Set List: Corduroy, Animal, Hail Hail, Given To Fly, I Got Shit, Go, Dissident, Tremor Christ, Daughter, Jeremy, Even Flow, Faithfull, MFC, Spin the Black Circle, Wishlist, Do The Evolution; Encore: Brain of J, Breath, Rearviewmirror, Better Man, Alive, Porch

VedderGal1@aol.com:
WOW... I am in a state of total shock after experiencing Pearl Jam tonight. I have been to 3 others this tour, and might I say that this was definately the best that I have seen. They opened with a killer version of "corduroy", which set the awesome tone for the whole night. (Note: the rest of these events are just random, and probably out of order) I would say one of the highlights was when Jeff pointed at me and my friend (we were screaming and jumping the whole night for him). He said something to Mike then pointed at us, it was crazy, I will remember it forever.

"tremor christ" was a total surprise, they sounded incredible when they played it. "spin the black circle" started with Ed spinning the base of his microphone stand around and around, it was awesome. Stone was doing his usual dancing and grooving around on his side of the stage, Matt was having what looked like an awesome time, not too far into the beginning of the show he threw 2 drumsticks out into the crowd, which got the crowd really happy.

After the first encore, all the "thank you" signs were in the crowd, and Ed said "i didn't think i'd see those again!" and make a comment about how all the New York people were in front and all the Connecticut people were in back. They played "brain of j", then "breath", and the crowd went crazy. In the middle of "alive", Ed said "ok, now all you guys in the yellow shirts [security guards] just back off. for the next 2 songs, i want everyone to dance in the aisles!!" With that being said, a huge mob of people rushed to the front of the stage. I was one of the first up there and was fighting just to breathe. But it was totally worth it. I was so close to the band, and everyone around me was having a great time. They closed with "porch", which was amazing. I will never forget this night, I want to thank Pearl Jam for such an incredible experience! Can't wait for next tour!!

Matt Cohen (mcohen@lamaze.com):
The sound was excellent. I was up on the hill and the music sounded great. But why so short? I think the show only lasted about 2 hours with 1 hour and 40 minutes of actual music. I could have listened for a good 3 hours. That may be unrealistic but come on guys at least 2 1/2 hours of music. The crowd was great, everyone was mellow and just wanted to hear good music. The cops and security were great letting people drink and party in the lots openly. And what a beautiful night with a great breeze. Maybe that's why I wanted them to play longer because the weather was great and the last show I went to at Randall's Island it poured and was cold. Can't wait to see them again. I was disappointed I didn't get to hear In Hiding which rocks on the album and would have been great live! COME BACK SOON

gary.aronsen@yale.edu:
My first PJ show, and it was definitely worth the wait. I was worried that the band had given their all at the MSG show two nights before, but I was so happily proven wrong. Thanks to the Ten Club for the most amazing seats, although we (my wife and I) never sat down!!

Opening with Corduroy was incredible, as Ed stood with his big gleaming 'fro (a tribute to the opening band, or just an attempt at anonymity?). Whipping into Animal, Hail Hail, lots of thrashing and spitting by Ed, while Mike just kind of seemed to enter the notes from his gee-tar even as he plucked the strings. Head back, eyes closed, I kept waiting for him to just float over us. Stone was jamming, shuffling those feet back and forth, blasting into the arc of Given To Fly. Great to hear Tremor Christ, one of my faves, even more intense live than blasting out of my speaker towers. Painful Spin the Black Circle. I just stood with my jaw gaping, in absolute awe as I watched five guys just pour out every single bit of energy into one song. Then they did it again for Rearviewmirror, Brain of J, hell, every song. Stunning. From now on, any discussion about athletes, exertion, or hard work will have to stop for a moment to recognize Matt Cameron, whose stamina seemed limitless. I salute you, mofo.

Back from a short break with DTE, with no film, alas. Favorite moment of the night was when Ed said, "i just learned something yesterday that's just amazing. about 55 million years ago, this big animal, this giant hyena, four legs, big mouth, y'know, a hyena, it walked into the water and it became a whale." My wife is a paleontologist, so she let out a wild cheer (Ed, next time you need a guide through the Peabody Museum of Natural History, look us up! [btw, it was kind of like a hyena, but not quite]).

Points to the band for an extremely tight set and the occasional light banter from Ed (Fuck it and Get Over It!)! Jeff hurt his back sometime around DTE, so he was grimacing and in obvious pain for the last part of the show. Sorry, Jeff, better have IcyHot on stage right next time!. Breath was a huge surprise, as I figured they gave in once, but all those "thanks" signs were really great, a salute to the band rather than the usual grabbing hands and open mouths they usually see, so my best to the organizers of that one. A real treat.

The only down point was the end of the show, when Ed asked security to relax and let people dance in the aisles for Alive and Porch. While I completely understand and appreciate the need to bring the audience closer and not have guys constantly monitoring a good time, the response was way too much. Almost-invincible young men and women sailed trough the air, flew down the aisles, and I saw one woman go down, screaming, carried out by security due to an injured leg. Had to rescue a young girl who was trapped in the melee. Saw kids spitting blood as the crowd surged forward in a huge wave. Overall, it was an amazing experience, but no one should have to suffer pain from others enthusiasm, especially at such a phenomenal event. But in the end, I guess an explosion of flesh and youth was just the way to end a stunning show, and I thank the band for coming to my state. See you next Tour!

p.s. Mr. Vedder has a beautiful smile.

Jay Hindmarsh (hindmj@rpi.edu):
Just got back from the Hartford show, and it kicked ass....I had already gotten my money's worth when Ben Harper slid his way into a phat rendition of Hendrix's voodoo child. Eddie and the crew stormed through Corduroy and animal to start out with. they never let the energy drop throughout the whole show. it was great when eddie ended the Clinton/Lewinsky monologue with a plethora of waving middle fingers, urging "get on with it..."

I was out on the lawn, and it was my first time at the Meadows. Last year I caught them at Buffalo, and it was a completely different atmosphere. Here, it seemed a lot more relaxed, the crowd seemed pensive, just waiting for the next song and when the crew left the stage the first time, some people around me just waited, and then sat down...I was urging that we had to work for them (clap, cheer) to come out for a kick ass encore. It seemed as though Eddie and the band sensed this too, as when they returned, they urged the crowd to dance into the aisles, finally showing some signs of life...of course security went berserk, and turned on most of the lights...

Nevertheless, they put on a great show, like always, and Eddie made you feel special for driving all that way to see them...