Set List: Interstellar Overdrive (part), Corduroy, Do The Evolution, Brain of J., Last Exit, Given To Fly, In Hiding, Off He Goes, M.F.C., Improv Intro into Habit, Wishlist, Faithfull, Hail Hail, Mankind, Leatherman, Leaving Here, Last Kiss (J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers)

Mike Welke (mike@wtabus.com)
When I awoke Thursday morning, I had no idea what I was about to experience later that evening. And I'm assuming neither did the other 300 or so fellow Pearl Jam fans that were in attendance at ARO.space.

ED, JEFF, STONE, MIKE, and new arrival MATT, I raise my glass to the 5 of you once again for providing a night of music that will live on in my mind forever.

You know how you have a feeling every now and then that something is too good to be true? Well this night it was all true. From the moment the band took the stage, you could just tell that this was it. This was what it was all about. Five guys, five different attitudes working together as one for 300 of their closest friends. Well, at least that night we all were.

Musically, they did not miss. From the opening crescendo of Corduroy, to Ed's prehistoric grunts in Do The Evolution and Stoney's time in the spotlight with Mankind, the band had obviously found their focal point. And you know what the rad thing was? They were completely enjoying themselves. I think the smiles on stage outnumbered the smiles from the audience. OK maybe not, but as I recall, Matt was trying his hardest to keep his grins to a minimum. Hey Matt, I want to let you know that you're more than welcome to smile. I mean look what you stepped into. And I must say that you are a perfect fit. Not a beat was missed.

If it seems as though I'm stumbling and aimlessly searching for the right thing to say to relay to those of you who weren't there just how truly amazing Pearl Jam was, it's because words would be too limiting. And last night, there were no limits on their performance.