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Better Opener?

Grandmas JamGrandmas Jam Posts: 1,860
edited June 2009 in The Porch
Alright I wanted to throw up a little question to the masses. My friend and I have been having this arguement for the past few years about which song is a better open to a Pearl Jam show and I wanted to finally settle the score with him. Which song would you rather hear (or do you think is more appropriate to open a show) "Hard To Imagine" or "Release"?

My vote is "Hard To Imagine" and the 2008 tour solidified that in my mind. Listen to the shows it opened last year.
Ryan Crooks insists upon himself
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    Vedderman23Vedderman23 Posts: 856
    I've always been a fan of Release opening, either one works for me though.
    "Fuck the talkin', let's start rocking." - E.V. 9-5-00

    8/25/98, 8/21/00, 9/5/00, 4/26/03, 5/3/03, 6/24/03, 9/28/05, 10/03/05, 5/20/06, 6/23/06, EV 8/16/08, EV 6/18/09, 5/20/10, 9/15/11, 10/11/13, 10/27/13, 10/1/14, 8/20/16, 8/22/16, TOTD 11/7/16, 8/18/18, 9/2/18, 9/4/18, 9/11/22, 9/14/22, 9/10/23 coming soon
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    satansbedsatansbed Posts: 2,138
    i would be awkward and say present tense :lol::lol:
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    Grandmas JamGrandmas Jam Posts: 1,860
    Well if I had my way, Can't Keep would open every show
    Ryan Crooks insists upon himself
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    slightofjeffslightofjeff Posts: 7,759
    Grandmas Jam wrote:
    Alright I wanted to throw up a little question to the masses. My friend and I have been having this arguement for the past few years about which song is a better open to a Pearl Jam show and I wanted to finally settle the score with him. Which song would you rather hear (or do you think is more appropriate to open a show) "Hard To Imagine" or "Release"?

    My vote is "Hard To Imagine" and the 2008 tour solidified that in my mind. Listen to the shows it opened last year.

    I vote for both.

    And since I went to both MSG shows last year, I got my wish ;)
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
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    PJFAN_seattlePJFAN_seattle Posts: 2,965
    I vote on Hard To Imagine
    Shows:
    Seattle Key Arena 9-21-2009
    Seattle Key Arena 9-22-2009
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    PearlJamPatriotPearlJamPatriot Posts: 2,426
    Ive seen both more than once. My vote is for Hard To Imagine. But to be honest. You cant go wrong either way.
    Pearl Jam Shows: 1998 - 9/11 New York, NY (MSG night 2); 9/13 Hartford, CT || 2000 - 8/24 Wantagh, NY (Jones Beach 2); 8/27 Saratoga Springs; 8/29 Mansfield, MA (night 1); 8/30 Mansfield, MA (night 2) || 2003 - 4/29 Albany, NY; 5/3 State College, PA; 7/2 Mansfield (night 1); 7/6 Camden, NJ (night 2); 7/8 New York, NY (MSG night 1) || 2004 - 9/28 Boston, MA (night 1); 9/29 Boston, MA (night 2) || 2005 - 10/3 Philadelphia, PA || 2006 - 5/12 Albany, NY; 5/13 Hartford, CT; 5/24 Boston, MA (night 1); 5/25 Boston, MA (night 2); 5/27 Camden, NJ (night 1); 5/28 Camden, NJ (night 2)|| 2008 - 6/19 Camden, NJ (night 1); 6/24 New York, NY (MSG night 1); 6/25 New York, NY (MSG night 2); 6/27 Hartford, CT; 6/28 Mansfield, MA (night 1); 6/30 Mansfield, MA (night 2); 7/1 New York, NY (Beacon Theater)|| 2009 - 9/21 Seattle, WA (night 1); 9/22 Seattle, WA (night 2); 10/27 Philadelphia, PA (Spectrum night 1); 10/28 Philadelphia, PA (Spectrum night 2); 10/30 Philadelphia, PA (Spectrum night 3); 10/31 Philadelphia, PA (Spectrum night 4)|| 2010 - 5/15 Hartford, CT; 5/17 Boston, MA; 5/20 New York, NY (MSG night 1); 5/21 New York, NY (MSG night 2)|| 2011 - 9/3 East Troy, WI (PJ20); 9/4 East Troy, WI (PJ20) || 2012 - 9/2 Philadelphia, PA, 9/30 Missoula, MT || 2013 - 7/19 Chicago, IL (Wrigley Field), 10/12 Buffalo, NY, 10/15 Worcester, MA (night 1), 10/16 Worcester, MA (night 2), 10/18 Brooklyn, NY (night 1), 10/19 Brooklyn, NY (night 2), 10/25 Hartford, CT || 2014 - 10/22 Denver, CO || 2015 -  9/26 New York, NY (Global Citizen Festival) || 2016 - 5/1 New York, NY (night 1), 5/2 New York, NY (night 2), 8/5 Boston, MA (Fenway Park night 1), 8/7 Boston, MA (Fenway Park night 2) || 2018 - 9/2 Boston, MA (Fenway Park night 1) || 2020 - 3/30 New York, NY
    Eddie Vedder solo: 2008 - Boston night 1 & 2 || 2009 - Albany, NY night 1 & 2 || 2011 - Hartford, CT, Boston, MA

