Set List: Sometimes, Breakerfall, Grievance, Corduroy, Given To Fly, Animal, Nothing As It Seems, Faithfull, Even Flow, Off He Goes, Small Town, Insignificance, Daughter/(WMA), Rearviewmirror, Alive, Go;
encore: Do The Evolution, Lukin, Wishlist, Better Man/(Save It For Later), Garden, Black

Barry Hughes (barryhughes@eircom.net):

EDDIE DIVES IN DUBLIN

Eddie vedder stage-dives off an amp 8 feet into the mosh pit in front of the Point Depot's stage and the place boils over. Everyone is standing around me in the balcony seats and the rest of the band are still playing Black. It takes a few minutes for Eddie to get thrown back on stage and end Black with the crowd. The Band leave the stage, Vedder waits, waves to the crowd, says he loves us and walks off stage with a t-shirt across his shoulders that was thrown to him by the crowd. One of those emotional moments that a PJ fan doesn't forget.

It was clear from the start ("Sometimes") that the band and the crowd are up for it. The stage showered in purple light and the crowd singing every word, it was very reminiscent of their last appearance in Dublin (1996) when they started with Release. The sight literally exploded into bright light with "Breakerfall" and the ride begins. 18 minutes later and the band are onto "Nothing as it Seems" - the 7th song on the list - and all are glad of the rest.

Photo credit: Dave Donovan

The ride continues with Even Flow, Rearviewmirror and Daughter getting the loudest cheers. And even though they fucked up "Alive" (actually leaving out 2 lines completely) the apology from Stone Gossard was unnecessary. Matt Cameron actually forgot to stop drumming at the end of 'Lukin' but they ended it alright with an extra flurry on the guitar from McCready. Cameron hasn't quite got the drumbeat of "Given to Fly" right either, but he played the drums so hard otherwise that the roadies had to make alterations to it twice. He's a big fellow too....the drum kit looks tiny in comparison to him.

Gossard, in the obligitary shorts, played a blinder - particularly on Black. And Ament - sans headwear - varied frequently from standup bass to orthodox bass with no probs.

McCready was amazing. Bleached blonde and from the word go he was going absolutely nuts. His solos on Nothing as it Seems and Alive were the best I've heard from him. The crowd on his side of the stage certainly got their money's worth.

The 6 song encore started with "Do the Evolution." The band admitted not having played "Garden" in years, but said they'd try it in Dublin to remember us. It was brilliant. The show ended with the best version of Black ever, followed by the stage dive to beat all stage dives.....8 feet off an amp into the moshpit. Incredible.

Photo credit: Dave Donovan

Every song was greeted with cheers. Eddie toasted Dublin and told a story about a farmer who never seemed to mind if he had great misfortune (his horse rode away on him) or great fortune (his son escaped conscription to the army because he had a broken leg) - the farmer's only response was an indignant 'Whatever'. What was the point Eddie? Well, according to EV, the farmer was from a great place to play music......Dublin.

Come back soon guys..........

Marty Morrissey (marty_morrissey@hotmail.com):
Great gig in Dublin, The set list was really good but I can't help but feel a bit disappointed that they didn't play a couple more tracks from the new album. Any fan who has followed the band for years would have heard the songs from the previous albums played live before at the gig in '96. I can't help but feel slightly disappointed at not hearing the murmuring tone from 'Of The Girl' but especially 'Light Years' since they have played it at every other European gig so far.....I would have gladly sacrificed 'Nothing as it Seems' or 'Lukin' for a couple of guitar licks from 'Light Years' Being realistic though, you can't expect every song to be played and it's not always going to be your perfect set list. Eddie's 'dive' did make up for it...nearly..... ;)

Please don't wait another 4 years to return....come back any time, we miss you already.