US/Canada Tour 2014

I was there. Mama's Boys was great. Brian said they were a little nervous to play it but I thought it came out great. No harmonica.

This might be a strange question, but for those of you that have been to shows already this tour and have stood in general admission, how has your experience been? Has it been particularly rough? I only ask because I'm taking my wife to the show and, while she loves Gaslight Anthem and wants to be close to the stage, she is afraid the crowd will get too "rough" for her, mainly considering Against Me are opening (who we both love as well, but certainly put on a more aggressive show). As a point of reference, she has gone to plenty of Hold Steady shows without complaints.

First Mama's Boys live vid

shredderrrrrr wrote:

This might be a strange question, but for those of you that have been to shows already this tour and have stood in general admission, how has your experience been? Has it been particularly rough? I only ask because I'm taking my wife to the show and, while she loves Gaslight Anthem and wants to be close to the stage, she is afraid the crowd will get too "rough" for her, mainly considering Against Me are opening (who we both love as well, but certainly put on a more aggressive show). As a point of reference, she has gone to plenty of Hold Steady shows without complaints.

I actually found the Toronto show full of douches, to my surprise. During Against Me! it was fine, but seemed like the dickheads pulled out all the stops for Gaslight. Granted, they were probably outliers, but I was with my girlfriend (we're 21) and I didn't feel comfortable most of the show. Seems like the front and back are fine, as front is hardcore, good fans, and back is the people who don't want to be squished elbow to elbow. Seemed to me the middle was the worst. Jerks who don't put in time to be in front, but try to force their way in anyway, instead winding up in the middle and being belligerent anyway.

I don't know if its any different in the States, but I've been to 2 Against Me! shows in the past 2 months in Canada, and both times, the crowds were great. There will always be a pit, just avoid it.

Same here. Small pit up front and center. Just avoid it.

NervousFeetHeartofStone wrote:

shredderrrrrr wrote:

This might be a strange question, but for those of you that have been to shows already this tour and have stood in general admission, how has your experience been? Has it been particularly rough? I only ask because I'm taking my wife to the show and, while she loves Gaslight Anthem and wants to be close to the stage, she is afraid the crowd will get too "rough" for her, mainly considering Against Me are opening (who we both love as well, but certainly put on a more aggressive show). As a point of reference, she has gone to plenty of Hold Steady shows without complaints.

I actually found the Toronto show full of douches, to my surprise. During Against Me! it was fine, but seemed like the dickheads pulled out all the stops for Gaslight. Granted, they were probably outliers, but I was with my girlfriend (we're 21) and I didn't feel comfortable most of the show. Seems like the front and back are fine, as front is hardcore, good fans, and back is the people who don't want to be squished elbow to elbow. Seemed to me the middle was the worst. Jerks who don't put in time to be in front, but try to force their way in anyway, instead winding up in the middle and being belligerent anyway.

I don't know if its any different in the States, but I've been to 2 Against Me! shows in the past 2 months in Canada, and both times, the crowds were great. There will always be a pit, just avoid it.

Thanks for the advice! I'm pretty sure the venue we're seeing them at has a balcony, so we might try to just get front row up there. The last thing I want is for her to have a bad first Gaslight Anthem experience because she's getting elbowed in the face all night.

abw123 wrote:

I was there. Mama's Boys was great. Brian said they were a little nervous to play it but I thought it came out great. No harmonica.

eagles1139 wrote:

First Mama's Boys live vid

Thanks for your take and the video guys! BF's vocals were perfect on the ACL performance.

A festival setting is an interesting place for a second go at it...have always imagined this song as a tipsy bar-room send-off (perhaps end of a regular indoor set, small venue). Not complaining, just observing - glad they played/are playing it! One never knows when or even if some bonus tracks will ever get played live (*cough/Teenage Rebellion/cough*).

Even in the recording it seems like the first couple lines in Mama's Boys are unfinished, like there's no real melody there that makes any sense

My experience over the years is that front row off to the side is generally ok, while front row middle is always the worst. Having said that, there have been shows where nothing at all is going on anywhere in the front. But 9 times out of 10, the troublemakers head for the center. I figure it's cus they want the singer to notice them.

My advice: if you're at all worried about nonsense, just go for the balcony.

shredderrrrrr wrote:

This might be a strange question, but for those of you that have been to shows already this tour and have stood in general admission, how has your experience been? Has it been particularly rough? I only ask because I'm taking my wife to the show and, while she loves Gaslight Anthem and wants to be close to the stage, she is afraid the crowd will get too "rough" for her, mainly considering Against Me are opening (who we both love as well, but certainly put on a more aggressive show). As a point of reference, she has gone to plenty of Hold Steady shows without complaints.

Honestly, I think it's a crap-shoot. My advice, stay out of the middle like others have said. Front and Center gets the most crushed, Middle and center is where the pit usually forms. If you get on the barricade but off to the side, you should be fine, especially if you're in front either Alex and over (like between that Alex and the wall).

