Ed solo before opening bands: Dead Man, Throw Your Arms Around Me
by Hunters & Collectors
Set list: Breakerfall, Last Exit, Save You, Do The Evolution, Even Flow, Light Years, Sad, Not For You, Whipping, 1/2 Full, Bleed For Me by Dead Kennedys, Blood;
1st encore (acoustic): Millworker by James Taylor (Ed solo), Small Town, Footsteps, Masters of War by Bob Dylan, Crazy Mary by Victoria Williams;
2nd encore: Given To Fly, Daughter/(Song X/War), Insignificance, The New World (by X) with Tim Robbins, Kick out the Jams by MC5;
3rd encore: Alive, Yellow Ledbetter

Sunday 10/3/04- A Day of Firsts

My first time attending a Pearl Jam show alone (or at least I thought) and a first attempt to actually speak with some members of the band. I left my home in Indiana for the 2 hour trek to Grand Rapids beaming from a second-hand hello I received from Ed via a friend who spoke with him in Toledo the day before "-Tell my surfer friend I said 'hello'-" and a great book I wanted to drop on him called Surfing The Great Lakes.

After passing more Bush/Cheney signs than I care to mention, I arrived in Grand Rapids mid-afternoon to more than a few people at the fabulous, luxurious Deltaplex. I've seen more attractive pole barns, but this was home. Nice vibes in the parking lot and genuine conversation taking place. I spoke with some employees who were perplexed as to why this was going down here in Republican country. Spent probably way too much time on camera with the tour videographers but like I told them as a father of 2 active duty Marines, a veteran, ex-steelworker, 40-year-old college freshman and a guy wearing a STOP FACTORY FARMS shirt, I've got a lot to say. And so did plenty of other intelligent, rational people. It was a great afternoon but no chance for any conversation with the band, as they arrived around 5 with waves & smiles from the bus but no time to talk. I did, however, secure a "date" for the evening during the afternoon. My good friend was winging his way towards Grand Rapids from Toledo via the last Tigers game of the season.

Get Right/Sit Tight

Once the smoke cleared, the line appeared out of nowhere and started moving at breakneck speed-THE BREAKNECK SPEED OF JELLO FORMING!! Thank goodness for that tight security or else I might have seen Dead Man!!! It was a beautiful sight, however, to stroll into that metal cube and witness a lovely Throw Your Arms Around Me. After a bit of performance protest, Gob Roberts took the stage fronted by the Jolly Green Giant, Tim Robbins. That dude is SCARY huge. And his band rocked. All apologies to Death Cab For Cutie-we used this time to hydrate on Bud Light (the official beer of Republicans?) and get more right. Not bad, though, from what I did manage to hear.

Let The Games Begin

Breakerfall got things rolling and although not a personal favorite, it energized the crowd and prepared us for the initial assault of Last Exit, Save You, Do The Evolution and Even Flow. Not much conversation during these 5, just an in-your-face hello. Matt and Jeff stand out during this time with Mike tearing down the end of Even Flow. Light Years, for Johnny, slows it down as Stone does the overhead "rap clap" and the crowd digs it. Sad sounds great to hear for the first time but Mike seems a little bummed at losing his pedal effects on the ending. He kind of just waves it off. In my humble opinion, the entire set is predicated on the following 6 songs: an obvious Not For You setting up a blistering Whipping, ˝ Full being further defined by "Cowboy George coming to town" in Bleed For Me and the amazing Blood putting an end to the current electric set. To tweak this thought process by playing Millworker at the beginning of the acoustic set was an act of emotional and professional brilliance. Every bit of everyone's energy, if it wasn't before, is now TOTALLY focused on what we are collectively witnessing. An apt and relevant tale wrapped in a thing of beauty. Thank you.

