Set List: Of The Girl, Breakerfall, Grievance, Gods' Dice, Light Years, Corduroy, Animal, Given To Fly, Even Flow, Nothing As It Seems, Daughter/(The Wrong Child by R.E.M.),(Androgynous Mind by Sonic Youth), Faithfull, MFC, Wishlist, Do The Evolution, Black, Alive;
1st encore: Timeless Melody by the La's, Insignificance, Rearviewmirror, Better Man, I Got Shit, Go;
2nd encore: Soon Forget, Soldier of Love, Yellow Ledbetter

Thomas Birch (thomasbirch@yahoo.co.uk):
Well. Let's get the introductions over with: I've been listening to Pearl Jam since "Vitalogy," but this was the first time I'd managed to see them live. Contrary to a lot of people, I do not believe Ed is: (a) God, or (b) Pearl Jam, and I don't feel that we are the single luckiest people on the face of the Earth because Pearl Jam have decreed they'll play at Wembley Arena two nights running. However, I do believe that Pearl Jam are now the best rock 'n' roll band on the planet, and I can't think of many better ways of spending an evening than in their company.

TheMonkeywrench disappointed me - I rather liked Mudhoney, but this just seemed like shouting and noise to me. When they finally left the stage, the lights went up, and they set up Pearl Jam's set, with those pretty red light things. By now, I was as excited as four-and-a-half peanuts in a salt factory. The lights went down as the music started to play, and Pearl Jam had arrived.

"Of The Girl" was a far better set-opener than I thought it would be, and the version they played outstripped the one on "Binaural," Wembley's acoustics actually adding to a song for once. "Breakerfall" followed, this being a powerful rendition of the first song on the new album, with Mike beginning his "I'm a bit of a strange chap who likes to jump all over the place" routine. Good stuff. "Grievance" was next, another impressive rocker from "Binaural" given a quick dusting down. If, indeed, one can dust down a new song. "Gods' Dice" was the song Pearl Jam chose to continue with, and it struck me what a powerful record "Binaural" is. Ed messed up the last verse a bit, but apologised for this, reminding us all that it was "a good song." "Light Years" ended the "Binaural" opening section of the gig, and this already appears to be something of a favourite with Pearl Jammers over here, everyone joining in on the chorus like one (very) big happy family.

"Corduroy" was the first of the older songs played at the concert, and (as in all the best movies) the crowd went wild. Ed was virtually inaudible beneath the crowd who sang every word. "Animal" really made the people down at the bottom break sweat, although I was a little disappointed that Matt didn't play the syncopated ending like Dave Abbruzzese, as it must be well within his capabilities. Ed introduced "Given To Fly" as a song which hadn't been released the last time Pearl Jam played in England, and it (like everything) went down very well. Matt's powerful drum ending (like on "Live On Two Legs") sounded great.

I have no idea what Ed was saying when he introduced "Even Flow" - the acoustics at Wembley aren't that great and, let's face it, Ed's a mumbler. Anyhow, "Even Flow" was great, with a rocking McCready solo and exemplary percussion from Cameron. "Nothing As It Seems" saw Jeff get out the old stand-up (or it may have been a new one), and Stone proved that some acoustic guitar simulators actually do (unlike the cheap thing I own). We could actually hear Ed on this one. Next was "Daughter," another one which had everyone singing along. At the end, Ed played with his digital delay effect, and then delivered a verse or two of R. E. M.'s "The Wrong Child" - my favourite R. E. M. song (along with "Wolves, Lower"). Ee, it sent shivers up me spine, lad.

"Faithfull" was to follow, apparently Matt's favourite - and it was given a pretty faithful reading (ouch!) by the band. Ed sang the end very nicely, by the way. Then, "MFC" - which is, lest we forget, a wonderful little song. Matt really seemed to be a-rockin' and a-rollin' to this one - and who can blame him? "Wishlist" took the pace down a bit, with the song going to a near fade before Ed returned to sing the last line solo, to predictably rapturous applause. "Do The Evolution" really tore up Ed's (and my) throat, and then... "Black." Hard to describe how powerful this was. I'll try by using the word "phenomenally." And then, as if our cup didn't already overflow, "Alive." Ed went down to the crowd and did a bit of roadie-surfing, and Mike played a marvellously long, and interesting (honestly!) solo. Then they left.

Ed came back and mumbled for a while. Something about London being like Heaven - then he started talking about various Greek gods - then mentioned The Who, then The La's (a band with a needless apostrophe in their name). They then played "Timeless" by The La's, and it was rather pleasant. "Insignificance" (one of the best "Binaural" songs) was played and everyone was rocking, but it really hit five-pies-in-a-blue-sack territory with "Rearviewmirror." Having played various noisy renditions of this with my friends, I kind of wondered why we bothered when the real thing played it. The end was ridiculously powerful, about twice as long as it is on "Vs." "I Got ID" (swearing is neither big nor clever) was played, too - one of my faves, and a bit of a treat, I felt. Great! "Better Man" had everyone waving their cigarette-lighters about (silly billys!) and then (just to check our stamina) they played "Go." Brilliant! There's no point in entering into deep critical discussion of these songs - they rocked, they were great. Then they left.

Ed came back and failed miserably to hide his ukelele behind his back. Ignoring my waggish request for "Spin The Black Circle" (or possibly not hearing it, seeing as I was a long way off) he attempted to tune the instrument, and then attempted to play "Soon Forget." Neither endeavour was wholly successful, but when the crowd's on your side, nothing matters. We all liked Ed, and Ed (presumably) liked us. "Soldier Of Love" followed - and I was surprised they played this. We all sang along - a couple of us adding the backing vocals from The Beatles' version, and then the house lights went up as Mike and the rest of the band gave us "Yellow Ledbetter" as a parting shot. Jeff went offstage during Mike's final solo, but they all returned to bid us goodnight. Then they left.

So, did it live up to expectations? You bet your Uncle Michael's timeshare in the Algarve it did! And, of course, the best thing is... they're doing it all again tonight! Expect another rambling from me on tonight's gig... tomorrow! Now I'll be off to bounce around my house in an excited manner. Bye!

Sickman__@yahoo.com:
I got there as the soundcheck started and met lots of cool peoples. One guy was telling me he heard Chris Cornell singing inside. (How cruel to tease me like that) It turned out they had been playing the Temple of the Dog CD as they were setting up.

THE SHOW
What a show. The whole band looked to be enjoying themselves immensely.

You know the setlist so I'll just say . . .

Mike was going nuts with his guitar and ended one song (solo) by throwing it over the back of his head. He seems alot more psyched lately than I remember from Brisbane when I saw them last. (take Letterman for example)

Ed was doing crazy "dances" with his mike stand

Matt seemed totally absorbed in his drumming and barely managed to glance up to the crowd

Stone was groovin' as usual. For the first time I realised he played the solo in Evolution (well he did last night anyway)

Jeff was thumping away in the background. Whenever I see him play he seems to be having a religious experience with his bass more than playing it.

Some of the improv's were mindblowing. . .

I couldn't help think of Perry from JANES ADDICTION when Ed was doing his thing with the delay effect in the middle of Daughter and then whatever the improv was it sounded mind blowing.

And Mike at the close of the show came out of Yellow Ledbetter was doing some bullshit (good) playing with a delay effect before they walked off the stage, leaving me to wipe the drool from my chin.

Anyone who can get me a copy of this show could you please email me at sickman__@yahoo.com.

I tried to tape it but from the pit it sounded like holding the mic underwater.