Set List: Animal, Hail Hail, Given To Fly, Corduroy, I Got Shit, Daughter, Brain of J, Rats, Jeremy, Even Flow, Improv, MFC, Wishlist, Leatherman, Off He Goes, Rearviewmirror, Black, Do The Evolution; 1st Encore: Immortality, Better Man/(Save It For Later), No Way, Alive, Sonic Reducer, Porch

Alison Holcomb (amh3x@virginia.edu):
I'd seen Pearl Jam once before the VA Beach show last night. I saw them in '96 at Merriweather Post in Columbia, MD, and let me tell you, this was like seeing a whole different band.

I had to skip my classes (Go Hoos!) Monday to drive down to VA Beach, and only the anticipation of seeing this phenomenal band again made the drive bearable. Pearl Jam means a lot of things to a lot of different people, but to me this is a band that makes me rock out, be it to a song like Immortality or a song like Rearviewmirror. Everything they do just sounds right to me. It's a great feeling to have about anything.

The concert itself: I've been to the GTE VA Beach Amphitheater twice before, once to see Pink Floyd done by the Virginia Symphony and once for Metallica, and let me tell you, it IS NOT suited for a big time rock show... the covered area (anywhere even half-way near the stage) is just too damn crowded with chairs. You can't hardly move. Somehow this didn't matter for this show. The music so overwhelmed me that I couldn't help but go insane for each and every song. I was pretty close on Mike's side of the stage. Mudhoney came out swinging... I was rooting for them 'cause I always try to get the people around me going for the opener, but they didn't need me this time... they were damn good. The lead guitarist (?) was DAMN good. Because I was pretty close, I was able to watch Mike and Ed enjoy the Mudhoney set also... Mike seemed particularly stoked for Touch Me I'm Sick, bobbing his head viscously at the opening chords, and I'd have to agree, great song. A large majority of the crowd here didn't know any of Mudhoney's stuff at all, so the reaction they got was pretty good considering. Pearl Jam came out to a thunderous applause. We were ready. What will they begin with? What song starts? ANIMAL! Right then I knew it would be a rockin' show. Great version too. Then Hail Hail. All fast stuff. Corduroy. GREAT. I won't go through the entire set list 'cause I don't remember all of it in order, but I was so into this band with every song they played... it was just a great show. They were smiling and playing off each other. Ed was in a great mood, commenting on the moon, smiling, making jokes. "stone's zipper was down for the entire first part of the set... but no one got hurt..."

Highlights: The solos for Evenflow, Rearviewmirror, Black, Alive, Porch... DTE was INCREDIBLE... was great to hear Rats and Sonic Reducer, and finally... they didn't play Yellow Ledbetter, for which I will be eternally grateful.

Mike and why I LOVE him: Ahhhh... Mikey. Running. Flying across stage. That V. That hair. Those cigarettes. That sound. THE greatest.

That's it. Great Experience.

milertme@ezy.net:
This was a great show, even from the lawn! Mudhoney played well, I always love to hear Touch me I'm sick! Red dot intro, lights go out, PJ takes the stage. As always, it was a treat! I was glad to be surprised by a great version of Rats, and a rocking version of Animal for starters. The full moon, the stars, and the whisps of clouds in the background was the perfect scenery for the show. 'Cready was on fire as he has been all tour long! Enough said! On to MSG Thursday for Ben Harper and another great show. See you there!

Tony Clark (ketchup@erols.com ):
WOW!! What a show. I got great seats in the center of the arena and the sound was great. The band really kicked ass. Highlights were Rats, Do The Evolution, and as always Black. Keep rockin'!

Ryan@dynexcapital.com:
Third show, closest I have ever been, best you have ever sounded. Is it my imagination or is pj the only band playing rock-n-roll these days. The moon sinking low over the horizon, late summer, girls and guys dancing, bouncers trying to be dicks (sorry having to much fun), long set, simple staging, lights to make me rock not for the sake of lights, first and second album, Doin' the Evolution, missed In Hiding, Rats a treat. Had a great time despite the fact that I got home from the beach at 2am and had to work at 7am. Whenever you're near I'll be there.