Set List: Long Road, Do The Evolution, Brain of J., Hail Hail, Go, Dissident, Even Flow, Given To Fly, Corduroy, Rearviewmirror, In Hiding, Jeremy, Daughter/Ray of Light/Another Brick In The Wall, Nothingman, MFC, Off He Goes, Present Tense, Alive; 1st encore: Wishlist, Better Man/Save It For Later, State of Love and Trust, Black, Last Exit; 2nd encore: Baba O'Riley, Yellow Ledbetter

Sound clip credit: Jeremy (foofight1@aol.com)

Chris Paladino (dino@enteract.com)
Just got back from the PJ show at The United Center. Unbelievable!!. This is the only the second time I've seen them and I didn't think the first time could ever be topped, September 29th, 1996 at Randall's Island NY when Eddie started off the show by saying "Tonight, we're going to play more music than we've ever played before." That show was amazing and tonight's was just as good. Very long first set with great versions of Daughter, Better Man, Present Tense, Alive and an extended Rearviewmirror Jam.

The first encore was incredible: Wishlist (with large Disco Ball), State of Love and Trust, Black, Last Exit and one other song. Then came back with a screaming Baba O'Riley which had the United Center shaking and finished with everyone mumbling along to Yellow Ledbetter. Also great jams on Dissident, Nothingman, In Hiding, Corduroy, Go, and Even Flow.

Something about Chicago seems to take the great bands to a higher level.

Matthew Gall, M.D. (dr.gall@worldnet.att.net)
Hey Fanviewers: Well, I just start by saying how great it is to be "livin' in the present tense". I just got back from the most rippin' Pearl Jam show (I think) of this new tour. As a resident physician in Internal Medicine here in Chicago, it was a bit hard to get off for this whole weekend, but I managed to see Friday's show at Alpine Valley and was impressed. After also hosting a friend from Arizona for the weekend, turning him on to his first PJ show Friday night, mountain biking in Kettle Moraine, hitting Summerfest in Milwaukee, and giving him a sightseeing tour of Chicago, I didn't think the weekend could continue. Well, leave it to a thunderstorm, a last second cheap ticket, and a "friend" who now wanted to go to Pearl Jam after cancelling on me for Friday's show as a prelude to a memorable night. I was dead tired, not ready to party, and thinking there would be a lot of repeat songs in the set(s). What, maybe I would miss an obscure track off of No Code if I didn't attend... Boy, was this Doc misdiagnosin' !

This evening began with a set by Frank Black who definitely sounded out of place in the "Arena Rock" confines of the United Center. So much so, that I was worrying that Pearl Jam's sound quality would pale in comparison to previous shows I'd seen (Summerfest in '95 and the aforementioned Alpine show). Wrong again! The show started with prerecorded Jack Irons' dot solo (.) and then into a slow but sweet Long Road. The show revved up with more monkey dancing from Ed with Do The Evolution. The rage continued with Brain of J into Hail, Hail. Then two from the Vs. LP, Go and Dissident. Even Flow was next with, again, great soloing by Mike. Given To Fly was simply beautiful as the whole stadium was bathed in blue light. My personal favorite Curduroy was next followed by a driving Rearviewmirror.

The set then slowed a little with a clean version of In Hiding, and it seemed the band noticed this and threw in the standby sing along Jeremy. My friend and I commented how much this song once thought so overplayed, even by the band (remember no more videos after this in '92?), has taken on more meaning after the recent rash of school shootings. In any event, it seemed to be delivered with so much more power than other versions I had heard. Daughter was next with more Floyd references/influences (Another Brick in the Wall) thrown in for good measure!

Nothingman was next and it sounded so great. Everyone was singing along with the obligatory cigarette lighters flaming which made the hollow confines of the United Center feel warm. Around this time, I think Ed commented (negatively) about corporate America and the locale we all were in now and compared it to the old Chicago stadium. The show continued with MFC and then Off He Goes. Present Tense was next and kind of surprising (only one other time played this year, I think). Then, with all the Pearl Jam power and fury we all know and love, the boys launched into the classic anthem Alive. It simply rocked! Stadium white lights glaring on the fans, I think the band really felt the power then. The band left the stage, but we all knew there was much more to come. The only question was what? and when?

My buddy and I both had a feeling that Ed and the boys would have something special up their sleeves as Ed so loves Chicago (his true home). They would not disappoint... For the sake of space, let me just list the first encore (below):

Wishlist, Better Man (with English Beat tabs... Save It For Later), State of Love and Trust, Black, Last Exit...

...And then history in the making. The most awesome spontaneous cover I have ever witnessed occured before my eyes. Ed babbles about a "tall" friend giving him a Bulls jersey (Jordan or Rodman?)... and the guys rip into...

Yes, you're reading it right! The Who classic with full Peter Townsend windmills by Mike and the rest of the band literally flying around the stage. The band exits and some idiots leave. Only are we in Chicago so special to expect and actually receive another song after such a display of musical prowess and power. The whole stage turns yellow and we know what is to finish this glorious evening....

Yellow Ledbetter

With that review, I now go to rest knowing the greatest band... is still at hand... in this land... and tonight, they made their stand. Thank you Pearl Jam.