Set List: Hail Hail, Animal, Given To Fly, Daughter/(I Believe in Miracles)/(WMA), Corduroy, Wishlist, Immortality, State of Love and Trust, Even Flow, Footsteps, Mankind, Alive, Better Man, Leatherman, Jeremy, Do The Evolution; 1st Encore: Small Town, Brain Of J., "untitled" (new song) into MFC, Crazy Mary (part) into Rearviewmirror, Black, Porch; 2nd Encore: Last Kiss by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers (1964), Yellow Ledbetter

Lukin123@aol.com:
To everyone who didn't have the chance to be their live to see Pearl Jam at Merriweather Post tonight, I hope this fanview can somehow take you there.

Ben Harper kicked the evening off shortly after 8:00 p.m. with a acoustic song by himself. He was very well received by the crowd, which was about 2/3 of being full. He was joined by the rest of his band and they proceeded to go into four more songs which was showcased by a very good bassist who took center stage at times with his solos. Ben played the entire set in a chair, and they finished up with a great version of Hendrix's "voodoo chile". The Pearl Jam equipment crew took a awfully long time to get set up. It seems they had some sound problems because they had to tune and check every instrument two or three times. Finally after about a half hour I saw the guy behind the soundboard give a thumbs up to someone on stage and the intro "aye davanita" came on the speakers. Soon the lights went off and the screams erupted. I was hoping for a slow opening like "release" or "oceans" but the guys went straight into the heavy stuff opening with a intense version of "hail hail". "animal" was next and Ed did the usual finger counting, during the song the white backdrop was filled with a different array of lights. The spotlight was on Mike during "given to fly" and a video was shown on the backdrop of white clouds going by. It was weird hearing "daughter" played so early in the set but it was indeed a great version with the tag being "i believe in miracles" and some notes of "w.m.a" as well. "corduroy" was next and this time the spotlight was on Ed. It seemed that throughout the show the spotlight was used many many times. After the first verse in "wishlist" the mirrorball dropped down and spun around throughout the whole song creating a hippie effect. Ed improvised the last verse, "i wish i was the president, and i could change my ways, i wish, i wish, i wish, i wish, i wish id seen better days". After the song Ed looked out into the front row and saw someone with a sign requesting a song and said, "your expecting desert before even having the main course, you'll ruin your appetite" was it a sign for "breath" maybe? "immortality" was highlighted by a mega drum solo done by Matt who yes had the spotlight on him as well. During "footsteps" another video was shown this time it was just water ripples. Anyone know why?? Stone steps up to the mic and says, "it's my turn now, you guys probably can't remember this one" and they go into "mankind", Ed takes his mic stand and goes over in the corner and sings background vocals and plays his tambourine. "alive" makes a early appearance into the set, Mike takes over at the end with another gut wrenching solo.

After "betterman" Ed comments on how it's a very sad story, and before "leatherman" he says, "this is also a sad story, but with a happy ending". He messes up on the lyrics and does the "la,la,la" thing again just like in Va.Beach. Matt sings background vocals during both songs. I was hoping for a "man" trilogy and waiting for "nothingman" but instead Ed says, "another true story" and Jeff starts "jeremy" which got a huge crowd response. "do the evolution" finishes the set with some cool lighting at the end.

After a four minute rest they come back out and Ed says something about the location they are in, "this town called chevy chase, you know it's not actually named after anyone". Stone plays the first notes to "elderly woman" while Ed comes in after the first few lines. At the end of "brain of j" Mike throws his guitar up in the air and catches it. Nice. The improv before "mfc" is a slow jam with lyrics "alone" and "i’ll try to get there, it might be 10 minutes or so", Ed was really getting into the first notes of "mfc" while the rest of the band was just watching him. Stone got the spotlight this time as he played a mini solo at the end. Ed sings a few lines to "crazy mary" and then they explode into the my highlight of the evening, a phenomenal version of "rearviewmirror". The middle jam is extended and the outtro is also longer with Ed and Jeff both bent over shredding their guitars. By far the best version ive ever heard. "porch" is a very welcome surprise, and yes it's just the old days, hard and fast. When Jack was behind the drums, the song took on more or a slower bluesy type way but tonight it was rocking along with Matt. Mike played the middle solo behind his head. Ed came over and whispered something in his ear, or kissed him on the cheek?

The second encore featured the 50's cover song "last kiss" which Ed got the entire crowd to clap along too. He helped out everyone who might of not known what the song was by holding up a big sign that a fan brought to the show that had "last kiss" written on it. Very nice song, first time I heard it. Afterwards Ed gives a long speech, "tomorrow we are playing a benefit show at constitution hall, (applause) it's to benefit the pro choice cause (louder applause)", he gives a plug to the band Wellwater Conspiracy and introduces Matt who gets a big ovation. He then introduces everyone else in the band except himself. "tonight after the show i get to see my wife, we have been together for a long time, but not as long as jeff and stone", Jeff walks over to Stone and they both hug each other. "yellow ledbetter" ends the show with Mike just playing and playing the end of the songuntil he's got no more left. Overall the best show I've seen from the band. The sound was perfect, they seemed very happy playing, and Ed was just having a ball, dancing, falling down, laughing when he screwed up a lyric. This is how it should always be. A perfect evening. Although my friend Ben Risch wanted to hear "in hiding" but was disappointed. Thanks a lot guys you are the best, please come back very soon.