petergabriel.com

Just in case you didn't get the message the first time . . . it seems that the "share your opinion" button felt like my opinion was important enough to be shared multiple times.

hey, at least we got the best popcorn. tony says So.

Ah yeah, I saw that . . . think I might have to order me some to check it out. I'll only share my opinion on this once . . . I hope

This talk about Philly has made me think of something . . . a friend of mine (also from Philly but travels much -- he's in the music business so his home is in Philly but he's hardly ever home ). Anyway, during one of our Christmas visits together we were in a South Philly restaraunt and it's one of those places where everyone knows everyone else -- South Philly, in general is like that -- you're either related to the person or you know someone who is. My friend and I were having a nice conversation but every time someone would come into the place, it was like all hell broke loose with the Hellos, How are you? . . . all in a very loud tone of voice. He finally said to me, "Geez, does everyone in South Philly talk so loud? . . . he continued, "IT'S LIKE, HEY PAT HOW ARE YOU? HOW YOU'VE BEEN???"" From that point forward, I always tried to be aware of my voice -- most times I end up speaking in a low voice because I'm so aware of it. But at the PG concert . . . well, let's just say I had no voice on Saturday and part of Sunday, but I recovered in time for the show Sunday night.

I still say that I had an awesome time! I was showing my family Tony's pictures, since I'm in a ton of them. My daughter said it looked like I was having a blast (she's right!). And Mozo, Zen and I kept looking for you, even going so far as to walking around before the show saying "Mozo!" randomly and loudly. We said "Bird!" as well many times and it worked! So I guess 1 out of 2 isn't too bad, except that 2 of 2 would have been better! Sorry I missed you. It was an awesome show.

Beaker -- I'm sure you had a great time and I'm happy to hear it!! I'll have to take a look at Uncle Tony's photos to spot you -- where are you in the pics? Overall, I think all of the shows have been great and the audiences are comprised of people with different levels of interest and different levels of enthusiasm -- that's what makes the concert experience so much fun I think. However, it's those same people who can make or break it for you and I think that's what we all are saying here -- it's just a shame if a person's experience isn't what he/she expected because of someone else. In the end, no matter what the risk (of having someone else be loud, obnoxious, etc.,), I'll still take a live show over anything else. I do enjoy the dvd when they are available and I will watch it, but it's only so I can re-live my own experience. Have a wonderful time to anyone who will still be attending some shows. (I'm trying very hard to not think about today, being Red Rocks, my wanting to be there, but couldn't do it, knowing it's the full moon, at Red Rocks, lots of lunies I know being there . . . ahaahh! I know they'll have a great time and can't wait to hear all about it. Meanwhile, I'm doing something very fun and important in my life today -- I'm attending Sproutfest -- it's the annual adoption fest held by the shelter where I adopted Harry Pawter -- it'll be a reunion with his fosters, his rescuer and the shelter that does a great job in the Philadelphia and suburban area. It's a beautiful day and I'm excited. Harry is too!

After the show I met up with Beaker in the front row to compare notes. All I know is you can't judge an entire audience by a few people. Sorry some of you ended up with people around you that weren't so great, but everyone around me was pretty great. No indiscriminate chatting, did see a few people using their smart phones too much, but who am I to judge? It was hard for me not to bury myself behind my camera, but you really miss a lot when you get that pin point focused. Still took a bunch of pictures, but mostly at the slower songs.

sorry we could not connect. thanks for trying. i had an urge to shout "zen, beaker" just before the encore. unfortunately, i could not stick around after the show because of work the next day.

Mozo, I did call out MOZO a few times here and there, but I guess my timing was off. That's how I connected with Beaker, I finally worked up the nerve waiting to go in before the soundcheck and asked if there was a Beaker here, and he was right next to me. Didn't realize you were so close, or I would have called out sooner after the concert. Just hung out with Beaker and Brian long enough to let traffic clear. They had a long drive and I had to work the next day too. Was better to chat with them, then do the stop go, let someone in, have someone cut in game in the parking lot.

"the second to last photo is near the end of BIKO. kid, do you wish to stick to your claim that 'EVERYONE LEFT DURING BIKO. WHAAAAAAAT THE HELL?'" Yes, considering a) we figured out very early on that it was mostly my section, and b) I said from the getgo that it was AFTER Peter left the stage but while everyone was still chanting, which is obviously not pictured. "seriously, both of you spent more time criticizing the audience rather than providing a review of the performance. give me a break." I mean, the thread's called "The Chicago audience was extremely frustrating," not "TWKAP's Review of the Chicago Show." It was obviously going to be a thread addressing my issues with my area of the crowd -- I would be more than happy to write a glowing review about the show itself, as it was absolutely wonderful! Just wasn't what this topic was about. Sorry the topic's annoying you, but I'm not going to apologize for expressing my frustration at feeling like I was the only one (at least in the immediate vicinity) that was really into the show. It was the only issue I had, completely separate from the phenomenal performance.

