drownsoda

I wholeheartedly agree with this, even if people don't wanna hear it. I was front row at her Seattle show this past May, and it was utter chaos. If you're of a small stature, you're basically screwed in the pit. Sorry, but it's the truth. I had the upper hand because I'm a 6'2" 200lb male, but I felt horrible for the people that didn't have the barricade to hold onto, because they were getting thrown around like rag dolls. Even being against the barricade was a workout. My main criticism of her show really was that the crowd's energy was not conducive to the music whatsoever— I felt like I experienced the madness of a Lady Gaga arena show set to Lana Del Rey's sombre crooning. Her popularity has handed her an audience of rabid, hormonal teenage girls in flower crowns who will stop at nothing to see her, and the result is that the crowds overall are nuts and don't have the greatest sense of community— I felt surrounded by thousands of Regina Georges.

Omg the whole security/crowd issue was so annoying, and the girls behind me were such brats. I was just like, "Look girls, I'm 23 years old— I paid for my own ticket, the gas to get here, and for my hotel room, AND I waited for 12 hours to be in the front, so no, I'm not moving for you. Sorry." They went mad though after that and were smacking and kicking me throughout the show, and whenever I'd push back they would throw a fit and act like I was abusing them, and then have the audacity to ask me to "be kind" to them. Lol. At one point they asked for security to kick us out, but the security knew the situation because one of the guys came up to me at one point and was like "Just be the bigger person, man," meanwhile as they were clawing at my back and trying to kick my knees out. So the Australian guy wasn't her boyfriend? I just assumed because they seemed like a couple to me— in fact, I think I saw them kissing in line earlier in the day— but I don't always have the greatest gaydar so I could have been wrong(??) They both were nice but I think I made them uncomfortable because I was NOT being nice to the people behind me. Haha, oh well. It was just a high adrenaline situation. I would've been totally cool if those girls had been a bit more cooperative with me, but they just wouldn't give it up with the kicking, pinching, and slapping and whatnot.

Thought I'd start a thread for all of us going to this show to check in; also for anyone who needs concert buddies or whatever. Maybe post our seats? It'd be cool if some of us happened to be in the same row or something (or for those of you in the pit, or the lawn). There are three in my group including myself; we're in section 103, row V, seats 36-38. I live in Portland but may spend the night at my mom's house in Vancouver the night before. I don't plan on showing up early like I did to the Seattle show since I have seats this time. I'm beyond stoked though for this show since Courtney Love is opening. Getting to see my two favorite women in music in a single show (and so close to my house!) is a dream come true.

Bahaha, we were super close to one another. I remember the African American girl in line too, she saw my brother smoking and came up to us and asked for a light. The drag guy was definitely punk rock, but before the show he got into a full getup with makeup, lipstick, and a flower crown. I remember him having his friend do some of his makeup before the show. Inside the venue, I remember there being an Australian guy with his girlfriend to my left, and then to the right of my brother and his girlfriend was this really cool girl from France who I talked to for awhile; she had seen Lana in Paris, and was living in Missoula (Montana) where she was going to school, and she had ridden a bus from there to Seattle to go to the show. She and I were getting vocally agitated with the people behind us, and there was a guy who kept ogling her from behind and she got pissed. The Australian guy and his girlfriend to my left were nice, but once I started getting ambushed by the group of girls behind me, I got really angry and was cursing up a storm and I think I might have scared them because they didn't talk to me after that. Lol.

Were you in the center or to the left or right of the stage? I was right of the center, but not too far right. Lana turned around and went back onstage literally a foot away from me. I took this picture of her signing stuff right before she went back: As for the line, I got there at 6am with my brother and two friends and we waited together the whole day. That night after the show though we headed back down to Portland, so I got up at like 4:30am the day of the concert and had the valet people get my Volvo so I could go park it along a street by Safeco so I wouldn't have to move it later in the day. It worked out well though because that way I didn't have to pay for parking that way. I remember in line there were a few blonde girls that showed up with lawn chairs shortly after we got there and were in line behind us— they were super nice and one of the showed me the set list on her phone. If I remember right, some of their friends showed up later in the afternoon, and one of the girls had seen Lana the night before in Vancouver(??) I think. We were pretty close to the front of the line— there were maybe four groups of people ahead of us. I remember a girl in a flower crown sitting in a lawn chair, and her group was in front of us. And I believe there was a guy in Lana drag at the VERY front (I think he slept there overnight actually). And yeah, we were there when they gave out those "earlybird" raffle tickets (which, like you said, the afternoon staff didn't even know about when it came time to open the doors). I hated that venue to be honest, it seemed mismanaged, not to mention the inside is ugly as hell and had shitty acoustics— it's just a concrete warehouse basically.

