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

Photo credit: Dave Donovan

William Dinsmore (gloria@davidmayrs.freeserve.co.uk):
This gig had been long in coming since last time, 4 years and two albums (as Eddie himself pointed out). Was it worth the wait? If you thought you missed this band at their prime in 1992/3, you're very much mistaken.

Opening with Sometimes, we then get new songs like Breakerfall, Nothing as it Seems (Eddie's vocals seem somewhat distant, like he's singing it to someone else) amongst Given To Fly and Animal. It's already obvious that PJ are playing as a band and for each other, as documented in Single Video Theory.

In between songs we get Eddie telling jokes, dedicating songs to all 6 of the Donegal music scene and toasting the crowd. Mike definitely seemed to enjoy himself and, unexpectedly, was occasionally the number one vocal point. Indeed, they all watched him a few times, except for Jeff who, without headwear, was in a world of his own throughout, swapping to stand-up and back no problem. With Mike running around the stage, Eddie seemed particularly reserved, he made up for that later.

The set list was absolutely breathtaking: Insignificance, Daughter (leading to a brief WMA), Rearviewmirror, Alive and Go one after another! It is not possible to explain in words how it feels to be on the receiving end of that.

Despite a few fluffed lines and an apology from Stone for a mistake during Alive, these songs sounded as powerful as in your dreams, the sound of the Point crisp and clear.

Photo credit: Dave Donovan

When the band left after Go, the tension was unbelievable. Can they keep going, what will they play? Eddie comes out and the crowd goes mad, "If you're not goin', we're not goin'". With that, in they go to Do The Evolution, a few sore throats after that one. Then a quickfire blast through Lukin, totally unexpected and as raw as anything they play. The loss of beat at the end by Matt highlighted how they were playing impromptu songs and having fun. With amazing versions of Wishlist and Better Man, everyone is going insane, they just keep coming and coming.

With that, Eddie asks if we mind if they play one they haven't played for a while, Stone hits the intro to Garden. A bit shaky and a few lines missed, this matters not. The slower pace and the accompaniment of the crowd gave this one a special edge. They were just fucking around and we wanted more. Then I hear the chords I've waited for since they didn't play it last time, BLACK. About 8 minutes long, very special. Near the end Eddie starts wrapping himself in tape, What's he doing now? Next thing, he climbs on top of a stack in front of me and dives into the crowd!!!!!!! A huge roar goes up, everyone around us is frantically trying to get near him, Eddie Vedder is three feet away from me!!!!! A few moments later and he's been pulled out by the Security and says he loves us, then they're gone. Amazing.

If you have a chance to see them on this tour, go. You're in for a real treat.