Set List: Sometimes, Corduroy, Animal, Hail Hail, Brain of J, Red Mosquito, Given To Fly, Even Flow, Not For You, Wishlist, Lukin, Jeremy, Daughter/(Another Brick In The Wall by Pink Floyd), Present Tense, State of Love and Trust, Do The Evolution; 1st Encore: Hard To Imagine, Better Man/(Save It For Later), Alive, Black, Leaving Here, Baba O'Riley; 2nd Encore: Yellow Ledbetter

Nick O'Brien (obrienn@mail.westelcom.com):
Arriving early to Montreal from Upstate NY, I was in a poor mood. The weather made my knees hurt, I was broke, and I was still distraught over the absence of Mr. Iggy Pop.

My humor soon improved, as my compatriots and myself were able to hear a smooth sound check through the walls of the Molson Center, including Hard To Imagine, State of Love and Trust, and an as of yet unidentifiable slow tune, reminiscent of a classic fifties song. Soon after, we located a fine music store, which had in its possession a much coveted import. I restrained myself, hoping to have enough pretty Canadian moola to obtain a T-shirt.

Upon returning to the concert site, and purchasing said garment, my friends and I located our respective, but by no means respectable, seats. Cheap Trick put on a fine show, but were by no stretch of the imagination American Caesar's or Naughty Little Doggy's (Damn you Jim, where were you?). As Sean and I noticed the mirror ball for Wishlist, and the screen for what we hoped would be a preview of the Evolution video, we started making small wages on what the opening song would be. What those predictions would be is moot at this time, as we were way off with all bids, and the lads emerged from the shadows with Sometimes.

While I didn't get the set list from my friend yet, some of the highlights of the evening involved Corduroy, Hail, Hail, and Brain of J. Also entertaining was Ed's claim that he "would do better on a math test than a french test", and then proving that by trying to read a statement in French to the crowd. Badly.

The first encore commenced with Mr. Vedder skating on stage atop a board older than everyone in the house, except Cheap Trick of course. They went on to play Better Man/Save it for Later, again dedicated to Hillary. This went well with the earlier rendition of Daughter/Another Brick in the Wall pt II, which included the line "mr. president, leave those kids alone." Next we got Black, with a Mike solo so beautiful, Stone came over and shook his hand. This was followed by not one, but two Who songs (sort of), Leaving Here and Baba O'Riley. The latter was so intense, it could only have been topped by the performance I had chance to witness in Toronto, 1993, with John Popper playing harp and drinkin' JD with Ed.

The lone song of the second encore was Yellow Ledbetter. It was incredible. Mike went on to play by himself for what seemed an eternity of sonic bliss. I think Hendrix would have been mighty proud of this white boy's prowess, as I know all in attendance were amazed and astounded.

The evening was so perfect, I got home without the usual hassle at the border, saw some old acquaintances, and ruled the pool table at the bar 'till closing time. A good time all around. Two thumbs up!

Eric Chenier (chain@generation.net):
This show will be forever in my heart: I was born February 23, I'm 23 years old and my best song is Yellow Ledbetter.... they played 23 songs, and the 23rd one was Yellow Ledbetter!!! "well, its been five years since we've seen each other" said Eddie at one point, and he was right. The show was awesome, better than the one i saw in Toronto two years ago. The band seems more relaxed; they are enjoying the show. Eddie was great, Matt was better than I anticipated, Stone was magical all night long, solo after solo after... well you get my point. They started with a bonjour in French and played "sometimes": pretty good in concert. At the end of "daughter", Eddie shook his beautiful voice and sang like an angel, surrounding each and every one of us with a glowing sense of happiness, bringing chills down my spine. At the first encore, they played "hard to imagine": it was great, didn't expect this one at all! Baba O'Riley was also a surprise, but was very good! In all, this was my best Pearl Jam show, even better than the one in Verdun in 1993. And to finish, let me tell you that the Montreal fans were awesome and it started with the famous "wave" between Cheap trick and PJ. They always wanted more and more!

Off we go to Barrie, a 6 hour journey to see my best band perform outside, a first for me! See ya!

Shamir Kanji (shamir@canada.com):
First off, I WISH I BROUGHT IN A FREAKIN VIDEO CAMERA!!!!! Security was soooo relaxed....My second time goin' to see Ed and the boys (MLG in Toronto 96(?) as my first) -- my ears are still killing me, not from the music, but from the crowd. At one point during the show, Ed covered his ears because it was soooo loud. Looking back at the show, here (hear!) were some definite highlights:

1) During daughter, Eddie sang the following: "teachers leave them kids alone, mothers leave your kids alone, fathers leave your kids alone, preachers leave them kids alone, mr. president - leave the kids alone!!!!"

2) State of Love and Trust -- Awesome! The crowd didn't seem into this one, I guess they don't know PJ, the way the rest of us do.

3) Wishlist - "i wish i was a separatist????" --> Did I hear that correctly????

4) The song "save it for later" after Better Man was awesome...never heard it before...

5) Eddie skateboarding onto stage for the first encore, saying to the crowd "you'll be happy to know that this is a canadian product -- a bauer" -- Canadians, and ONLY Canadians will know this reference.

6) Baba O'Riley - Eddie broke his tambourine...just friggin' amazing!

If there was one complaint, it was that the prices for stuff (posters - $14???) were too high. I guess arrangements to see stuff outside couldn't work (besides the fact that it was pouring outside). Also, I didn't get a chance to buy the soccer jersey (all sold out) - if anyone knows where to get one, please e-mail me.

Just an awesome show -- "can't find a better band!!!" -- on to Barrie...

P.S. I did get tape the show, anyone interested can e-mail me to set up a trade!!!!!

Martin Boulianne (boubou@microtec.net):
It was the first Pearl Jam concert in five years in Montreal and the crowd was really on fire. I never saw such a reaction in an audience when they came on stage and played sometimes which is a masterpiece. The crowd was so loud we could barely hear the band, but when they smashed us with Hail Hail, Animal and Corduroy, everybody was out of breath.

Eddie was in great shape and he was very generous with us, giving a full emotional performance as he was singing. When he sang Wishlist and Better Man alone, everybody listened to him like he was some kind of a prophet, no screams, just singing along with Eddie. We also had the chance to see how much Eddie cares about PJ's fans when he complained about security guys, or when he left the stage after the first encore and said after a little speech "thank you very much, we really appreciate it!". And then the crowd gave him his love back...to have the magical Yellow Ledbetter.

Musically, I was surprisingly impressed by Mike's performance on lead guitar. It was the first time that I saw PJ live and I didn't know he had such an impact on the band. The best song of the show was Present Tense and I then realized Mike's performance as he was playing the riff alone with Eddie singing. I was in a dream at this moment, the intensity of the song was absolutely incredible, and I think that the soundman really pumped up Mike's guitar. Sometimes, all the band is just standing, looking at Mike playing, running through the stage and fall on the ground as the follow light is right on him. In Alive, which was the apocalypse of the show, McCready is giving a Hendrixian performance, having all the attention of the whole 19,000 fans.

Personally, I think that the greatest moments of the concert were given to fly (with the clouds rolling in background), Lukin (BASHING!!), Jeremy (19,000 fans singing with Eddie), Present Tense, State of Love and Trust (I was out of control) and Alive which is the apocalypse of the show.

Thanks to the band of the decade, I can now live in peace (until the next one!)