Fanview of the Vancouver Warm-up Show
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May 11, 2000; Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC
Elie S Dolgin
(edolgin@interchange.ubc.ca): How does one describe in words the best concert ever? I guess that I will now try... I picked up my friend, Laura, who had actually won the tickets and was taking me to show at about 1 pm from the airport. She had flown in from Kelowna in the interior of BC just for the show. After lunch we went downtown at about 3:30 to scout out the venue and see if we could possibly hear the soundcheck. We couldn't since as we learned later that it wasn't until about 4 or 5. We found that the entire alleyway behind the Commodore had been blocked off and was heavily guarded by security. We couldn't get any further so we went to see how the line-up was forming. We found 4 people already starting to form a line on Smythe street. The latter pair had been lined up since one and the first two had also been there since one but rather 12 hours previously. They had come to Vancouver straight from Bellingham and had slept on the street the previous night. I guess they really wanted to be front row since they camped out for 19 hours before the doors opened. We decided that it wasn't worth lining up yet. We went home, got pumped up and went to the venue at 6. We were about 40th in line which was still just fine. After an hour and a half of nervous excitement we were finally let in. After being frisked and checked for ID, we were led around the back, through the alleyway, along a plush, red carpet, and into the basement of the Commodore. There they had every winner on file by last name and after a quick identification check, we were given wrist bands and little souvenir tags to wear around our necks. They were trying to resemble "all access" type passes and are really cool souvenirs. We purchased t-shirts and checked all our bags. (It's important to note that even the coat check was free this evening. I'd have to say that the evening was definitely worth what it cost which was practically nothing but parking.) We quickly rushed to the stage and staked out our territory just behind the first row of gate-clingers. Then we had two more hours of nervous excitement to deal with. Fortunately we were now warm and inside not outside on a day that Eddie later described as being "very much like a Seattle day." We looked around for celebrities and noticed Bret "the Hitman" Hart had come to enjoy the event. Who would have known that he was a Pearl Jam fan? But then again, who isn't... Let me take a moment to attempt to describe the beauty of the Commodore Ballroom. I had never been there either before or after the renovation and I must say having Pearl Jam be my first concert there was quite a treat. The place is huge but so classy and elegant. Firstly, it's got the floor itself which was built on old tires so when the crowd got going later you could really feel the suspension and springy action. All around there are tables and if you are so inclined you can even order a meal. when it got darker they opened the windows and with the glow of Granville Street pouring in, the venue looked magnificent. Breath-taking even! At 9:45, C-Average took the stage. Their hard-rocking was reasonably received by the anxious crowd but I think people wanted the headliners over this loud pair. It was a strong set though and they even dedicated one of the songs to the members of Rush. I noticed that Matt, Mike, and Jeff were enjoying the latter half of the set side stage. I could only really see Matt and he was really getting into it and enjoying himself. At one point he even air-guitared along with the band. After the set, I yelled for John and he gave me the C-Average setlist. One playlist down, one to go... After 20 minutes of overheating in a packed crowd, the band took the stage to wild applause. Flashes went off like crazy and instead of going into a new song, the familiar D-chord of Long Road was struck by Eddie. Long Road was a pleasing and solid opener. Then the solid drums of Last Exit were struck and the floor started to bounce. With everyone jumping up and down in sync the magic of the floor was felt. People were loving the classic tunes and the band did not disappoint with a crowd-pleasing Hail, Hail. After that, the band dipped into the Binaural songpool. The album opener, Breakerfall, was first. It was very high energy and with a fantastic chorus. The drums beat as in Letterman and I knew it was Grievance. Just as on TV, Mike was going nuts in this song. The stand-up base then came out for the single Nothing As It Seems. This song is really spacey yet spiritual. The Bridge Benefit and studio versions are so different and hearing it live is quite a treat. Jeff seemed to really be enjoying this number. Afterwards came Light Years, a song that I must admit disappointed me slightly. The verses and chorus were somewhat boring but the end jam was awesome with all of the members of the band getting into it. Eddie then put down his guitar only to pick it up again to play Corduroy. It was good but pretty standard. The first chords of Even Flow then struck and the crowd went crazy. During Mike's solo he was playing his guitar quite low running back and forth on the stage. Unfortunately, the band went straight from the solo into the words without the build-up playoff between Mike and Stone. It was still a great gem and the only track played from Ten. Could it be that Alive has been put to rest as a staple? I think it was after Even Flow that Eddie threw a water bottle