Set List: Long Road, Last Exit, Hail Hail, Breakerfall, Grievance, Nothing As It Seems, Light Years, Corduroy, Even Flow, Small Town, Thin Air, Of The Girl, Insignificance, Not For You, Off He Goes, Wishlist, Evacuation; 1st encore: Animal, Do The Evolution, Daughter/(Wrong Child by R.E.M.), Last Kiss; 2nd encore: Soon Forget

Gerry McConkey (mcconk@island.net):
Just as we did, please check-in, settle down, enjoy……listen to some Who, Fugazi, Clash on the PA, lights go down, and then we're up the barrier to watch C-Average! Total output from these two guys. Fugazi/Melvins vibe, groovy, experimental, intense drums - really cool and original, arty instrumental work. That has got to be the hardest slot in the world to play. Thanks for your humility.

Stage prepared for Pearl Jam. Drums sit waiting, techs are running on and off stage with guitar after guitar, mics tested, stomp boxes in place, pluggin' in and pluggin' in…..and it's getting warmer in here….

And here they all are, in the flesh, taking up their instruments, adjusting microphones, and readying for the show, so close, so close……their energies are feeling smooth, gathered…and so gently begins Long Road.

You probably know the set list by now, so I'd just like to mention some of my personal highlights, although the entire show was a complete highlight in itself.

Ed displayed concentration, capability, good humour, patience, plus superb voice, and they all showed great, relaxed professionalism throughout the show. (And a lot of sweat!) The flow of this set list was excellent. It moved gracefully up and down in tempo, satisfying b-side fans, hard-rocking numbers fans, slaking those thirsts for the new music, making sing-along fans content. I felt the poignancy of Light Years make a shiver go through my heart. The sight of proud Stone mouthing the words to Thin Air while Ed sang was endearing. Not For You simply swept me away. The band really seemed focused on giving this one a great big push, and they delivered. Evacuation had to be one of the most impressive numbers for me. Matt's tune, Ed's words, fabulous parts for the guitars, this song sees Ed give all on the vocals. They all drive the melody and Matt's drum arrangement is a treat. But I especially loved Jeff's bass work on this song. He came up front to showcase its intricacies. Great playing there, Ames. (We heard everything just fine) Mike is also stunning on this song, frighteningly solid. McCready had a rollicking good time, his ease in playing and the love of his instrument was clear.

The band has obviously been doing their homework. I thought about the nightly changes to set lists they do for each show and that it demonstrates an amazing ability to adapt. Each player has a solid knowledge of their part, but they leave room for each other to breathe with the songs. I can only imagine what a fine, musically co-operative feeling that must be. Pretty gratifying to see that kind of respect.

Revolutionary Hamburger would have been an interesting title. Thanks for the water bottle out here too, ahh… Okay, Ed, now we know it's pronounced OO-kelele, cool.

The rest of the band has already left the stage. And after Ed finishes the touching Soon Forget, he waves, stops, and looks out at all of us. Then waves again and slowly walks from the stage. Timing is everything.

Brian Vanderkruyk (zod5000@home.com):
Well it had been almost two years since I'd seen Pearl Jam last and this was to be my seventh Pearl Jam show. I drove for an hour.... waited in line at the ferry.. while spinning Binaural in the car I'd know the songs... finally a few hours later (on the ferry and on the road ) ).. I was finally in front of the mighty Commodore ballroom! My Guest and I got in line waited for about a half hour and finally got in. Met up with a few people from the Pearl Jam newsgroup (John and Karen.. aka Rival and MayQueen). C-Average played. I'd never heard them before and it was phenonomenal. Kind of Sabbath like ... pretty damn good for only two people.

...the time crept by.. the lights dimmed and THE BAND walked out on the stage. I was so pumped.. the crowd was cheering. They started with Long Road.. and it was killer.. I've never heard that song live before. Then after that they sped things up with Last Exit and Hail Hail. For those of you that don't know. The Commodore has this bouncy floor. And I swear during those songs I was getting at least 6 inches of airtime. ... on a side note I have to say it was nice being up close in the pit. but I think I took way too many kicks in the head from crowd surfers.... surfing at a bar is evil.. becuse everyone is over 19 and just as big as me .. and it hurts :) ...

.. anyways then Ed said he was gonna do some songs off the new album.. and that it had just come out on Tuesday... and I think stone whispered to him that it doesn't come out until next Tuesday.. so Ed said I guess you haven't heard 'em yet.. and they ripped into Breakerfall.... they played a few more new songs.. then ripped into Corduroy.. which was wicked. Somewhere between the songs in this set list Ed mentioned how much he liked our Canadian liquor and Guns laws! hehe pretty cool I think. And he was drinking his usual bottle of wine on the stage.

..After Corduroy.. the boys broke out into Even Flow (the only song off Ten they played the whole night.. thank God :) I really like the new stuff better.. maybe cause its still new to me :) ).. anyways the crowd went nuts and I think I was getting a foot of air time of the bouncing floor. .. then they played Elderly Woman.. (I've never heard it live either..I've seen 7 Pearl Jam shows now.. and only heard it at the last one :) ..) It was cool the whole crowd screamed "hello" :) .. Then the band played a few more new ones :) Then a rockin version of Not For You.. where Ed sings "just sits two" he sang "just sits one" ??.. i'm not sure what that was all about.. but it was still cool :) .. Then the set finished with off he goes, Wishlist, and Evacuation.. where Ed said "uhh Matt wrote the music for the songs.. and the words were written by ME! :) "

... Then the encore :) The encore started with Animal which rocked... Then they ripped out DO THE EVOLUTION.. I think this was the craziest the crowd got the whole night! By now I was getting about 18 inches of airtime off the bouncing floor! (maybe a slight exaggeration)...Then we heard Daughter followed by an REM song as the tag.. but I cannot remember what the name of it us.. it sounded cool and I was told that REM was in the Commodore watching but I ever saw them :) btw.. Mike ripped it up in his Daughter solo.. like usual..

.. I can't remember what part of the show.. but Matt was doin some wacky stuff when he didn't have to play his drums.. like pointing sticks at us.. he was being kinda funny... hehe I don't know what he was thinkin..

After that.. Pearl Jam played Last Diss.. and Ed broke a string on his guitar right after it started so he left it alone.. and Stone and Mike picked up the slack.. it was a pretty decent version of it :) and Ed had the whole crowd goin.. oooh oooh oooh oooh at the end.. very cool.

Then they left the the stage again..and after many PEARL JAM chants Ed wandered out by himself.. with someting hiding behind his back. He made a comment about how the radio station paid them just enough to get all their equipment over to Europe.. but there was one thing he'd be taking on as carry on luggage. And he pulled out the ukulele... which he corrected us and told us it was an oookulele (forgive the spelling). then he played "Soon Forget" which sounded really cool :). Then he said thanks and the show was over.. I don't think it even made it to 2 hours.. but it f*cking kick ass! I love Pearl Jam so much! :)

I hope my review came out pretty decent and that I didn't misinterpret too much.... It was great to hear new songs.. Can't wait til Tuesday! :)

That's all I have to say about that!

Cheers eh!