Set List: Do The Evolution, Animal, Last Exit, Brain of J., Given To Fly, Jeremy, Faithfull, Corduroy, MFC, Not For You, Even Flow, Daughter/Sweet Jane, Nothingman, Leatherman, Better Man, Immortality, Improv, Go, Alive; 1st encore: Hail Hail, State of Love and Trust, Black, Wishlist, Rearviewmirror

Brian J. Baltazar (bjbaltaz@yahoo.com):
After the incredible show at Fiddler's Green, we packed up and prepared to head to the Black Hills. On the day of the Rapid City show we set up camp in between Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore and followed the usual ritual of drinking and smoking before the show. When we arrived at the Civic Center it seemed a bit weird that nobody was partying in the parking lot. Then we noticed some people trying to suck down some beers only to find the police on them like the Gestapo and search their car. I guess that kind of set the tone for the night. I was a little worried about trying to record after the parking lot incident but, I managed to sneak my mini-disc recorder in and tape the show. There's a little somethin somethin for you as you read on.

Before Frank Black and the Catholics played Ed came out and introduced them and they played a pretty good set with some tunes similar to the previous evening and a few different ones, but overall they sounded good. So, the Pearl Jams came out and Ed opened by saying, "Ah, Fuck you too," to somebody and they tore into Evolution. I thought this was a great song to open up with and they sounded so tight. Next was Animal and Mike McCready played a great solo. At this point the crowd was pretty revved up and Matt Cameron kicked in the opening to Last Exit. The last time I heard this song was in Key Arena in September '96 with Jack on the skins, so needless to say Matt has been doing an excellent job. The drums really echoed through the arena but, they sounded good. Mike laid into Brain of J and Stonie played a hot guitar solo.

Next was Given to Fly. This song has got to be one of the best tunes live off the new album because it just builds like an ocean wave and then it breaks. Matt sounded solid throughout this jam and Ed's voice sounded especially good. After Given To Fly, Jeff started into Jeremy. Jeff played his bass like a harp throughout the course of the evening and he was fun to watch simply because he plays so well. Jeremy sounded as good as always. Next on the set-list was Faithfull but, before that Ed mentioned the wacky weather in South Dakota and continued, "It's all ending. It's the end of the world folks, it's all happening right now and I think we're just fine with that. Fuck it. This means by the time Bill Gates owns the whole planet it won't be worth a shit anyway." I thought this was a good segue into Faithfull. Faithfull was a bit mellow and then it built up and sounded great. Again Ed sounded so good and Matt didn't miss a beat. After Faithfull Ed picked up his guitar and started Corduroy. I have always enjoyed this tune but, there's just something about it live. I think the band just takes it to another level when you see and hear them play it because they are so tight and they're having fun with it. Here again Stonie played a great solo.

Ed introduced MFC by saying, "This next song is about getting in a car and driving as fast as you can from a bad situation." This song is another one of my favorites off Yield and is becoming one of live favorites. It was great to see Stonie, Ed and Jeff all up at their mics singing and Mike playing a solo in the background with Matt playing like Keith Moon behind the drums. Not For You was next and it sounded pretty hip. Ed let go a few times throughout the song and it was very fitting for the lyrics that sang. Ed closed out the tune with some finger picking that I've only see him do a few times, then he put down his axe. I was hoping to get a Ramones or Zeke intro, "1,2,3,4" to Even Flow like they did in Seattle but, it didn't happen. About this time I came up with the concept that Mike should get his hands sponsored because his guitar solo's were incredible. Stonie, Jeff and Ed stood back and watched Mike lay into a mean solo that left the crowd quiet and in awe. After Flow Stonie started Daughter, always a crowd pleaser and Ed did his usual improvisation with Jeff breakin out the stand-up bass. The crowd tried to clap with the tune but, that kind of went, well for lack of a better word, shitty! "We're gonna play three songs in a row with the word man in the title." First up Nothingman and this sounded dynamite and it gave the crowd a chance to get a breather and smoke up. Next was Leatherman off the B-side of Given to Fly and this featured Stonie on tambourine and Ed playing his axe. Leatherman sounded great and I really like the bong-rattling bass line that Jeff played.

Leatherman clip [aif] [wav]

After Leatherman there was a funny moment when Ed asked for another guitar and commented about “how nice it is to ask for another guitar and some guy just comes out and gives you one,” and concluded, “what a charmed life.” I thought it was funny because I perceived it is sarcasm and sort of off the wall humor that you find on the Simpson’s. Anywho, next in line for the Man trilogy was Better Man. This song featured everyone in the crowd singing along with the band. This song has become a mainstay in their shows and for a good reason, it’s a damn good song! Matt went off on the drums and Stonie provided good backing vocals.

Next in line on this cavalcade of music, Immortality. I was pleased to see that they fit this number into the set-list because Mike plays some great solos throughout. I was convinced that Mike was putting on a clinic for everyone that plays guitar or wishes they could. After Immortality Ed saw that someone was hurt so the band stopped so that person could get a little help. Ed introduced Matt and then Ed asked “What do you do in South Dakota for fun?...Cow tipping. The few, the proud, the inane.” After this, the band played a little impromptu jam that was real mellow and sounded similar to Falling Down from Red Rocks '95. Go came right after the jam and sounded incredible because of the intricate drum work of Matt, the driving bass from Jeff and Mike going off on his Crybaby. Alive was next and it sounded great as usual with Mike playing a dynamite solo. The band left the stage for a bit and when they returned for the encore Stonie said, “This is really nice, thanks alot. I have some friends here tonight down from Pine Ridge and I just wanted to say Hi to them.” Ed followed by recognizing Mount Rushmore and then more importantly Crazy Horse where he said “Cheers to 50 years! Hail, Hail.” Hail Hail sounded real real tight and I thought it was very fitting to play with everything that Stonie and Ed had said before the song because they gave recognition where recognition was due.

State of Love and Trust was next and sounded as good as ever featuring another hot solo from Mike. Stonie started into Black and everyone quieted down a bit to enjoy the story that Ed was singing about. Here again, Mike played another kick ass solo. Wishlist was next. I really like this song because it is so basic, conveys a great message and sounds bueno live. To close out the show the band played Rearviewmirror to put an exclamation point on the entire evening. RVM sounded so so good and had an extended jam in the middle that was fitting because it built up and then delivered. Overall I thought it was a great show and I’m glad the Pearl Jams chose to play in the Black Hills.

I would like to thank everyone associated with the Pearl Jams (the band especially) for coming out and touring and just making dynamite music as a whole. Also, thanks to DigitalKat and OfTheSea for the imformative and humorous site on the Net.

I also wanted to recognize Pine Ridge Reservation that Stonie mentioned, along with Native Americans in general, and the fact that their struggle still continues today to have land and resource rights, cultural rights and satisfactory living conditions and health care. Many of things are taken for granted and they should not be. If you want to do something about it feel free to make a trip to the Black Hills, get on the Net or find out what tribes are near you and how you can volunteer.

“They made us many promises, more than I can remember-They never kept but one; they promised to take our land, and they took it!”

Red Cloud, Lakota, 1891