Set List: Long Road, Hail, Hail, Animal, Last Exit, In My Tree, Corduroy, Better Man, Not For You, Jeremy, Red Mosquito, Black, RVM, Lukin, Small Town, SOLAT, Footsteps, Alive, Blood/Fame/Noise of Carpet, Porch, 1st Encore: Who You Are, Even Flow, Daughter/Real Me/WMA, Leaving Here, Present Tense, 2nd Encore: Yellow Ledbetter

A Hartford Experience
by: alrs@hotmail.com (Lynn Salomon and Michelle)

Pearl Jam's #1 Wheelchair Fan & Oldest Surfer

I am disABLED, so I had to transfer from my wheelchair to my orchestra seat. Being in the thick of things, The Meadows Amphitheater security guards feared for my safety but I refused to move back to the wheelchair section. The majority of the concert went as calmly as possible (safety-wise). Michelle and I thought the worst was over when an enthusiastic fan behind me accidentally pounded me in the head with his fist; he was embarrassed but it was actually quite funny! Michelle and I exhibited poor judgment thinking that things would stay calm -- our first clue should have been that we were two of a very few people in the front over 25 years old!

The 'mosh pit' started after Eddie Vedder jumped off the stage to help a girl to whom he had thrown his tambourine. She had been jumped by at least five other fans and as many guards in a tremendous battle over the tambourine. A security guard put Eddie immediately back on stage. . .but, it was too late. Everyone had already rushed forward to try to touch Eddie---and they weren't just in the aisles, as Michelle and I had naively thought might happen, they were everywhere, including standing on seat backs! Michelle and several concert seat neighbors spent the next fifteen minutes battling to keep me from being crushed as I continued to thoroughly enjoy the concert.

After Eddie did his infamous dive into the mosh pit, my protectors decided to get me out of the fray, so, over my vehement objections, I was hoisted up and forward to surf over everyone's heads [Sorry, adults, but that IS fun! Sorry fans, but it IS dangerous!]. Security guards caught me as I was dumped over the barrier/fence directly in front of the stage and sat me on a speaker. I watched Michelle surfing forward, then my wheelchair cushion, which I had left on my seat, was sent after us like a Frisbee!

Toward the end of the concert, the final chapter began with me arguing with a security guard about leaving the stage. He was afraid the crowd was going to push down the barrier in front of the stage and I would be hurt; I just wanted to finish watching a wonderful concert. I lost the argument. He asked me, "have you ever been carried fire-fighter style?" I said, "no. . .and I'm not going to be." I heard him say, "oh, yes, you are," and I was watching Pearl Jam upside down! Needless to say, we watched the rest of the concert from the 'gray hair' seats.

After the concert several 'orchestra' friends found us to make sure we had fared well. One young girl even apologized for "the youth of today." We told her that was completely unnecessary as everyone who knew I was disABLED was very helpful, and everyone I saw was just having fun. The crowd was actually the most energetic, clean, young group I would have imagined. To those parents who saw the abundant news reports that there had been a 'riot' at the Meadows, I have to comment that was greatly exaggerated. . .your kids are fine!

I thoroughly enjoyed the concert. "No Code" is a mature new album and I appreciate everything about Eddie's stage presence and his voice. I love his passion. I'm glad I was out of spitting range though! It's unfortunate that Pearl Jam's decision to protect the quality of their lives and prioritize their beliefs by not following standard marketing procedures has negatively affected sales. . .but it is the music that is important.

I'm still "Alive!!"

Show review, Hartford, CT 10/2/96
by: pearlvision@comcat.com

It felt like the second this show started, it had ended. It was like a surreal drift through musical fantasy. The energy, the crowd, the sound, was like nothing I had ever experienced before. Pearl Jam roared through song after song taking breaks to settle down the front rows, and chat with friends. From the spine-tingling notes of 'Long Road' to the machine-gun assault of 'Hail, Hail' to the beautiful dedication of 'Elderly Woman...' to the drift of 'Present Tense' etc etc etc This band is back kickin ass where it should be...Live on stage. This band continues to amaze me with its dedication to its fans. They play their hearts out every show... Let's hope the European dates go as smoothly and that this band continues to make music for decades to come.

Hartford Review
by: Chris M Hagan

I can't describe this feeling. Three weeks later I still haven't come down. The collective energy in the Meadows that evening was indescribable. It was so loud that I couldn't make out the opening notes of "Long Road". When EV started the second verse, "We all walk the long raod/cannot stay", there was this gravelly undertone in his voice that sent chills through my body. I was totally swept away by the freshness of "Last Exit" and the pounding groove of "Not For You". I thought "Red Mosquito" was the best song of the night. The slide really makes the song. I like the album version, but the fact that it was slideless slightly disappointed me after hearing it played in San Diego and San Jose.

To hear "Porch" was unreal; "Blood" had me upon my seat, providing backing vocals. I gave Ed a hand on "Lukin", what a plus that was in the set!!! "Present Tense" gave me the same feeling "Long Road" did. Mike worked an impromptu "Little Wing" in to the Ledbetter outro that just blew my mind. "Small Town" was surreal, as was "Who You Are".

I still remember the odd looks I got walking through the halls of school the next day. I had written the set on my arm during the show so I could remember it and it was a hot day and I wore a short-sleeved shirt and people kept stopping to ask me what was on my arm. "The set from the Pearl Jam show last night" "Oh, you were there? Did you get maced?" In a way, I guess, it's kind of sad that Hartford may be recalled by some as a riot show, but for me it will hold a special significance in my heart that after 3 years of waiting, 3 albums (since and including Vs.), and endless dreams, the greatest night of my life finally came true.

J's Brain