Ed solo before opening band: Dead Man
Set List: Oceans, Go, Hail Hail, Save You, Deep, Get Right, Dissident, I Am Mine, Even Flow, Help Help, Immortality, In My Tree, Light Years, Evacuation, Whipping, Grievance, Present Tense, Porch;
1st encore: Thumbing My Way, Small Town, Smile, State of Love and Trust, Leaving Here;
2nd encore: Soon Forget, Bu$hleaguer, Fuckin' Up

I’d like to start off by saying “Thank you” to the 10C for the great seats, Pearl Jam for putting on such an incredible show, and congratulations to the couple in the row in front of me in the wedding dress and a tuxedo – they got married at dawn earlier yesterday and were following Pearl Jam around for the next 6 or 7 shows ... now that’s a honeymoon!

Some of the highlights ... “Oceans” as an opener was great. “Save You,” “Deep,” “Dissident,” “I Am Mine,” “In My Tree (new version),” “Light Years” and “Porch” were just amazing in the first set. The 2 encores were just as incredible… “Thumbing My Way” is a beautiful song and sounded great ... mini sing-a-long at the end of “Small Town” ... “Smile” is one of my favorites and was a great to hear live, “State of Love and Trust,” “Leaving Here,” and “Fuckin’ Up” just kept it going – unfortunately, “F’n Up” was the last song and we had to leave.

Ed was quite the comedian tonight talking about how they were planning on playing about 35 songs but there was a curfew because of the people who lived in the trailer park nearby. He said if we were nice and made friends and invited them to park their trailers up on he lawn in back, maybe they’d let them play later. Then he said one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard him say when he tore apart Celine Dion. He explained that he was spitting a lot tonight and that he bets Celine has never spit on-stage ... then he said the reason she doesn’t spit is because she swallows. Absolutely hilarious. Then, after the first set the band came back on-stage and Ed said that they were backstage getting massages ... and that ”Jeff was massaging Stone ... but actually they were all massaged by 8’ Amazonian lesbians.”

He also said that they were going to try to make good on a promise to play every song that they’ve rehearsed for the tour in these 3 Boston shows. He said it started with about 70 songs but now it’s up to about 105… then he said that he should just stop talking and start playing… (that’s when he went in to the trailer park speech above.)

I know this isn’t the best review, but I’m still recovering and I thought I’d get something down quick. See you tonight, next week for both nights at MSG and then back here for the last “Boston” show.

Enjoy,
Shawn

This was my first Pearl Jam show ever and wow, they did not disappoint. First off I just wanted to include that I bought their newest dvd "Live at the Showbox" at the show and everybody who hasn't gotten it yet, please do so -- it's worth it. Anyway, my friend and I got to the lawn which was where we originally had tickets for, and saw Ed's preset of "Dead Man," which was great. The Buzzcocks weren't bad, and of course they tore threw their set with only 2 seconds in-between each song. As soon as they ended, a guy sitting next to us came over and asked if we'd like better seats; he had 2 tickets that he couldn't sell, so he was willing to give 'em to us for free. We thanked him and found that they were for section 7, which was actually pretty close to the stage. Needless to say we were thrilled, with an awesome full-view of the whole stage and just the fact that we had been upgraded for free! In the unlikely case he reads this, thanks man for those tickets, you made my first PJ concert even more special!

Anyway, "Oceans" for an opener was beautiful. From that first syllable it was clear that this crowd was set on drowning Ed out. Every song was awesome, but highlights for me were definitely "Go" because the lights really did help to make it even more intense, "Deep," "In My Tree," "Present Tense," and "Leaving Here." "Whipping" and "Smile" were especially good to hear too, along with "Light Years." I was actually really happy that they played "Bu$hleaguer" because it was very funny to see Ed dance around, put the mask on the stand and sing to it from his knees, and of course give it his long, loving kiss before he threw it down, although I'm not quite sure if it went into the audience or not. Ed seemed pretty talkative throughout the show, such as when he explained the fact that they have had a different set list without repeating a song the last 3 nights, then going on to joke about the curfew set by the neighboring trailer park. The funniest thing had to be his little story about Celine Dion and that fact that she doesn't spit when performing: "I think the reason she doesn't spit is because she swallows." Brilliant. Also amusing was his odd little comment about being massaged backstage by "7 or 8 amazon lesbians" after the first encore. There's not much else I can say, the show was amazing and a damn near perfect first Pearl Jam show. Thanks, guys, for a wonderful night and I hope to see you again!