But in my experience so far this tour, it hasn't been too bad even a bit more center than that. I don't usually get to pay attention during Great Expectations because of too many crowd surfers and dangerous amounts of crushing, but I got to this tour, multiple times. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do!

Oh, and I found the crowd to be generally "a bit" rougher during Against Me!'s sets than Gaslight's, so if you can tough that out, you're golden. They weren't too bad though.

I agree with Shelby. The Against Me crowd is going to be rougher, but it's generally towards the center of the crowd. I've been barricade in front of both Alexes, and I was just fine. It really depends on the city you are in as well.

Anyone heading to KC next week? Will be my first show since 2012. Buddy that went to Tulsa said to stay on the sides as well, so that's the plan.

TheContender wrote:

Anyone heading to KC next week?  Will be my first show since 2012.  Buddy that went to Tulsa said to stay on the sides as well, so that's the plan.

That's the one I'm going to! Have you ever been to Uptown Theatre?

Hopefully we get more December dates:

http://patriotcenter.monumentalnetwork.com/articles/dc101-holiday-concert

Great show last night in Nashville. I audio taped the show and will have it up for download soon if anyone is interested.


Stay Vicious
Handwritten
45
Old Haunts
Helter Skeleton
We Came to Dance
Wherefore Art Thou, Elvis?
Stray Paper
Mama's Boys
Old White Lincoln
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
Selected Poems
The Diamond Church Street Choir
Mulholland Drive
1,000 Years
Get Hurt
Have Mercy
Dark Places

Encore:

The '59 Sound
Wooderson
Sweet Morphine
We're Getting a Divorce, You Keep the Diner

spokes wrote:

Great show last night in Nashville. I audio taped the show and will have it up for download soon if anyone is interested.

Amazing show last night...excited to hear your recording!!!

This was my 4th show since I got into them in 2010 and was my favorite...great song selection and they seemed to be enjoying it...pre-show was fun as well (finally got to hear Halloween!!).

Hope to catch them again next year..

I do wish they would play more than 2 songs from 59 Sound but I know this is the "Get Hurt" tour..

spokes wrote:

Great show last night in Nashville. I audio taped the show and will have it up for download soon if anyone is interested.

Can't wait to hear your recording! At this rate, it might be one of the few on this tour so it's definitely appreciated. Huge thank you in advance!

spokes wrote:

Great show last night in Nashville. I audio taped the show and will have it up for download soon if anyone is interested.

That would be a great addition to the ARML! Thanks!

Is it just me, or are they really mixing up the setlist each night? I mean, many of the songs are remaining the same, but they are changing a lot. Every setlist I see gets me excited about certain additions (i.e. We're Getting a Divorce and Mullholland) and then surprised about certain omissions (Rollin and Tumblin, Blue Jeans, etc.).

Also, do they play We're Getting a Divorce much? One of my all time favorites. Hadn't seen it on many setlists but seeing it above has got me cautiously excited for next week!

spokes wrote:

I do wish they would play more than 2 songs from 59 Sound but I know this is the "Get Hurt" tour..

They actually played 3 if that set list is accurate. And no Great Expectations    Personally, I'm jumping for joy that they've finally stopped going 59 Sound heavy every show. I love that album but they've got 4 other albums and an EP of great songs to choose from, many of which hardly get played!  

shredderrrrrr wrote:

Also, do they play We're Getting a Divorce much? One of my all time favorites. Hadn't seen it on many setlists but seeing it above has got me cautiously excited for next week!

Seems like they're varying it a decent amount. Certain songs will appear for like 3-4 shows and then fade out again, and they're mixing up what's getting played off Get Hurt, which is cool (although I really wish R&T would never leave the set list).
Diner does NOT get played all that much, in my experience. I've heard it once, MAYBE twice I think? I am so thrilled they've been closing with it. Fingers crossed they play it in Pittsburgh! It's one of my favorites too!

shredderrrrrr wrote:

Also, do they play We're Getting a Divorce much? One of my all time favorites. Hadn't seen it on many setlists but seeing it above has got me cautiously excited for next week!

it's also one of my favorites, I hope they will also play it in Europe

StitchesOnTheRadio wrote:

shredderrrrrr wrote:

Also, do they play We're Getting a Divorce much? One of my all time favorites. Hadn't seen it on many setlists but seeing it above has got me cautiously excited for next week!

Seems like they're varying it a decent amount. Certain songs will appear for like 3-4 shows and then fade out again, and they're mixing up what's getting played off Get Hurt, which is cool (although I really wish R&T would never leave the set list).
Diner does NOT get played all that much, in my experience. I've heard it once, MAYBE twice I think? I am so thrilled they've been closing with it. Fingers crossed they play it in Pittsburgh! It's one of my favorites too!

Agreed on R&T. Surprised of all the songs to take out from Get Hurt they are choosing that one. Not only is it one of the singles, but I imagine it translating well live. Such a fantastic song.