June 24, 1995--November 4th, 1995--August 28th, 2009
JohnPanama
Posts: 17
I remember it being a rare fogless summer day in San Francisco. This would be my first Peal Jam show and I couldn't have been more psyched. The day is etched in memory. A sea of people swaying back and forth to "rockin' in a free world". This would be the last song by Neil Young before Pearl Jam took the stage. I was cocooned amongst tens of thousands of fans, sun shining directly on our faces, gleeful anticipation, sweat, smiles, eyes locked on the stage, closing for the sun, taking it all in.
Pearl Jam played three songs and then there was a pause. Quiet. Uncertainty. Mild crowd unrest. A man walked on stage and said Eddie was on his way to the hospital with food poisoning. Pearl Jam with Eddie as the front man was done for the day. Neil Young would soldier in his place. Elevator to the floor.
Looking back I'm sure I saw those rarest of shows. A rocking show it was, but, it wasn't Pearl jam.
They would return to play Spartan Stadium on November 4, 1995. I was attending San Jose State at the time, in my final year of fraternity life, so this would be my going out party. I remember walking up the steps to Spartan Stadium, pretty damn f-cked up, and looked up to see someone I knew from High School. I exclaimed, "Chris!" He deadpanned, "no, it's Chad". I put my head back down and continued walking up the steps immediately. Laughing in spite of myself. Never liked the guy anyway. Matter of fact, I laughed my ass off.
Down on the field, not more than 15 rows of people from the stage, the stage quieted, and what began was a day of epic proportions. Release. The perfect opening song to a throng of rabid fans who wanted nothing more to forget the polo fields day and rock till their hearts stopped to their favorite band in the universe. Eddie has this way of connecting with the crowd that is written about rather extensively. It's real. From the opening verse the crowd was his. He connected like a plug into a socket and never let off the gas.
I cannot overstate the importance of this day in my life. Recently, a therapist asked me, "When was the last time you can recall being really happy for an extended period of time"? I had to think about it for a while, and what came were just instances in my life where I had a truly tremendous day. November 4th, 1995 was a day I would relive over and over and over. True living. Nothing held back. Animal instinct. Pure enjoyment.
Porch. Release. Indifference. Evenflow. When Porch was played it was as rousing a version as I've ever heard. Just people playing music at the rawest level. Over 50,000 people without a thing holding them back enjoying it as much as something can be enjoyed.
That's a Pearl Jam Concert.
This may come as a shock, but I've not seen them play since that life-altering November day.
This Friday's show at the Outside Lands Festival in Golden Gate Park....at the Polo Fields...marks the first time I've seen them since then.
So back to the place where I first saw them perform, albeit for only three songs.
I can't wait.
Feel free to share your story... : )
Pearl Jam played three songs and then there was a pause. Quiet. Uncertainty. Mild crowd unrest. A man walked on stage and said Eddie was on his way to the hospital with food poisoning. Pearl Jam with Eddie as the front man was done for the day. Neil Young would soldier in his place. Elevator to the floor.
Looking back I'm sure I saw those rarest of shows. A rocking show it was, but, it wasn't Pearl jam.
They would return to play Spartan Stadium on November 4, 1995. I was attending San Jose State at the time, in my final year of fraternity life, so this would be my going out party. I remember walking up the steps to Spartan Stadium, pretty damn f-cked up, and looked up to see someone I knew from High School. I exclaimed, "Chris!" He deadpanned, "no, it's Chad". I put my head back down and continued walking up the steps immediately. Laughing in spite of myself. Never liked the guy anyway. Matter of fact, I laughed my ass off.
Down on the field, not more than 15 rows of people from the stage, the stage quieted, and what began was a day of epic proportions. Release. The perfect opening song to a throng of rabid fans who wanted nothing more to forget the polo fields day and rock till their hearts stopped to their favorite band in the universe. Eddie has this way of connecting with the crowd that is written about rather extensively. It's real. From the opening verse the crowd was his. He connected like a plug into a socket and never let off the gas.
I cannot overstate the importance of this day in my life. Recently, a therapist asked me, "When was the last time you can recall being really happy for an extended period of time"? I had to think about it for a while, and what came were just instances in my life where I had a truly tremendous day. November 4th, 1995 was a day I would relive over and over and over. True living. Nothing held back. Animal instinct. Pure enjoyment.
Porch. Release. Indifference. Evenflow. When Porch was played it was as rousing a version as I've ever heard. Just people playing music at the rawest level. Over 50,000 people without a thing holding them back enjoying it as much as something can be enjoyed.
That's a Pearl Jam Concert.
This may come as a shock, but I've not seen them play since that life-altering November day.
This Friday's show at the Outside Lands Festival in Golden Gate Park....at the Polo Fields...marks the first time I've seen them since then.
So back to the place where I first saw them perform, albeit for only three songs.
I can't wait.
