Set List: Long Road, Corduroy, Last Exit, Brain of J., Do The Evolution, Given To Fly, In Hiding, Rearviewmirror, Immortality, Wishlist, Nothingman, Spin The Black Circle, Even Flow, Daughter/(Roam by the B52s), MFC, Alive, Hail Hail; 1st encore: Jeremy, Go, Lukin, Better Man, Leaving Here, Black, Rockin in The Free World; 2nd Encore: Yellow Ledbetter

Hal Roach (halr50@earthlink.net)
Small arena provided for intimate atmosphere. Prior to the show, I saw Eddie skateboarding around in the parking lot outside the arena, and then he was a passenger on the bike while someone else drove him around for at least 20 minutes, then came back to shake a few peoples hands.

Show: Opened with the subdued yet powerful Long Road, great opening song. Next launched right into Corduroy, not as extended jam as previous shows yet still rocking. Up next after that was Last Exit and Brain of J -- high power...nuff said. Then came Evolution with Ed doing his dance for the entire crowd with everybody loving, very reminiscent of an 80's dance. Funny, but cute. Then came Given To Fly with everyone's arms wide open, great arena song. In hiding was once again the great live song that it is. Rearviewmirror was awesome, during jam interlude sequence, lights dimmed and whole band hovered around Matt. Cool. Then next came Immortality, simply amazing. Wishlist was up next with Ed ending wishing he was a mountain and that we should all keep wishing. Nothingman followed for another tear jerker. And then cutting the charged emotions was Spin the Black Circle. Hard and fast. Next came Even Flow which was yet again another crowd favorite and sing along. Daughter was up next with band playing for quite some time before Eddie finally sang B52s song Roam (Roam if you want to, Roam around the world) and then shortly commenting afterwards that that line is the most insightful B52s song. Up next was another great arena rock song--MFC. Alive was then up, the consumate crowd favorite, then came Hail Hail to finish off the first set. Encore started with Jeremy, then a high powered version of go and then Lukin. Better Man came next, but with no Save It For Later tag. Then came Leaving Here...Black came next with extended version Mike solo that was incredible, words along cannot define it. Up next was Rockin In The Free world which was augmented with some political commentary on flag burning and other pertinent issues. and then finally for the last encore Yellow Ledbetter. A perfect end to a great show.

Imadonut10@aol.com
I started my day by walking 6 blocks in North San Diego County to the edge of the continental U.S. and gazing out onto the Pacific Ocean from the cliffs. There is a nice breeze, the sun is out, the water is blue and gorgeous. But, I know this does not mean the air is clean and definitely does not mean the water is clean. I have been battling these environmental issues in my own little way all my adult life. It reminds my of my biggest puzzlement--Why do we have to FIGHT??? for clean air, open spaces and clean water?? Should it not be evident to the politicians in charge of governing this beautiful area that they need to protect it, not further pollute and encroach upon it by building on every bare spot?

I am going to start my fanview from the next to the last song It was, Neil Young's "Keep on Rockin' in the Free World." After a floorseat and set list of my dreams, the concert was coming to an end. Eddie and the band are giving a wonderful rendition of this song. Then Ed stops singing and starts talking about how now the new thing is that "our leaders" are once again deeply concerned with the ever present flag burning (sarcasm). He goes on about how this has become an important issue while our oceans are filling up with SHIT. YES, GO IT EDDIE.

I have had the privilege now of seeing Pearl Jam live, 4 times. Up until this next to the last song, I am as enthralled as ever and if at all possible even more so, with the band, the music, the incredible voice of Eddie Vedder. Then, Eddie goes and so eloquently combines his art with a political view, making it oh so clear how right he is and how wrong our society is. That a rock band understands and cares, let alone uses its public appearances to voice these views is an amazing thing. My love to you for this.

Ok, now for the music portion of our concert: "Long Road "is a very fitting opening for San Diego. Eddie grew up here, worked here for a while, and now comes back as a huge and successful rockstar. Plus, we all have our own personal longroads that have lead us up to this moment, heh? I am hoping this moment is as happy for him as it is for his fans.

"Corduroy"- one of my personal favorites-second best opener-the waiting did drive me mad- changes the line on the record to "we'll end up alone like we began." Eddie varies his pitch from the "Vitology" version. And there is some great guitar soloing. The frenzy builds with "Last Exit", then into "Brain of J'" with some great guitar from Stone. The fever continues with Ed's screaming opening to "Do the Evolution" with some Eddie hip swaying. My favorite phrase: "this land is mine
this land is free
I do what I want
i r r e s p o n s i b l y!"
More great guitar soloing from the Stonester. Continuing with more "Yield" greatness, "Given to Fly."

