Ed solo before opening band: Dead Man, Thumbing My Way (part), You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
Set List: Long Road, Grievance, Corduroy, Save You, Get Right, I Am Mine, Immortality, Given To Fly, Even Flow, Wishlist, Thumbing My Way, You Are, Breakerfall, Not For You, Untitled/MFC, Do The Evolution, Spin The Black Circle;
1st encore: Love Boat Captain, Better Man, Down, Black, Rearviewmirror;
2nd encore: Indifference

Feb 11, 2003 and the beginning of a long, long day. Having moved recently out of Sydney to Canberra for work, it took some organising, and spending, in order to get to the EntCent for the gig. I went straight from work, to the airport for a flight to Sydney, as excited as a kid in a lolly shop. 5th row tickets(Thanks 10C!!!!!) meant that we would be close to the action, much closer than my previous PJ experience in Zurich 2000. After wandering around the inside hallway of the venue, and purchasing some merch, we decided it was time to check out the seats. Pointed in the right direction by the nice security people, all of a sudden there was movement up on the stage. It was a PJ fans dream come true. I had always hoped to be at the rare concert where Ed comes out and warms the crowd up. Losing count of the seats in our row we stood as Dead Man began. I have heard this a few times, not live though, and there is only one way to describe it. I am sure that the other 100 people inside the arena at that stage would agree, it was f*cking incredible. No other way to describe it. Before Ed started playing, he mentioned he wanted to play in an intimate place first. And intimate it was. After Dead Man, Thumbing My Way started. In an almost dead quite arena, this song is very moving. It was just unfortunate that mid-way through the song Ed stopped with a complaint "Oh no it's the tuning". That's where it stopped. Ed did tell explain that it wasn't his fingers, it was the tuning, and then fiddled with the tuning and decided to try something else. The hat came off, and we all decided to hide our love away. Great, great song. I was hoping for Throw Your Arms around me, but beggars can't be choosers. Ed finished the song, welcomed Betchadupa and said he was going to go and wake up.

Betchadupa were impressive, especially for a young band. Johnny Marr and the Healers were also good, but as it is always said, nothing compares to the main game. After a long wait, the lights went out and out they came. I really like Long Road as an opener. It really sets the mood. Others there, and maybe at the other shows may have seen that there was a lot of video-taping going on. I was next to a lady recording a majority of it, and a friend said he saw cameras all over the place. TB2003 perhaps? The other fanviews have gone through the songs, but not many mentioned just how good Mike is. But then again I don't need to say that, it's already known...:) Immortality was a surprise, and it had an extended ending. And at the end of Wishlist, I even think there was a hint of Beasts of Burden at the end(lyric wise, not being an expert, I just heard what Ed sang.) Ed seemed to be having the time of his life, throwing in a few 'do-da-dee' type things towards the end and another song later on. Both times ended up with him, the band and the crowd in stitches. We may have missed a song, because it was left in the oven(tuning problems, that's where Down came into the set), but compared with my previous PJ experience, this one rocked so much harder. The band seemed to be enjoying themselves, and the main part of the crowd(the floor) enjoyed it too. Ed bantered with the crowd a fair bit, saying that 'Brisbane sucked' and with the traditional state rivalries in Australia that went down well with the crowd. The comment about our Prime Minister was also spot on. He is giving GW a blow job. When he said that, the crowd went nuts. But when Ed added he was using our lips, I think a lot of people in the building agreed.

Those who turned up for the main game would have been disappointed. For those going to shows in the near future, get there early, you never know because you could get a surprise as well. Even Flow was the standout of the night for me. It was the best solo I have heard from Mr McCready. I could be biased a bit, but that's my judgment right now. It was the night for the real fans, and the boys delivered. Overall it was a great night. I was in bed by 1am, and back out of bed at 4:30am to head back to Canberra in time for work, and now is the end of a very long day. But it was all worth it.

Thank you Pearl Jam, and thank you 10C!!!!!

I went to PJ's first Sydney concert the other night, and I just wanted to say how much I loved it. I have seen them twice before, and this concert was just how I remembered the other two - overwhelming. I had such a great time and enjoyed all of Eddie's antics and jokes (even the Presidential ones). I was fortunate enough to have really good seats thanks to TC. The show was just my style - no bullshit, just music. I just wanted to say thanks for giving me the opportunity to experience the show from such great seats.