MMJ/Tom Petty Roll Call - Mansfield MA Thurs. 8/19

[johnnYYac]

Hey all-  it's been mostly said already, but here's my 0.02
the place was EMPTY - at the start - I mean 95% empty.   I felt bad for the boys.   Like the earlier poster, I told anyone who would listen in the parking lot to get inside for the opener.  Most responded "who is the opener?"   7 pm start is a tough sell.

Most people that were there, and there weren't a lot, sat down during the set.   Blasphemy.   It was basically my crew and two other guys close to us into it.    There was no-one in my section in front of us yet, so it really felt like a private concert.     Yelling "Jimmy" got a few nods and smiles from the man himself so that was fun.

The band was ON - and I don't mean that in a preconceived fanboy kind of way.... I'd say so if I thought differently, but they were tight musically but loose emotionally, if that makes sense- were having fun clearly and rocked hard.   Last time in Boston they were tired IMO.   Setlist was great (need to review my contest for a winner).     They ended at 8:09 so they could have squeezed in another (never enough right?) but I knew OBH was gonna be it.

Great great night.   Oh, and Tom Petty played.    Was hoping for a Jimmy sighting during his set but, alas no.   From reading the Petty board, seems like they play the exact same set every night- 18 songs, 1 hr 40 mins.   Ho hum.     It was fun for sure, and everyone loves a good sing-along, but coming after the best live band in the world, felt like a power outage.

Hey, Kyle.  From the picture you emailed, it seemed you were pretty close.  Did you have good seats or did you move up for MMJ since the place was fairly empty?  I'm wondering about my prospects for getting up front for MMJ before taking my seat further back without getting harrassed by security.

Can't wait for tomorrow!  Or tonight, for that matter!

[Kenny76]

It was surreal to see such an empty arena when MMJ played, but they kicked ass!  I was lucky to be seated near four guys who were rocking out and having a good time - we were the only ones in our section to do so.

Petty and the Heartbreakers were solid as well and I was very happy with their set list.  You Don't Know How It Feels!   I've never heard Refugee sound so majestic too.  Mike Campbell rips!!  It was a shame that a lot of the crowd sat down for the Mojo set.  Do people really pay $145 just to hear him sing Free Fallin' and American Girl?  I was feelin the groove all night.  Easily got my money's worth.

[Kenny76]

 I'm wondering about my prospects for getting up front for MMJ before taking my seat further back without getting harrassed by security.

You'll easily be able to do that - once you're in your section, the security people don't care.  But if you're in sections 4-6, you won't be able to get into sections 1-3, you can just get a better seat within your section. I'm sure there will be plenty open... ridiculous as that is.

[johnnYYac]

 I'm wondering about my prospects for getting up front for MMJ before taking my seat further back without getting harrassed by security.

You'll easily be able to do that - once you're in your section, the security people don't care.  But if you're in sections 4-6, you won't be able to get into sections 1-3, you can just get a better seat within your section. I'm sure there will be plenty open... ridiculous as that is.

Sounds good, but for the fact that I've got tix for Section 13, so I might need to grease some palms.

[Crispy]

These stories sound just like the experience when the boys opened for Dylan in Colorado. At Red Rocks when they started, little pockets of us Jacket freaks jumped up and started going crazy while the fogies sat and wondered what the fuss was about. After a while, a few of them got it, but of course most sat on their asses and fumed about all that face-melting. And yes, Johnny, we got Steam Engine then too.  ;)

[BH]

1st I Will Sing You Songs since 12-28-08 Chicago Theatre!

[Kenny76]

 I'm wondering about my prospects for getting up front for MMJ before taking my seat further back without getting harrassed by security.

You'll easily be able to do that - once you're in your section, the security people don't care.  But if you're in sections 4-6, you won't be able to get into sections 1-3, you can just get a better seat within your section. I'm sure there will be plenty open... ridiculous as that is.

Sounds good, but for the fact that I've got tix for Section 13, so I might need to grease some palms.

Ah, you must be in the seats by the lawn.  Yeah... that will require extra effort to get under the pavilion.  Some Jedi mind tricks might work, if you're one with the Force and all.

