Set List: Can't Keep, Save You, Get Right, Green Disease, Grievance, Cropduster, I Am Mine, Love Boat Captain, 1/2 Full, Nothing As It Seems, You Are, Given To Fly, Insignificance, Blood;
1st encore: Last Kiss, Wishlist, Black, Down, Do The Evolution
2nd encore: All or None

Let me start this off by saying, HOLY SHIT!!! Pearl Jam NEVER ceases to amaze me. I have been dreaming about seeing Pearl Jam at the Showbox for a LONG time. To be honest, I never thought that fantasy would become a reality. But when the 'rumored' shows were confirmed, it was just that, a reality! Lets skip all the pre-concert bullshit, because after all, everyone knows drinking took place.

From the first time I heard 'Riot Act', I thought Can't Keep would make a GREAT show opener. I was right. When Matt Cameron started with that drumbeat, the show was on. The boys looked great and sounded even better! Ed is clean cut, but that doesn't take away from his 'Rock Star' persona. He is still larger than life...in my eyes anyway.

Its funny how you can sing along word for word with Eddie during the show, but when you take a step back after the show, you can't recall some details. I think its because you are in shock! I was...I still am...

Photo credit: Chris Adams

After Can't Keep, they ripped through Save You with the kind of fury everyone knows and loves. Mike OWNS the guitar and this song live just showed me how much he owns it. Then they played two more new ones; the punk inspired Get Right and Green Disease, both of which are GREAT live! SO much energy! Then they surprised me with the Binaural track Grievance. It flowed nicely, but I was expecting to hear 7 or 8 in a row from Riot Act. They got back on board with Cropduster, I Am Mine, Love Boat Captain and ½ Full. The crowd loved I Am Mine as most people in attendance sang along, pretty much word for word. Love Boat Captain might go down as one of the great live PJ songs. Boom really showed us what his new element can bring to the performance. I was floored by this song. It is one of my fav's off Riot Act. For some reason (probably shock from LBC) I don't really remember much from ½ full. Too bad cause I really like that song. From there Mike again showed me why he is so amazing with a wonderfully performed Nothing as it Seems. I am SO glad they played You Are next. I wasn't sure if that song would be played live, but it was and I was IMPRESSED! That song just keeps growing on me with each listen and now that I have heard it live, I like it even more! Given to Fly is, perhaps, my favorite PJ song and it didn't disappoint! The way that song builds and climaxes gives the crowd such energy! At this point I found my way to about 2 people behind the rail right in front of Eddie. Insignificance rocked as usual...the crowd LOVED it! Then the highlight of the night (so far) was Blood. Holy shit! That fucking rocked!!! Come to find out that song hasn't been played in six years!!! GO CAMERON GO!!! I LOVE the old school rockers!

They left the stage only for a short while and came back with some words from Eddie. Don't ask me what he said. I don't remember. Things mellowed out for a bit with Last Kiss, Wishlist and, perhaps, the best version of Black I have ever heard! At one point he stopped singing and let the crowed finish the verse. He stared in amazement as we picked up where he stopped. You can tell this is an emotional song for him and he seemed VERY impressed that the crowd knew the words as well as he did. I was again surprised when they played the b-side Down. The studio version doesn't do it justice! It's a rocker for sure! Then the first encore ended with the always popular Do the Evolution. GREAT way to end a set.

Again, they returned after a short break and played what may become a staple show closer, All or None. At one point, I think it was Stone who messed up and Eddie got lost with his words. He laughed and as the band continued Eddie said, "you guys paid 36 bucks to hear us practice" It was great! After the song, he thanked the crowd and off they went. I thought they might come back for yet another encore. I actually get the feeling they were supposed to, but for some reason they didn't. But its ok. They played their hearts out!

You can tell they had fun playing. We all know Eddie is intense and he gives 110% of his heart and emotion while performing, but when you are that close, you can really see it in his eyes. He loves what he does. And so do I...

That was quite possibly the most amazing show I've ever seen.