Set List: Release, Do The Evolution, Corduroy, Grievance, Lukin, Light Years, Given To Fly, In Hiding, Nothing As It Seems, Even Flow, Spin The Black Circle, Rival, Once, (Romance)/Better Man/(Save It For Later), Insignificance, Nothingman, Animal, Jeremy, Black;
1st encore: Sleight Of Hand, Untitled/MFC, Small Town, U, Rearviewmirror;
2nd encore: Rockin' In The Free World

Finally, the night I had been anticipating since I got the tickets this summer had arrived. I had been as anxious as a child before Christmas; possibly even more so. Upon arrival at Sandstone, we found someone with tickets that would upgrade our lawn seats to reserve, first section, row U. When we found the seats that were ours, I did a dance of joy as I looked back at all of the people gathered on the lawn, which seemed like a mile away. When I heard the beginning of what I'm pretty sure was Baba O'Riley, I was on my feet, jumping up and down, ready to scream and continue jumping for the next two miraculous hours.

Then, the beginning chords of Release filled the air. I knew at that moment that I was in for the show of a lifetime. The band then did a 180 and went head first in to Do the Evolution, which is given much more justice when performed live. Next followed one of everyone's fav's, Corduroy. And they were just warming up. I was already breathless from jumping around and screaming along with Eddie word for word, but I knew there was much more to come... Grievance, Lukin and the Light Years followed and then it was time to fly with Given to Fly. It was an amazing sight to look around and take in the sea of hands as Eddie belted out the chorus. In Hiding and Nothing as it Seems followed and then Even Flow rocked the people who weren't yet motivated to do so. Every live version I have heard of this song is awesome, but when Mike got down and just let loose with the most amazing bridge I had ever heard for this song. The man ranks with the best and he did not disappoint this night.

Up next was Spin the Black Circle, which hadn't been one of my favorites, but upon hearing it live, I have a new respect for this one. It's got a lot of energy and the band gave it all they had for this one. Rival followed, which was a nice surprise, as it didn't appear on many of the previous set lists'. Then the opening chords for Better Man slowly became audible and I was screaming before most people even realized what song it was. The tag Save it For later was totally cool, as I love that song anyway, then to hear it come out in Ed's hypnotic voice was just too much.. After Insignificance followed a beautiful Nothingman and then the adrenaline pumping Animal. Jeremy followed to a welcome crowd; starting the second verse, Eddie fouled up the opening lyrics, and stopped singing, head down, hand on his face, then laughed at himself for forgetting the anthem. Then he kicked back into high gear and ripped through the song like nobody's business and if anyone had asked, he would have told them where to go, I'm sure. He was full on pouring himself out with this one. Then, the moment I had been waiting for, the melodic guitar opener for Black drifted to my ears and I was on the edge. I have loved this song since the day I opened my Ten album and played it over and over and over... but as I stood on my chair, watching Eddie, then Mike, then Stone, all of them, and seeing what they were giving this song, I realized it was much more than a song. I swayed along for the first verse, but then slowly I stopped and just stood there and stared in complete and total awe. After the most amazing breakdown bridge I had ever heard and the song ended, I wanted to clap and scream, but I thought to myself that would never do them justice. They deserved a plaque or a medal or my soul for that one.

That was it. Except for the encore. Sadly, I'm surprised they even came back out because the crowd this night was not the best I had seen. They just weren't as animated or as excited as I was, or at least that's how I felt. But nevertheless, they came back out and rocked through Sleight of Hand and then into MFC, which was totally beyond words. Then it was Elderly Woman, then U, which absolutely gets a prize. At last, it was time for Rearviewmirror, which also included what seemed like an eon of bridge and just rockin' out. They went on and they could have went on for the next week if I had any say so about it. They exit stage left again, and then they were back, ready to give us one last unforgettable version of Rockin in the Free World. Only Young himself could have said it better.

Then it was over. Time to go. That was ok, except for I couldn't move. I was paralyzed by what I had just seen. My love for Pearl Jam has been unrelenting, but after last night, it has expanded tremendously. The only songs I wish we would have heard that weren't included were Last Kiss and Ledbetter, but, hey, we can't have it all, right?

Thanks to the band for the most memorable night I could have asked for. Those that were there that seemed to be there against their free will are without. Those who shared my enthusiasm, keep it loud!!

Jessica Rohrer