Set List: Last Kiss (Ed solo before the Monkeywrench), Sometimes, Grievance, Corduroy, Hail Hail, Animal, Dissident, Nothing As It Seems, In Hiding, Even Flow, Thin Air, Habit, Untitled, MFC, Off He Goes, Daughter/(I'm a Boy), Not For You, State of Love and Trust, Immortality, Rearviewmirror;
Encore: Light Years, Do The Evolution, Last Exit, Small Town, Black, Alive

Carl Allen (nomad_carl@hotmail.com):
WOW! What a night. After taking a seat for last night's show I was totally excited about about being front and centre for this one. I think Pearl Jam are a band one must admire from close up. The intensity, eye contact and little nuances between the band members certainly add to my experience of the show. And this one was a pearler!

Waiting patiently for The Monkeywrench to come on...and a fine looking Ed in tailored jacket (apparently borrowed from The Monkeywrench's lead singer) strides on stage to an amazed and appreciative early crowd. What a treat! He basically says hi, turns up his guitar, then swings into a moving rendition of Last Kiss. I just stood there singing in awe. What a great opener...a great reward for being early. Tonight was gonna be great. Everyone was singing. And then he introduced The Monkeywrench, smiled a lot, and left the stage.

These guys, in my opinion, were received a lot better than they were the previous night. I totally enjoyed them and they seemed to be enjoying themselves. The music was fast, loud and swaggering, and the energy they put into it rubbed off on the crowd. Their rhythm guitarist (I think his name is Tom something) stole the show with his antics, dancing, and at times unique use of the guitar. I even noticed Stone and Mike on the sidelines laughing at the spectacle. He was a man possessed, and it was great entertainment.

Finally the lights went down and fierce roars and stomping echoed through the Arena...and Pearl Jam took the stage. I was hot already. Tonight was gonna be a killer. Ed in his old faithful brown cord jacket with a sleeve missing, Stone in knee length shorts and shirt, Mike with a t-shirt and jacket, Jeff looking fine in his gangster hat (later to be removed) and Matt in black. And as if to remedy the fact that they played no material from No Code last night, they open with a wonderful version of Sometimes. Perfect. Grievance was next, powerful and intense. There was fire in Ed's eyes. I was still trying to take it all in...

A single note into the next tune and I recognised Corduroy, along with 12,000 other fans. This really got everyone going, and as with Live on Two Legs, I really prefer Matt's drumming on this one. He was tight and the fills were fast. Everyone was singing, and those down the front were trying desperately to stay on their feet whilst others flew overhead. Hail Hail was next, followed by Animal. Even by this early stage I was wondering whether I am too old to be cut out for this Mosh-Pit gig (a mere 28). It was frantic in there, and almost impossible to retrieve any items from one's pockets (like a notepad or camera). Still I tried. Dissident was next and this calmed the masses accordingly. It was executed brilliantly, and was well received. One of my favourite quieter moments of the evening. Then the wailing guitar of Nothing As It Seems filled the senses. I noticed a 'look' toward Mike from Ed as Mike meanandered a little with the intro solo. It certainly didn't have the precision of the studio version, but was uplifting and inspiring nonetheless. The tune was brilliant.

Things kicked up again a bit from here, as Ed intoduces In Hiding. A few little mistakes were laughed off and Stone has fun playing with the ending a little. They are all smiling. The next song is dedicated to the aforementioned Monkeywrench guitarist, and a blistering Even Flow assults the senses. This was a rocking version of the song, and the crowd was going MAD. The band were loving it...and one has the feeling they are witnessing a special night.

Next Ed again credits Stone with a nice little tune, and they launch into Thin Air. This tune really does come into its own live. Sweet. Habit is next, and is angry and blistering, Ed introducing it as a song he wrote about a friend.

A perfect Untitled (off LOTL) calms things down and I use the opportunity to move a little off to the side. I was totally exhausted. Ed keeps his guitar and breaks into MFC, and then Off He Goes. The mellower moments were magical. It's hard for me to describe the atmosphere in the room, but I guess most of you already know, the band have an amazing knack for leaving their audiences spellbound. Off He Goes is one of my favourite PJ tracks, and once again I was happy they treated us to another delight from their fourth record.

Stone hits that G chord and they begin Daughter, bringing the house down. I look around for the first time and notice everyone is standing, arms flying about wildly. 12,000 people singing along. And this begins the big set finale. I didn't notice a particular tag tonight. Last night's The Wrong Child was moving. Tonight Ed just seems to ad-lib some words/lyrics. If there was a tune in there I didn't pick it but it was extended, warm and moving regardless. Next came Not For You and this was a definite highlight. Mayhem sets in. We are treated next to a blistering version of State Of Love And Trust. Wow. Mike is in fine form again, finding speaker stacks to stand on, playing the joker, playing it up to the crowd. The energy on stage now is intense. Things slow down a little with a surreal version of Immortality. It's tight, crisp, and sensitive, and they play about a little with the end. Jeff is seated and I love this tune because when they improvise with it it rises and falls but beats with the pulse of a strong heart. Nice. Finally Rearviewmirror begins. It's fast and loud, and they extend the ending to become even more frantic and crazed than versions I have heard in the past. Matt's arms must have been literally falling off! It's totally wild, and they leave the stage to a roaring crowd.

Obviously happy with proceedings so far, they come back on and Ed introduces Light Years. I love this tune. I just find it so uplifting for a less than happy subject matter. It just grooves along, and the blue lights filter down over the band as they deliver it. I notice Mike exclaims a distinct "Fuck!" as he hits a wrong chord, and I laugh and cheer. It seems to have gone unnoticed. Do The Evolution is next, and is much tighter and better than last night. Ed is fired up, and he sings the words like Satan himself, tugging at his jacket as he sings "...admire my coat!" Excellent. Last Exit follows, and although the beginning is a little mashed, they pull it together and deliver a fine rockin' version. Ed counts time as he and Stone begin Elderly Woman and this also is a crowd favourite. Ed dedicates this to all the people who have had to travel on the tube (subway) to get here. Well, I guess that was about everyone given the endless stream of fans going to and from the station. I've never screamed 'HELLO!' louder in my life.

A few words to band members on stage and they launch into a moving version of Black. Seamlessly from here they begin Alive, and with it muster up the energy to jump and croon like days of old. They are all dancing. Stone and Ed swaying in time. Mike running about like a madman, and Jeff was doing his signiture jumps whilst Matt was busy on the drums - all totally involved in the tune.

Lots of waves and thank yous, and they were gone. This concert was so fulfilling as I guess they played a few more obscure tunes and for me being down the front made a huge difference. I was hoping for a 2nd encore to really cap it off, and make it one of their longer shows, but they had put so much in. I guess they were exhausted. I know I was. In sum the guys were up there playing their tunes with passion and intensity, and loving every minute of it. Nobody left disappointed. What a night! God I love this band.