willl I ever see Pearl Jam again?

[digster]

I think I've been pretty lucky overall with my PJ fan interactions at shows, despite being at some concerts that could easily have spelled disaster (shows at MSG, Spectrum, the 20th anniversary). I remember catching a bus from Chicago for the Alpine Valley shows and though it could have easily been an Eddie is God congregation it ended up being a pleasant, fun group of people.

That's not to say there haven't been many horror stories; I have no doubt, I've just been lucky enough to avoid them.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[Jorge]

"Never stop jamming! Yea! Never stop!"

Beautiful.

[darth_vedder]

this is getting close? when does the poll close?

[darth_vedder]

"Never stop jamming! Yea! Never stop!"

Beautiful.

[Monkey_Driven]

Come to a show in the midwest. Good people here (for the most part).

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[Monkey_Driven]

Come to a show in the midwest. Good people here (for the most part).

On further reflection, I must admit that perhaps I'm just getting old. I think that every MA show I've been to has been mostly full of good people, but there has always been one or two notable clowns. I think that my tolerance for nonsense has decreased, and the declining quality of the music, coupled with Ed's drunken ramblings (which I used to love), and an archaic and expensive ticketing process, has made for a concert experience that feels increasingly like an obligation, rather than a savored event.

Never stop jamming.

Yeah! Never stop...

[LetMeSleep]

Ed's drinking and toasting and constant talk of getting on it is really detrimental. You're a fifty yo FFS. Grow up and write a seriously good album.

[LikeLukin]

There are always annoying fans at every band's show, that is not a Pearl Jam specific thing.

I do find the sound to be so underwhelming though, I have to agree with that. I specifically remember how disappointed I was in Toronto in 2011 when they opened with "Go." I thought "Wow, this would be awesome if I could fucking hear it!" It's not the system itself but the way the sound people use it for PJ. I remember in 2006, My Morning Jacket's sound was much louder and better balanced than PJ's for the 2 shows in Toronto.

I have no interest in listening to bootlegs of shows these days as they make me cringe, but I do enjoy the shows when I am there still. Will hopefully see them at least once every couple of years until they pack it in.

[Jorge]

Yeah, it's really weird that a band that prides itself on live performances has such a flimsy sound setup. When I saw them in Buenos Aires a couple years ago, a gust of wind would whoosh in and obscure the guitars. No other band that played that night had that problem.

[bodysnatcher]

Luckily (and weirdly), PJ doesn't necessarily come around these parts too often. So having 5 years between shows helps my excitement levels jump once I do have another opportunity to see them. That being said, it's to the point where I'll need an album that I'm excited about hearing live. If they hit this area again with no new material, I won't go. Been there, done that. If the next album sucks donkey dick, doubt I'd go too. But then again, if it's a 5 year gap between shows.... maybe. Ticket prices are becoming an issue though. If they go any higher, it'd be breaking point.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Luckily (and weirdly), PJ doesn't necessarily come around these parts too often. So having 5 years between shows helps my excitement levels jump once I do have another opportunity to see them. That being said, it's to the point where I'll need an album that I'm excited about hearing live. If they hit this area again with no new material, I won't go. Been there, done that. If the next album sucks donkey dick, doubt I'd go too. But then again, if it's a 5 year gap between shows.... maybe. Ticket prices are becoming an issue though. If they go any higher, it'd be breaking point.

I went to both Seattle shows in 09 hoping to get a lesser-played song. I got to hear No Way after an 11 year hiatus, but other than that the closest they came was In My Tree. :/

It is your hometown, try a little harder Pearl Jam.

[bodysnatcher]

Luckily (and weirdly), PJ doesn't necessarily come around these parts too often. So having 5 years between shows helps my excitement levels jump once I do have another opportunity to see them. That being said, it's to the point where I'll need an album that I'm excited about hearing live. If they hit this area again with no new material, I won't go. Been there, done that. If the next album sucks donkey dick, doubt I'd go too. But then again, if it's a 5 year gap between shows.... maybe. Ticket prices are becoming an issue though. If they go any higher, it'd be breaking point.

I went to both Seattle shows in 09 hoping to get a lesser-played song. I got to hear No Way after an 11 year hiatus, but other than that the closest they came was In My Tree. :/

It is your hometown, try a little harder Pearl Jam.

Hey I was at those shows too. What if we were standing next to each other? WHAT IF?????

[E.H. Ruddock]

Luckily (and weirdly), PJ doesn't necessarily come around these parts too often. So having 5 years between shows helps my excitement levels jump once I do have another opportunity to see them. That being said, it's to the point where I'll need an album that I'm excited about hearing live. If they hit this area again with no new material, I won't go. Been there, done that. If the next album sucks donkey dick, doubt I'd go too. But then again, if it's a 5 year gap between shows.... maybe. Ticket prices are becoming an issue though. If they go any higher, it'd be breaking point.

I went to both Seattle shows in 09 hoping to get a lesser-played song. I got to hear No Way after an 11 year hiatus, but other than that the closest they came was In My Tree. :/

It is your hometown, try a little harder Pearl Jam.

Hey I was at those shows too. What if we were standing next to each other? WHAT IF?????

I think I remember the guy next to me seeming really cool. So probably.

[epilogue]

I voted 'No' just to keep the poll interesting.

But, in my heart, I believe KT will see them again.

[Strat]

Oh will, oh will, i see pearl jam again?
They wont tour near me anymore
Theyve gone to mansions so i've got to get rich
so I can book my pearl jam at my private......party

[Wendy Carlos's Twin]

I remember in 2006, My Morning Jacket's sound was much louder and better balanced than PJ's for the 2 shows in Toronto.

That was the case in East Rutherford as well. Where I was sitting, MMJ sounded awesome and came through loud and clear. Then PJ came out and burst into "Severed Hand", and they were a fraction of the volume...muddy, distant and echoey. The only song that I could make out clearly the whole night was "Footsteps". The Spectrum show was even worse...you couldn't make heads or tails of anything that was going on...and I was sitting right in front of the soundboard! Definitely not worth the gas and ticket costs.

[stip]

I presume that's to make it easier to hear Eddie.

[Simple Torture]

But the hands-down most memorable Boston drunkard was a guy directly behind us who kept yelling -- for about 30 minutes straight -- "Never stop jamming! Yea! Never stop!" My buddy and I use this phrase often now, and sign off work emails with it from time to time.

Here's mine: when I saw Ed solo in Boston (2008? I honestly don't remember), the crowd was pretty well-behaved. I had excellent seats, and nothing could mar my memories of that night. My Boston drunkard story just made it better: when Ed began playing "Rise," this guy stood up, turned to everyone around him, and tried to convince us that we had to stand because Ed was telling us to "rise up." "C'mon, man, he said rise...rise!" Who knows? It coulda been the same guy.