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    nukebootnukeboot Posts: 1,465
    They opened their first show with Release, so I was really glad to get it at MSG.

    Both are great though.
    EdSurfingSig_zpsgmyltito.jpg
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me...
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    demetriosdemetrios Canada Posts: 88,083
    i've alway's wanted pearl jam to open with hard to imagin then close with release!
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    LukinFanLukinFan Florida Posts: 29,017
    neither, I say "Oceans" :mrgreen:
    www.RLMcDaniel.com

    1996: Ft Lauderdale
    1998: Birmingham
    2000: Charlotte, Tampa
    2003: Tampa, Atlanta, Phoenix
    2004: Kissimmee
    2008: West Palm Beach, Bonnaroo, Columbia
    2010: MSG2
    2012: Music Midtown
    2014: Memphis
    2016: Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, JazzFest
    2018: Wrigley 1, Fenway 1
    2022: Nashville
    2023: Ft. Worth II
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    DewieCoxDewieCox Posts: 11,413
    Release

    HTI is overrated.
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    demetriosdemetrios Canada Posts: 88,083
    if i had to go in alone on an sweet pearl jam opener, would have to go for 'inside job'.
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    Stephen FlowStephen Flow Posts: 3,327
    I really love HTI but I'm going to go with Release here if we're just talking those two songs...

    If we're not I'll take Oceans since I've never seen it live.
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    pjtradekingpjtradeking Posts: 4,045
    DewieCox wrote:

    HTI is overrated.
    OH NO YOU DIDNT!!! ;-)
    Never, ever, flipping forget
    "Free Shipping" SPEEDY MCCREADY

    My friend was going to see Eddie last night. Since he was in Vegas, I gave him 5 Grand to gamble with. I told him I wanted it all to go on Black. Bastard! PhillyCrownOfThorns-11-2-12
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    AnglaisAnglais Posts: 83
    Release
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    pjtradekingpjtradeking Posts: 4,045
    For the purposes of this question, I will choose release, but if I had my choice.....LONG ROAD EVERY TIME!! :-)
    Never, ever, flipping forget
    "Free Shipping" SPEEDY MCCREADY

    My friend was going to see Eddie last night. Since he was in Vegas, I gave him 5 Grand to gamble with. I told him I wanted it all to go on Black. Bastard! PhillyCrownOfThorns-11-2-12
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    Grandmas JamGrandmas Jam Posts: 1,860
    How could anyone ever say "Hard To Imagine" is overrated?!?!?!?!? That's like saying Machu Picchu is overrated
    Ryan Crooks insists upon himself
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    Grandmas JamGrandmas Jam Posts: 1,860
    And was anyone at Hartford 08? No love to "Can't Keep" as an opener. That was the only appropriate way to open a show that ridiculous
    Ryan Crooks insists upon himself
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    DB206465DB206465 Posts: 53
    You know the show is starting when you hear ......................


