Ed solo before opening band: I Am A Patriot, You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
Ed with Betchadupa: History Never Repeats
Set List: Can't Keep, Save You, Hail Hail, Corduroy, Grievance, Ghost, Cropduster, Dissident, Given To Fly, Even Flow, I Am Mine, Love Boat Captain, Wishlist, Thumbing My Way, Better Man, Lukin, Insignificance, Rearviewmirror;
1st encore: Bushleaguer, Daughter/(War by Edwin Starr), Black, Do The Evolution, Alive;
2nd encore: The Kids Are Alright by the Who, Yellow Ledbetter

It's a tough one to decide, which night was better, night two or night three in Sydney? But considering the setlist, and the crowd's participation, and you gotta lean in favour of no.3, on Valentine's Day. Such a great show to hear on the radio (broadcast live on dubious rock station Triple M).

The pre-show has become standard it seems, an excellent idea by Ed to get people there early to see Betchadupa. I was stoked to hear Patriot – just wished Ed had extended the ‘someday’ bit. And You've Got to... was damn fine, Ed mastering his guitar and harmonica simultaneously.

But on to the show. Standing fourth row in front of Ed with my friends Kylee and Danielle, I had my hopes on Of the Girl or Can't Keep, and it was the latter. Lovely to hear. Ed's rising vocals, Matt's rumbling drums, the soaring guitar parts... Save You, as always, rocked hard, Ed really feeling the vocals (‘Help...me!!’). Great to hear Hail, Hail, another one that had me pogoing on the spot, while Corduroy is still as powerful as ever, perhaps even more so. The crowd was totally into it, and that's something I love, clapping in time to Ed's guitar riff. Was very excited to hear Ghost live for the first time. It wasn't perfect, but that chorus is just so damn moving. Dissident was a surprise inclusion, and done very nicely indeed. But Given to Fly had the place jumping, one of the post-Vitalogy songs that even non-hardcore fans go nuts for. And Even Flow, well, what can you say about that? AWESOME. Firey-coloured lights, the band completely in sync, both musically and with their stage acrobatics, and Mr. Mike McCready, making his geetar bleed and whipping the Entertainment Centre in a frenzy. The man is amazing. He's also perhaps the most fun band member to watch, constantly interacting with the crowd, particularly the people in the stands to the side of the stage (well done guys for going off, that's what it's all about).

I Am Mine was spot on – love the way the song builds to Mike's solo. One you can just sway to and utterly enjoy. But Love Boat Captain was once again superb. The solo interlude was extended, and when Ed closed things out with ‘Love is all you need...all you need, is love...love...love’, the message really hit home. And Wishlist was magical – the mirrorball producing a dazzling effect. Ed once again didn't add extra lyrics at the end, he just quieted things down with the main riff as the crowd clapped together. Thumbing My Way was utterly moving, but the crowd, of course, went nuts for good old Better Man. How good is it to hear the REAL band play it, and not some cover band in a pub that botches the lyrics or the music? Ed let the crowd sing most of the first verse, and added a tag to the end that I for the life of me can't fully remember, but it seemed to include something about ‘trusting’ (like from Boise or Seattle 2 ’00). Terrific to be hit with the manic Lukin, which added more strain on the already sore vocal chords! RVM was well received and closed out the set as I thought it would, and the jam was better than that on Tuesday night. And I was in heaven during the strobe light finale, especially seeing Mike go beserk.

Encore time, and Stone's got a capo on his guitar...Nothingman? Doesn't sound like it...it's Bu$hleaguer! Finally! And on comes Ed, sparkling cabaret jacket and George Dubya mask. It was hilarious. He put on the dancing moves big time, including a Michael Jackson spin and a moonwalk!! Ed delivered the vocals with passion, and every word resonated with the crowd, even though Bush isn't our leader. Daughter sounded fine once again, and I had my fingers crossed for another Ed-crowd call-response. And we got it – Edwin Starr’s War, with us prompted to scream ‘Absolutely nothing!’ following Ed's ‘War, war – what is it good for?’. A memorable moment. Black was loved by the crowd, and Ed's words had me on the verge of tears, even though I've listened to countless versions of the song. And I tried my best to get the crowd doing the ‘do do do do doo’ bit, and I think they were quite loudly, but will have to check the boot or the radio broadcast. Evolution was again kick ass, one of the strongest PJ songs live. But what was to follow was completely unexpected. You get the odd casual fan hoping for it and being disappointed when they don't play it, but then there are reasons why and, well, you just gotta accept that. ‘Wouldn't it be awesome if they played Alive?’ I said to Kylee. And then Ed said, ‘We're gonna try something here.’ Stoney put his fingers on the first fret, and it clicks. When that opening riff of opening riffs sounded, the place exploded. It was a good version, and I was just out of my mind. Ed comes out for the second encore solo, and proceeds to play with the crowd by gesturing that they cheer louder for him (they were chanting ‘Eddie, Eddie, Eddie...’). After cracking up laughing, he picked up his guitar, and mentioned some peace protests happening in Sydney, encouraging all to attend. Then he talks about Pete Townshend, lending some words of support, and I guessed the song he was gonna play. Yep, The Kids Are Alright, complete with ‘I'll go out of my fucking mind!’. The best show of the tour so far ended with house lights on to the tune of Yellow Ledbetter, during which Ed acknowledged our ‘Thank You...’ sign which Kylee was holding by responding with a gesture of sincere gratitude with his hands together. Bathed in light, the crowd erupted as Pearl Jam left the stage, Ed raising his bottle of red and thanking us for three nights in Sydney.

Thanks again Pearl Jam. I'm halfway through the journey and it's been life-changing, to say the least.

See ya in Melbourne.
Brad