Set List: Love Boat Captain, Hail Hail, Save You, Corduroy, Given To Fly, Even Flow, Thin Air, Help Help, You Are, I Am Mine, improv - Don't Drive Me, Green Disease, Wishlist, Better Man, Insignificance, Evolution, Porch/(Dig Me Out by Sleater-Kinney);
1st encore: Thumbing My Way, Black, Bu$hleaguer, Daughter, Go;
2nd encore: Soon Forget, Crazy Mary, Rockin In The Free World

This was by far the best show I have seen by Pearl Jam. They rocked the Pepsi Center! I last saw them in KC a couple of years ago...that was great too, but this was better by far. The thin air had them out of breath, I saw Mike say to the others after a solo "I'm out of breath" with that grin on his face.

The patriotic mood was set by the opening act who wanted peace and love. Eddie said that they supported the troops and a friend of his gave them some deep advice about war. This person was in Vietnam and had lots to say about the current situation in the world. Eddie and his G.W. Bush mask and that disco jacket made for a good laugh. The point he drove across with Bu$hleaguer was a serious one.

All in all this was a fantastic concert. The energy was awesome. It is an awe inspiring feeling when I am with in the first 10 rows (as I have been at the last 4 concerts I have attended, THANKS 10c!!!) and I can hear the entire crowd singing along and boosting the energy. Now I know what they mean when they feed off the crowd.

Now I am going to see them in OKC and I know that will be a kick ass show also. Having the opportunity to see them 2 times in one week still has me in disbelief...then I am seeing them in KC in the summertime. Thanks to 10c for letting the fan club members get tickets to more than one show for the tour!

Wow! First night of the tour and an awesome show. What a setlist and what a performance! For all you PJ trivia buffs, Love Boat Captain was the opener. Band blasted through the first five numbers before Ed addressed the crowd, saying "Thank you." After a great Even Flow, Ed then said how happy he was to be in Salt Lake City. I'm sure it was intended to be ironic but it seemed to be part of a strange vibe around the show. Thin Air was given several titles when it was introduced including one about Denver. Lots of Riot Act tonight which was great. After a great version of I am Mine Ed did a little number that I'm gonna call S.U.V. before going into Green Disease. After Insignificance, Ed wanted to talk a little about politics and war when someone in the crowd yelled "shut up" he gave a nice lecture about the First Amendment. Then came Evolution and a wild version of Porch. Second set highlights, wow what wasn't a highlight? The Daughter tag was a singalong spelling L O V E. Finally the encore, Soon Forget was great and including a few stops and starts by Ed that he indicated might be the result of the bottle sitting next to him. Crazy Mary, beyond words. The few folks starting to leave missed out on the hottest jam of the night when the closed with Rockin in the Free World that I can only describe as a rock and roll revival of the collective of elated spirits. Great night. Thanks to everyone who made it happen including the crowd.

Pretty pumped for this concert going in. I traveled from Omaha to see them (as well as the vines the following night). Got my tickets around 4 from the fan club window. Dang there's a lot of people in the fan club. Showed up early and caught all of sleater-kinney's set. They rocked out, but I rested in my seat. That's weak of me.

Pearl Jam come on about half an hour later with LBC - loved the song, but probably not my favorite opener (still goes to "release", geez I'm original). But then they ripped into hail hail and save you. Those two back to back were dyn-o-mite. The friend I brought with me, who wasn't too much of a fan, turns to me and says "Whatever Pearl Jam albums I donšt have I'm buying tomorrow". Guess that means he was impressed, too. Thin Air was impressive, too. After "help, help" I yelled "Go Mike" (I was 5 rows back, right in front of him), and he pointed back at me. SWEET! Actual band/fan interaction! And, since I haven't mentioned it yet - HOLY CRAP MIKE was going crazy during this concert. He looked totally happy and into the music, and was constantly signaling to the crowd and whatnot. And his solo's were sick! It's the first pj concert where my concentration was mainly on someone other than Ed.

Porch hit and I was in ecstasy - I started jumping around like a little girl. I had never seen them play it before, and LOVE to song. Unfortunately Ed forgot some of the lyrics, but it was all great. Adding Black and Go to the set list was definitely a good idea as well.

As for all the bushleaguer crap, I think 99.9% of the fans cheered, and I sure as he!! didn't see anybody leaving. Where were these reporters that supposedly saw this? I knew nothing about it until I read the story on the internet the next day.

Speaking of the next day, I saw Jeff walking the streets of Denver, and made sure to say hi and thanks for the show. So a great, great trip for me!!

Thanks,
Steve Maaske