Feel free to share your story... : )
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Did you go to SJSU Fall Sememster 1993? Pearl Jam played at Spartan Stadium then, also. I was a first year freshman there at that time. I stayed at Joe West Dorms. I visited the campus on my way home from Bridge School Show in October 2006. They sure have done a lot of remodeling and stuff. SJSU is a different looking campus than it was in 1993.
I have similar feelings about the show. It was also my first and Spartan Stadium also goes down in my book as one of the best days of my life. Those dates actually are still etched into my memory and every year when they come along I try and play the boot i have from Spartan... SO GOOD. My most important double disc set actually.
I am also so excited to go back to where it all began. Unlike you I have been following since that day and have been to probably more than 40 shows. Regardless I can't wait to go back to where it all began and see how they do and what Ed has to say about playing there when he finally has the chance. He actually got off 7 songs not three... (I have this boot too) and the speech he made when he left the stage was sad and heartfelt. You couldn't help but feel for the guy. What a disaster that day was though... SO MANY PEOPLE in that field... It was sand and amazing at the same time.
I can't wait for tomorow. I'll be there photographing the show and can't wait to see all the fans from all over who've come to SF to see Ed and the boys actually finish a set on the great Polo Fields of San Francisco.
I hope its as good as Spartan Stadium was becuase no show (Besides the Vic) that I've seen has ever come close to its level of amazement. I also have never felt so free and happy like I did that day.
Stoked. Stoked Stoked.
Have fun!
Somehow as Pearl Jam was about to hit the stage we were in front..only feet from the railing in the middle. As Pearl Jam took the stage Eddie looked happy in sunglasses and a bluish collared shirt. Then a crush of 25,000 fans on the floor came forward. The first drum notes of Last Exit began to beat in and the crowd began to jump up and down and take hold. I was RIGHT there in front!!! It was incredible!!! But the force of all the people behind was like nothing I had ever experienced. It was hard to breathe. I looked over and there was a guy who was lierally blue. We grabbed him and helped him up so he could surf over the railing. There we lots of girls who we had to help get out over the railing in the front.
They then let into a succession of Spin the Black Circle, Go and Animal. By the time they played Tremor Christ and we got a breather, my friends were no longer to be found..lost in sea of people. I was exhausted by the crush of people. They played Courduroy and Eddie started to look sick..in fact he threw up a little. Not For You was next and it was clear Eddie didn't have any energy. Either did I. Though it pained me I had to drop back and get some air. I moved back and realized I would never get back up to the front again. When Not For You ended..the band left the stage. A promotor came out and said Eddie was sick but Neil Young would come out till Eddie felt better. This act alone prevented a riot I'm sure. Neil was great and most watched, but it wasn't Pearl Jam. I actually found my friends later near a booth far away from the stage...miraculous with all those people. It was so hot all of us had blisters on our heads from the sun. I gave away my tickets to my sister to the make up show in San Jose, but saw them 2 times in Novemebr of 1995 in San Diego.
So when they anounced they would be playing Golden Gate Park again, I had to go. I don't know why but I needed to. I hate large crowds, and parking and getting out will be a mess, but it is the 33 year old man saying to the 18 year old kid..hey I still remember...I still rock....I haven't changed too much..
So when Eddie and the rest hit the stage..I hope they rememebr too..because this is the real make up show for me and many others...
My next Pearl Jam concert didn't come again until June 2003. Ten years. They hadn't toured across Canada since 1993. Of course they played the staples in Canada; Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, as all bands do, but they never made the trek through the prairies again until 2005. So they were hitting Fargo in 2003 (and I had to miss Father's Day with my Dad, but a music lover himself, he understood), so my now-wife and I decided to take the trip. And so did a whole shit-load of other Canadians. Including a whole whack of people I knew.
That show was full circle for me. It was on the Riot Act tour, so the beginning of the PJ set started with Eddie singing Arc solo. I got a warm rush all over my body, and no word of a lie, I started to cry. It was a beautiful night. My friends always mock me for that story, but this band has meant so much to me over the years in my mental and emotional well being, of course it had that kind of effect on me. I was in awe the whole show. And I couldn't even party after the show with all my fellow Canadians. I felt sick to my stomach. I think the emotional aspect of the show was too much to handle, so I had to go straight to bed. And I NEVER miss a party (back then, when I was younger, anyway), so it really took a toll on me obviously.
Then the show in 2005 in my hometown. I was so stoked. Twelve years after they had come last. Had really good seats with my wife. The band played for what seemed like an eternity. Then the house lights came on. No one left. Not even the band. They kept playing. I can't even fit the download of the show on 2-80 minute cd's. I don't know if the rest of the tour was like that, but it was special for me. I had a blast. I listen to that show and the Fargo show boots often. I relive them.
I just wish they hadn't left Arc off the 2003 boots. That's the performance that brought all my emotions to the forefront. I want to hear it again. So beautiful.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
My first too!!!! after the original date canceled.
AND---my son JUST started at SJSU on Monday AND Staying in Joe West Dorms!!! Small world!
and his 10-speed just got stolen there yesterday :(
Where I'm not ugly and you're lookin' at me