--Dee

It was a beautiful night with a great sunset. Eddie came out and did "Dead Man" before introducing the Buzzcocks. If you are into punk, you should check them out.

The set started off rocking, and didn't slow down until "In My Tree." Eddie was drinking wine and tea, and asked if we should have a Boston Tea Party or a Drink Wine Til You Pass Out Party. During "Grievance" he used a flag as a prop for the line, "I pledge my grievance to the flag." Afterwards, he spoke about freedom of speech while carefully folding the flag. He said he was spitting a lot and didn't want anyone to think he was spitting on the flag. He ragged on Celine Dion, which was funny but a little mean. He was up on the left side speakers during "Porch," but didn't jump or anything. Mike had another great night. His tank top showed off more tattoos than I remember from last time (hard to believe it was August 2000). Exceptional on "Dissident." Matt also was excellent, although Dave was missed on "Porch." Eddie promised no repeats for the three shows (tonight 7/3, and again next week on 7/11), so I'm looking forward to a different show tonight.

Note those going tonight - leave the cellphones in the car.
Ken

Welcome to the "Boston Tea Party or a Boston drink-wine-till-you-pass-out-party." That was how Eddie envisioned the first night of 3 sold out shows in Boston, MA. Last night’s show was my 4th of this tour, Albany, Chicago, and Bristow, VA were my previous 3 shows. Thankfully for this show, there wasn’t much of a commute compared to the previous ones. Tickets weren’t as good as I was hoping for, 29th row on the far right of the stage. I had a tough time seeing Matt & Boom. But, I guess I really shouldn’t complain, but I was greedy after sitting in the 8th row the night before down in VA & the 7th row in Albany. Why couldn’t I know Peter Gammons, (ESPN Personality & all around baseball guru) who was on the side of the stage for the entire show? He even got a tambourine at the end of Fuckin’ Up. But I digress...

Eddie came out before the Buzzcocks and played Dead Man Walking for the fans lucky enough to get in early. After that, he introduced the Buzzcocks at 7:30. They played for about 45 min, a set very similar to the previous night in VA. Then at exactly 8:55, Pearl Jam hit the stage. I bet if you were to poll the fans in attendance last night as to what they thought the first song would be, no one would have guessed Oceans. There are only three words needed to describe it...Amazing, Amazing, Amazing!!!

In My Tree was a pleasant surprise for me. Stone was playing an acoustic guitar, and the version they played last night is a little altered from the studio track. Evacuation, Whipping followed by Grievance really got the crowd rocking. Earlier in the show, someone threw the American flag on stage, so he used it during Grievance.

Another highlight of the show was when he was talking about Celine Dion. He pondered if she was created by Sony to make money. She is a "robot dog." He was also puzzled why she always beats her chest. He said he usually spits when singing, while she beats her chest...so according to Eddie, she must swallow. The crowd was loving it.

Matt Cameron looked in top form behind the drumkit. At the end of Immortality, he was absolutely insane banging away on the skins like he was. Mike McCready was ripping away on his guitar like nothing you have seen in a long time. He was jumping around on the speakers and running around the stage during Porch. No guitar smash at the end of Porch like the last time they played it in Boston, but nonetheless noteworthy.

Highlights for me during the encores were Smile, Leaving Here & Bu$hleaguer. We were lucky enough to get the Bu$hleaguer performance in full attire, gold jacket & Bush mask. Once again, the flag was used during this song.

Since this is the first night of 3 sold out shows, they didn’t want to repeat any songs at all. Their goal is playing 35 songs over the three nights totaling 105 songs. Unfortunately the noise curfew of 11:00 pm came into play, so they were only able to get in 26 songs. Even with the curfew, this 2 hour & 15 minute show was awe-inspiring. See everyone July 9th in NYC unless I can finagle a ticket to tomorrow night’s show.

Peace,
Chris Breault
Riverside, RI