Set List: Of The Girl, Grievance, Corduroy, Given To Fly, Animal, Red Mosquito, Pilate, Alive, Present Tense, Habit, Untitled, MFC, I Got Shit, Wishlist, Insignificance, Rearviewmirror, Even Flow, Go;
Encore: Sleight of Hand, Light Years, Better Man, Timeless Melody, Do The Evolution, State of Love and Trust, Once, Black, Yellow Ledbetter

Since 17th of February it has been officially announced that one of the most important bands of 90's - Pearl Jam - would kick off its European tour again to promote its long awaited seventh studio album "Binaural." I knew from the very beginning I would not miss the Katowice show for sure, but there was no space in my head for idea of going to Prague, Czech Republic. There were four months of waiting spread out before me. Me and friend of mine had some troubles with traveling to Prague. It was not that easy to buy tickets via mail. Fortunately we made it. 4th of May, 2000 was my lucky day. I though I would get mad when the postman knocked my door. My hands were shaking while opening an envelope and I was even afraid that I could damage them. The countdown has started. One month and a half... A month... One week... One day..... Deadline....

Prague is a large city, and it is not possible to see everything one would like to see in one day. We finished our sightseeing tour around the Old Town and reached the Paegas Arena - the place my beloved band was supposed to take the stage. Entering the hall was not difficult. We were even surprised so small amount of fans was at the gates. Paegas Arena with its capacity of 15.000 seats, was filled with 2 out of 3. I and Tomek (my friend) took our places very near the stage and in only minutes were sharing the distance between me and Eddie and the rest of the band.

At 20:05 Dismemberment Plan appeared. As we were informed by the vocalist, the band came from Washington D.C. It was impossible to forget it, because he repeated that a few times more that night. They played for about 45 minutes.

21:00 hit my watch unexpectedly. While the main lights were still on, some strange rustle flowed out of the speakers. Very calm at the beginning, it was louder and louder until its critical moment. Boom!!!! Darkness covered the stage and the audience. There was nobody on the stage, but we could listen the beginning of "Of The Girl." Musicians appeared slowly on the stage. Eddie and Stone took the right side, Mike and Jeff left, and Matt appeared behind his drum set at the end. Everyone completed. Ed wearing his dark blue trousers and shirt, dancing with a mic, was guiding us through this beautiful song directly to the ecstasy. It was only beginning. Followed by "Grievance," "Corduroy," "Given to Fly" and "Animal" - kind of very good warming before what was going to happen later on. "Red Mosquito" and the first speech this evening. Eddie thanks fans from Czech Republic for their patience. Last time the band was here the fans had to wait until late evening, because all the equipment was stuck at the border. Eddie mentioned he saw films from that day, and it was sort of shocking experience.

Drought of wine and "Pilate." I have never thought I would see Jeff singing this refrain. Something awesome. "Alive" and my ecstasy reached the top. They calmly started and "Present Tense" was given more and more power until Jeff came with his bass. Music explosion. It was close to happening for Jeff to miss his part. I saw him running on to the stage from behind the speakers. He made it. Another song from "No Code" - "Habit" with very beautiful, long and aggressive guitar solo. I thought Eddie would sing "speaking as a child of a 90's," but he changed the lyrics. Nevermind. I sang it that way. A moment of rest and we found ourselves on "Live on Two Legs." Longer "Untitled" and harder "Mini Fast Car" performed just like on that record. Beautiful. "I Got Shit" which lyrics have also been a little changed and we entered our "Wishlist" begun with Ed's guitar. It was a little faster, therefore given much more heart and feeling. "Insignificance" - one of my favorites on "Binaural" and a very, very long "Rearviewmirror." The time has come to play "Even Flow" - second song from "Ten" that night. Ed thanked people form Greece who came to Prague with a really large group. He was sorry they couldn't play in their country. At the end of the first part we could listen to "Go," which was shouted with a maniac's euphoria. They disappeared somewhere behind the stage, but is not the end. They'll be back for sure.

The audience's reaction is simple to imagine. People clapping their hands until they are red, even their feet have no time to rest. It is very incredible hearing almost 10,000 of them smashing the floor. The flash lighter showed the way to Matt's drums. They are coming again. Ed carrying his bottle of wine, started his speech again. He says it is very good to play in Prague again and that this is the best show during this tour. He confessed he had said something like this somewhere else before and it would have to be cut off of the tape. "Sleight of Hand" is the song we didn't play for a long time. Listen - he added. "Light Years" was played much harder than on the recorded and long awaited "Better Man" was sung like by a choir. "She dreams in color...She dreams in red..." - all fans are singing like in the church. Ed and the rest of the band cannot hide their astonishment. A little game has started. "We'll play one more... three more... five more... For you .... and you..." was shouted by the master of this ceremony. "Timeless Melody" - a remake of some band that Eddie heard somewhere. Punk rocking "Do The Evolution" and we are back to the "Ten" period: "SOLAT", "Once" and my beloved "Black." The main lights are back again. "Beautiful" - says Eddie and only gives a sign to his companions to continue what they have begun. "Yellow Ledbetter" with totally crazy guitar solo of Mike, ended with unexpected fall. This is the end. Polaroids, another drop of wine and guitar sticks landed somewhere in front of the stage.

It is very strange to feel again something, that could not be repeated. While going to Prague I thought I knew what was going to happen. I overcounted myself. The band has totally changed. Eddie has lost his manner of lonely frontman. Good for him. He was dancing all the time in his own unrepeatable way. Jumping and shaking his body he simply could hurt himself. Not this time. I felt only the lack of his climbing, which all of us know very well from the films to "Even Flow" or "Alive," but it is history now. Mike has finally lost some weight. His tricks with guitar, jumps, falls - the best ones only in his performance. Matt passed his exam for A+. He is the best drummer that world has given to Pearl Jam. Even Jeff did not let us down. He jumped a few times with his bass on the shoulder. Only Stone has left covered by the shadow of his friends. We can simply forgive him. The everlasting smile on his face is the best proof for him to have a good time that night. My date with Pearl Jam has been over after two and half hours. There is nothing to worry about. Tomorrow Katowice, Poland on my way and Roskilde Festival, Denmark in two weeks. Pearl Jam three times. Keep on rocking

P.S. Many thank to Petr Dolejs from Ticketpro, who reserved the ticket for us and waited for a long time to get his payment. Thank You so much for your help. Iwona - without your Visa Classic I couldn't even dream of going to see my beloved band Pearl Jam. Thank You for your help too. I really appreciate it.