Set List to be confirmed: Long Road, Brain of J., Last Exit, Animal, Pilate, Lukin, Corduroy, In My Tree/Magic Bus, Wishlist, Do The Evolution, Jeremy, Hail Hail, Daughter/Pebbles, Off He Goes, Small Town, Hunger Strike, Not For You, Faithfull, Alive; 1st Encore: Given To Fly, Go, State of Love & Trust, Smile, Even Flow 2nd Encore: I Am A Patriot, Better Man, Yellow Ledbetter

Nicole Martel (nmartel@telusplanet.net)
Throughout the day on Friday, I pushed myself to take it easy, relax and enjoy. It was a perfect time - I was caught between two incredible experiences and I thanked god a million times that day. Thanks for not letting me lose it in the L.A. airport, thanks for not letting me give in to all those people who kept telling me I was crazy, most of all though, thank you for my life. It was pretty cool.

Spent the entire day walking around, drinking beer, shopping (bought a hemp shirt), taking pictures. Events kept clicking into place. Friday night arrived and I was excited, but not nervous. This is a very good thing, because as some of you may have already heard, this show was unbelievable.

Our seats were excellent. We were right on the edge of the new seats which were opened for the second show. Sitting there, drinking beer, I couldn't help but reflect on how different I was from almost everyone I saw. My age, dress, citizenship, etc. but for one incredible moment, every single person in the Entertainment Center was connected. For one precious second in time, when Eddie came back on stage for the second encore, we all stood and clapped in unison, sharing a moment defined by the incredible energy which is the music of Pearl Jam. It was an utterly amazing moment. We were all united and that small figure standing on stage was awed, by the beauty of it all. He made us believe and we made him believe right back. Still get shivers thinking about it...sigh...I'm getting ahead of myself.

What can I say, this was my concert, this was the show I traveled half way around the world to see and I was blown away. Shudder to Think opened with a lot more energy on Friday and got the crowd hopping. Energy was in constant motion, the crowd was vibrating. It was intense. I couldn't help but wonder if Eddie would be spitting as much tonight as he was last night, and whether or not Mike, Jeff and Stone would start flying around. Weird things to wonder about, I know, but that was what I was thinking. I also noticed a white surfboard on stage...new stage props? Hmmm. Screen comes down. Here we go. Fuck, this is just too cool.

Absolutely one of the most intense, emotional experiences I have witnessed! Nothing was held back, everything was poured into the crowd and we poured it back. Song after song. Some of the highlights were Pilate - this sounded really good live. It is a great song to begin with, but it is even better live. State of Love and Trust - I have always loved this song...Elderly Woman Behind a Counter in a Small town...the attempt at Hunger Strike with the crowd singing back up, very cool. Moment after moment - incredibly raw and intense. I can still picture the mosh pit - it was intense again, but somehow not as distracting. Maybe, its not that bad. Maybe, next life I may give it a whirl...

I walked out of that show on air. It was everything I hoped for and more. I got to live my dream and it was so unbelievable. Nearly a week has passed and I am still struck by the gift of life. How incredibly precious and short every moment can be.

My trip had one final incredible moment. My plane left Perth on Sunday, March 22nd at 9:00 in the morning. I spent the entire night partying with several drag queens (long story...) and from about 4:00 a.m. until I walked into the airport I was struggling against room spins...I will never learn. Ever fly hung over? Not pleasant... I am standing in line at Singapore Airlines waiting to get my boarding pass and the line is not moving. At all. This was not good. I sent my cousin in search of some water as I was barely clinging to life. I look over a couple lines of people and realize that Shudder To Think is standing in line also. I couldn't believe it. In a split second I decided I would go up and say thanks, but I had to wait for my cousin to come back and watch my luggage. Sure enough, my cousin comes back and I march right on up to Craig Wedren, hold out my hand and say thanks. Perhaps if I wasn't so out of it to begin with, I may not have got up the nerve, but I am so happy I did. They were every bit as excited about the whole thing as I was. Unfortunately, I was in such a fragile state that much of the conversation is lost on me. I strongly recall telling them a bit about my adventure and precious and short life was. They couldn't agree more. I also know I took a couple pictures for them and I hope they turned out, because I was shaking pretty badly. It was so amazing. Life can be so amazing. I am still stunned by the entire journey.

It took everything I had to let go and live, but it was worth it. Life is a journey and out there somewhere is a PJ ticket with your name on it. Hope you find it... all the best and all my love...