As a lot of people have mentioned in the forum. The VIP is not worth the money. Buy yourself a pit ticket and buy a new t-shirt. There were like five new shirts at the merchandise stand. First it takes a while to get checked in. Second the souvenir bags were not ready when you check in. You either have to go back later or wait until after the show. Eric did not come out until 8:05pm. They announced that he would be out at 7:45. People started packing around the tiny stage at like 7:15. People were standing on tables and chairs to see him. It was good to see him up close and hear him do acoustic songs but it is not like you will talk to him or shake his hand or anything. Only benefit I can see is I guess you could get a nice close up picture. Any way he does two songs and is gone in the blink of an eye. If you want to see Brantley Gilbert he is already into his set by the time you get to your seat or the pit. They do have food. It was ok. Cash bar no freebies 4 bucks for domestic beers 5 bucks for import They have liquor and wine also. I think like 7 or 9 bucks. So the best thing you get out of it is the poster which is signed and the shot glasses are cool. The shirt is like booger green . It has the picture of him swinging his guitar same picture that is on the poster they sell on the website from last year. Kinda cheap looking says Chief under the picture. (I was expecting something referencing the tour Blood, Sweat, and Beers) Any way on to the show:
You will not be disappointed. I think the bigger he gets the better he gets as a performer. The show has lots of fire and explosions and stuff. I can honestly say it was one of the best shows I have ever seen. (this was my 6th time seeing him) Eric is his old fist pumping chest thumping boot stomping spastic self even more so. He seemed genuinely touched by the response he received.
set list VIP
Before she does
(he started playing over when it's over next but only did like one line for some reason)
Loves me like Jesus does
Main show set list
Country Music Jesus
Guys Like Me
Hell on the Heart
Hag
How bout You
Carolina
Stoned
Jack Daniels
(partial) Living part of life (maybe just a couple lines)
Hung over and Hard Up
Keep On
Creepin (EC plays banjo)
(Acoustic just EC and guitar)
2 Pink Lines
Sinners Like Me
Luv ur Luv
(full band back)
Lotta Boot
Country Boy Can Survive (he usually only does like one verse of this but actually did pretty much the whole song. As a matter of fact they started playing Homeboy first and then stopped and went into this)
Homeboy
Smoke a little Smoke (at the end of this song all of the bands guitars have smoke coming out of them ala Ace Frehley)
These Boots
Springsteen (EC plays piano)
you get to pick your size.
you get to pick your size
you get to pick your size
It was an awesome show. I really liked Sonia Leigh. Picked up her CD for $10. She only did 4 songs though. 20 min break before Brantley was a bit long. I didn't care too much for him as I thought he was too rock. The fact that he opened his set with a Jason Aldean cover & then covered him again 3 songs later was not cool either. Lots of fans were into him though. 30+ min break before Eric was too long as well. Eric does continue to get better, with the entrance, the pyro, smoke, various backdrops, etc. And he played like 1:40, longer than most headliners. You will not regret seeing this show.
cntryniche,
The "covers" you mention are actually Gilbert originals. He has written all of them and released (I think) both of them on CD. However, Brantley's back catalog was pulled and re-released this past year with a slightly different track listing.
What time did EC actually hit the stage?
Eric came on about 9:30
I find it strange, as though people at the same venue were not? How can one VIP attendee from the Norfolk show give such negative review of the VIP experience, and another give rave review of the exact same VIP experience? I guess it comes down to expectation.
I would like to add that many of the negatives I've read could be due to lack of reading, knowledge and false expectations. I have VIP tickets for the Greenville show and already know it's cash bar. All info already explains that. It is advertised that EC will sing 2 songs during VIP, not that he will shake hands, talk & mingle.
As far as the comments about Brantley Gilbert....he's been a songwriter for a long time. BG is not singing "covers", he is singing songs he wrote.
Honest reviews are wonderful.....good or bad. I just think people should do their homework and not allow false expectations or mis-information contribute to negative posts/reviews.
__________________
~~Shelly~~
♫ "Funny How a Melody Sounds Like a Memory" ♫
I am sure it's just an oversight but you didnt list "drink in my hand" surely hd plays this song
Yes he did play drink in my hand. I do not know how I missed that. I am pretty sure it is the first song after the acoustic set when the full band comes back right after Luv ur Luv
Yes he did play drink in my hand. I do not know how I missed that. I am pretty sure it is the first song after the acoustic set when the full band comes back right after Luv ur Luv
I am sure it's just an oversight but you didnt list "drink in my hand" surely hd plays this song
I find it strange, as though people at the same venue were not? How can one VIP attendee from the Norfolk show give such negative review of the VIP experience, and another give rave review of the exact same VIP experience? I guess it comes down to expectation.
I would like to add that many of the negatives I've read could be due to lack of reading, knowledge and false expectations. I have VIP tickets for the Greenville show and already know it's cash bar. All info already explains that. It is advertised that EC will sing 2 songs during VIP, not that he will shake hands, talk & mingle.
As far as the comments about Brantley Gilbert....he's been a songwriter for a long time. BG is not singing "covers", he is singing songs he wrote.
Honest reviews are wonderful.....good or bad. I just think people should do their homework and not allow false expectations or mis-information contribute to negative posts/reviews.
Eric came on about 9:30
What time did EC actually hit the stage?
cntryniche,
The "covers" you mention are actually Gilbert originals. He has written all of them and released (I think) both of them on CD. However, Brantley's back catalog was pulled and re-released this past year with a slightly different track listing.
It was an awesome show. I really liked Sonia Leigh. Picked up her CD for $10. She only did 4 songs though. 20 min break before Brantley was a bit long. I didn't care too much for him as I thought he was too rock. The fact that he opened his set with a Jason Aldean cover & then covered him again 3 songs later was not cool either. Lots of fans were into him though. 30+ min break before Eric was too long as well. Eric does continue to get better, with the entrance, the pyro, smoke, various backdrops, etc. And he played like 1:40, longer than most headliners. You will not regret seeing this show.
you get to pick your size
you get to pick your size
you get to pick your size.
Thanks for the review, fthiv. Sounds like you had a kickass time!
One question about the VIP shirts, do they let you pick out your size or does everyone have to get an XL like they do at some places....hoping the former but I don't want to assume.
Thanks for the review, fthiv. Sounds like you had a kickass time!
One question about the VIP shirts, do they let you pick out your size or does everyone have to get an XL like they do at some places....hoping the former but I don't want to assume.
__________________
Drew
*VOTE FOR ERIC 2013 CMT AWARDS*
VOTE HERE
like a honey bee beatin my my screen door i gotta little buzz and my head is sore