Ed solo before opening band: Throw Your Arms Around Me
Set List: Can't Keep, Brain Of J., Save You, Do The Evolution, Spin The Black Circle, Green Disease, Cropduster, Given To Fly, Even Flow, Faithfull, Wishlist, Rockin' In The Free World, 1/2 Full, Love Boat Captain, Breath, I Believe In Miracles, Corduroy, Rearviewmirror;
1st encore: Last Exit, Better Man, Down, Black, Blood;
2nd encore: You've Got to Hide Your Love Away, Last Kiss, Baba O'Riley, Yellow Ledbetter

Photo credit: The Hutson's

After Even Flow, Faithfull was absolutely awesome. Wishlist was a welcome addition, but then Eddie commented on hearing explosions overhead. The fireworks over the river were going on, Philadelphia’s famous display for the weekend of the 4th. We could see the lights reflecting off of the buildings of the city skyline from the pavilion (I don’t know if those on the lawn could actually see the fireworks that must’ve been awesome if they did) but in the spirit of the USA PJ played RITFW right in the middle of the set!!!! And it was funny cause no one really knew what to do for a second afterwards, Eddie said, “Usually we say good night, thank you at this point but we’re gonna keep playing” and the next few songs blew me away. ½ Full and LBC which are tied for my favorites off of Riot Act followed by Breath which although will never top the September 1st version in Philly three years ago was still amazing. Then a tribute to the Ramones with I Believe in Miracles and two great closing songs for the first set Corduroy (one of the best versions I’ve ever heard, I believe) and RVM (another amazing performance of this song). Eager for more, PJ continued to please the crowd with Last Exit, Betterman, and Down (which I love!!!!) Black (a great singalong as usual) and Blood (The crowd surprised me by knowing this one so well). Then 2nd encore was great with Hide Your Love Away, Last Kiss (which is what my mom wanted to hear so badly!!) Baba (so much fun) and Ledbetter. So as always, I was sad to see them go, but I’m eager again to do it all tonight.

I’m hoping for In Hiding tonight, I’ve never heard PJ do that live…wouldn’t that be a fun opener? I would love to get some random B-sides though like “U” or what everyone in the world would love to hear “Black, Red, Yellow” (I’ve become recently obsessed with this song). And I hope Smile and Fortunate Son are in there somewhere…so we’ll see how my predictions go.

I don't think words can really describe the show tonight. It was my first PJ show and it certainly isn't my last. I'll be there tomorrow, July 8,9,12, &14. I am absolutely pumped after this show. They opened up with Can't Keep and Mike was already running around. They immediately jumped into Brain of J which I really wanted to hear. The show was extremely rockin' at the start. So much energy through the whole thing. Save You, and then a DTE so early in the set was awesome!! What really topped the whole thing off was Rockin' in the Free World before any Encore! There were fireworks going on and they decided to play Rockin' in the Free World because of them. At least that's what I thought. Faithfull was nice, I was really happy to see that come out. During Last Exit, Jeff was running around all over the stage, back and forth. It was awesome, he was having a great time as was the rest of the band. What was really cool though during Blood, Eddie just started singing Bow wow wow yippie yo yippie yay. It was hilarious. I'm still so excited, it's 3:44 right now in the morning. I just walked in the door. Met some awesome people and had an awesome time. I can't wait for tomorrow. Hope the band is in such awesome form as they were tonight, I'm sure they will be. It's bedtime, gotta prepare for another awesome day tomorrow!

Goodnight.
Scott.

Photo credit: The Hutson's

Being that is was July 5th in (or near) Philadelphia I had a feeling it would be a special night- I was not disappointed. Freedoms were celebrated and the band was on fire all night. A beautiful 'Can't Keep' runs into scorching renditions of 'Brain of J', 'Save You', 'DTE' and 'STBC'... This was a high energy show throughout and we were loving every second. During 'Wishlist' firework explosions could be heard (and seen by a few) over the skies of philly which Ed commented on and led to an extremely rare mid-set 'Rockin In The Free World'- hands down one of the best versions of the song I have heard them do. The band seem in great spirits as they were animated the entire night and Ed was very interactive with the crowd. 'Breath' is always great to hear and if you are familiar with the 'Breath' campaign that began in 1998 at the Meadowlands in New Jersey and culminated with the playing of the song at MSG2 (98') it seems like a New Jersey staple now.

A fantastic version of 'I Believe In Miracles' was dedicated to Joey and Dee Dee Ramone which led into 'Corduroy' and another killer performance of 'Rearviewmirror' to close the 1st set. Before the 2nd Set began a buddy I was with turned to me and said, "think they will play 'Last Exit?"... and with that the opening riff to 'Last Exit' begins! 'Down' is turning into a favorite of mine and I was amazed at how many people knew the song (and the lyrics). At this point I did not expect 'Blood' because I assumed Ed's voice was being worked over due to the set but no-shame on me for doubting-this version of 'Blood' was played with so much fury and passion it gave me chills. 'Baba O' Riley' is the exclamation point on the evening for me... The crowd response during this whole song was unforgettable... Another great rendition of Ledbetter and the band assemble center-stage, lock arms, and bow in unison.

For 150 minutes last night 20,000+ people were dancing, singing, and smiling and everything was right with the world. Thank you to Pearl Jam and the 20,000 in attendance for reminding me how good life is.

-SC

The band started their set with the new track Can't Keep, Ed contributed the line "it could be wonderful tonight" at that moment, I was completely unaware of the extent of what was meant by that and how prolific that line became for the night.

Prior to the Buzzcock's amazing set, Ed came out and began to play Throw Your Arms Around Me...then Parting Ways...then Throw Your Arms Around Me...then Parting Ways again ... finally he made up his mind with Throw Your Arms Around Me ... a wonderful start for the night.

Photo credit: The Hutson's

PJ's set was incredible...starting of course with Can't Keep, then moving into a lot of rockin stuff...like Brain of J, Spin the Black Circle, and one of my favorites from the latest record, Green Disease...later came the always beautiful Given to Fly followed by the always amazing Mike solo in Even Flow. A pair from Yield followed, Faithful and Wishlist...which had an unbelievable political moment with Ed adding wishes to the list and reflecting on significance of July 4th. Fireworks could been seen/heard from the venue, so Ed extemporaneously decided to do a fireworks song...Rockin in the Free World, its the first time I've seen that one with the lights off. Later the band played another favorite of mine off Riot Act, LBC, and played Breath...the 1st time I'd seen that one live, they also added the Ramones cover I Believe in Miracles, and closed out the first set with the always entrancing RVM. Highlights of the 1st encore were with the beautiful Black and the kick ass Blood, with a cool/funny Vedder vocal thing. And encore, Ed came out and tied Hide Your Love Away to the political structure today...then the band played the amazing Baba O'Riley and the unexpected Yellow Ledbetter...capping off a wonderful set.

After the show me and my girlfriend met some incredible people while waiting for the band...its truly amazing the connections that are made through the common love for PJ's music...its something that can't be recreated in any other fashion under any other circumstance. All this in itself created a wonderful evening, but Ed decided to make it as wonderful as he hoped it would turn into at the night's beginning...but I'll spare the details about that.

peace/love
-parker