All acoustic set: Surfin' USA, Brian Wilson with backup by Ed, Sheryl Crow, Neil Young.
PJ Set List: Soldier of Love, Wishlist, New Song, Small Town, Footsteps, Last Kiss, Yellow Ledbetter
End Jam: I Shall Be Released by Bob Dylan

Photo credit: Sharon Wolf (datfly@gate.net)

Eli Nunez (ENunez1031@aol.com)
PEARL JAM: Soldier Of Love - Wishlist (Mike McCready on electric guitar) - In Thin Air - Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town - Footsteps (Ed Vedder on harmonica & Mike McCready on electric guitar) - Last Kiss - Yellow Ledbetter (Mike McCready on electric guitar)

Saturday's show started off great w/Neil's opening set. We were able to see Ed @ the right of the stage watching Neil play. Lucinda Williams was up next with Billy and James from The Smashing Pumpkins following right behind her. Ed was once again 'stage right' during Green Day's set (who was the first band to really blow the doors off the place and to get everyone standing. Almost like what Barenaked Ladies did last year). The stage was then set for Brian Wilson, who was amazing. His energy and obvious love for his music was refreshing. Before he began "Surfin' U.S.A., I had lifted my binoculars because I had noticed some people walking onstage. I just yelled to everyone around me, "IT'S ED! IT'S NEIL! AND SHERYL!" They were there to help sing back-up and the crowd really got into it.

Pearl Jam was next to the stage. Everyone had their usual spots. Mike and Stone were sitting on plush footstools, Ed a folding chair and Jeff a stool. Their soundcheck had been posted that morning so I was very, very excited and curious to see what would be played, and if any new songs would be performed (like they did in '94).

"Soldier of Love" started off the show. It was so great to hear "Soldier" because I never thought I would, it's just a great love song. Mike changed guitars, to an electric (possibly a Gibson) guitar and Ed started "Wishlist." Ed changed the lines to "14 children's hands raised" and "I wish I was another being...at home behind the sun." Mike took all the solos during "Wishlist." Ed then referred to getting "a new pair of shoes," or getting anything new that you want to try them out. They were going to try a "new song or two" and they played a mid-tempo song called "In Thin Air." The first 2 lines knocked me on my ass, "There's a light, when my baby's in my arms. There's a light, when the window shades are drawn." Mike switched back to an acoustic for "In Thin Air" and for "Elderly Woman" which we were told was "written right over there" as Ed points over the crowd and into the hills.

After "Elderly Woman" Ed tells a story on Neil taking him into the woods because they needed to talk (Ed begins to take out a harmonica and Mike gets his electric guitar back). Neil tells Ed that he is Ed's father. Ed responds, "Cool. Can I move into the ranch?" Neil just replies "No" and Ed dedicated the song to his new brothers and sisters of the Bridge School.

"Footsteps" began with Stone but really changed when Mike began playing and Ed was gently blowing his harp. The harmonica really gave the song a creepier, darker feel to it. "Last Kiss" was up next with Mike back on acoustic and the crowd really reacting to this one since almost every radio station played it earlier this year. "Yellow Ledbetter" ended the set. Mike did an abbreviated solo on his electric guitar. He was up off his stool and hovering over his monitor w/his guitar almost touching the floor. And that was it, Ed thanked everyone and the light came up. Their 7 song set clocked in at about a half-hour. I was pretty surprised their set ended so quickly, but Tom Waits, Neil Young, Sheryl Crow and The Who still had to play.

Tom Waits was very interesting. It was my first time seeing him, and I only know his songs from Dead Man Walking so it was kinda hard to get into it. Neil's set was amazing and made me wish that I had seen him during his solo tour earlier this year. Sheryl Crow was awesome as always. I was really glad to see the string section that had accompanied her earlier in the year. They really brought some life into her older songs. Once The Who came out (I think around 12:30 or 12:45) the crowd was pretty tired, but quickly got into it with the first notes of "Substitute" were played. The Who's set was so amazing, and like Green Day, the acoustic instruments didn't affect their playing of the songs. And the acoustic element really brought The Who's songs to another level. One of the greatest bands ever. To end the show, Neil, The Who, Pearl Jam, Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow and Billie Joe Armstrong came out and sang Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released." The crowd went nuts when Roger Daltry and Ed sang together, especially when they were on the big screen together. It was an unforgettable moment.