I think 5-7 covers in a 3hr show is perfect. There are a few I'd like to see retired and a few that I'd like back in the rotation, but that's just personal preference.
I agree I'd like to see some old ones back in the mix. And shelve some of the current ones that they have been playing the last few years.
First thing I thought when I saw the setlist from last night. Way too many covers! One or two is fine, but they have so much material that they don't need to supplement with covers. I'm sure every band loves playing covers, but most fans don't come to the shows to see a cover band.
I dig covers. The only problem with PJ is that they use certain covers too often. I'd like to hear as many, but from a wider selection of song choices, more surprises, more unexpected one-offs. I want to think, "holy shit, I can't believe they're playing this!" more often, for both covers and tags (not to mention original improvs!). They used to do this more in the old days. Then they got comfortable and less experimental, less risky. But some of their semi-staple covers are still amazing. For me, Love Reign never gets old.
Post edited by PJ_Soul on
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
The covers they play are so often played better than the originals imo. I love hearing their respectful yet creative spin on an already kick ass song. Masters of war is just immense and seems like it should never, ever be played by any other band again. It's like the song finally found its home on mikes guitar and in eds angry, heartfelt passion.
I feel the same for CN.
I actually completely concur on that one too.
5/3/92 Omaha, NE
6/19/95 Red Rocks
9/11/98 MSG
11/19/12 EV solo Tulsa
7/19/13 Wrigley 10/19/13 Brooklyn 2 10/21/13 Philly 1 10/22/13 Philly 2 10/25/13 Hartford
10/08/14 Tulsa 10/09/14 Lincoln
9/26/15 New York City
4/16/16 Greenville 4/28/16 Philly 1 4/29/16 Philly 2 5/1/16 MSG 1 5/2/16 MSG 2 8/7/16 Fenway 2 8/20/16 Wrigley 1 4/7/17 RRHOF New York City 9/02/18 Fenway 1 9/04/2018 Fenway 2 9/18/21 Asbury Park 9/11/22 New York City 9/14/22 Camden
So here are the covers from last night (at least how I would define them):
Rain - perfect context for this show. Great idea, great song.
Masters of War - I have no understanding for anyone that wouldn't want all their family and friends to experience the emotion attached to this song. Seriously, this 5 minutes was worth the price of admission. No joke.
I Am A Patriot - Loved this fast version. Again, not sure why anyone would want to deprive future crowds from experiencing this song as it was played.
I Believe In Miracles - C'mon..given the context/introduction it made great sense and was a great choice.
Comfortably Numb - Just stop. I would have been happy to have hit rewind and replay this one. Plus the intro of Eddie sitting on the rocks and dreaming of the possibilities of life. Seriously...stop.
Surrender - I mean maybe they could have skipped this one but I thought the crowd reacted quite well. I know my section did.
Baba - Loved it.
So there you have it. Which ones would you have eliminated? I thought each added to the show and each had quite a bit of emotion.
Rain Masters of War I Am A Patriot I Believe In Miracles Comfortably Numb Surrender Baba So there you have it. Which ones would you have eliminated? I thought each added to the show and each had quite a bit of emotion.
Wow that is a big chunk in a setlist that is not PJ songs. All that is missing is Sonic Reducer - what a mood killer, no Pearl Jam fan wants to hear this live. I realize we all get old but enough drawing on the nostalgia already and play some fucking Pearl Jam.
i don't mind the covers. I think the juxtaposition of masters of war and patriot last night were great. I do wish they'd had played something off Riot Act. They're reissuing No Code next month and didn't play anything off that as well. You may have convinced a new fan seeing them the first time to try out the new record. I'd of gladly traded any of the other covers for at least one song off each album. I understand they recently started playing CN and it was new for Chicago, I think it's being over used though. Then they immediately go to interstellar. That's 2 Pink Floyd covers in a row?
They can play whatever they like. I'm just glad they're playing. I think a lot of fans would just like to hear some of those gems from the late 90s/early 2000s. Even a great song like Getaway off of LB has been played just one more time than CN and is generally well received among the fans. The covers are great when they surprise you. Rain was a great example last night. I think most of us knew we had a good chance to hear CN long before we got in to Wrigley. It's a great cover though, I just like it when the band is less predictable.
I love the covers, and it really doesn't bother me if they do a lot of them. In fact, I tend to buy the bootlegs that have covers that aren't played too often.
The only time covers bother me is after the show when I look at the setlist and see originals scratched. When they're bumping up against curfew I'd like to see the covers scratched and the originals played. In the end though the show they did play is invariably awesome. No matter what songs did it didn't make the cut.
I'm glad some folks felt the same way I did about the Saturday show. Just way too many covers. Too many obscure covers for the non-hardcore fans. I just want to hear some Pearl Jam. I love this band and love going to their shows. I just want to hear them play their music. Their catalog is so vast. It takes away from the really good covers when you water down a show like that.
