Set List: Of The Girl, Do The Evolution, Hail Hail, Grievance, Corduroy, Off He Goes, Given To Fly, Nothing As It Seems, Evacuation, Wishlist, Untitled, MFC, Habit, In My Tree, Daughter/(WMA), Insignificance, Better Man, Black;
1st encore: Go, State of Love and Trust, Even Flow, Small Town, Whipping, Rearviewmirror;
2nd encore: Yellow Ledbetter, Rockin' In The Free World

Photo credit: DCPearl@aol.com

From 2nd row center, I offer these modest comments...
After loitering around off stage during Supergrass, Pearl Jam came to the stage with an orchestral version of "Baba O'Riley" blaring. An amazing intro that lead to one of their most solid songs, "Of the Girl" opening the show with an intensity that would be the pace for the whole set. Since I became a fan through the later albums, it was great to see newer material through most of the set. "Do the Evolution" and "Evacuation" just rocked, no other words on those. McCready was wearing a heavy winter coat, while Gossard was wearing shorts and a sweatshirt that said "CHICAGO." Ament was hard-core as always wearing cargo short/pants with black NBA socks up to his knees. Vedder wore off white slacks and a typical green army shirt. He also had a beard...nice touch...dignified. Cameron was behind the drums, so I couldn't tell what he was sporting. "Off He Goes" "Hail, Hail" and a rare "In My Tree" represented No Code with the respect not many give it. "Given to Fly" and "Corduroy" just seeped into my skin as Vedder just delivered such powerful vocals. "Wishlist" was special because Vedder fucked up the words and at the end for the final verse he said something to this effect. "...I wish it was the night...where I didn't forget the words...I wish...I wish...I wish...I wish...I guess it could be worse" That brought cheers to the fans who were paying attention enough to notice. "Daughter" was typical. It's always cool to see Ament pull out that upright bass. With some new verses since I heard it last, "Untitled" bled seamlessly into a raucous "MFC." "Black" was a typical crowd pleaser. "Better Man" also always seems to bring the crowd to it's feet.

Then came the encore.
Due to the fact that it was the last night of the season for the Mesa Del Sol Amphitheater, they played more that a usual encore, I think. "Go" "State Of Love & Trust" kicked things off. For the first time I saw them perform "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter In a Small Town" Vedder said it seemed appropriate. As always everyone in the place sang along beautifully. But it was "Even Flow" and "Rearview Mirror" that showed the bands longing to jam. These older songs sounded like the band were just kids up there without a care in the world.

Photo credit: DCPearl@aol.com

Then they left again.
When they returned for the final encore things went joyfully crazy. During "Yellow Ledbetter" Vedder motioned a fan to come up to the stage. He did bringing a small tape recorder. Vedder walked around the stage talking into this recorder for a few moments then handed it back to the young man. Then during "Rockin' in the Free World" Vedder pulled a kid onto stage who couldn't have been more than five years old. He wore eyeglasses and a Pearl Jam beanie. Vedder said his name was Jesse. They danced and rocked for a few, then Vedder put him on his shoulders and ran around the stage like a madman. He took him to the drums and had him bang away with Cameron. The whole time Vedder was just smiling from ear to ear. It just showed what a classy guy Vedder is. In these days of pretentious, cheesy ass singers/performers/dancers whatever you want to call 'em, it is special to see real people who love what they do, bring their words and music to us.

After the show we ran into the guy who brought up the tape recorder, he played it for us. It said loosely "Hey this is Ed...and um...we're in the middle of a rock show right now..." there was more but I couldn't hear it among the crowd. At the end of the night, I ended up with a McCready guitar pick and my friend got a drum stick. But it was the intensity and vitality, countered with love and humbleness, that will live inside me forever.

Sorry I can't give you the exact set list, but I was into it too much to right them down. Thanx for letting me vent about this wonderful experience.

Sincerely...
Ryan Goold
therysage@aol.com