Set List: Interstellar Overdrive, Corduroy, Grievance, Spin The Black Circle, Dissident, Brain of J, Animal, Given To Fly, Nothing As It Seems, Even Flow, Pilate, Lukin, Light Years, Romance (Eddie learned this classical song in Barcelona), Better Man/(Save It For Later), Leatherman, Not For You, Black, Insignificance, Go;
1st encore: Throw Your Arms Around Me (Ed solo), Do The Evolution, State of Love and Trust, Crazy Mary, Small Town, Last Kiss, Rearviewmirror;
2nd encore: Indifference, Rocking In The Free World

Typically a full moon and a cool night in Central-Indiana means that the winter months are close at hand. But, August is generally a meltdown, not last Friday, August 18 at Deer Creek Music Center. The feel of whether or not Pearl Jam could pull of a performance that matched their August 17, 1998 show was in question.

At that show in '98 Eddie Vedder read President Clinton's speech (that had come out that day) acknowledging his wrong doings in the Monica Lewinsky incident, quite historic considering most people probably heard Dan Rather or Tom Brokaw comments on the President's words, while we heard Eddie Vedder. So, could they match it?

Being that I work for the promoter and am at (pretty much) every show, I had my job to do. But, this is my favorite band. It was interesting seeing the ping-pong matches, watching Eddie enjoy an American Spirit cigarette, and being right under the band for the first 3 songs as I led my media in and out for still photography. Great memories as a fan, but as Eddie has said, "Never get to close to your heroes." I didn't.

The full moon sky on the back of the lawn at Deer Creek lit up the night as the band quickly strolled on stage and poured out "Interstellar Overdrive"/"Corduroy," "Grievance" (truly a major highlight of the night), and "Spin the Black Circle" One word, intense. Watching Eddie spit out every lyric, Stone bouncing and signing along, Mike whirling about, Jeff staring at the frets and pounding, pounding, and Matt wearing an "I Hate Me" t-shirt providing a vigorous stomp. As a Pearl jam fan, any set list and any song is satisfying, but the set list at Deer Creek was beyond reproach, really.

Ed did formally greet the audience following "STBC" and segued into "Dissident," "Brain of J," and "Animal." As the night rolled on and the moon continued to beam, the overall feeling of the sold out crowd was laid back, truly the fullest I've seen the place and peaceful. Every fan is all too familiar with the ability of this band, credit is totally due to the Pearl Jam fans. Truly and without question and army of people spanning ten years of unbelievable music that has inspired lives.

The concert rolled on with "Given to Fly"---truly magical, "Nothing As It Seems," "Even Flow," a surprise in "Pilate," "Lukin," "Light Years," "Better Man," "Leatherman," "Not For You," "Black," "Insignificance," and "Go."

Both encores were welcomed with open arms, especially "Crazy Mary" and "Rearviewmirror." Both absolutely stellar, as was "Last Kiss"---a nice sing along and what Eddie says, "Since we're in Indiana and there are a lot of these in Indiana," "E.W.B.C. Small Town." The evening ended with Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World."

...and now? My wife and I are looking forward to Chicago in October!