Set List: Small Town, Interstellar Overdrive/Corduroy, Save You, Given To Fly, Cropduster, Nothing As It Seems, Even Flow, I Am Mine, Love Boat Captain, Lukin, Not For You, Light Years, You Are, Daughter/(Another Brick in The Wall), I Got Shit, 1/2 Full, Once, Blood;
1st encore: Bushleaguer, Sleight of Hand, Better Man/(Save It For Later), Do The Evolution, Spin The Black Circle;
2nd encore: Throw Your Arms Around Me, Alive, Fuckin' Up

Last night WAS one of the greatest experiences of my life. (Hawthorn premiership '91 ranks up there)

Having gone to the 1st night, I was fairly comfortable with thinking tonight would be just as good. Shame really. It was about 20 times better. From the outset, the guys played Small Town, and instantly brought the crowd together. May I say, a beautiful song. After one song, and riding on a 'friendship' high (?), PJ brought every fooligan who were still sitting down to their feet with a charged Corduroy. Eddie was intense, so intense, he fucked up the lyrics to the song for the 2nd night in a row. But imperfections make the show seem all the more real. (Don’t ask). ... Moving on, next up was a vicious version of Save You. Shaith, that’s a rabid number. Matt was practically puncturing his drums. Following Save You (crowd still on their feet) was another fantastic performance of Given to Fly. The spacey riff echoed throughout the stadium, and brought shivers to my spine. It was unbelievable. Cropduster was up next, and while I love the song, I was a little disappointed with the crowds lack of knowledge regarding the lyrics. I know it’s a new song, but grr. Still, it rolled past frantically, and I was more than happy with its appearance.

Nothing as it Seems was next and it was truly awesome. Mike wailed on his guitar for countless minutes, clearly pleasing everyone, including the flamboyant crowd to his right. Next up was Even Flow. Obviously, everyone got up (hello radio friendly crowd) and belted this one out. Mike solo once again, went forever, as all even flow solo’s do, and the crowd loved it. Jeff was bouncing around in his usual fashion and Matt was literally smoking. (Ed and Stone weren’t too bad either ;)) Keeping the crowd on their feet was I Am Mine. While not my favourite off Riot Act, the live version of it is truly great. I must mention Mike again; his solo at the end was superb. At the songs close, Matt continued with a steady beat on the high hat and I anticipated Love Boat Captain. Not to my surprise, I was correct, with Boom (and the funkiest hair in history) engaging in that atmospheric keyboard intro. The song was fantastic, and Ed's face told a thousand tales of pain. Like Tuesday night, it was very moving. At the songs close, Ed spoke of a friend in Seattle, and I was in raptures. Lukin was to be the next track. Ed sizzled on this one. The band completely rocked out, jumping all over place with extreme intensity. The common following song, Not For You, was next and that was downright nasty. The crowd was going wild by now, thumping to the angry progression of the track. By the end I could barley hear myself think. Ed spoke of a song they rarely play…..that being Light Years. One of my favourites off of Binaural, I naturally loved this. It was all very touching. I noticed Stone plug his guitar in the "strange effect machine©" (is it a drum machine??) and I knew we were in for You Are. This is a truly exceptional song. Matt Cameron, you've done us proud. I was fading in and out of trance like states whilst the jagged progressions from Stone's guitar dusted my aural senses (a thankyou).