Are you kidding me?! She stayed there? It's right across the street from the WaMu theater... nice place. They have a Silver Cloud here in NW Portland too but I've never been there. The Seattle one had a rooftop pool and all kinds of stuff. I had a friend who was there with some of her other friends too and she stayed there as well. I can't believe Lana was in the same hotel as me and I didn't even know it!? Yeah, no VIP for me, not worth the money considering I already had the front row experience in Seattle. It's worth doing but it was exhausting and the people around me were really rude and pissed off because I was in the front and they weren't. I didn't give a fuck though, especially considering I waited in line outside for twelve hours— we earned the front row, and there was no talking rational with these girls. I tried to reason with them a few times and was like "Look, I know you want to be able to see her, but my body is pressed against steel with the force of 5,000 people behind me, and there is no way in hell I'm moving even if I wanted to." I got really mad though a few times because some of them were constantly doing stuff trying to hurt me and get me to move. It was one of the only times in my life where I've actually been truly grateful for being a male with tall stature, cause there was no way anyone was moving me.

I'm going to the Washington show and I believe all the 100 level seats were basically sold out during the presale. I bought my tickets on the dot at 10am on Thursday— and when I say on the dot, I mean ON THE DOT— and I still got row V in section 103. It's not the worst seats ever, I think it's like 20 back from the stage, which I can live with, especially since I saw Lana front row at her Seattle show. Wish I were a bit closer for Courtney, as it seems like I never am able to be in the front for her shows (I've seen her twice already), but whatever. I'm just glad I got tickets, and that they're on the lower level. I would have been enraged if I'd had to settle for 200 level, or God forbid, the lawn. Ugh.

Pretty on the Inside is a macabre masterpiece. I love that record. Live Through This is much more accessible, and the softer side that she shows on that album splays my heart open. "Doll Parts" can make me teary-eyed on the right occasion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEDrotdvDuM I love everything that she's ever released to be honest, even her 2004 solo record which, while not great by her standards, is a lot better than most other crap.

Courtney's my favorite songwriter of all time. Honestly, I think she's the best thing since sliced bread. She marches to the beat of her own drum and doesn't get her detractors the time of day, which I really admire. She's one of the most overly criticized people in the music industry (undeservedly so IMO), and I believe Lana sees that, and also sees how strong and fascinating of a figure she is. I am in the Facebook group! I've met lots of cool people through there. Haha, thanks on the avatar. I was in an Iggy mood and was like "Hm... I need to change my avatar... what to?" and it just happened. I love The First Session too, and all of Hole's early work. It's a lot more aggressive and noisy than, say Celebrity Skin, but it's brilliant.

That's the problem, is that people still think she's the same as she was 20 years ago. In 1994-95 during her band's world tour I don't think she was onstage sober even once. Not to excuse it, but it's somewhat understandable given that Kurt had just died. But yeah, she was on heroin and God knows what else then. She got sober when she started making movies in '96, and seemed to be fine until 2004 when she got in a shitload of trouble and was doing crack, but that ended about seven or eight years ago now. She's for all intents and purposes "clean," and I believe it shows.

Yes sir! I live in Portland so I'm glad I don't have to travel to Seattle this time. I stayed at the Silver Cloud across the street last time which was cool, but it's nice to not have to drive two and a half hours. I've seen Courtney/Hole twice and have had to go to Seattle for both those shows as well (she usually skips Portland, I think because she used to live here and has a long history with the city and some of the people here). What seats did you end up getting? I got the standard tickets for $91 each, three of them. I had Ticketmaster automatically choose the best available seats, and when it spat section 103, row V at me, I wasn't going to risk refreshing the page in favor of something better, so I took it. I'm a bit confused though because I was looking at it tonight on Ticketmaster and saw some seats in my section and others that are still "for sale" at $325 each, and they claim to be VIP seats but they are in the rows BEHIND mine. I don't really get that.

I feel somewhat the same. I got front row at the last Lana show in Seattle, but I waited outside the venue beginning at 6am and by the time we got in I was exhausted. The crowd was nuts and the entire thing was a constant struggle, which made it hard to focus on Lana. That said, I got a killer view of her and the stage, and got to see her come down to the barricade. She turned around before making it far enough to the right where I was, but she was literally two feet away from me and I was able to get a picture of her singing stuff for people. I mean, I'm glad I had the experience, but once was enough. I didn't even attempt to get pit tickets, I'd rather enjoy the show from a seat with a good view— which I was able to get, so I'm totally happy. I'll leave the chaos of the pit for everyone else this time.

Here's footage from one of Courtney's more recent shows. Her voice is admittedly fried, but go back and listen to some of Hole's discography. She had a great voice that she's roughened up past the point of no return from years of chainsmoking. I still absolutely adore her, forever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW9KJPGZUkI

Hey man, not my money, no offense. I guess when I last saw her it was different because the whole show was general admission, so we all had a shot at front row; it just depended on who showed up early enough. I waited from 6am till 6pm and was able to get the front row. Didn't get to meet her; she turned around and went back onstage literally a foot away from me, but I got a picture of her signing people's stuff, and had a great view for the whole show. With these stadium shows it's different because there is a finite amount of space for GA up against the stage, as the majority of the venue is seated. I already got my front row Lana experience so I won't go out of my way to do that again. Once was enough. That said, I am glad that I was able to get 100 level seats this morning during the presale. Between Lana and Courtney, I can't not be in the hundreds level.

