Pearl Jam Ruoff Music Center Postponement

BettrMan21 · September 2023

They're all 60ish years old at this point. With age comes much more uncertainty and less resiliency. Just me personally, my days travelling long distances are over for this very reason. If it isn't a day trip, I'm out.

Zod · September 2023

Also the covid problem. I believe covid cancellations a few years ago revamped how you insure a tour or tour dates (in case you need to cancel). I think we're still in the era where one person gets covid, they have to isolate from everyone, and can't perform. I suppose that could be moot, as you may not be in a position to perform if you're sick.

I do tend to agree. Between covid and aging, a lot of the bigger acts we see postpone a lot more than they used too.

I always have to travel to shows as I live on an Island, but I'm not sure how eager I am to go further and fly out for shows.

JD87070 · September 2023

Zod said:

Also the covid problem. I believe covid cancellations a few years ago revamped how you insure a tour or tour dates (in case you need to cancel). I think we're still in the era where one person gets covid, they have to isolate from everyone, and can't perform. I suppose that could be moot, as you may not be in a position to perform if you're sick.

I do tend to agree. Between covid and aging, a lot of the bigger acts we see postpone a lot more than they used too.

I always have to travel to shows as I live on an Island, but I'm not sure how eager I am to go further and fly out for shows.

On the Covid isolation, not necessarily. I think it depends on the band and how they handle it. When James Hetfield had Covid last weekend, they still did the first show despite him already being sick. The crew all had masks on for that show-which hadn’t been happening earlier in the tour-and James didn’t closely interact with the other band members on stage like they usually do (this is all stuff I read on the MetClub forums, not first hand, but also I read most of it before they cancelled the second show and he publicly stated that he had Covid). So with them, they tried to continue on even with a positive test and him being a little under the weather, then it sounds like he got worse the next day so they pushed the second Phoenix show back a week.

bootlegger10 · September 2023

It is a tough call. I understand if you are 60+, if you catch COVID you want to take it easy as a precaution for your own health. If Hetfield was asymptomatic then I can see playing. If he was having symptoms, then it is a risk that you'll wear yourself out and put yourself at risk of having a more difficult time battling the virus. Artist's call of course.

I think I said earlier, I think bands should take caution while touring and perhaps not go to other concerts or hang out in large groups if it can be helped. Mental health is important too so people can't just be locked in a room. I get that. Just be smart about it. Maybe you go to other concerts when you are on the road 3 months, but if on the road for 9 dates, maybe be a little more cautious.

Disclaimer: Just talking on a message board. Bands can do what they like and we have to deal with it. Also have no idea who is sick and how they got sick. If I am traveling for work and get sick, I can sit behind a computer in the hotel and get work done, or someone else can step in. Or I just do the work a few days later. With concerts, you don't have that ability.

devonfz · September 2023

These day of cancellations are getting out of hand. This is just really crazy stuff at this point depending on who the member is just do a show even if it’s improv acoustic whatever just play something for the crowd so they get something out of it a long way to go for just a cancellation or start having people that can fill in going to Austin for two shows wow I didn’t want to bring up cancellations this tour but here we go… plus a little news on who actually is sick and what is wrong but seriously seems like they could announce the cancellation but still put on some kind of show since everybody is already there, and everything is ready to go and set up kind of like they did years ago with Neil covering when Eddie was sick, they still finished a two hour show and then still gave everybody a ticket for the make up show in San Jose

gangwarily · September 2023

So, everyone seems pretty sure it's a Covid issue. But if that's the case, wouldn't they just say that?

gotthebottle · September 2023

gangwarily said:

So, everyone seems pretty sure it's a Covid issue. But if that's the case, wouldn't they just say that?

It's just most likely scenario... no one is sure

BlueLedbetter · September 2023

I had wondered when Josh joined if it was with a view to shows going ahead with him filling in if one member was out with covid

bootlegger10 · September 2023

gangwarily said:

So, everyone seems pretty sure it's a Covid issue. But if that's the case, wouldn't they just say that?

I could see where they don't say Covid because there would be backlash of "should have stayed in a bubble, COVID isn't that serious anymore, etc...". It isn't 2021 anymore. Leaving it general is the reasonable way for the announcement. Nobody wants their health issues out in public, and fans can't throw stones if it was Covid and they caught it at a party in Chicago.

HughFreakingDillon · September 2023

if it's covid they wouldn't have said the next dates, starting 3 days later, are still a go.

