Set List: Can't Keep, Breakerfall, Save You, Ghost, Dissident, Small Town, Corduroy, Even Flow, Love Boat Captain, I Am Mine, Thumbing My Way, Wishlist, Better Man, Rival, Whipping, Insignificance, Porch;
1st encore: Do The Evolution, Know Your Rights (by The Clash), Breath, Footsteps, Rearviewmirror;
2nd encore: Soon Forget, Yellow Ledbetter

'This is a public service announcement.....WITH GUITAR!!!"

Pearl Jam's last show in Melbourne last night was just fantastic. We are seeing a band in their prime, full of energy and life. Again, the setlist didn't disappoint at all. They chucked in a few oldies, a few newies, and a few raries which makes for the ultimate Pearl Jam experience. I was dead centre in front of Ed, about 8 rows back. I had a perfect view of the whole band.

Can't Keep started us off, followed by a pumped up Breakerfall. Save You has already become a great live track, and the band really know how to rock out on this one. Ghost was also great to hear live off the new album. The boots are just nothing compared to "the live experience," I'm sure many agree. I'd only heard Ghost on the album and on the boot mp3's, but the live version was just incredible. That moment when you hear a song live cannot be replicated at all by a bootleg or an mp3.

It was great to hear Rival live (Stone couldn't get the fill down, so he was practising it just after, and will no doubt pull it out at some point in Japan or the states), Porch, Dissident, Soon Forget with Ed on his lonesome and of course, Breath and Footsteps were just incredible to hear live for the first time. Melbourne would have heard, in the three concerts, nearly 70 Pearl Jam songs, only some of them repeated. We are lucky indeed. Considering we only see them every 4 or 5 years any Pearl Jam experience is like precious gold down here. You lucky people in the states get to see them more often, and at more shows.

The stand alone highlight for me was Know Your Rights, a cover of a Clash tune off the album Combat Rock. It was great, Ed looking really evil, unleashing bloodcurdling screams and screeches, reading us our rights. The lighting also contributed greatly to the whole atmosphere of the song, Ed's face half shrouded in shadow looking all twisted and distorted, veins sticking out on his neck and his face as he hurled the lyrics at us.

Breath was fantastic. I was listening to the Singles soundtrack just the other day, wondering if they would play it. I knew they had soundchecked it, so I was hoping for it!! Footsteps was also great to hear live. For the first encore, Ed came out with the silver jacket and the Bush mask, took it off, and we got to see the Mexican transvestite wrestler Billy Martinez, "The Barrio Bottom"!!!! They finished off with Yellow Ledbetter with the lights up, Mike totally cutting sick, everyone in the band watching him mesmerised by his guitar wizardry.

Thank You Pearl Jam for the last 3 nights. I will never forget them. To everyone one in the states, get excited now. Look forward to a killer tour, and seeing a band that is starting to come into their own. Relaxed, at ease with the world, with themselves and with the name Pearl Jam. And just remember, in these troubled times:

"You have the right to FREE SPEECH......as long as you're not dumb enough to actually try it."

Peace in 03 - Simon Giovannoni
(simongiovannoni@hotmail.com)