Next up, a crowd favourite, was Daughter. The whole crowd engaged in a good old fashioned sing-a-long. It was very exciting to say the least. Eddie the revved the crowd up before the tag kicked in, with a lot of whoo heyyy!!s, inciting everyone to follow suit. Once he had us in a fever like state, they produced Another Brick in the Wall. Everyone was ecstatic. To hear everyone in the stadium singing “We don't need no education…” was truly mesmerising. I was thinking it couldn't get any better, when all of a sudden, I was awestruck by the opening bars of the next song. It was I Got Shit!! I couldn't believe it. One of my all time favourite songs. I'm not sure how many people knew it around me, but I didn't care, I was singing it as loud as I could. Definitely one of the high points of the night. Next up, Ed starting talking about nature, trees, newspapers and friends. I was certain it was to be In My Tree. Lamentably, it was not. But, it was still a great song. Half Full was to be next. One of the best off of Riot Act. The guys played it with tremendous gusto, Mike whipping out more brilliance. Bringing us back to the glory days of Ten was Once. The song was fantastic, and the crowd responded. It's been a while since I've listened to Ten, so this was real treat. The final song before the break was one I'd been hoping for since they started playing it again recently. Blood! It was absolutely brutal in its execution. The band was thrashing around all over the stage, as too were the crowd. Ed can really still belt it out. The stage dimmed and the band walked off stage, to a rousing ovation.

During the break, the crowd was buzzing, numerous ‘Pearl Jam’ chants were brought to fruition, as well a clap acceleration (lol, ? like when a bowler is coming into bowl and the cricket). As the band emerged the dark once again, the crowd went insane. And off we went again... After speaking about George Bush and commending Australians about the protest against the war, the band broke into Bu$hleaguer, with Ed dancing around with a Bush mask on. Quite amusing. The song was very cynical (obviously) and crowd responded likewise. I was surprised they didn't tag this song, but we did get Another Brick in the Wall earlier, so I wasn't at all bitter. Following Bu$hleaguer, was, to my elation, Sleight of Hand. One of my favourites off of Binaural. Ed called for his lyric book because it had been so long since they had performed it. You wouldn't know it as it was sensational. I don't think too many people knew this one though, unfortunately. Next up was probably the second biggest song of the night in crowd's eyes. Betterman was to be played next and it was exceptional. For the second night in a row, I listened to a stadium full of people belt out the timeless classic. The song was tagged with Save it for Later, which everyone got into, even if they didn't know it. Do the Evolution was played next and fuck, it was insane. The crowd was red hot, and the band played to the crowd's reaction. It was the place to be. I was continually running on a high, and the next song pushed me to the next level. Spin the Black Circle! ... It was thrashed out at a phenomenal rate. I can tell you my neck was in copious amounts of pain by the end of this on. The crowd absolutely loved this, as did the band. They were all over the place. Ed was demonstrating to the crowd how to place a needle onto vinyl. As the song ended, the light dimmed once more and the band walked off stage. The crowd was in hysterics.

Ed walked back out onto the stage with just Boom, and the crowd were past frenzy. Ed spoke about his guitar, informing us that its name was Rebecca. Then he continued to tell us that he actually lied, but he has a friend here that would like to hear her name. But from now on the blue guitar is to be called Rebecca. Lol. Ed's a comedian. There was a girl to the side of the stage who was going nuts every time Ed looked at her during the song, which we are assuming is Rebecca (thanks Brad Lacey for that). Oh, the song, yes .. it was…... da da da... Throw Your Arms Around Me, an old Hunters & Collectors song. The crowd naturally responded very well, H&C being Aussies themselves. I was under the impression that that was to be the last song, but I was pleasantly surprised to see the rest of the band appear at the closing of the song and gear up. I swear Ed said ‘you've earned it’ before Stone ripped into the riff of Alive. The crowd went absolutely insane. Stupidly, the main lights came up then (like last night with Baba O'Riley), but it didn't bother anyone and the whole stadium engaged as one to sing one the greatest songs of all time. It was a truly sensational feeling, and Mike played the solo’s brilliantly. I thought what a perfect end to the evening. But it didn't stop there, with PJ thumping out Neil Youngs Fuckin’ Up to knock us dead. It was unbelievable. The crowd was at fever pitch as Ed thanked Melbourne and the band walked off stage. Oh, the girl next to me got the set list handed to her. Dammit.

It was one of the best night of my life and I'll never forget it. Thanks Ed, Stone, Mike, Jeff, Matt and last but not least Boom!... I love you guys

Kym Pallot