Zod · September 2023

bootlegger10 said:

It is a tough call. I understand if you are 60+, if you catch COVID you want to take it easy as a precaution for your own health. If Hetfield was asymptomatic then I can see playing. If he was having symptoms, then it is a risk that you'll wear yourself out and put yourself at risk of having a more difficult time battling the virus. Artist's call of course.

I think I said earlier, I think bands should take caution while touring and perhaps not go to other concerts or hang out in large groups if it can be helped. Mental health is important too so people can't just be locked in a room. I get that. Just be smart about it. Maybe you go to other concerts when you are on the road 3 months, but if on the road for 9 dates, maybe be a little more cautious.

Disclaimer: Just talking on a message board. Bands can do what they like and we have to deal with it. Also have no idea who is sick and how they got sick. If I am traveling for work and get sick, I can sit behind a computer in the hotel and get work done, or someone else can step in. Or I just do the work a few days later. With concerts, you don't have that ability.

There's the other challenge, which is performing when your barely sick. My previous job involved me running 60 to 90 minute presentations where I would talk at full volume. I was always of the mantra, going into work, unless I'm really really really sick. So I'd try to do one on a mild cold, which would ravage my throat and make it exponentially worse, and then I'd miss several days of work because I can't talk.

I have to imagine it's similar with singing. James' probably didn't want to have to cancel shows, and might of only been a little sick, decided to motor through it, but then wrote himself off for several days as a result

Sometimes you make things worse by working through an ailment (especially when you need your voice).

gotthebottle · September 2023

HughFreakingDillon said:

if it's covid they wouldn't have said the next dates, starting 3 days later, are still a go.

Just says... currently scheduled as planned... nothing about that says 100%

AmishGuy91 · September 2023

HughFreakingDillon said:

if it's covid they wouldn't have said the next dates, starting 3 days later, are still a go.

They didn't say they are a Go, they said they are still currently scheduled as planned, which is always the case until a cancellation decision is made.

HughFreakingDillon · September 2023

in this context I think it's the same thing. If it was covid, they likely would have postponed more shows than just the one.

know1 · September 2023

HughFreakingDillon said:

in this context I think it's the same thing. If it was covid, they likely would have postponed more shows than just the one.

But canceling too far in advance costs the hotels, venue, staff and local a lot of money, though.

JD87070 · September 2023

HughFreakingDillon said:

in this context I think it's the same thing. If it was covid, they likely would have postponed more shows than just the one.

Not necessarily. Covid isn’t what it used to be (I’ve had it three times over the past three years-my wife works i health care, so lots of exposure). In November 2020 it sucked, knocked us out for a good two weeks, followed by a slow recovery back to 100%. Second time a little over a year later, was maybe 4 days of feeling like crap, but nowhere near the level of the first time. When i got it this past spring (following a Springsteen concert), I felt about as bad as i did the 2020 time, but for only 1.5 days. Two days later i was out taking a 5 mile walk. Obviously everyone is different, the third time actually hit my wife pretty hard to where she only felt really bad for the same short time i did, but her recovery back to normal was much slower.

RedMosquitoSmile28 · September 2023

My wife works in medicine and we have been pretty cautious about COVID. She said what is going around is going around fast but that it is overall mild. That said, if one of the band members is sick enough to not play, doesn't matter if it is COVID, the flu, an ear infection, it is what it is. It could have happened this year or in 2002. I think everyone gets so caught up on COVID that they forget that it isn't the only thing that can knock someone out. Ever had strep throat as an adult? That is a bear. We just don't know what it is and obviously they didn't think they could play as a result. It sucks but it happens.

BF25394 · September 2023

Staying in a bubble is of limited utility when you have thousands of fans singing at the top of their lungs and aspirating in your general direction for two hours every night. They were in a bubble in 2022 when Matt (and Jeff) got COVID. I would not be surprised at all if Matt got COVID from people in the pit who were singing/aspirating in his direction from 20-25 feet away all night.

RatherStarved · September 2023

Whatever the case may be, an update 24 hours after the news would be welcomed by all having to decide about FW.

pbultimate · September 2023

Anyone fight the hotel refunds and get one? The Wyndham folks are being quite un-customer servicey and dying on their sword of “wasn’t our problem, no refunds”.

I booked through Expedia and I think they’ll side with the customer, we’ll see.

Pearl Jam Ruoff Music Center Postponement

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