Best Pearl Jam Show Ever?

restlesssoul

Gorge 05
Boston 94
Randalls Island II
Seattle 2000 II
Mansfield 2003 July 11th
ATL 94


off the top of my head those are top candidates IMO

Seattle 2000 is still the greatest PJ show I've attended.

SPEEDY MCCREADY

cincy..........

slightofjeff

YourDirtisMyfood wrote:

I loved when Immortality was busted out and when the girl was on stage and is one of my favorite PJ shows that I've attended. But would I put it up with Atlanta 94 as far as being that super-special show that is legendary? Probably not.

Atlanta '94 will always be legendary because it was one of the first shows (or perhaps THE first), to be broadcast live over the radio. Subsequently, it was the first high-quality bootleg that everybody on Earth seemed to have as a band.

Remember, this was long before we had access to a soundboard-quality recording of every single show. As such, Atlanta '94 was like gold.

I wore that tape out during the sumer of '94, and eventually had to buy it on CD for like $50 or something. Everybody I knew knew this show. So it definitely gets mentioned as one of the classics.

I'd put Soldier Field '95 in the same category, for the same reason. It was on the radio, and everybody had a copy.

Cosmo

The Best Show EVER is the show you went to where you had the best time.

Ok

Hartford 08 is up there for me. Loved the set list.

CJMST3K

Having been at both Randall's shows, as well as another show being front row once and almost playing drums (except for Stone giving Ed the "no" look), I'd have to vote for 1994 shows (based on performance alone).

1998-2009 PJ is like a train. Long lasting and powerful but on somewhat predictable tracks.
1995-1997 PJ was like a semi-truck. Powerful, but a bit shaky at times.
1991-1994 PJ was like lightning. Exciting, tight, volatile, a little scary and unpredictable.

U R A Crazy Breed

pjtradeking wrote:

This one deserves atleast a mention...

04/12/94 – Orpheum Theater: Boston, MA [130]
support act: Mudhoney
set: Oceans, Even Flow, Sonic Reducer, State of Love and Trust, Hard to Imagine, Immortality/(Hey Hey, My My), Go, Animal, Glorified G, Daughter/(Suck You Dry), Alone, Not for You, Better Man, Rats, Blood
enc: Release, Tremor Christ, Once, Fuckin’ Up, Dirty Frank, Yellow Ledbetter, instrumental jam, Rearviewmirror, Elderly Woman, I’ve Got a Feeling/jam
notes: The crew created this setlist, full of new songs and b-sides. Mark Arm joins PJ for ‘Sonic Reducer.’ Standout version of ‘Immortality.’ Ed’s comments: “This is the second to the last night of this fucking tour. Play New York and we are going home. We would like to thank our crew, speaking of ‘Rats.’ You should also thank the one who made the setlist tonight, cause somebody else made it. This is a fucking awesome place you live in. Lots of history. It is definitely one of the places I want to live.” Mike pretends to hide during the appropriate ‘Dirty Frank’ lyrics. Having a rather cheerful night, Ed quips, “I really shouldn’t let you all see me this happy … people might expect it all the time.” During the extended (20+ min.?) ‘I’ve Got a Feeling’ jam, Ed lifts a young female attendee from the crowd and puts her on his shoulders, dances a bit and returns her to her seat, giving her some roses.

and to think i was only 25 min. away....grrrrrrrrr!! *slaps self* stupid, stupid, stupid!!

CantKeepmedown

7/11/95
11/3/96
3/5/98

all superb shows that were on the radio as well

Also, and this may only be me, but you should be able to define a great show by the date alone. But, that may only be because of the shows being talked about so much, the date just gets ingrained in your/my head

helplessdancer

Cosmo wrote:

The Best Show EVER is the show you went to where you had the best time.

bingo!

BeerBaron

PatricSaint III wrote:

I've seen 35 or so shows since 1992 and I vote for Kitchener 05 as my best show ever, and I'm sure there are a few here who would second that.

Unfortunately I didn't make the 2nd night of Randalls Island, only the 1st which was good but not great. Had I been at the 2nd night my opinion may be different.

Kitchener 05 was a great show. Of the 6 shows I went to on the Canadian tour in '05, 3 were top-notch shows (Kitchener, London, Ottawa) and Hamilton wasn't far behind. At the expense of sounding extremely spoiled, I will admit that seeing that many great shows over a week takes a little something away from each one of them. Ottawa was my favourite of 3, but Kitchener was a very special show for some many reasons. London probably had the best setlist of the 3...

