Ed solo: You've Got to Hide Your Love Away before opening band
Set List: Long Road, Breakerfall, Corduroy, Animal, Save You, Given To Fly, Cropduster, Even Flow, Small Town, Love Boat Captain, Ghost, Whipping, Untitled/MFC, You Are, 1/2 Full, State of Love and Trust, Alive;
1st encore: Last Exit, I Am A Patriot (reworked), Better Man, Down, Glorified G, Do The Evolution;
2nd encore: Daughter, Yellow Ledbetter, Baba O'Riley

Well, I just got back to Orlando from the WPB show, and I'm very tired, but it was an AMAZING show, so I am going to share a little. First of all, thanks to 10C for the tickets, it is the closest I've sat out of the 3 times I've seen PJ. They started off with long road, which I was hoping they would. I hadn't heard it before in person, and it was great. Then they tore through Breakerfall, Corduroy, Animal, and Save You, and I was just thrilled. I had been hoping for Animal, and I didn't know if they would play it or not, since it hadn't shown up that much this tour. The songs from Riot Act sounded great. They played Cropduster, Ghost, 1/2 full (go Mike), LBC and You Are, which is one of my favorites off Riot Act. All this in the first set plus Small Town, Whipping, State of Love and Trust, Even Flow (of course) and Alive! It all flew by and while I was catching my breath in the encore break I was thinking of how many songs they had already played that I wanted to hear this tour, and I've still got 2 more nights to see them (Orlando and Tampa, maybe NYC if 10C comes through for me).

Anyway, the encores were just as good if not better than the first set. They played Last Exit and I am a Patriot. I had seen it on setlists, but had never heard it. I especially liked the lines "I ain't no communist, I ain't no socialist, I ain't no capitalist, and I ain't no democrat..." It was after this Eddie gave a little speech about how great America was after the crowd started chanting "USA." He wasn't mad or anything, he was very tactful, and even said he loved president Bush (the crowed laughed and cheered). Betterman followed with a nice little tag of Eddie shouting out the names of various members of the Bush administration. Then they shocked us with GLORIFIED G! I couldn't believe it. Eddie said, we haven't played this in ages! It sounded great, and Mike really shined on this one too. Then Evolution closed out the first encore, and it was very strong, Eddie started singing the 2nd verse halfway through the first verse, but it was all good.

I wasn't expecting to hear Daughter for the 2nd encore, but there it was. Eddie led the crowd in a chant for the tag. And then came Yellow Ledbetter which was amazing, and I was happy to hear because I hadn't heard it live since the '98 tour. They gave us one more, Baba O'Riley, which I hadn't seen in person either. Eddie smashed at least 4 tambourines during this one and threw them into the audience. They were all very energetic tonight, Eddie was moving around a lot and seemed to be in a great mood (he was drinking a lot of wine). Mike was his usual self - showing off (as well he should). Jeff had some good jumps, Stone was really rocking out, especially his Evolution solo, and I couldn't really see Matt that well, but he was solid all night. Every time I looked at Boom, he looked like he was having the time of his life banging away on the keys. So a great night, I couldn't have hoped for a better setlist, and the best part is I get to do it again Saturday and Sunday. See you all there!

So I fled from Venezuela to West Palm Beach for my fourth live encounter as a fan with my favourite all time band and my first encounter with them as a photojournalist. I was accompanied by my colleague Sir William (also from Venezuela) and my brother Jan (who now lives in Spain, but flew to the U.S. just for the occasion). We all grew with Pearl Jam music (still have the cover band!) and attending the concert together made the experience so much incredible.

Prior to the concert I got to meet and interview Mike and Matt, who were extremely friendly (Mike even gave me a Japanese Bootleg!). I was nervous and excited and my english went to hell, but we managed to understand each other. This was like a dream, personally and professionally and I am very thankful to them and their whole team, specially Nicole, who were all really nice.

After the interview I met with some new friends from the U.S. who were following the band from Texas. The Chad Man and his crew offered us some beers and we spent some time sharing the fan perspective. Let me tell you something, It's the same anywhere in the world, so much respect and fascination with the music and so much empathy between fans, almost feels like a family. I was surprised and glad I didn't miss that.

These two experiences gave us Venezuelans new perspectives of the celebration that it is to go to a Pearl Jam concert. It was well into the afternoon and we could hardly wait for the show to begin, discussing what we would love to hear (I was wishing for Long Road, among some others, so you can imagine my face hours later). I want to point out that no matter what you want to hear, the band always make you happy with their choices, because the setlists are amazing. and this night surely was one of them.

I got to take pictures of them during the 3 first songs and I was in awe being so close (just on the edge of the stage). Haven't developed them yet, but I won't be surprised if they come out crappy - I was having the time of my life, singing very loud - high on live music flowing out of my five favorite musicians.

Then I met with my bros. and we sang and danced and rocked the whole show. There were some excellent surprises: "Down", the new version of "Patriot" and the lovely intro to "Untitled/MFC". I almost cried in shock when "Glorified G" was played, never thought I could get to hear them play it. The "Daughter tag" was awesome and Baba... well, what can I say? We can never get enough of it. Love to hear it. love to sing it.

And in all, it was great, you can see the setlist on the top of the page. What I want to let clear is that Jeff, Stone, Ed, Matt and Mike and Boom were - and I quote - "at the top of their game." Really tight and groovy and intense. Ed's voice was wonderful (despite his usual lyric flubs - which I kinda dig) and the guitars were beautiful. Nice touch with the acoustics on Stone's side (and also his few spotlight rocking moments!). Matt was the reliable self he is, which means he's Oh So Great, same as Jeff and Mike. Can't (and won't) single out the Most Valuable Player, they all are special. Mr. Boom is very welcomed into the family, his touches are appreciated.

I am listening to the unmastered MP3s of the show right now, in my home back in Venezuela, smiling, forever grateful.

I love Pearl Jam, always have and will.

They are my favorite band and their music rocks my world.
-Carlos Silva Benitez