First Pearl Jam live experiences.

veddertown

June 22nd 2010 will be my first time seeing PJ and I'm hugely excited at the prospect of what I'm going to hear first and how many songs I can stroke off my list in 3 shows. Who else on the board is popping the live cherry this year, what do you really have in your head as the dream opener and to those who've already done so where was it and what was the opening song. The thought of the lights going down in Dublin and the intro to Release, Oceans, Long Road, Sometimes, Of The Girl, Hard To Imagine or Wash gives me chills. Or even all of them Please share as I love to hear people's stories and get a little warm, envious feeling.

matt_baker

My first was brisbane in 06 (at the age of 16), they opened with interstellar overdrive/corduroy then went into last exit. Was such a high energy start to a gig, amazing.

Still In Hiding

first show 8/23/09 at the UC, opener was Long Road, and it was amazing

Fastrichie

My buddies "dragged" me to the show in Springfield on 4/6/94. Was a huge Zeppelin fan and figured there never would be a better band than them. Well I saw Pj that night and felt the energy and it was just jaw dropping. Every song was bam bam in your face. I'll never forget that night. Now 31 shows later the rest is history. Happy to have been able to join the fan club way back when!!

Comatose Pilate

First time i saw them was in Augusta Maine 1996.GA show, the Fastbacks opened... Dennis Rodman threw Eddie on his shoulders during Alive... Unreal show.

My two Favorite opening experiences where in 08 in Hartford when they opened with Can't Keep and at Lollapalooza 07 they opened with Why Go( and Dennis Rodman was back yet again with Eddie on his shoulders)

...I love it when they surprise everyone with the opener

thunderlips

Montreal in 2003 was the first for me. It was supposed to be Barrie, Ontario in 1998 but that trip fell through. I remember waiting for them to take the stage after "the Buzzcocks" set and thinking to myself.."I hope they open with 'The Longroad'". Sure enough.

Umbertotamba

Fastrichie wrote:

My buddies "dragged" me to the show in Springfield on 4/6/94. Was a huge Zeppelin fan and figured there never would be a better band than them. Well I saw Pj that night and felt the energy and it was just jaw dropping. Every song was bam bam in your face. I'll never forget that night. Now 31 shows later the rest is history. Happy to have been able to join the fan club way back when!!

Same date it was my first PJ concert. I remember thinking hloy shit people are really crowd surfing!! Was insane. After seeing them live, that was the night I fell in love with Pearl Jam!!

left the porch

Lollapalooza, 92 Molson Park Barrie Ontario. We went to see the Peppers, PJ was second on the bill. I had Ten so I wanted to check them out. Haven't been the same since. The energy. The music. The voice. I knew I was seeing something genuine and real and ever since that day I have been a very loyal fan and followed them through it all. 23 times and counting and I've seen all the openers. Release in Toronto four times, Sometimes in Toronto, Oceans in London, Long Road in Kitchener and Chicago. Interstellar Overdrive/Corduroy in Vegas, Hard To Imagine at Bonnaroo, Of the Girl in Toronto last summer. Then there are the one's you can't predict like, Elderly Woman in Grand Rapids, Betterman in Cleveland, Why Go in Chicago, and my favourite, Porch in Hamilton. The best part about the first song of a PJ show is that it's the first song....'This is just the beginning and I'm already PUMPED!' You know you have at least 25 more to go.

So enjoy breaking your cherry, it's sure to be an orgasmic experience.

Yes Way

I saw them for the first time the day after a couple of you, April 7, 1994, in Rochester. Totally different time. GA on the floor, people swaying forward and backward with the surges from the people behind. There were times where my feet were off the floor, and a friend lost his shoes.

But when it went dark, and then the backlighting was a soft purple and the first notes of Wash made their way through the arena, I was overcome. I've seen them a lot since then, but that memory is still clear as day. Enjoy the feeling. No one can ever take it from you.