I've heard many mention Kitchener in their top shows, but you are the first that I have seen mention it as THE BEST show, especially given that you've seen 35 shows. I can't argue with that one though. Stellar show in a small town...

tsarax

BeerBaron wrote:

benjs wrote:

Cardinal wrote:

the answer to this will never be correct......its completely subjective.....even for the band members.

Toronto 2009 FTW....lol

Hell yes
Seems like they're doing each year though, so Atlanta '94 can be up there, AND Randall's Island '96, AND Toronto '09 (which will never be matched for me, I don't think).

Someone has to explain this to me. Toronto '09 was a GREAT show, no doubt. But people who actually mention this in the same breath as the greatest shows of all time have me scratching my head.

What was it about this show that makes some consider it "epic"? Was it all about the band opening for themselves? Because that is the only thing that really separates it from any other show in recent tours. Setlist was great, but both Chicago shows matched it IMO. So the only thing I can think of is the whole opening act ... ?

Yeah, I totally agree. The opener was such a great surprise, but even though I had a great time, Toronto 09 ranks near the bottom of the 7 shows I've seen.

I forgot to answer the question!

Buffalo 2003 followed by Hartford 2008. I loved the Hamilton 2005 show too!

rearviewmiror

Don't know if it's been said just have to vote for the Radio Show Fox Theatre 94. Just awesome. Otherwise I always want to vote for a boot from a recent tour due to all of the album catalog being available at showtime.

YourDirtisMyfood

slightofjeff wrote:

YourDirtisMyfood wrote:

I loved when Immortality was busted out and when the girl was on stage and is one of my favorite PJ shows that I've attended. But would I put it up with Atlanta 94 as far as being that super-special show that is legendary? Probably not.

Atlanta '94 will always be legendary because it was one of the first shows (or perhaps THE first), to be broadcast live over the radio. Subsequently, it was the first high-quality bootleg that everybody on Earth seemed to have as a band.

Remember, this was long before we had access to a soundboard-quality recording of every single show. As such, Atlanta '94 was like gold.

I wore that tape out during the sumer of '94, and eventually had to buy it on CD for like $50 or something. Everybody I knew knew this show. So it definitely gets mentioned as one of the classics.

I'd put Soldier Field '95 in the same category, for the same reason. It was on the radio, and everybody had a copy.

I had a friend who knew someone at WBCN in Boston who got me the soundboard boot that's incredible quality. And you're right about the broadcast being classic. But you have to remember, the setlist was incredible from start to finish. Great open with Release. Great closer with Indifference. Betterman debut. WMA live with Doug Pinnick, which is still my favorite live version. I still haven't seen WMA live as they haven't played it in Boston area since 1994 that I know of. Satan's Bed was rocking. Just a great Ebb and Flow to the show. I might have traded Blood for Breath or Out of my mind or even Footsteps, but still there is something magical listening to that show even 15 years later. That, my friend is special.

mach271

Honestly?

The best sounding PJ live was Monkey Wrench 1995.....THAT SET WILL GIVE YOU CHILLS DOWN YOUR SPINE!

Immortality was INSANE

klem62

For me? State College PA 5/3/03 My first show! Three encores with Ed taking requests by the second encore. The extended Boom/Mike solos at the end of Crazy Mary were the highlight for me. Entire third encore with the house lights on, great crowd, great vibe, ahh the memories!

pandora

Well i think the BEST show ever is yet to come- Philly the 31st- its going to be awesome- its going to be one to talk about and remember and I can't wait

WWS

Buffalo 2003 #1

theoceansmademe

klem62 wrote:

For me? State College PA 5/3/03 My first show! Three encores with Ed taking requests by the second encore. The extended Boom/Mike solos at the end of Crazy Mary were the highlight for me. Entire third encore with the house lights on, great crowd, great vibe, ahh the memories!

This was my best show as well.

The crowd was insane that night.

Lukin, then Whipping, and then MFC. Great night indeed.

Gary Carter

mach271 wrote:

Guarenteed you will see Randalls Island nite 2 1996....

GREATEST SHOW EVER!

And i was about 3rd row (unassigned seating, and some heavy moshing going on, but i bulldozed my way thru)

i wasn't even there and i will always say that randalls island night 2 96 is the greatest show ever by this band. i've always gotten the feel from listening to the boot that the crowd and the band were one in the same that night.

Hbudjr

For me well my first show ever of course Chicago 8/23/2009 Long Road opener, Rats wow was great.
Cardiff Wales 6/6/2000
Verona Italy 6/20/2000
Gorge 05
Drop in the Park

to list a few of mine