Also, no hard feelings, MOZO. I understand where you're coming from, and while (like I said) I'm not gonna apologize for being a little annoyed by my surroundings, I didn't mean to come across as if the show was a bad experience overall, be overly whiny, or imply that I didn't absolutely love the show on the whole. This topic was just focused on one aspect. P.S. I found some of your videos from the Chicago show on YouTube -- it actually seems like you were rather close to me! Similar perspective.

we were sitting in the same section. i was a couple rows behind you. that's why i know your perceptions b. through e. are highly exaggerated if not downright inaccurate. i have no hard feelings. nor am i looking for an apology. i do, however, want to set the record straight. tony has more than one photo of biko that shows our section full and enthusiastic throughout the ending of the song. as i indicated, the second to last photo is just before tony left the stage, long after PG's departure. our section is clearly visible. it appears only the 4 in the first row are departing, if that's what you a referencing. frankly, i do not want to go through other items in your list as these are more subjective. although, my video, tony's photos, and reports of others would do much to dispel these myths too. i was disappointed that the only thread available for the chicago show attendees was yours. i started a thread for a show that i did not attend entitled, "we love philly" based partially on PG's words from 1987 (he actually said, "we like philly"). after a wonderful evening followed by a long day work on 3 hours sleep, i expected to see positive reports of the chicago show (and audience). this was my first trip to the united center, and i was quite impressed by the staff and fellow attendees. lunatics were believing that our audience was somehow "dragged against their will and were dead quiet the whole show" when the opposite was true. finally, in addition to contradictory evidence, i am not finding anybody to substantiate your claims. if you were on the inner aisle side, i did observe a man frequently checking his smart phone in the first row. this is the same group that appears to be leaving in tony's photo. are you basing your observations on this single group?

Mozo, I guess what I'm struggling to understand is why you seem so bothered by the fact that I had a different experience with the audience members directly surrounding me, to the point of essentially giving me the third degree. There's really no need to try to interrogate me and call my opinions "myths". Why do you care what other Lunatics think? It doesn't affect you, or make you look like less of a fan, if I was surrounded on all sides by people who clearly knew So and little else. Who cares if there were some people in the front section that weren't huge PG fans? My part of the Chicago audience being weak doesn't reflect on you or Chicagoan PG fans at all. Besides, I said very, very early on in the thread after Beaker and a couple others chimed in saying they didn't have the same complaints (though a couple agreed that the audience was off) that I was pleased to hear that it was just my immediate surroundings and not an audience-wide problem. I acknowledged essentially right off the bat that it seems like maybe I was just in a dead spot, not a fully dead crowd. You know how it is in those big venues -- the only thing that you're really able to be conscious of is the band, the people directly in front of you, directly behind you, and about three or four people over to your right and left. For me, that select group of 10-15 individuals was really boring, and because of the size of the venue and the speakers in my face, it was difficult to tell if people were actually bothering to sing along when the people around me were not. So... again, I understand the frustration with there not being a glowing thread on the Chicago show, and maybe I'll make one later on because I looooved the show. I just needed to vent my frustration on this one aspect of my personal experience, and I don't get why you're so hungry to disprove my opinion.

I was Section 102, Row 2, Seat 4 and I concur about the crowd. The constant decision-making on whether to sit or stand was extremely distracting. I think the older and relatively passive crowd is a natural side effect of the high ticket prices. But man, what a cracking show! http://www.milwaukeespecialtycoffee.com/my_weblog/2012/09/peter-gabriel-delivers-immaculate-so-show-in-chicago.html

All I know is that is what made me decide to go to the front and stand at the barricade for most of the show -- I knew that if I wanted to get up for every other song, it would become so annoying to others (even though in Philly, it really was not a problem -- the majority of people just stood for 99% of the show). Once I was there (at stagefront), I realized I'd have to stay, otherwise, never getting that spot back again -- you know, the later the show goes, the more excited people will become until In Your Eyes, Biko, etc., There had been an encounter with security just right of Laura and me -- to her right and behind in the first few rows -- apparently they were arguing about sitting/standing. Security came and settled it down -- asking and telling us that if the people in the first few rows sat down and asked us to sit down, we were to return to our seats. Fortunately, no one ever asked any of us to sit down again, so we were okay. In NY it was an entirely different story -- because they had a security staff person at the top of the aisle -- just where one would normally want to stand close to the stage. This man was not only keeping anyone from even thinking about walking to the stage, he even came to the woman behind me, who, while dancing (she was on the end seat) had moved @ 6 inches out into the aisle of her row. He was all over it! He jumped up from his seat, came towards her and said, you can't stand in the aisle! I think all in all, we all experience these things in our own way and whether you're stage front on the floor or high up in the rafters, you make your own good time and do the best to not let others affect it. I'm anxious and curious about the last show in VA -- I'll do my best to behave myself but I honestly hope that the crowd where I'm sitting are into it with the same level of enthusiasm. Kind Regards,

we were speaking of the front sections on the floor, but reports of attendees standing in section 102 throughout parts of the show is yet another good sign. the united center appeared sold out, and mr. gabriel was received warmly. what more could you ask for?

and the news is breaking... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l5Sn9y12iw shock the monkey

Thank you Mozo is Rael for your great videos.

Here's a glowing review and some photos done by yours truly of the Chicago Show on 09.27.12 http://www.chicagomusicmagazine.com/reviews/dont-give-up-why-peter-gabriels-front-to-back-tour-is-so-very-important/

Carolyn and I had a very nice time - even though we sat club level some of the folks were a bit chatty - for me the songs were strong - the band was tight and solid and since I went to the orginal SO tour this was a treat to see the complete disc played - never heard That voice again - Milgram's 37 and Excellent Birds - He still has got what I saw in him @ The Lamb