Ok let me pause from my wordy fanview to say something to the Ten Club. Thank you so much for the opportunity to have my first floor seats. I can see the bands expressions, I can see Matt bang the hell out of his drum kit, I can see Ed's gestures, Mike lose himself somewhere in his music, Jeff looking serious, but looking like he is having a good time, and Stone smiling. Don't get me wrong. The other 3 concerts, I attended I was in the stands. It is a different, but just as special an experience. There, you get to see the concert as a whole, you get to see the crowd and band interact together. This time, being on the floor, I felt responsible to the rest of the arena seats to bring a lighter. Not being a smoker,. I even practiced with it like a dork. Then, I bring it out for the last Spacehog song and get busted by a female guard who later apologized and said I could wave it. But, sorry, I was lousy at it.

Back to the music-
"In Hiding"- one of my favorites from Yield, I am pinching myself in this dream I am in,. Then Ed starts strumming slowly, just like I like, "RVM", my anthem as I drive from work most days. Ed changes some phrasing and pitch and there is some great guitar from all during a pause in the vocals. Then Matt brings us back into the vocals. Brilliant. Ed introduces, Matt Cameron, hometown, San Diego, and launches into, "Immortality." Mike goes into one of his "I am Mike, in my own guitar world only I know, solos." Oh the admiration for your talent. Damn this band is one fine fucking perfect unit. Who put you together? I think you did this yourselves, together. Do you all have this extraordinary talent alone or does it just feed on each other's talents?

Next, "Wishlist." A lovely song written by Eddie. Mirrorball I have been reading about in your fanviews drops and does add to a happy atmosphere. Ed changes,"I wish I was as fortunate as YOU. " Yes I am feeling so fortunate, for sure. Ed does his guitar solo he did on Letterman then finishes with, "I wish , I wish , I wish , I wish, if you want to, do." Goddamn~ "Nothingman"-first time I hear it live. I am choking up. Beautiful. "Spin the Black Circle"-get ahold of yourself-here we go time to rock out again here we go. "Even Flow"-Ed makes a butterfly with his hands. All the while singing his lungs out. Guitar licks weave through and rock the damn house. Then Ed says, "here's Michael" and Mike does his magic thing, shreds! Daughter with tag from B-52's, "Roam if you want to." Well actually, thinking about moving on now that you mention it, and I thought this was going to be paradise for me. oh well like Ed says, there are a billion other places. Ed speaks ,"roam if you want to" after singing it like he does the phrase in "Dissident" sometimes. Love that. "MFC"- YES love this and happy to hear it live. "ALive"-still done with passion from the band and received with passion from the audience. "Hail, Hail"-one more life significant, rocking song. Eddie is still singing strong-how does he do it. And if I could ever ask you one question, Mr. Vedder, it would be this: "When did you know you could sing like that?" It is incredible.

ENCORE
"Jeremy"-uhhhhh, well, if I had to strike one song from the list. But you know, I got sucked in. You hit me with a surprise left. And some mighty fine who, who, who, whoing from Jeff and Stone. "Go"- damn boys, how can you throw so much energy into this when you have been playing and singing for near 2 hours. Please, don't go on me and you did not! "Lukin"-headbanger and the energy goes on. Ed says from that takes you to a suburban tale, could happen in and lists some local San Diego communities and launches into "Better Man." Never ceases to amaze me after the opening ballad, with the drummer just twiddling his thumbs or whatever, it breaks into a rippin rockin song when Matt in this case, starts banging. Great arranging. "Leavin Here"-uh oh must be the last song. All four guitarist take turns and give us a fun time. No, can it be more to come Black" oh my God, this rendition epitomizes the bands coming together as a whole. Ed's fantastic vocals and each band member showing off his fantastic talents, yet it all comes together as one perfect song. Like I asked, who put together this band? How does this happen, this perfection of lyrics, vocals, and musicians? I have never seen or heard anything as perfect and beautiful as this band before, have you?

Ok that brings us to "Rockin in the Free World." And I already expounded on its greatness. The band ended up with one last song, Mike dedicating it to his Father, "Yellow Ledbetter."

Oh now back to the very beginning and then I will shut up (until LA, Monday). Spacehog opened and in a "Wayne's World" abbreviated review, they have a unique style and they did not suck. I would not have known this from the one song San Diego radio plays of theirs. I do not think it was a fluke that Ed's band when he lived in San Diego was called, "Bad Radio."

ok, I just saw and heard the best concert ever. Thank you all. Over and out, Donut.