Set List: Of The Girl, Do The Evolution, Animal, Red Mosquito, Corduroy, Grievance, Light Years, Nothing As It Seems, Given To Fly, Even Flow, Faithfull, Untitled (from Live On Two Legs), Last Kiss (Ed solo for part while drumhead is fixed), MFC, Breakerfall, Wishlist, Thin Air, Daughter, Evacuation, Immortality, Better Man/(Save It For Later), Black, Go;
1st encore: Last Exit, Jeremy, Small Town, Alive;
2nd encore: Yellow Ledbetter

Poster credit: Pedro Miguel Franco

rbento (rbento@clix.pt):
1999: Everyone was in despair waiting for Pearl Jam to release their new album and set the European Tour dates. Everything was set and the chosen place for the big event was the brand new Atlantic Pavillion in Lisbon, with a capacity for nearly 30 thousand people. The tickets went for sale, we all rushed to get ours and we did, but the tickets ran out in 2 our 3 days. A few weeks later, the organization moved the concert to Restelo's Stadium, not a very nice place for "THE" concert of all concerts, but we just wanted to see Pearl Jam. More tickets went on sale and we had to trade ours a few days before the big day (or night :)).

I could barely sleep the night before the concert (and I had to study!). On the big day, as I live near Lisbon, I didn't have to go to the stadium very early. The lines for the grass were quite big and messy (well, with that amount of people... 40 thousand). We got in the stadium at about 18:50h (the guy who ripped the tickets so we could get in almost destroyed mine). The organization for the event could be much better, as there was only one way in to the grass and the north seats. We rushed near the stage so we could be near Eddie and the boys. The show was meant to start at 21:00h with The Vandals, but one hour earlier everyone started running towards the stage so we also had to do it, otherwise we would be left behind. We were impatient waiting for something to happen so we could warm up a bit.

"The Vandals" went up on stage jumping a lot and singing a new version of "Grease." The audience cooperated, but later on many of us were tired to see those guys on stage... but well, he was very sincere and admitted that they were also waiting and warming us for the big show. As they sang, most people stopped paying attention and then the guitar player (as he often does) showed a great talent for stripping as he took all his clothes off and started running wildly on the stage.

Finally the Vandals went away and it was time for the big show. The staff started gearing the instruments for the show as the crowd was waiting and waiting for Vedder, Gossard, McCready, Cameron and Ament. Then the stage was very dark... were they already there?? It was a magic moment! They started the tour with an outstanding performance of "Of The Girl." Not everyone knew the lyrics but great part of the crowd did and we started singing along with Eddie. Then they heated things up with "Do The Evolution!" The 'mosh' started with everyone jumping, singing, screaming and enjoying! After that, "Animal" kept us doing the same... unforgettable! At the end of it Eddie spoke to us for the first time on the night "Hi. It's been a long time. You guys still remember us?"... as if we could ever forget them!! Then he asked if he could speak in English, their language and of course all the crowd answered positively... so he introduced us to Matt and Matt to us "This is Matt. Matt these are..." as the crowd started yelling a lot, saluting the new drummer who we hope is there to stay! Then followed the only song from "No Code" on the concert: "Red Mosquito".. it was a more calm song, and the crowd sang all of it! "Corduroy" was next and I have to say that it was the best version of it (or at least one of the best) I ever heard!!

Then they played three songs in a row from the new album: "Grievance", "Light Years" and "Nothing as it Seems".. great part of us sang it loudly and together, but great part of the crowd, as the album has only been released one week and a day before the show, didn't know all the lyrics, but at least the chorus. After that came "Given To Fly"... the crowd went wild as they started playing the beginning! All the crowd sang this song a lot, especially on the "FLY!" part.. outstanding :) "Even Flow" came next, a classic but always a superb song, with loads of singing, jumping and as usual. 'mosh'! Then "Faithfull" came and, maybe causing a bit of surprise to the band, all the crowd sang it loudly.

The band started playing "Untitled" (from Live on 2 Legs) and, just like that album, we were waiting for them to play "MFC" right after that, just like a single song instead of two. But.. something went wrong with Matt and the drums and they were playing "Untitled" so the staff went there to fix it. As they couldn't leave us waiting, Eddie started singing alone "Last Kiss"... well, not quite along 'cause we sang all of it very loudly. At the middle of the song, Mike, Stone, Jeff and Matt joined Eddie and us. For a few moments, Eddie just closed his eyes and started listening to us... beautiful moment :)

"MFC" came next with the crowd cooperating a lot, followed by "Breakerfall." Wishlist slowed the rhythm and they probably got stunned as most of us knew all the lyrics... well, even Eddie forgot them and we helped him :) It was amazing as all of us (the crowd) and Pearl Jam were so together and completing each other. At the end of the song, Eddie talked a bit more with us. They were meant to come one day before the concert (Monday.. at least that's what I've heard), but on Sunday they were at "Costa da Caparica's beach." as I was saying, Eddie talked about that afternoon at the beach, mentioning an unknown guy that loaned his surf board and suit so that Eddie could surf. He also mentioned a couple of kids that loaned their skateboard so that Matt could skate... "Does this happen everywhere?" Eddie asked.

