Philly Revisited

DC9873

Having had a week to digest last Friday and Saturday I offer these thoughts...

I was 18 when I first heard Pearl Jam - actually saw them - the video for Alive on Headbangers Ball ...the next day I went out and bought Ten (on tape no less - which is still with us).

So now, 18 years later, I'm still listening and since Lollapalooza in '92 have seen them enough that my friends think I stalk the band. Last Friday and Saturday continued to prove that they are the best band around - maybe the best American band ever (think about that for a minute, what band has had a better career from year 1 to year 20? They get better each year, their last album is proof.

Friday's show was what everyone wants when they go see this band - a great set, the crowd was so into it and there couldn't have been a more perfect evening...the experience of In Hiding that night was amazing - I have never seen a crowd that into that particular song. The person with me at the show had never seen them before and said at least 5 times, he couldn't believe the energy in that arena.

Saturday was an experience. It wasn't their "best" show ever - which is like asking 'who is the best baseball player ever?' but the experience - 40 songs, half the audience dressed up for halloween, the end of a 4-night run - exhausted people reaching down and finishing up rockin' in the free world...just an amazing night.

It's amazing that as I've gotten older I still get the same charge seeing them live as I did 10-15-20 years ago. What a band. On to 2010.

marcos

Speed of Sound and much of the new material were highlights for me over the 4 nights. This is the only band where I give a shit about their new material.

Black Ledbetter

Bugs!! Sweet Lew.. Dressed up as DEVO (whip and all).....on top of an amazing performance... song after song after song after song!!

I have only been to 4 shows in my life.. but started with the band when they started (I took a long time off to raise kids etc - my 18 yr old son went with me to my last 3 shows).

Bottom line is they ARE the BEST band in the WORLD right now...

I'm looking forward to Bruce's 2 shows at MSG tomorrow and Sunday.. but I already know it will NOT top Philly!

jerrylovesjam

DC51126 wrote:

Having had a week to digest last Friday and Saturday I offer these thoughts...

I was 18 when I first heard Pearl Jam - actually saw them - the video for Alive on Headbangers Ball ...the next day I went out and bought Ten (on tape no less - which is still with us).

So now, 18 years later, I'm still listening and since Lollapalooza in '92 have seen them enough that my friends think I stalk the band. Last Friday and Saturday continued to prove that they are the best band around - maybe the best American band ever (think about that for a minute, what band has had a better career from year 1 to year 20? They get better each year, their last album is proof.

Friday's show was what everyone wants when they go see this band - a great set, the crowd was so into it and there couldn't have been a more perfect evening...the experience of In Hiding that night was amazing - I have never seen a crowd that into that particular song. The person with me at the show had never seen them before and said at least 5 times, he couldn't believe the energy in that arena.

Saturday was an experience. It wasn't their "best" show ever - which is like asking 'who is the best baseball player ever?' but the experience - 40 songs, half the audience dressed up for halloween, the end of a 4-night run - exhausted people reaching down and finishing up rockin' in the free world...just an amazing night.

It's amazing that as I've gotten older I still get the same charge seeing them live as I did 10-15-20 years ago. What a band. On to 2010.

I couldn't agree more with your last sentence!!! I've been thinking back also, and was at shows, 1, 2 and 3 only. I loved them all, but night 1 still stands out for me. I loved being able to see the Backspacer backdrop, the arena felt smaller than the other nights, the light show was awesome! and the setlist was great for me and even thought it wasn't sold out, the crowd was great. I just watched a video of GO on youtube and it was insane!! Please watch it if you haven't already, you won't be dissappointed. :shock: Eddie was in such a good mood and he made the show feel so intimate with his talks to the crowd. Just my little opinion.

2 and 3 were great, please don't get me wrong. No one on this thread can have a wrong opinion as everyone takes something different from every show... And there are no bad Pearl Jam shows!

Brane_of_JFK

Sooooooooooooooo bummed I missed these shows...when the bootlegs coming?!?!?!?!!

merepatt

DC51126 wrote:

Having had a week to digest last Friday and Saturday I offer these thoughts...

I was 18 when I first heard Pearl Jam - actually saw them - the video for Alive on Headbangers Ball ...the next day I went out and bought Ten (on tape no less - which is still with us).

So now, 18 years later, I'm still listening and since Lollapalooza in '92 have seen them enough that my friends think I stalk the band. Last Friday and Saturday continued to prove that they are the best band around - maybe the best American band ever (think about that for a minute, what band has had a better career from year 1 to year 20? They get better each year, their last album is proof.

Friday's show was what everyone wants when they go see this band - a great set, the crowd was so into it and there couldn't have been a more perfect evening...the experience of In Hiding that night was amazing - I have never seen a crowd that into that particular song. The person with me at the show had never seen them before and said at least 5 times, he couldn't believe the energy in that arena.

Saturday was an experience. It wasn't their "best" show ever - which is like asking 'who is the best baseball player ever?' but the experience - 40 songs, half the audience dressed up for halloween, the end of a 4-night run - exhausted people reaching down and finishing up rockin' in the free world...just an amazing night.

It's amazing that as I've gotten older I still get the same charge seeing them live as I did 10-15-20 years ago. What a band. On to 2010.

what a lovely post - thank you so much for sharing!

my story/thoughs are very similar to yours - although i was 16 when i saw the alive video and i had commitments that didn't let me get to Lolla '92.
your thoughts about the 30th & 31st shows are spot on, imho - i couldn't agree more. i've been replaying my philly experience all week, well all the shows i saw - the wonderful people met, the generosity of spirit witnessed, the magical hours spent in the spectrum and other venues with the best band in the world. i just can't stop smiling!

none of my "regular" friends understand why i *had* to fly from los angeles to philly, by myself, last minute to get to those last 2 shows - even after i'd already seen multiple shows this year.

i have 2 ways i to try to describe for others what this band, this music, these shows do for me:
1 - some have religion, some have drugs, some have wanderlust. i have all three and it's called pearl jam.
2 - seeing animals at the zoo is great, but to see animals out in their natural habitats - you get to see how the animals really behave who the animals truly are. seeing me at a pearl jam concert is seeing me in my natural habitat.

while the withdrawal after a pj tour sucks, i'll have the boots, the pics, the memories, the new friends to carry me thru till we get to do it all again. i'm already looking forward to the next album, the next new pj friend made, the next show.

may you ozzies & kiwis have as wonderful an experience as i have had this tour.