Set List: Do The Evolution, Corduroy, Save You, Deep, Dissident, Small Town, Even Flow, Jeremy, Thumbing My Way, You Are, I Am Mine, Habit, Untitled, MFC, Given To Fly, Nothingman, Blood, Porch;
1st encore: Driven To Tears by The Police, Better Man, Crazy Mary, Know Your Rights, Fortunate Son;
2nd encore: Blue Red Grey by Pete Townshend, Black, Alive, Baba O'Riley

For starters, I just have to ask how any of these so-called critics can make comments questioning this band and where they are at this point in their career. They say Ed's voice is "tired" and that the band seems "uninspired," I simply don't get it. There was no evidence of these critiques during the Champaign show, which was simply BOSS! The fan club ticket deal seems to be working like a well oiled machine. Great tix on Mike's side of the stage, just 7 rows off the floor! We were quite surprised when Do the Evolution kicked the set off! This was my 3rd show and in the past it was usually played deep in the show. They kicked it through the first 4 songs and then slowed it down for a bit until the always crowd pleasing Even Flow. Sweet jam, during which a fan tossed their camera to Ed, who snapped a shot of Mike during a wailing solo, then tossed it back to the fan. These guys know how to please the fans and let everyone in on the fun that they exude from the stage!

Other highlights for me were Habit, Blood and Porch. First time I had seen these live. First encore kept things rockin'! Several covers, highlighted by Know Your Rights which Ed belted out at the top of his lungs while having enthusiastic interaction with the crowd. Boom was insane on his Crazy Mary organ solo. Hopefully they check the support of its legs before the next show. He then tossed the spotlight back to Mike for another scorching solo. The cover of CCR's Fortunate Son was a great treat that fits PJ's style nicely! THEN, bam, 2nd encore!!! Ed said it was the part of the show that they take requests, but that he had already decided and it wasn't up for vote, "the ballots had been counted" and Ed "is the leader" and therefore was going to play a song (Blue, Red, Grey) that inspired (was ripped off by) Soon forget. Eddie appeared to be in a great mood and enjoying the crowd very much. The ending was awesome. Black, Alive, and one I had been hoping for...Baba O'Riley! Just a sweet song that they do so well. The entire band jumping, doing windmills, laughing, smashing tambourines etc. Great ending!!! Over 2 hrs. of music. Should make a great boot. Can't wait to be at Deer Creek in Noblesville, IN for another go 'round!!! Thanks again to TenClub for the tix and to Pearl Jam for outdoing themselves again and showing the critics who is running things around here and has been for well over a decade!!!

Hello Again. Having just feeling recovered enough from my 2nd consecutive show, I must say I do not see how Pearl Jam and Sparta (Or any band for that matter) does it night after night after night. Incredible. My voice is hoarse from belting out every tune, and my ears are still ringing from the flood of sound that has surged in me and through me and around me over the past 2 shows (St. Louis & Champaign). I loved every single minute of it...

DTE - Ed said, "Lets get this thing started" and boy did they. This is the 1st show that I have been to where PJ comes out and starts fast and hard. It was great and they just kept going from that point. Deep was a blast from the past and a welcome one at that. Hearing Blood just a short time later was a dream come true. When I noticed early on in the tour, that Blood was back in the set list, I was hoping that I would be fortunate to hear and see it performed. I was not disappointed!!!

Thumbing My Way was beautiful. This is such a heartfelt song for Eddie. The emotion seems to ooze out of him while he is performing this wonderful song. I was honored to hear it live.

The 1st Encore (Driven To Tears by The Police, Better Man, Crazy Mary, Know Your Rights, Fortunate Son) was simply incredible. At the St. Louis show, I did not get a real sense of what Boom was capable of! Man, this guy can Rock-n-Roll with the best of them. During Crazy Mary, Boom simply tore the Key Board up. Boom was into it physically and jamming away. Ed, well the whole band for that matter, simply played and watched Boom go absolutely fucking crazy! What an amazing performance. Boom is the bomb!!! I hope I get to hear Crazy Mary once more on the tour, simply to be amazed and mesmerized by BOOOOOOOOOOM!!! Loved it. Mike got his turn for a solo as well, but by now we are so spoiled by Mike and his unbelievable mastery of the guitar that I know, at least for myself, I take it for granted.

The 2nd Encore Blue, Red and Grey was great. I guess I never knew that Eddie had stolen the music from a Who record "Who By Numbers" for "Soon Forget" (Ed's words, not mine!), but it any event he dedicated to Pete and played on. Prior to starting to play, it was funny when Ed first came out, he was looking all around the stage for the rest of the band, like he did not know the rest of the band stayed behind. I got a good laugh out of it. Black was a masterpiece and Alive lived up to its' name and truly brought the crowd to an even higher level. The crowd was amazing all night long.

Closing with Baba O'Riley was great (although I really thought there would be one more song, as all of the other band mates sort of stayed in place until Eddie started to walk-off the stage and they followed). I bring this up because some guy kept hollering "Yellow Ledbetter" while Eddie was talking before he play "Red, blue and Grey" and he said "Hold your horses and shut the fuck up"..."We were gonna play it, but now were not gonna, because that is just the way we are."

Anyway, YL did not get played and I will always have to wonder whether or not someone else's rudeness robbed us all of one more song! GRRR! Oh well, yet another fantastic show from an extra special fan for their extraordinary fans. Bonner Springs, KS seems to be a long way off right now, but I cannot wait. Hope this wasn't to long, guess I just had lots to share and write!!!

Take care and enjoy the rest of the tour,

BKHood
"NOCODE 4"