Set List: Of The Girl, Last Exit, Animal, Grievance, Corduroy, Tremor Christ, Nothing As It Seems, Wishlist, Can't Help Falling In Love With You (punked version), Given To Fly, In My Tree, Even Flow, I Got Shit, Better Man/(Save It For Later), Black, Insignificance, Rearviewmirror;
1st encore: Breakerfall, Do The Evolution, Thin Air, Nothingman, Small Town, State of Love and Trust, Go
2nd encore: Footsteps, Baba O'Riley

Photo credit: Joe Whaley

Well Pearl Jam opened up with Of The Girl, really awesome. Then in perfect Pearl Jam fashion, we rocked through the next few songs, Last Exit, Animal, Grievance, and Corduroy. Grievance had a funny spot where Ed messed up the lyrics and threw his hands up like, "my bad." Then they slowed down a bit with Tremor Christ (thanks guys for that one), Nothing as it Seems, and Wishlist. Then the highlight of the night... Eddie says and I quote... "I'm gonna need a coat for this next song, something nice..." and he begins solo with I Can't Help Falling In Live With You, by Elvis, in his own town of Memphis. Then the whole band kicked in for a great version of this song. Elvis would be proud. Words cannot explain the crowds reaction. Way to cool. So then Given to Fly kicks in, always the crowd pleaser.

In My Tree followed, man we are getting rare songs tonight. Even Flow is just Even Flow, it will rock no matter how many times you hear it... Then Stone plays the opening riff of I Got ID, I thought someone was gonna have to hold me down. I was the happiest kid on earth. Better Man was next and they did the Save it for Later tag, Eddie was rockin like crazy at the end of this. Then we get the always great Black, Mike really tore it up in the end on this one, he is so awesome. Then the first set would end with Insignificance and Rearviewmirror, which is great no matter how many times I see them do it. I can't believe Matt's arms don't fall off drumming like a madman like that. So this is the end of the first set... whew...

Here we go again with Breakerfall, man, this is one rocking song, Mike, Stone, and Jeff have all not missed a single note so far. Do the Evolution is played with Ed changing the bridge lyrics to "I am the king, and this is my choir." Then in reference to Elvis, Eddie says... "I think the big E man in the sky would like this song" before launching into Thin Air. Nothingman and the ultimate concert sing along song ever was next, Elderly Woman. Then I finally got to see State of Love and Trust. First time I'd seen it live and it was so awesome. Guitars were blazing here. Go would finish out the first encore. At this point I'm completely worn out from jumping, singing my lungs out, and standing but I would have stayed all night to watch them so I kept hoping for a second encore. Crowd made lots of noise... it paid off. They came back out for a great version of Footsteps, which Ed was cool enough to throw his harmonica out to a lucky fan. Then was Baba O'Riley for the finale, it was just as great as it was back in '98 in Birmingham. And that was the show... I think the best Pearl Jam show I've ever been to, it was really really worth the loooooooooong drive and I'd do it again.... well... see you guys in Seattle. Thanks, Adam Smith
p.s.... thanks to the band for letting us bootleg the shows, I got a really great recording last night... later...