into the crowd and mumbled, "Take a bottle, drink it down, pass it around." They then played Elderly Woman with Matt swinging his drumstick back and forth at the beginning, somewhat conducting the crowd as they sang along. Thin Air was next. This song has really become much tighter since Bridge Benefit and has the same kind of beauty and emotion that Elderly Woman evokes. I think that it was great having the two back-to-back. Next was my personal favorite of the evening, Of The Girl. This bluesy little melody is played rhythmically spectacularly by Stone. I can't wait until Tuesday to hear it again. This toned down tune is truly a treat and unlike any song to come before it. I remember when I first heard Insignificance being somewhat disappointed and it didn't really grab me. It started to grow on me but not until last night, did the song seize me by the collar and knock me senseless (or was that a crowd surfer? but seriously...) The song is incredible live and Jeff's back-up vocals are solid. Back-to-back show highlights! I always go through different phases where different PJ songs will be my favorite. Well, this past month, Not For You has really made an impact and it was great to hear it live. Eddie seemed to really get into it. One notable lyric change was that he said "seats just one." At the end of the song, when he dropped his pick and finger-picked the ending, I realized how amazing that song really was. Then they went into Off He Goes which was much appreciated since it calmed down the crowd and gave my stomach a rest which was being continuously pressed into the front bar. Wishlist followed and at the end Eddie picked the song back up with the "radio song" lyric and then the "I Wish, I Wish" and instead of saying "I guess it never stops" we went into another round of I wished before finally wrapping it up. With a quick "This next song was written by Matt, words by me" they ripped into Evacuation with Matt on backing vocals too! The ever so intense set was then over! Let me take a moment before the encore to comment on the band's attire. It was cargo pants night at the Commodore as Stone was dressed in a faded, pale orange t-shirt and blue cargo pants and Eddie in similar pants and originally a long sleeve shirt and jacket though he stripped down to a black t-shirt that read "Champagne Breakfast Club" Stone had really nice black dress shoes while Eddie wore beige and black Converse high-tops. Mike wore a plain white t-shirt and black jeans with brown dress shoes. Jeff had past knee-length skater shorts with Air Jordan basketball sneakers and a button up shirt with a tanktop below. Matt had on a blue 9:30 Club shirt. Now that I have acknowledged this, I can get back to the show. The encore began with a roaring Animal, and just as the crowd was as hyped as thought possible, Stone playing the opening riff to Evolution only to stop, switch guitars, and start again. The crowd loved this. Everyone got into it, especially the band. Eddie switched the lyrics to "wet my pants." Daughter followed and at the end, in anticipation of the tag, Eddie was posed, bathed in red light, with his hands behind his head, staring at the floor, and apparently mouthing some lyrics. The tag was then very long as Eddie repeatedly ranted the "it's okay" line of REM's "The Wrong Child." After a very extended tag, Eddie ran up to each member of the band and whispered something. He then said something about a 50's heartbreak hit and went into Last Kiss. I have to admit that I am really sick of the song and it was probably the one song that I didn't want to hear previously in the evening but afterwards I was glad to hear it live. About 4 lines in, Eddie broke a string on the guitar but didn't lose a beat. He seemed not to care and only smiled more so. He swayed the guitar back and forth and was having a great time. I just watched him and my appreciation for the song grew after seeing how much he loves it. That was it for the first encore and then Eddie came out solo with the ukulele behind his back and he presented it saying that it's "not a ukulele but a who-kulele." He then played the delightful Soon Forget. Unfortunately, some hooligan had seemingly downloaded the MP3 beforehand and shouted out the "Horny" line. Nonetheless, it was a delightful ditty. That was it much to the crowd's chagrin. I desperately wanted air and water but I had my eyes poised on the set list. With some agony, I reached the furthest and was able to get Stone's copy. That was it! The most amazing two hours had transpired and it all seemed surreal. Some general observations... The new songs seem incredible and Binaural will truly be a treat. Eddie seemed to be having tons of fun and the 2000 tour should hopefully go as well as the tour of two years ago. Matt is fitting into the mix perfectly and seems to be in the drummer seat for a while now. He was having a blast and loved playing the song that he wrote. Mike is as nuts as he ever was and was rocking hard. Jeff was his usual solid self really getting into the music at times. Stone seemed surprisingly out of it never even breaking a sweat. Afterwards, we hung around outside trying to meet the band but unfortunately we missed them though we did talk with Brad of C-Average who was incredibly friendly. I can safely say with my ears ringing the next day that the show was an incredible memorable experience. I can't wait until Tuesday and then everyone in Europe, I hope you understand how lucky you are. Enjoy the shows since they should prove to be awesome! |
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