Newch91

June 27, 2008. Hartford, CT. Solidified my love for the band. I had liked them a lot but seeing them live cemented my love for them. And what a show, too. Breakerfall, Last Exit, Sad, In Hiding, Not For You, Immortality, Porch, Garden, Leash, Smile, Fuckin' Up. I still get chills from all of Mike's solos. This show also made me want to learn and play guitar just because of Mike.

RD171825

August 22 1998 at Molson Park in Barrie.... a day I will never forget.

garland09

ford center in okc. best show ever

State of Mind

My first live Pearl Jam show was July 5, 2003 during the Riot Act tour, Can't Keep was the opener. Hearing those first notes soar above the crowd gave me goose bumps! I was with my brother and it was his first PJ show also! We were on the lawn and the crowd was great. That was the night when there were fireworks (4th of July just being the day before), and Eddie said, "Are there fireworks out there?" The crowd screamed! Eddie could hear them but couldn't see them. Then he said,"Can you see them?" and the crowd on the lawn screamed louder. Eddie talked with the guys and they broke into Rockin in the Free World right in the middle of the show. I was grateful for the video screens outside cuz the band looked about 2 inches tall. Best night ever, my brother and I rocked the whole show!

You never forget your first!!!!!

URthekey

Umbertotamba wrote:

Fastrichie wrote:

My buddies "dragged" me to the show in Springfield on 4/6/94. Was a huge Zeppelin fan and figured there never would be a better band than them. Well I saw Pj that night and felt the energy and it was just jaw dropping. Every song was bam bam in your face. I'll never forget that night. Now 31 shows later the rest is history. Happy to have been able to join the fan club way back when!!

Same date it was my first PJ concert. I remember thinking hloy shit people are really crowd surfing!! Was insane. After seeing them live, that was the night I fell in love with Pearl Jam!!

Wow Springfield was my 1st show also, I've still got the poster (a dead dog in the road).
Completely a life changing experience.
I remeber having seats in the lodge then seeing the energy on the floor and just having to get down there to be part of it.

Ernie Vedder

My 1st Pearl Jam show was July 14, 1998 at the Great Western Forum, Inglewood,CA They opened up with "RELEASE." Eddie came out in a long black leather trench coat, sang his lungs out on RELEASE, crowd went crazy! It had been the 1st time PJ played in L.A. in 6-7 years, besides having performed the night before. He brought out Johnny Ramone as a Special Guests. They played "The KKK Took My Baby Away." Very awesome show for me

dreamweaver

sept 9 1998
Eddie Danced alot more that I expected. Matt Cameron Played a fill into the chorus of Even Flow that blew my mind. Video's I've watched on youtube will never compare to how I remember it.
I will never forget any of the 14 PJ shows I've seen

left the porch

RD171825 wrote:

August 22 1998 at Molson Park in Barrie.... a day I will never forget.

I was there too, and I know exactly what you mean. Phenominal show!

Means were all gonna die fuckers!

EV

Hugh Freaking Dillon

First PJ Show: (it was a festival called Sunfest up here near Winnipeg-all Canadian bands, PJ the one non-Canuck-some 50,000 people or something, it was ridiculous). This was also a few months before VS came out, so some of the songs none of had heard (remember, this is pre-file sharing!). I have the whole show on VHS.
Aug 14, 1993

Even Flow
Why Go
Deep
Jeremy
Animal
Glorified G(Gimme Shelter)
Daughter
Go
State Of Love And Trust
Garden
Blood
Alive
Black
Once
Porch
Indifference
Sonic Reducer
Rockin' In The Free World
Baba O'Riley

Hugh Freaking Dillon

my second show was 10 years later in Fargo. When Eddie started Arc, I teared up. A rush went through my body I hadn't felt before. It was surreal.

left the porch

Johnny Sitar wrote:

First PJ Show: (it was a festival called Sunfest up here near Winnipeg-all Canadian bands, PJ the one non-Canuck-some 50,000 people or something, it was ridiculous). This was also a few months before VS came out, so some of the songs none of had heard (remember, this is pre-file sharing!). I have the whole show on VHS.
Aug 14, 1993

Even Flow
Why Go
Deep
Jeremy
Animal
Glorified G(Gimme Shelter)
Daughter
Go
State Of Love And Trust
Garden
Blood
Alive
Black
Once
Porch
Indifference
Sonic Reducer
Rockin' In The Free World
Baba O'Riley

I have that bootleg video too. Wasn't there a problem with hordes of mosquitos?

