both sides)
Also, it generally calms down 5-10 rows back (but that said, Pistoia was moshing 20 rows back).
and it pays to have friends around you... you make some quickly in GA queues, especially if following part of the tour.

JanetWeiss · April 2007

Pegasus wrote:

really?
it was really really hot, but otherwise the pushing wasn't particularly bad compare to some other shows (Paris, and though I wasn't in the pit I know Milan, in particular, also Pistoia).

Some friends of mine told me that the pushing in Milan and Pistoia was very bad, worse than Bologna. I was Stone side and on the side and there was no pushing, because people usually push towards the center.
I think I'll try to be there next June.
No way that I'll go Mike side or to the center anymore. I simply can't do it.

Pegasus · April 2007

JanetWeiss wrote:

Some friends of mine told me that the pushing in Milan and Pistoia was very bad, worse than Bologna. I was Stone side and on the side and there was no pushing, because people usually push towards the center.
I think I'll try to be there next June.
No way that I'll go Mike side or to the center anymore. I simply can't do it.

I was in the centre in Bologna (Stone side of the T base), and it was ok apart for some complete dick at the end.

in Milan I was in the seats on the side (I added that show later and when I was offered that seat, I didn't even try to find 10c..I'd been warned about the Milanese..), but a friend, who was front row centre EVERY show last year, including the festivals, had to pull out of that one and was shaken afterwards.

Pistoia, I was at the end of the T, it was rough at first but calmed down..but I could see a hell lot of moshing on Mike side, even as far back as I was, for most of the show (and it was the longest of the leg).

I'm not sure the T arrangement is really making things safer... much prefer the 2 pits. the 2 places where they had them, Dublin and Prague (Reading doesn't count as the barrier was so far it was useless..), it was really fine.

einatshaul · April 2007

Madrid worked well for me, I was lucky not to get kicked in the head there

and so was Athens, really great, even on mike's side!

But I do advise you all to take Stone's side if you're newbees at this...

And Pegasus - you forgot reading

just watch out for that face under that sweet colorful hat in first row, it looks happy when it's in pain!

Pegasus · April 2007

einatshaul wrote:

Madrid worked well for me, I was lucky not to get kicked in the head there and so was Athens, really great, even on mike's side!

But I do advise you all to take Stone's side if you're newbees at this...

And Pegasus - you forgot reading just watch out for that face under that sweet colorful hat in first row, it looks happy when it's in pain!

not pain...just not much room to breath..
seriously, Reading might have been the tightest, but it was cool.

Off I Go. · April 2007

My first ever! for any band GA ! Was in Bern last year,I was right at the front
and for the first five songs especially it felt really wild --very squashed and hard to breath at times!! I nearly got kicked in the head too!but was lucky and escaped injury, never experienced anything like it in all my 53 years!!I wouldnt have missed it for the world and am now looking forward to Wembley In June !!COUNTING the days !!! and WAITING, WAITING as all of us that are lucky enough to be going are!!! The dividing line between having a really rocking good time and getting hurt can be very fine, We must all take care and have a good time too!!!

Heineken Helen · April 2007

Well the three I was at last year were probably the easiest... the Astoria I was at the front and it was a struggle to stay there but I still really enjoyed it. Looking back on it, it seemed to be a walk in the park, although I'm not so sure I felt it at the time... although maybe shock had set in anyway.

Dublin was just brilliant... the two pits worked excellently and the padded barrier made it much more comfortable too.

Verona was seated

SoonForgotten2 · April 2007

I think they really, really need to use the separate pit concept. If that should mean it's 10C only so be it. Especially at the mini-PJ festivals. The T just does nothing to prevent assholes who arrive at the venue 5 minutes before PJ take the stage from pushing their way up no matter who they hurt or annoy in the process.

redrock · April 2007

Heineken Helen wrote:

Dublin was just brilliant... the two pits worked excellently and the padded barrier made it much more comfortable too.

The padded barrier was luxury!

Heineken Helen · April 2007

redrock wrote:

The padded barrier was luxury!

I could just put my elbows against it and give myself lotsa room. All venues should do that I think

Safety at shows

Comments

Categories