That's all I was curious about. They didn't even have a merch booth when I saw her in Seattle this past May, which I thought was really strange.

Just wanting to see if there are any other Courtney Love/Hole fans on here. I'm a bigger fan of Ms. Love than I am of Lana even, but I've been listening to Hole for far longer. When I found out they were touring together I thought I was hallucinating— just seemed too good to be true. I am ecstatic to get to see them in one show. It's a weird pairing, but a perfect one. Any other Courtney fans? For those of you who aren't familiar with her (many of you are young and probably aren't), this is what you're getting yourself into with Courtney Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zR4CLwVG_Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GttimV27Z-8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg_ECFpSceA

Can anyone clarify to me what each of these VIP packages entail? I already got my tickets and got pretty damn good seats (100 level, row V), but it sounds like only one of the VIP packages lets you into the pit(??) so what do the others entail? Early entry? It just seems ridiculously expensive if that's all you're getting out of it. I saw her this past May for $50 at a GA show and was front row. I wouldn't pay $300 for that, especially because there's no guarantee you're going to get to meet her just because you're down there.

Yeah, but aren't the bronze and gold packages just early entry? And are they the same price? I already saw her once in the front row so it doesn't matter to me, but I'm just curious why people are paying so much for them.

I seriously don't get what the point of the VIP is aside from skipping lines; do you get a view from side stage? Cause I've seen some people here saying they spent over $300 on one VIP ticket; I got three tickets for the Washington show for $278, and they're 100 level. If the only perk is being able to skip lines, I don't understand the point considering most of these shows are about 95% seated with a small GA pit, if any. Doesn't seem worth the money unless you actually get to watch the show from the stage.

I've heard in Canada the VIP packages are $300+ (I know in the US it'll be slightly cheaper, but not much). That is insane to me; I would never pay that. I paid $50 to see her in Seattle this past May and had a front row view (granted had to wait from 6am to get it, but still). $300 is a hell of a lot unless you've got money to spare (or a good credit line).

Yeah, but I think you're paying more than you have to if you just bought during the presale. Like I said, independent sellers on Stubhub want $1,000 for lawn tickets at my venue, which are as far away from the stage as you can possibly get. That is absolutely insane. Other thing is, Stubhub will have tickets available long after the shows sell out, so it'll always be there if you need to find a ticket in the next six months— sure, you'll be paying a lot, but people will still be selling them on there until the show date. The actual Ticketmaster & Live Nation sales are only going to last so long before they sell out. I'd rather try to get my tickets in the official presale. Stubhub to me is something that you should resort to using if the venue's box office is sold out and you have no other options.

Are these legit? Stubhub is a resale site, so who already has these and is selling them? There are GA Lawn tickets for my show (GA lawn is literally the furthest away from the stage) on there for over $1,000, while some of the 100-level section tickets are $300. Doesn't seem right at all.

If you're shooting for GA, I hate to break it to you, but you'll have to get there at 6am if you want front row. I saw her in May in Seattle, and granted that entire show was GA, but we got there at 6am and there were already around 10 people in front of us. There was a girl and this guy who I believe had camped out there overnight, and they were the first people in. The staff at that venue gave each group of us early birds a ticket that guaranteed we would get in before everyone else because we were the "diehards," and by the time the 6pm door time came around, the line was a zoo. I heard it went several blocks and wrapped up into multiple levels of the parking garage at Safeco field. It was ridiculous. Anyway, we got front row, but we waited for twelve hours to get it, so it depends on how much time you're willing to spend waiting. I personally am going to go with seats this time— I have no interest in the pit after already getting that experience. I know a lot of people do want the pit at these stadium shows because they think they'll get stuff signed by her or whatever, but that's not necessarily guaranteed. We were in the front row and she came down along the barricade, but we were on the right side of the stage and she turned around and went back up literally a FOOT away from us. When she comes down, people flip out and you'll be lucky to get a signature or photo with her. If you aren't in the front, it's 100% impossible, as she doesn't actually come into the crowd (way too dangerous). Also, if you are short, you literally won't be able to see her in the pit unless you're in the front row. Basically, what I'm saying is, if you want to get GA tickets for the pit, it's not worth the trouble unless you get front row, which means you'll have to wait in line all day or more. If you don't want to wait 12+ hours for front row, then getting a good seat is your best bet for an enjoyable experience, IMO. I've seen Lana once already, and seen Courtney Love/Hole twice now, so I'm not too frantic about where I get to sit at the show so long as it's somewhat close.

For $5 more I highly doubt that you're getting a meet and greet. Maybe merchandise of some sort, or early entry, which doesn't matter since most of the shows are 90% seated anyway.