Set List: Can't Keep, Corduroy, Grievance, Save You, Do The Evolution, Given To Fly, Small Town, Love Boat Captain, I Am Mine, Even Flow, Present Tense, Jeremy, Lukin, Not For You, Thumbing My Way, Spin The Black Circle, Alive;
1st encore: You Are, Animal, Daughter/(People Have the Power), State of Love and Trust, Black;
2nd encore: I Am A Patriot, Driven To Tears, Better Man, Crazy Mary, Sonic Reducer, Rockin In The Free World

Last night's Cleveland show was the 2nd time I'd seen PJ, and was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. First off, we walk in the door of Gund Arena and obtain our tickets. I see that we have row 1, and my adrenaline starts pumping even more than it already was. I go to the turnstile to be admitted and they say no cameras, not even disposable ones. I thought I had read on tenclub.net that disposables were allowed, and the employees seemed a little confused about what PJ's policy was. Oh well, I might've been mistaken, but I craftily hid the camera in the bushes outside Gund Arena, and it was still there when I got out. Once I was admitted, I found my sister and we look to the left and there is a small crowd around a little booth. I go closer to it and my stomach drops when I see the one, the only, MIKE MCCREADY!!!! He was doing an interview with a local radio station. In between interviews, Mike was signing autographs. After about 5 minutes I got my chance to meet one of the greatest guitar players ever. I had him sign my ticket, because it was all I had on me, and in a shaky voice I said "It is such a privilege to meet you Mike." He said that the privilege was his, and then reached out his hand. It was an awesome moment just to be able to shake Mike McCready's hand. What a great guy and amazing musician. Anyway, after this, I got a shirt and the poster from Cleveland (the poster is very cool). After meeting Mike, I thought "How could the night get any better?" Well, it did.

The seats I had ended up being front row to the side of the stage, so I wasn't right below the guys, but they ended up being great because we had a clear view over all the people on the floor of Gund Arena. Thanks Ten Club for once again giving me great seats. Sparta opened, I had seen them once before opening for Weezer, and I must say they sounded better this time. I only know a couple of their songs, but they put on a good show.... I've gotta check out more of their music. At the end of the set the lead singer said "We apologize for our presence" which I thought was pretty funny. So then the wait came in between sets for PJ to come out..... and the anticipation was killing me.

At around 9:30 the guys came on..... Eddie said "Good Evening" and they opened with Can't Keep, which was a really great live. The first part of the show was very rockin' with Corduroy, Grievance, Save You, and DTE, and the crowd was very responsive. Then GTF which I love live. The guys have more energy than ever onstage... Eddie's jumps are so great.... and Mike was especially active, jumping, running around... just amazing. But Jeff had his share of jumps and they all seemed to be in a good mood. Before Present Tense Eddie said something to the effect of "We don't play this very often" and when I heard the beginning notes I was so happy. I love that song, awesome live. The Lukin/Not for You combo was great, and after a beautiful Thumbing My Way, they started Spin the Black Circle! WOW, this song is wonderful live. Then a great version of Alive where the crowd was very into. At the end everyone was pumping their fists yelling "Hey... Hey... Hey..," and Eddie started pumping with the crowd. Great moment. I must say all the Riot Act songs are in their element live. Especially You Are, which came next after the 1st encore break, wow, the staccato guitar is just awesome. After a rockin' Animal the guys played Daughter, and the WMA end tag was very cool, I was hoping there'd be a tag and I love the WMA tag. Then Eddie went off into a "People Have the Power" tag, chanting "The Power is with the people, People have the power." It was very cool.... and he sang "This is the Ultimate Goal" and held out peace signs. I think a lot of the crowd was confused because the lighting made it hard to see that it was peace signs he was holding up. I think some people thought he was flicking the audience off... but Eddie clarified at the end of the tag. He also said "This (the peace sign) is not a 'fuck you' to the troops" which got a lot of applause." Next was SOLAT!!!!!!!! Wow, I wasn't expecting it and I love the energy of that song, definitely a highlight of the night. Then a very pretty version of black and then encore break 2.

The guys came out once again and Eddie played Patriot! It was just him and Matt.... and it wasn't the version I was used to hearing, but it was a great version... the guitar was so cool. Amazing song.... gotta love the "SURE as fuck ain't no republican either!" Next was driven to tears, very good cover, sounded great. After a crowd singalong with better man, they played CRAZY MARY! Wow.... I've heard live versions on bootlegs I have.... but I must say the Hawaiian addition to PJ... BOOM! was an amazing addition to this song. He was rocking out at the end of the song, banging his head, his long hair going everywhere.... and him and Mike extended the song for at least 5 minutes of pure jamming bliss. Eddie's voice was so on on this song also. Then.... SONIC REDUCER! Wow, sounded terrific live.... so rockin'. I knew things were getting near to the end, and I was wondering what they'd end with. When he started RITFW.... wow, I can't describe the feeling I had. It was so great live.... they all had so much energy, everyone in PJ was singing. Eddie was banging the hell out of those tambourines, pieces of them were flying. To get to the side of the stage he crossed a small gap in the stage by jumping over it. He threw a tambourine into the crowd, and then was walking back to cross the gap again. I guess he had forgotten about the gap, and he also had been drinking wine all night :) But he fell into the gap, straight down! After about a minute, he returned from the gap, in good condition... he looked a little shook up though, maybe a little embarrassed. The crowd went wild though, everyone was glad that he was okay. But he held his hands in a praying type fashion up towards the sky after this. It looked like he had a cut on his arm, and it kinda looked like his shirt had ripped a little, but it was hard to tell so I might've just been imagining it, haha. But they finished up the song, with a long jamming session at the end. Also, Eddie threw one tambourine to the people behind the stage way up there. He got it into the front row of the upper balcony behind the stage... good arm Eddie! But such a long rockin' version of RITFW.... perfect ending to a great show. Overall, it was an amazing night. So many memories, so many beautiful songs. The guys were ON, I can't wait 'til I get the bootleg... it's definitely one to get. I want to thank Pearl Jam for making their music and doing what they do, they've made such a positive impact on my life. I want to thank Ten Club for the great seats. Seeing PJ live shows you that they are the best band out there... and they're in their element onstage. Thank you PJ for one of the best nights of my life. I can't wait for Cincinnati and Columbus. See you guys on Leg 2!

Brian Chapman,
Cincinnati Ohio

What an awesome show!! A ton of energy from all the guys. Ed had a little accident though, the end of the show he came to the far side of the stage during Free World and on his way back he slipped and fell off the stage. He was down for a minute or two but he seemed ok. He got back on stage and finish the song. I am going to tonight show and I don't think they can top this one, but you never know!!! Thanks ten club for the great tickets.
Peace,
Brian