Set List: Small Town, Black, Thumbing My Way, Nothing As It Seems, Given To Fly, Save You, Hail Hail, Ghost, Corduroy, Grievance, Green Disease, I Am Mine, Love Boat Captain, You Are, 1/2 Full, Even Flow, Wishlist, Blood;
1st encore: Gimme Some Truth, Bu$hleaguer, Insignificance, Down, Better Man, Do The Evolution
2nd encore: Yellow Ledbetter

Poster credit: Rick Powell

My good friend Matt and I were driving up the interstate to see our favorite band play a benefit show, to which I won tickets through the fan club, and we had a conversation about how SUVs contribute more to terrorism than marijuana. It seems so very simple: Iraq equals Oil equals Americans driving their fat asses around in their extra-large automobiles. I guess they’re not really ‘mobile’ anymore. They should call them autograndhotelhuge!! So I found it very ironic, and very satisfying that Eddie made the same correlation at last night’s incredible show. Pearl Jam are amazing artists and amazing performers!! Each one was in the zone and the outcome was an unforgettable show!

They surprised me by beginning with Small Town, but I was outdone when the second song was Black. They play with such emotion and passion it was hard to not smile and feel dreamy. That song is amazing! Next up was Thumbing My Way and it was awesome. It is one of my favorites off the new album. And during the setup I saw an acoustic that was brown and I knew I would hear it. NAIS was next and it simply rocked! Mike was clearly in his own world. He was flying all over the stage, around and around, down and up, he was feeling the energy and letting it flow. What a performance! Given to Fly followed and the whole place stepped it up a couple of notches. The crowd was very involved. Dancing, jumping, and lots of arm waving!! The whole place was in tune and the vibe was extraordinary!! I felt blessed and thankful.

The rest of the concert was excellent! Lots of new songs were played. Including LBC which when I first heard it I knew I would always love it. Recently, my wife died after an 8-month battle with leukemia, and that song has many emotions and feelings that are similar to mine. In dealing with my loss I felt enormous amounts of love. Love from family, friends, pastors, nurses, doctors, the cleaning ladies, and other people in the waiting room - everywhere. “…and theres just one word that I still believe and its love,… love.” “once you hold the hand of love,.. its all surmountable.” As I held my wife’s hand I felt our love and with the love from all these other people it was all surmountable. This new record, this new song, this wonderful concert and this wonderful band, Pearl Jam, have helped me heal. I am very grateful!

My third surprise was the performance of Blood. I had read they played it at the first Showbox show but I didn’t expect it tonight. I have never heard that song live and it was perfect. It was played with great energy and tenacity and was great show ender. The crowd was very loud until they were satisfied with an encore. Gimmie Some Truth was the first song and I loved it! Eddie was really on fire, playing and singing with his eyes closed tight shut. Evolution and Betterman were in there and both fantastic. I was very happy to see the Bush imposter on stage- he even had the lazy Bush stroll and posture. Bu$hleaguer is a great song. I love that it is spoken-word. A simple song sort of speak for a very simple person. The Bush mask will be a big hit on tour!

Yellow Ledbetter was the only song of the second encore. It was another incredible concert put on by five (six including ‘Boom’) individuals that have realized life is more than SUVs, more than grief and pain, it is about each other and the love that surrounds us. I respect Pearl Jam and am very thankful for their presence in my life. Peace and love to all.

Chris

p.s. hello to the couple from Kansas