Bladder issues took me away for Elderly Woman and as I started back to my seat, Footsteps began…and I just stood still right where I was, taking it all in and singing at the top of my lungs. The t-shirt guy probably thought I was high. OK. The new Masters Of War was next and its climactic ending didn't disappoint. Boom was finally dusted off and traded heavy licks with Mike on a rollicking Crazy Mary. Given To Fly is pure adrenaline and very emotional due to the flag antics perpetuated by those who have a limited understanding of what the flag means to the majority of Americans. We may or may not be proud of where we stand in the world or with ourselves right now-trashing and defiling a national symbol is short-term satisfaction and I pity those who choose to do so. Daughter, with the Song X/War tag is highly appropriate and followed by Insignificance and New World to put it in perspective. Kick Out The Jams jostled the crowd hard and paved the way for what was assuredly a set-ending Alive. But once again, Mike truly decides when the show is over and Yellow Ledbetter is played full out, lights on, smoke rising. The band waves goodbye and attempts to leave stage right but redirects stage left for a quick exit to the bus. We hustled out but I believe they left immediately.

Epilogue

An outstanding show by my favorite band, one that continues to grow and stay true to music as an art form and means of expression, both to and from the fans. Probably the hardest rocking and most political (duh) Pearl Jam show I've witnessed in quite some time. I've been doing this for over 12 years and this was the first time I was compelled to try and speak with the band before the show or write a fanview afterwards. The show obviously had impact. But how much? All the rock and roll in the world won't change anything if we don't get off our asses in November and take our country back. Ed, I've still got the book and the height of the Great Lakes surfing season is upon us. Come on out to Indiana for some election year lefts off of the Michigan City pier that can be ridden towards the nuclear plant onshore. Bring your 4/3 suit with boots, gloves, hood and an open mind!

Peace,
Troy
Bigmamakahuna7 AT aol.com

After a long flight in from Salt Lake City, Utah, nothing seemed better then a night with Pearl Jam. The line to get in the door was enormous but well worth the wait. Death cab for Cutie played a loud opening set, but definitely set the mood.

Pearl Jam's opening with Breakerfall was amazing. The band brought everyone in immediately and kept the crowd on their feet. Do the Evolution blasted everyone to a euphoric high of sound and imagery. The show just seemed to never end. The band evoked such energy from the crowd that it felt like the roof was about to be lifted or explode off it's walls. I've never experienced a such heart stopping performance. Eddie couldn't stand still and was constantly draping himself in his shirt as if pulling us all into his head. It was brilliant. Once we all came down the band was jamming out to Blood and just shaking the rafters.

After a little break Eddie talked about all the different bands that would be participating in the movements events, which was welcomed by even more enthusiasm. The 1st encore began soft and just continued to focus the evening on the matter at hand.

Once Crazy Mary ended the buzz from the crowd was infectious. You could feel the vibe and energy surge through the entire room. WHAT WAS NEXT??? We all stood chanting and banging on anything and everything. We couldn't wait for the band to come back.

Given to fly truly set fire to an already ecstatic crowd. Nobody there wanted the night to end. And so it seemed either did Pearl Jam. Before we all knew it Tim Robbins came out and compared to Eddie was just monstrous. Robbins then grabbed a mic as the band ripped through The New World. Nothing could be better then this. I turned to my friend Zach, also from Utah, and exclaimed "That couldn't be it!" The lights weren't on yet and although we had just experienced 2 encores of pure excitement, the show had to go on. And on it did.

Next was one of the most amazing renditions of Alive I've ever seen. It was the anthem of the night. We were all Alive!!!! This feeling continued even as the lights came up. The crowd wanted more. Exhausted and ready to close the night Pearl Jam closed with Yellow Ledbetter. The harmony and reverberation from the band was contagious as the crowd raised their arms too and fro.

This has to be one of the most amazing experiences I've ever lived through, and I would just like to Thank Pearl Jam for giving everyone there something to live for. Their music returned hope where it may have been lost and influence all to make a difference.

Thank you for everything,
Jake Shragge,
Salt Lake City, Utah