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ud1tR_z ... re=related
    - Given to fly
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    demetriosdemetrios Canada Posts: 88,083
    Grandmas Jam wrote:
    And was anyone at Hartford 08? No love to "Can't Keep" as an opener. That was the only appropriate way to open a show that ridiculous

    i was at the show! day i'll never forget! 8-)
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    OkOk Posts: 2,144
    demetrios wrote:
    Grandmas Jam wrote:
    And was anyone at Hartford 08? No love to "Can't Keep" as an opener. That was the only appropriate way to open a show that ridiculous

    i was at the show! day i'll never forget! 8-)

    yep, was there as well!!! unforgetable! But I vote for Release as my opener of choice.
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    BrainofBGABrainofBGA Australia Posts: 3,989
    id vote for release over HTI although Long Road, i tip my hat to you!
    Melbourne #1 '98
    Melbourne #2 '03
    Melbourne #3 '03
    Melbourne #1 '06
    Melbourne #3 '06
    Melbourne '09
    Melbourne '14
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    Mindless DrifterMindless Drifter Posts: 210
    lol to be honest for an opener i think itd be awesome for them to just go into even flow or something immense
    maybe alive too, you know screw up the rules abit
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    mrveddersonmrvedderson Posts: 784
    i liked how they opened with Why Go at lolla in 07, but i thought hard to imagine was different enought to put me on a loop
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    dimitrispearljamdimitrispearljam NINUNINOPRO Posts: 139,314
    ON THIS TWO....COUSE I WAS ON BOTH MSG,,DEFENTLY ..REALESE ME,,,,,,BUT GENERAL????
    .......GO.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :ugeek:
    "...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
    "..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
    “..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
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    SPEEDY MCCREADYSPEEDY MCCREADY Posts: 24,847
    Grandmas Jam wrote:
    Alright I wanted to throw up a little question to the masses. My friend and I have been having this arguement for the past few years about which song is a better open to a Pearl Jam show and I wanted to finally settle the score with him. Which song would you rather hear (or do you think is more appropriate to open a show) "Hard To Imagine" or "Release"?

    My vote is "Hard To Imagine" and the 2008 tour solidified that in my mind. Listen to the shows it opened last year.
    Release.........
    Take me piece by piece.....
    Till there aint nothing left worth taking away from me.....
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    AtlantaJammerAtlantaJammer Posts: 2,611
    Either one. Ive seen both as an opener, I would like to see Long Road opener...
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    glorified G is hereglorified G is here Posts: 419
    Release. I'll ride the wave where it takes me. Love that line and it puts me in the mood for a helluva show every time!
    7/28/1992 Lollapalooza Cincinnati, 9/22/1996 Toledo, 8/20/2000 Cincinnati, 6/24/2006 Cincinnati, 8/5/2007 Lollapalooza Chicago @ Grant Park, EV solo 8/21/2008 Chicago @ Auditorium Theater
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    Pearl JamesPearl James Pittsburgh/Chicago Posts: 420
    We need to get Eddie the Accordian back and play Bugs, now thats an opener.
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    The FixerThe Fixer Posts: 12,837
    LukinFan wrote:
    neither, I say "Oceans" :mrgreen:

    Couldn't agree more...WPB last summer was amazing!!!

    Wash would be my #2...amazing hearing that as the opener

    I'd take Release over HTI though if I had a choice (though both are great)

    can't go wrong...every show is awesome...can't wait for the chicago shows!!!
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    jimed14jimed14 Posts: 9,488
    Favorite opener ... Of the Girl ... I'll take that one over all others mentioned.

    While it was a little too up tempo at San Francisco in 2006 ... in Mansfield, 8/29/2000 ... simply beautiful!

    I'd rank the other regulars I've heard as such:

    Hard to Imagine
    Release
    Can't Keep
    Sometimes
    Oceans

    Please note, I rank these 1 - 1a, 1b, etc ... as no matter where I am, it's the beginning of a PJ show, so, I'm going to be freakin' ecstatic no matter what.

    I didn't put Wash above, as it's played so rarely, but, hearing them kick off Mansfield 2 last year with it was outstanding.
    "You're one of the few Red Sox fans I don't mind." - Newch91

    "I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass." --- Pedro Martinez
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