OK... So as someone who was there Yesterday for all of the day’s events, allow me to wax-poetic for a moment (i've wanted to use that phrase all day for some reason, lol) . I was at Barns & Noble at 4:30 PM yesterday for the book signing so it was clearly a long day, which of course didn't start until after work. Here is what I'll say, I think the issues that occurred yesterday (if you call them issues, i had a blast) we're the result of bad planning and management. I loved the show and the setlist, but I can see how this show could have been billed differently. WRXP, who presented the show, could have made it apparent to 'those fans who only expected STP/VR/12BB/HIG' that this was going to be a special/different show coinciding with the release of his book. I know that we here on belowempty know who Doug G. is, and had the scoop beforehand. However, I don’t think that anyone else had any idea that this show would be so different, and in turn those disappointed assholes booing and throwing shit on stage have a negative impact on the people who really want to be there and on Scott who clearly was annoyed and didn’t seem like he wanted to be there.
While I had an amazing time, I think the days management, the timing - scott hitting the stage @ 11:45 ( 4:45 after the 7PM doors opened) - compounded with the unfamiliar set list was the perfect storm to piss some people off.
Personally, the only thing that slightly bothered me yesterday, was that during his interviews with both Stern & Pinfield and his onstage banter, he kept mentioning how the music industry doesn’t sell records anymore and as an artist you have to be out on the road a lot to make money. Yet, he really didn’t mention his appreciation for the fans and the fact that he can go out and people will pay to hear him night after night. I just didn’t get the sense that he was grateful for the fans. But at the same time, I’ve seen STP 29 times and I’ve grown to accept the fact that Scott is Scott.
At the end of the day, I thought it was worth the time, the money and the effort. I had a fuckin blast and only wish it had been organized a bit better.