It's OK to not love absolutely everything a band does. I don't understand why some people have to agree with absolutely every choice a band makes and everything they do. That was my 16th show on Saturday and it was easily the lamest setlist. The band still sounded great and it was still a beautiful night. It does demean my experience or anybody else's to just be honest about the choice of songs. You play 7 full covers alongside multiple Backspacer & LB tracks. I'm not sure who that is for. That said, I have no doubt that tonight is going to be epic/awesome. Let's hear a beautiful Given to Fly, maybe rip some Not for You, and have an epic Rearviewmirror. Just a few predictions but we'll all find out soon enough. Have a great show tonight everyone!
Oct 00 - East Troy aka The Ice Bowl
Apr 03 - Champaign
Jun 03 - East Troy
May 06 - Chicago
Jun 06 - Summerfest 1 & 2
Aug 09 - Chicago 1 & 2
May 10 - Noblesville
Sept 11 - PJ20 1 & 2
July 13 - Wrigley
Oct 13 - Pittsburgh
Oct 14 - Moline & Milwaukee
Aug 16 - Wrigley 1 & 2
Comments
But some of their semi-staple covers are still amazing. For me, Love Reign never gets old.
6/19/95 Red Rocks
9/11/98 MSG
11/19/12 EV solo Tulsa
7/19/13 Wrigley 10/19/13 Brooklyn 2 10/21/13 Philly 1 10/22/13 Philly 2 10/25/13 Hartford
10/08/14 Tulsa 10/09/14 Lincoln
9/26/15 New York City
4/16/16 Greenville 4/28/16 Philly 1 4/29/16 Philly 2 5/1/16 MSG 1 5/2/16 MSG 2 8/7/16 Fenway 2 8/20/16 Wrigley 1
4/7/17 RRHOF New York City
9/02/18 Fenway 1 9/04/2018 Fenway 2
9/18/21 Asbury Park
9/11/22 New York City
9/14/22 Camden
98 Hartford
10 Hartford
13 Hartford
14 Denver
16 MSG 1+2, Fenway 2
leep
London, ON - Sep 12, 2005
Toronto, ON - Aug 21, 2009
Toronto, ON- Sep 11 2011
Hamilton, ON- Sep 15 2011
London, ON- Jul 16 2013
Buffalo, NY- Oct 12 2013
I hope the cover Photograph next!
Rain - perfect context for this show. Great idea, great song.
Masters of War - I have no understanding for anyone that wouldn't want all their family and friends to experience the emotion attached to this song. Seriously, this 5 minutes was worth the price of admission. No joke.
I Am A Patriot - Loved this fast version. Again, not sure why anyone would want to deprive future crowds from experiencing this song as it was played.
I Believe In Miracles - C'mon..given the context/introduction it made great sense and was a great choice.
Comfortably Numb - Just stop. I would have been happy to have hit rewind and replay this one. Plus the intro of Eddie sitting on the rocks and dreaming of the possibilities of life. Seriously...stop.
Surrender - I mean maybe they could have skipped this one but I thought the crowd reacted quite well. I know my section did.
Baba - Loved it.
So there you have it. Which ones would you have eliminated? I thought each added to the show and each had quite a bit of emotion.
All that is missing is Sonic Reducer - what a mood killer, no Pearl Jam fan wants to hear this live.
I realize we all get old but enough drawing on the nostalgia already and play some fucking Pearl Jam.
They can play whatever they like. I'm just glad they're playing. I think a lot of fans would just like to hear some of those gems from the late 90s/early 2000s. Even a great song like Getaway off of LB has been played just one more time than CN and is generally well received among the fans. The covers are great when they surprise you. Rain was a great example last night. I think most of us knew we had a good chance to hear CN long before we got in to Wrigley. It's a great cover though, I just like it when the band is less predictable.
2008: 6/20 Camden, NJ
2009: 10/28 Philadelphia, PA
2013: 10/22 Philadelphia, PA; 10/27 Baltimore, MD
2016: 4/20/ Raleigh, NC; 4/28 Philadelphia, PA; 4/29 Philadelphia, PA; 8/20 Chicago, IL
3. Surrender (we're all alright!!!!!! We're all alright!!)
2. Inside Job (Gleason intro--- wow)
1. Masters of War (find a video and watch it. Now. )
"...I changed by not changing at all..."
It's OK to not love absolutely everything a band does. I don't understand why some people have to agree with absolutely every choice a band makes and everything they do. That was my 16th show on Saturday and it was easily the lamest setlist. The band still sounded great and it was still a beautiful night. It does demean my experience or anybody else's to just be honest about the choice of songs. You play 7 full covers alongside multiple Backspacer & LB tracks. I'm not sure who that is for. That said, I have no doubt that tonight is going to be epic/awesome. Let's hear a beautiful Given to Fly, maybe rip some Not for You, and have an epic Rearviewmirror. Just a few predictions but we'll all find out soon enough. Have a great show tonight everyone!
Apr 03 - Champaign
Jun 03 - East Troy
May 06 - Chicago
Jun 06 - Summerfest 1 & 2
Aug 09 - Chicago 1 & 2
May 10 - Noblesville
Sept 11 - PJ20 1 & 2
July 13 - Wrigley
Oct 13 - Pittsburgh
Oct 14 - Moline & Milwaukee
Aug 16 - Wrigley 1 & 2