Set List: Throw Your Arms Around Me (Ed) before Ben Harper; PJ Set: Release, Brain of J, Hail Hail, Given To Fly, Dissident, MFC, Corduroy, Wishlist, Even Flow, Faithfull, Spin The Black Circle, I Got Shit, Improv, Habit, Off He Goes, Present Tense, Black, Do The Evolution, Porch; 1st Encore: Go, State of Love and Trust, Better Man/(Save It For Later), Rearviewmirror, Alive; 2nd Encore: Last Kiss by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers (1964)

Jeremy Roach (jamfan@bu.edu):
WOW! What an amazing 2 shows. I wish I had the words to describe it, but I am still in awe after what I saw the last two nights. If anyone was there, there are only two words that I can offer. Mike McCready. How much did he kick ass during the past two shows?!?! This being my 10th show, I thought I had seen it all, but it was far from that. McCready by far took the MVP for both nights, his solos were in a word, Amazing, borderline genius. Anyhow, onto the show. Throw was a nice little sweet opener, and I was glad I got to hear it, and to those of you who missed it, sucks to be you. Aye Davinita as opening music was a bit different from the Color Red, but cool no doubt. After hearing corduroy open in the meadows, and sometimes last night, I was hoping for Oceans, but was pleasantly suprised with Release. Next were into the Brain of J/ Hail Hail combo which hits so hard, so fast. Given to Fly is intorduced as a story about someone who left this world and is dedicated to someone named John (i think) and maybe two other people. The sky background really adds to the song. My 7th show this tour, and this was by far the most emotional Given to Fly I have heard, Ed crying while singing, struggling with the lyrics. Powerful. Same for Dissident, while normally this isn't a song I would hope to hear, emotions ran deep through this song as the whole crowd helped Ed along. Ed mentions reagining his composure before MFC and kicks into a kick ass solid version of the rocker. Corduroy, as always is the consumate concert song.

Next were into Wishlist, with the fortunate as you lyric, and after Ed's ebow solo, they kick back into the song(like the melbourne JJJ show) instead of Ed doing the one line by himself-- simply repeats the pedal brake line. Even Flow up next, first song of the night for McCready to shine ( a side note, last night was one of his best nights, seemed like a set list catered to him with--Immortality, Even Flow, Black and Yellow Ledbetter), of course he kicked ass throughout the solo, Ed started to chant during the end of the solo, which vaguely sounded like Saying No! First time in about 4 shows Ed has gotten all of Even Flow lyrics right. Next were slowing it down with Faithfull, and then in Spin the Black Circle. After which Ed addresses the crowd saying that since they played there last night, they were going to change up the set list quite a bit (no complaints here), and also says that he wasnt sure if the next song was a radio hit or not. Up comes I Got Shit. Snazzy version, was hoping for the Cinnamon Girl snippet at the end, no dice, but still a good version.

Next up is the imrprov that has been heard a few times before, essentially just ed by himself singing, every now and then matt would kick in, but quiet song, seque way, Habit. With the speaking as line, "speaking as someone who pahked the cah at the gahden" in a heavy boston accent. Funny. But wow, does the outtro again kick ass, with once again, you guessed it McCready leading the assault. Up next, one I was hoping for, Off He Goes. My only wish is that they would play more No Code, it seems as if the only time we get a good chunk of No Code is when they play two dates in one venue. Half way through the song, I look over to my friend KateMyers and tell her, were gonna get Present Tense. And sure enough, Ed intros the next song saying we dont play this that often, and Present Tense is as intense as ever. What a cool song. So 3 no code songs in a row was a plus. Right about this time, its nearing an hour for the first set, which is typically when they go off, but not today. Black kicks in, and I am all set waiting for the forthcoming solo. And did he deliver like never before, Black has been awesome this tour, a highlight for anyone. During the song I looked over to Ben Bragdon and asked, how does he do that, it was almost inhuman what he was doing to that guitar. Evolution up next, which of course kicked ass, great song to dance too. Thought that was gonna end the set, but no, ed starts counting, 1,2,3,4 -- ohmygod, Porch. While this was noticeable absent from the west coast leg, I've enjoyed it in New England (although I did miss most of it in Hartford after everyone rushed the stage) I say the jam interlude was filled with basically Stone and Mike doing the weirdest shit possible to their respective guitars and getting cool sounds, at what point I didnt even think they were playing guitars but with some kind of digital enhacning sound from a video game of some sort. But wow, does that song rule.

Ok now the set is finally done, about an hour and a half, long first set. I thought at that point they were just gonna play through and have no encore, but nope. They come back out and kick into Go. Rocking version. Then afterwards ed yells at some jackass for throwing quarters at him, and tells the audience that they have his permission to kick the fuck out the guy who has been throwing the quarters (why anyone would make an effort to go to a concert and throw shit at the lead singer is beyond me, but there are stupid people in the world out there). Next up, State Of Love And Trust, which katemyers was hoping to hear, and gets a good version. Better Man up next, after not being played last night -- solid version, although I would rather not hear the song, I realize that it is a crowd favorite and a song you would expect to hear at a Pearl Jam show, but save it for later defintely redeems this song. Long version, a good 7 minutes worth. RVM up next, awesome as always, each member collectively doing there own thing, but somehow cohesively coming together at the same time. Alive finishes the 1st encore, and the energy is supifying. INCREDIBLE. McCready playing a good part of the song behind his back, everyone enjoying the hell out of everyone. Amazing. Ok, I'm hoping for Hard to Imagine (well have been for the past 4 years, but not this tour for me), but we get Last Kiss as the last song. Cool song, Ed intros it by saying how they were in some irish pub drinking, and they went back to some guys house and played all night and this song sounded good, so why not give it a try. Both mike and stone flub the guitar riff, they stop, restart again, and play the song flawlessly. Cool song too. Ed tells everyone he will see them in the next Millenium. I give Pearl Jam a silent thank you for a great 7 shows this summer and fall, and look forward to seeing them in about 2 years. Thanks for the memories guys.