Set List: Can't Keep, Don't Go, Save You, Hail Hail, Cropduster, Corduroy, I Am Mine, Nothing As It Seems, Given To Fly, Green Disease, Even Flow, Daughter/(War by Edwin Starr), 1/2 Full, Wishlist, Better Man, Black, Blood;
1st encore: Kids Are Alright, Small Town, Bushleaguer, Whipping, RVM;
2nd encore: Crazy Mary

Photo credit: Chris

I bought the dog-tags too!! ;-) You'll see what I mean if you're lucky enough to catch 'em live. There were fuckups, but over all, it was flawless, showing us that in fact Pearl Jam are indeed human, and for this we love them more so. The Brisbane Entertainment Centre, in the middle of the forest at Boondall, got a great show to start the '03 tour of Australia, Japan and the US. I needless to say, was unable to talk well at all today. We were rocked hard and fast right from the outset, not hearing Ed speak for the first 6 songs.

We were treated to Jeff and the sit-down bass straight up, and subsequently opened the show the same way they open the new record. An amazing version of 'Can't Keep,' quite funny, when you think all it did was keep us there, for a little over 2 hours.... Then it was 'Go,' and as always, this song rocked, some 'VS' flavour early, and it was well received. Being hit hard by the new songs early seemed to be the flavour, as we were treated to a brilliant version of 'Save You,' one of my faves off of 'Riot Act.' 'Hail, Hail' followed at no. 4, and Eddie, referring to those in love... you had to wonder if it was all in attendance, because we were all in love, with this music, and the way this band seemed to connect from the first seconds. 'Cropduster' followed, another of my favourites of the new record, seemed a little unknown, but still rocked. 'Corduroy' ROCKED! and subsequently brought the house down. The concert staple I believe has rarely been done better, and it was evident by the crowd's appreciation. After this, we hear Ed speak, with a 'Hey Brisbane.' He introduces Boom, and adds this is the first time in Australia with Matt Cameron. He proceeds to announce 'I am Mine,' the first single off Riot Act, followed by "If we fuck it up, it won't be the first time"... who could have guessed, he fucked the first line, and the band played another bar.. and he joined in, getting it right the second time around. Very well done nonetheless. Binaural's best offering, 'Nothing As It Seems' followed, and It was great to see Mike cut sick, not the first time, not the last. It was the only song off Binaural... surprising. Then, one of the all time faves... 'Given to Fly' what can I say? This song gave me goosebumps the first time I heard/saw it live, and when 'sometimes is seen a strange spot in the sky, a human being that was given... to... fly!!' came up again, I wasn't let down. Shivers. Ed's voice was powerful tonight, he hasn't lost a step, believe me. 'Green Disease,' with Matt playing his ride cymbal to perfection, was a nice addition to promote the new record. 'Even Flow,' as good as always, Mike seemingly lost in a world featuring just him and his guitar, and also, we were treated to the jump. The jump in unison, towards the end, accompanied by the lights, was a highlight. Again, the sit-down... Jeff looks right at home with this. 'Daughter' was flawless, and I mean that to the highest level. It was tagged with 'War,' the crowd getting right behind the 'War, what is it good for??.. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!' Ed let the crowd lead him in to 'Daughter,' taking over after he was, I believe, impressed enough.

We were treated to one of the band's 'favourite tracks off the new record'... and '1/2 Full' may become one of my faves too I think. Now, the next song, the 14th of the night, was my clincher. Down came the mirrorball, and with it, a priceless rendition of 'Wishlist', I mean priceless, because Ed fucked it not once, not twice, but 3 times!! The millions of flickers reflecting off of the mirrorball, and the brilliance of 'Wishlist', along with the multiple fuck ups, prompted Ed to say 'thanks for watching us rehearse for the tour' and 'by the time we get to Sydney, we should be polished.' Also, the ending line... 'I wish, I wish, I wish, I wish, ..... I could stop the war....' 'Better Man' was, as usual, fantastic, and the crowd sing along showed. Nothing more to say, you've heard for yourself I'm sure how good this song is live. Following that, and completely unexpected but fucking brilliant.. 'Black,' i got goosebumps to the opening chords, and sang the whole thing to the best of my ability, and joined in with the WHOLE crowd in the background 'do do do do do do do', fabulous version, and shows us why 'Ten' was a hit from day one. Then if you weren't ready for a scare, lol, like me, you were physically moved by 'Blood.' Hard, Powerful, Loud, Fast. Ended the first encore last time I saw them here in '98, and a great way to end the first set this time around too.

We were treated to a long explanation to the whole Pete Townshend situation on their return, and the band's belief that it was bullshit, and I have to say I'd believe them. During this, someone told Ed to shut up, and I believe his response went something like this..... 'This guy just told me to shut up... fuck you!' Ed gave him the finger 'You play 10 years in a rock band, meet these guys, play 10 more years, then you can do something about it, but until then, shut the fuck up!' Now, don't quote me on that, but it was damn close. He finished the P.T. story, and kicked into 'The Kids Are Alright,' known by only a few it seemed, and definitely a treat. Again the sit-down followed, and 'Small Town' was beautiful, sharp, and very, very well done, always a sing along song. The night's comedy section featured Ed in a shiny jacket, and a George W. Bush rubber Mask, along with of course 'Bushleaguer.' This song was a classic, the little dance, to the kicking of the mask which was placed on the mic stand. Some of Ed's best song writing on this song, brilliant. 'Whipping' was preceeded by something, went for about a minute, a quick jam.. no idea what though... 'Whipping' was amazing, and a stunning performance from Matt Cameron. At number 22.. and I believe the best song never released as a single.. 'RVM' was classic. Ed fucked the opening riff, but got it going again, and we were treated to a mind-blowing version. Mike going crazy, the extended solo, this had it all. Captivating. They exited stage after this.... only to return to play a fantastic version of Crazy Mary, one of the best I've heard, and I've heard a few. A great way to finish the show, and a great way to kick off the tour. There was a part somewhere, I'm not sure where throughout the night, he mentioned he hoped New Zealand didn't get their hands on the bootlegs, because they were substituted on the tour by Japan... to which he added, with a laugh... 'but no one's buying any fucking tickets in Japan!'

My highlight, was today, Sunday, Feb 9th, just after lunch time, when in City Beach in Brisbane city mall, my mate and I ran into Boom. Now, if anyone had the view we had of Crazy Mary, you would've seen him go ape shit on the keyboards, apeshit!! We looked in disbelief at him, and walked up, and he looked at me, in my black tour shirt, with dogtags, and said 'nice shirt'. We walked up, shook hands told him he was a champion, and it all went from there. He told us it was the first time he'd seen the merchandise, and that we were the first people ever to come up to him and recognize him. He was clearly stoked, gladly signed an autographed, posed for a pic another mate Josh took with Mat and I, and told us of his excitement of coming from Hawaii, to this. We chatted for about 15, and let him on his way. I'll get the pic developed and send it in in the next day or 2!

Pearl Jam were sharp, full of energy, haven't lost a step. Brilliant. Flawless.