Set List: Oceans, Corduroy, Grievance, Gods' Dice, Animal, Red Mosquito, Given To Fly, Faithfull, Small Town, Lukin, Not For You, Daughter/(The Wrong Child), Off He Goes, (Romance)/Better Man/(Save It For Later), Insignificance, Nothingman, Even Flow, Go, Parting Ways;
encore: Do The Evolution, Whipping, Once, Footsteps, Crazy Mary, Rockin' In The Free World

So here I am, after years of reading other peoples fanviews of their incredible Pearl Jam experiences I finally get to write my own. I just got home from what proved to be the best show I had ever been to. Actually getting to see Pearl Jam live blew away anything I might have expected out of the show and went far beyond what I had hoped for. I had been unable to make in to the '95 show in Austin, where I live, as well as the Yield tour that went through Dallas a couple years ago. When tickets went on sale this time around there was nothing that was going to get in my way.

Opening with Oceans was incredible, it was a real welcoming to the crowd and got everyone feeling good. From there is was Corduroy, Grievance, God's Dice and Animal... I thought I was in heaven. Then Eddie showed the crowd the marks on his arm which he pointed out to be about 50 mosquito bites rather than track marks, he dedicated the next song, Red Mosquito, to anyone who had experienced the same. Next up was a fantastic performance of Given To Fly which really got the crowd going. Faithful, Small Town, Lukin, Not For You, Daughter/(The Wrong Child), Off He Goes, (Romance)/Better Man/(Save It For Later), Insignificance, Nothingman, Even Flow, Go, and finally Parting Ways finished up the first set.

Upon returning to the stage Eddie noted how thankful he was that 2 people who had been sitting bored looking up front had left between sets. He said that when the band went backstage they all mentioned a smell... Weed?(just saying that brought a cheer from the audience)... The pollution of the air thanks to our great Governor Bush?(this brought an even louder mix of cheers) But Eddie decided it was just the 2 folks who were now no longer there which would make for a better second set. And a great encore it was, starting off with the huge crowd favorite Do The Evolution. Whipping, Once, and Footsteps lead up to Crazy Mary. During Crazy Mary Eddie passed around a bottle (which he had earlier taken a drink, dedicating it to having become a new uncle) to the people near the front of the stage. One person threw a shirt on stage which he put on that said "Uncle Eddie." And Finally there was Rockin' In The Free World to finish the show. Before actually going to the show I was hoping it would end with a favorite like Last Kiss, or Yellow Ledbetter. However when the lights came on during that last song and everyone was clapping in unison and really feeling the music it was just perfect. Eddie was leading the was with his tambourine and I wouldn't have wanted my first Pearl Jam live experience to end any other way!

So needless to say it was the best night I had had in a very long time. Everyone was singing out loud and really feeling the music which made the atmosphere just so perfect. I don't think I stopped moving the entire time. So from here I move on to Dallas for my second Pearl Jam show on the 17th and I simply can't wait!!!

Paul Hoffman