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

Well, I've just woken up after last nights show and have just started reliving the magic of Pearl Jam last night after reading the setlist (sorry about the length of this fanview - couldn't help it :-)). The guys were awesome - not as much energy as I saw in Adelaide (what a show that was!), and probably not as much as the earlier nights in Melbourne from what I have gathered, but still unbelievably amazing! Even on their third night in a row the guys showed everyone why they are the best band in the world, and Ed just rocked on right until the very end.

After seeing them in Adelaide (my hometown) it has been a long wait to get to Melbourne 3. Read through the earlier setlists of Melbourne and really had no clue of what was to be coming tonight. Well, we (wife Belinda and her brother Mick) rolled up at around 6:30pm (this time no fan club tickets unfortunately) and made our way into the arena. A security guard wouldn't let our camera in because it had a piddly zoom on it (now I mean small - was to no advantage to where we were sitting) but anyway, not happy. Bought some more merchandise and then proceeded to our seats at about 7pm - Lower Section 19 Row J (Stone's side of the stage) - pretty good position to see the guys from and get a different feel of the night (BTW: how is it possible to get in the front row at so many of the concerts - I saw at least 5 people that were up front in the Adelaide concert again there at Melbourne 3 last night - someone give me some tips please!!!). From this position the wait began!

Johnny Marr and the Healers came on and did a really great show. Johnny is an excellent performer and is all class. They do a great job considering everyone is waiting for PJ to take to the stage. Well, they're done and I'm seriously getting excited. The arena is slowly filling up and you can feel the excitement building in the air. 9pm comes, 9:05, 9:10, and 9:15 passes by - oh c'mon guys you are killing me!!! ;) - Finally after a lot of noise, Mexican waves and cheering PJ take to the stage at 9:20pm to an enormous roar!

Ed comes out and says 'Hello' and the guys rip into Can't Keep. First time I've heard it live (being there) and it works well as an opener. The guys then cut straight into Breakerfall - another which I haven't heard live before and it sounded awesome - Ed was screaming his lungs out and the guys were ripping through the chords furiously. Staple and new crowd favourite Save You followed and just rocked - the whole crowd clapped along to the pumping quick baseline! It was great to see. The guys then ripped into Ghost which I had been hoping to see/hear at one of the shows (one of my fav's on the new album) - it lost a few people like other songs in the night which was really disappointing (people get out there and get PJ's latest!!!!), but for me it was fantastic! Then as if to pull everyone back again - PJ pulled out Dissident - the crowd went nuts and sang along to the whole song.

Keeping the voices raw, Small town came out to more cheers and singalong. I think Ed changed a bit to 'never dreamed we'd return' again, which is just a touch you love to see. Corduroy and Evenflow followed which gave Mike a chance to rip into some killer solo's and really kept the crowd at fever pitch! Mike is all class. Love Boat Captain is a real rocker and slowed the pace a bit but kept the crowd going. The pace was slowed again with I am mine and I was disappointed with people sitting down around me - hey everyone, this is PEARL JAM!!! - I'm NOT sitting down!!! Thumbing my way was then up - the first time played in Melbourne - slowed the pace more obviously but I for one was mesmerised by Ed's voice. It truly is unique and amazing. The pace was kept with Wishlist - an obvious crowd favourite with people on their feet around me again - the mirrorball came out, which is a great effect and with the extended ending with the 'I wish I was the President' lines it had chills down my spine. Great version!

Ed then led into Betterman to more crowd cheers - he started us off and then put it to the crowd to a verse - electrifying moment - 'Great singing' Ed approved! The guys then pulled out Rival - Ed said something before but I can't quite remember - in tune with the song anyway - another one I haven't hear live before - Stone stuffed up a bit of the tune and then thrashed out the chords in frustration - very cool - Stone is awesome!!! Another fav. of mine, Whipping followed - the guys were still rocking hard (Mike running around and doing some superjumps on stage) and the grinding and Ed's elevated voice kept the energy alive. After Whipping, PJ let Insignificance rip (along with Rival this was lost to the people around me too, don't get it), but anyway, it's a great song much like the feel of Corduroy and they pulled it off with ease - awesome to hear it again!

Then, the guys pulled out Porch - the crowd went nuts - as like any PJ fan we have a lot of favourites - this one is no exception and one of the best!!! It was unbelievable - Mike's solo was amazing and the slow down almost to a stand still and progressive build up to the climax was earth shattering - a perfect closer for the first set! I couldn't believe the first set was over already, it went way too fast!!!

At the start of the first encore Ed came out with his Bush mask and Silver cabaret jacket on. He was doing his dancing and funky moves which is really hilarious to see - but they didn't kick into Bushleaguer, but rather Do the Evolution. Ed was clowning around so much with the mask on that he knocked the microphone stand over and missed the start - Bush mask goes flying and there is some silver mask underneath (I was too far away to make out what it was), but Ed recovered well and came into the verse spot on time. Very funny and very cool! Ed then went on to say that he got a call from John Howard today (to boo's) and it went something like 'He was very direct in what he wanted, very charming and charismatic but his intentions were made clear - he said he wanted to give me a blow job seeing that he is now into American men!' The crowd cheered!

PJ then kicked into 'Know your Rights' which was lost again to the crowd - Even I had never heard them play it before but the power and aggression with which Ed sang and the band played was unbelievable. Very special even if some people didn't appreciate it. Another special moment followed with the rare Breath - this got a huge roar and sing-along too! And then to a request for someone (Angie maybe??? In the right stand near Mike) - Footsteps was played!!!! This was awesome - I was privileged to hear/see this track live and with Mike playing a super cool solo I was flying high. What was next I kept thinking?!

Next that followed was none other than RVM - this brought the crowd alive again and they were going crazy - the guys ripped through the chords (Jeff was belting out the bass line and jumping around/Mike's solo again all class/Stone's rhythm furious/Matt tops off the band with ever present energy on drums). The strobing lights at the end after the extended play and build up; with Ed and the guys grinding out was a sight to see. It's awesome to see Ed and Stone strumming their guitars with so much power. And then the 1st encore was over! At this point I sat down and started to get depressed as I knew the night was coming to an end and it is going to be a while before I ever get to see them again. At this stage, I even started formulating a plan to get to Perth but alas, it will not be. Please Pearl Jam, don't let it be another 5 years before we see you again!!!!

Ed then came out pretty quickly for the second encore. He pulled out Luke the Uke and I knew Soon Forget was coming. He got it spot on and I savoured every minute of it. Then the guys got on stage and the lights came on straight away! I was overjoyed but really sad now as I knew this was it - they finished off with Yellow Ledbetter - Mike again a superstar - it is a great finisher to the night. Ed was all smiles and said his goodbye's to Melbourne.

Thank you Pearl Jam for another great show - this show was awesome and Adelaide is imprinted in my mind forever - I hope to see some footage of the Australian shows on a new DVD if it eventuates!!! Thanks for coming here and giving us your all. You guys ARE the best band in the world!!! Hope to see you again soon!!! Thank you to everyone involved with the band too - your efforts don't go unnoticed! One more time because I am getting sentimental - thanks Pearl Jam - you guys are one of a kind!!!!!!

Thanks again!
Chris