After that came "Thin Air," a very pretty song he said, followed by the smashing classic "Daughter." The crowd went wild as Mike played the beginning of the song. Everyone sang that one, waiting for a tag at the end but that didn't happen. Though he started singing and marking a rhythm and even when they finished playing, the crowd was still singing it! "Evacuation" came after that, an excellent theme from "Binaural." The big classing "Immortality" which I particularly love very much... the crowd sang all the lyrics as Eddie forgot them in the middle.. but we helped him a lot that time and he kept on singing. "Better Man" came next and ALL the crowd sang it so God damn loudly! Wonderful!!! It actually drove many of us to tears.. then Eddie sang a small tag at the end of it.. "Save it for Later." We were going crazy with "Better Man" as they start playing "Black"... WOW :) !! The crowd was really on fire.. and so was Mike soloing... he even fell backwards when playing :)... unforgettable for every single person present there and for the band, especially when we all sing the backing vocals of "Tururu turururu..." (I guess you know what I mean).

Suddenly they left the stage... they couldn't be gone!! All the crowd together start screaming "PORTUGAL" (as we did along the concert), "Pearl Jam" and "Eddie." Then they return for the first encore and, as we loudly yelled "EDDIE! EDDIE!", he started yelling "SUCKS! SUCKS!", which brought an end to it. Then we started screaming for "Alive" and even singing its chorus, very loudly and all together which was beautiful. Then Eddie says "Then I guess we won't have to play it, since you've done it already" which brought some laughing, but also some 'panic' to the crowd :) They continued playing with "Go" which brought a magnificent reaction from the crowd... the light effects also brought a lot of magic to it.

"Last Exit" was the next one and the crowd reacted very well to it. Then we started hearing the beginning of "Jeremy"... it drove us insane!!!! Wow!! I mean, that one's historical and the crowd sang it all along behind Eddie. Than Ed thanked to the band that opened the night, "The Vandals," mentioned that they.. "come from a small harbour town. And this next song is also about a small town. Here we go."... then they start playing "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town," kind of an extended version where everybody sang, even with our voice fading away because of all the wild singing during the show. As the song finished and as we did whenever the band stopped playing even for a couple of seconds, we continued singing the "Alive" chorus, expecting and even praying for them to play it :) That was the moment we were waiting for... they finally did "Alive" which drove as mad (in a good way of course).. singing it will all our strength all along, all the way from our hearts. It was getting late and they were there for a lot more than 2 hours!

Suddenly they left the stage without even saying goodnight! It was now possible.. they couldn't leave!! So we started all over again screaming for them as Matt, Stone, Mike and Jeff came on stage, but without Eddie! What in the world was happening there? Then, Mr. Dennis Rodman, who was watching the show from the backstage, carried Eddie to the stage and dropped him in front of the microphone. Eddie commented "that was the shortest amount of time that Dennis has been on a Pearl Jam stage" which caused some laughing on the crowd. It was time to say goodbye! The lights turned on as Eddie said that they were going to play the last song of the night.. we whistled a little because we wanted more, but... we just could whistle our band any longer!! They started playing the classic "Yellow Ledbetter," as Eddie asked for the lights to be turned off, but... they weren't. Oh, so fuc* it! We had to enjoy the last one so we all sang it, raising our arms. We all wanted more.. in fact, we wanted it to last forever, but it couldn't be, they were there for two and a half hours.

At the end, with the lights of the stadium on, Eddie stopped and looked at us saying "Enjoy your life. Keep love alive" which brought some emotion to all of us! Then he moved his shirt and patted his heart while looking at us... I hope he remembers us forever and keeps that night and all of us inside his heart, because he's surely inside ours!! He also took a couple of pictures of us and then he waved as we were sending us a kiss goodbye that we hope it is more like a "See you soon!" or something. We sang for a while after they left the stage, but that was a final goodbye.. Unforgettable night. They just ruled!! WE WANT MORE!!!!! We love them all and they showed love for us! Just unforgettable. Just a note to Mike who ruled all night long! It was a night of magic, passion, love, emotion and, of course, the best Music on Earth.

Funny part at the middle of the concert when a piece of cloth was thrown into the stage where was written "Please Come Back"... as Eddie replied "But we still haven't left yet!" Magical moment, but now you're gone and WE WANT YOU ALL BACK!!

I guess I don't need to say that I loved all of it, every single moment... it brought us tears to our eyes, emotion and also loads of jumping and 'mosh'. After the concert, my voice was gone and my body hurt like hell... PEARL JAM, IF YOU'RE READING THIS, PORTUGAL LOVES YOU :)