Hershey GA = Cluster #@&; show had its moments

Whomever was supposed to be in charge of GA tonight in Hershey should
be fired. It was absolutely one of the worst experiences I've had. By
the time the gates opened - or were forced open - it had become
downright dangerous.

Lines - which could have easily been organized - I had high hopes when
I arrived because they had "cattle shoots" that were numbered 0-200,
200-400, 400-600 etc - were not. Scanned your ticket before you got in
line ... then just said go here and directed you to the right "pen" -
nothing about lining up in order. No one did. A number of people tried
to organize it but folks in line - many of whom knew what should be
happening - didn't want to cooperate. WTF enough people know what they
should do and you inform the newbies.How hard is it?

There was no staff giving directions - and when they tried to
communicate you couldn't hear. They had no frickin' clue of what they
should have been doing

They moved some lines around - no one knew what was happening. Our
line disentergrated. Then moved from top of lot to the bottom and back
and back again. People were all mixed up.

Since tix were scanned you really couldn't leave.

Sent us back. Then sent us to the front. Then back again.

I was 528 and wound up near the gate in a crush of people. I have no
idea where the folks that should have been in the front were. Drew
1678 and there more than 2400 bands distributed.

It was getting loud and pushy. A mob of hot and ill informed people
never leads to anything good.

Then I can't tell if event staff started to open a gate - not the gate
that was under the entrance sign but one a few hundred feet away -or
fans did. Was open a crack and people pushed thru - pushing open
another gate fully - then a mad dash ... into a fence to try get into
GA.

It was downright dangerous ... not just unorganized or irritating ...
dangerous.

All this translated into some very bad energy in the pit in the
beginning. People just would not settle down. There was nearly a fight
not far from where I was (about 10 deep center).

What got lost was the comradery and community spirit you get standing
in an organized line and meeting your numbered neighbors and getting
to know them - and then meeting more folks when you go in and sit down
in the pit. Saving spots, buyin em beers etc.

I believe all the banded folks made it into the pit.

After a while the bad energy subsided and some chilled a bit and sat.

But once the show starts - you forget all that.

And like Charlottesville ... I found it a bit uneven, but with some
really fine songs and moments including:

Radio Nowhere - seemed to really cook tonight
Backstreets - just always nice to hear this one; when that piano
starts it sucks me right in (in the Wrestler slot)
Trapped - haven't seen that in awhile - and he owns this Jimmy Cliff
song
Give the Girl A Kiss - was fun; thought we were going to get that last
year
Bobby Jean - while not a huge fan of this, it fit well as a closer
after Rosie

Met an Iraq vet who was the one who requested Gypsy Biker in Cville -
that was nice to see. I love that song live - one of my favorites.

This show just doesn't have the direction I've seen recently in the
past.

Radio Nowhere, Out in the Street, Twist and Shout established some
energy - but that dissipated with Working on a Dream.

Joad rocked. Be neat to see this band do a hard rocking show with some
feedback.

T&S by sign request for someone who promised to "burn all my Hannah
Montana CDs."

Promised Land just didn't do much for me tonight.

And I thought Thunder Road was too slow.

Jay on drums whole show - no Max.

Sound - Bruce's vocals were clear, solos were ok, but all the guitars
were all muddy in the mix.

Still a very enjoyable show on a great night under the stars with a
wonderful cool night at the end in central PA.

Friends who live in St Paul came in and going to DC. Meet friends from
Philly. And met some fun women from near Jim Thorpe who were in pit
for first time and had a blast.

Soundchecked







Downbound Train
Give The Girl A Kiss
Lost In The Flood
Incident (Steve on vocals) - interesting to hear this
Raise Your Hand
.

Relevant Pages

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