[Kenny76]

1st I Will Sing You Songs since 12-28-08 Chicago Theatre!

ohmygod I was deep within the magic kingdom when they played that last night.

Some of the older people got a little freaked when Jim's high voice suddenly shot out over the trippy mellow chords, heheh.  fun to watch.

[DEmerson]

I was by myself on the seats section of the lawn - which was very sparse for MMJ. Towards the end of their set, one of the gals that worked there came up to me and asked me if I was alone. I said yes. She then gave me a ticket for under the shed part - Section 8. True story! It wasn't a great seat - Row Y - almost the last row under the roof - and it was almost the end of their set...but much better than what I had, so I was psyched! These things do happen.
While the lawn and lawn seats were still fairly empty at that point (although starting to fill in), the seats under the roof were I'd say by the end of the set about 70% full - and people were digging One Big Holiday - which rocked.  Another point: MMJ sounded great I thought - nice and loud!

[classicrocker623]

 I'm wondering about my prospects for getting up front for MMJ before taking my seat further back without getting harrassed by security.

You'll easily be able to do that - once you're in your section, the security people don't care.  But if you're in sections 4-6, you won't be able to get into sections 1-3, you can just get a better seat within your section. I'm sure there will be plenty open... ridiculous as that is.

Sounds good, but for the fact that I've got tix for Section 13, so I might need to grease some palms.

Ah, you must be in the seats by the lawn.  Yeah... that will require extra effort to get under the pavilion.  Some Jedi mind tricks might work, if you're one with the Force and all.

Yeah that's where my seats were too.  My buddy and I just hung out by the entrance to the covered seats and scoped out a set of stairs guarded by one rather than two old lady security people.  As soon as she turned to check someone's ticket, we snuck right by and made it to the front of that section.  No one kicked us out of our seats because the place was half empty and it made such a difference.

JohnnYYac-the folks at the Comcast Center are pretty intense and my buddy and I got booted out of the good seats no less than four times during Petty's set.  However, your chances are a lot better during MMJ and as long as you got the moves, you'll get the goods.  Good luck!

[mahg33ta]

Plenty of people have already answered your question Johnny Yac about the seats.   I agree with them.  

My seats were in section 1.   You'll have trouble getting in the pavilion, and you'll have trouble getting into the front half.   Both times they checked tickets.   Within the section, they care a lot less, so we moved all the way down to almost the front.   There was another security guard about 5 rows from the front checking tickets again, so we (somewhat obviously I guess) pulled into the row right before him.   Nobody bothered us (and nobody was in front of us).

I think your best bet is to find someone with good petty seats - ie sections 1 - 3.    A post on the petty message board with something like "going to mansfield and not planning on seeing the opener?"   Tell them you will use their seats for the opener and then meet at intermission to swap.   I guess that would require trust on their part.    For their trouble you'll buy each of them a beer.   For $9 each you'll get to within 5 rows of the stage.    Or try the same thing in the parking lot before the show  - might work better in person where they can see your lovable trustworthy mug.

Seems like something like this is possible.   There were SO MANY great seats wasted by people grilling burgers in the parking lot - why would they care if you sat there?   I certainly would help out a fan of an opener I didn't care about.

[korief]

I was there on Thursday and I will be there tonight. My 4th and 5th time seeing Petty, love him but I was there 100% for MMJ. And the meager crowd did not seem to be with me. The audience seemed to be in the same age bracket as Petty and were generally unfamiliar with MMJ. People saw me wildly dancing and singing and would ask me the name of the band and I heard many comments after the show: "It was a good show, but the opening band was a too loud." I thought the first couple of songs were shaky but the last few were solid. Personally, I was surprised with their playlist, I don't think they are often in the position of trying to woo a crowd so I hope they adjust accordingly tonight.

[mahg33ta]

http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/general/view/20100820tom_petty_still_has_the_mojo/

review of thurs night
anyone want to guess which comment at the bottom was mine?

[cheesemuffins]

I'm seeing Tom Petty on Wednesday... they're gonna be with crosby stills and nash though not MMJ :(