CantKeepMeHere

BOARNNOO!!!

down_ski

First time was May 28th, 2003 at Adams Center in Missoula, MT.

I remember actually taking 2 days off of high school to sit in line with my friends for around 30 hours. There was about a foot of snow on the ground and it was blizzarding. We sat under some stairs for a good 15 hours, until they finally let us inside to get warm(Which was another 15 hours of waiting until tickets went onsale)

It was so worth it and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.....I do have to thank the 10club for saving me the trouble though.

left the porch

My second show was at the CNE in Toronto, August 18, 93. The bill was Blues Traveler, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Neil Young with Booker T and the MG's on his Harvest Moon tour. Vs. wasn't out yet but PJ were HUGE and we were on the floor which was GA when they came on and both sides of the grandstands started to rush the floors. There wasn't enough security to hold them back. INSANE mosh pit, I stood by the soundboard and held on for dear life. It was a different kind of show as Ed was starting to become withdrawn and nowhere near as interactive as he was at Lolla. But it still sounded awesome, and it was my first time hearing Baba.

After Neil played for two and a half hours and two encores, which included his beautiful version of 'Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay' with the altered lyrics "I left my home in Canada" they were still saving the best for last. I had read in Rolling Stone that PJ were joining Neil for RITFW at the very end of the show. Best thing was most of the people on the floor thought the show was over after the second encore and started to leave. So I grabbed my brother and two buddies and as people were walking out we were heading for the front of the stage. We got there just as they all came back out. Ed sang the second verse, and the whole band was singing backing vocals, and of course Uncle Neil was in his glory, just wailing on his black Gibson. Truly a moment I will never forget. It helps that I was four feet away from it all. Lucky man indeed.

I also was just thinking how I saw Matt play the first two times I saw Pearl Jam, even though it was with Soundgarden. I still think he was destined to be in PJ.

Poncier

I started with a 3 night assault in Boston, April 10, 11 and 12, 1994.
Each night it just got better.
Immediately you could sense this was a band that had "it" live.

AnotherTourPlease

The intro music starts, the whole place fills up with electricity, you realize you're holding your breath, staring in the dark at the stage, waiting for that first note . . . and then, everything explodes into pure joy! No other feeling like it! Enjoy

youngster

September 29, 2004. It was at the Fleetcenter (now TD Garden) in Boston. I had just gotten to my seats with a couple of beers. Looking at the stage I see a few guitar techs and drum techs moving wires and tuning guitars. The stage is empty and the lights dim. I just thought it was part of the test. A guy walks on stage and picks up a guitar and without warning I realize it's Eddie Vedder and he starts singing I Am a Patriot to a practically empty arena. The spotlight is the only light in the building and looking at all the exits around the arena I see people RUNNING in to catch this song. Such a great first song at my first show. I'll never forget it.

Guitarhero27

dreamweaver wrote:

sept 9 1998
Eddie Danced alot more that I expected. Matt Cameron Played a fill into the chorus of Even Flow that blew my mind. Video's I've watched on youtube will never compare to how I remember it.
I will never forget any of the 14 PJ shows I've seen

Well, you'll never forget any of the other 13 shows maybe....

There was no show on sept 9, 1998

Sept 8th at continental, then the 10th & 11th at MSG

Long Road_WI

Still In Hiding wrote:

first show 8/23/09 at the UC, opener was Long Road, and it was amazing

Exact Same here!!! It was my first show and they played two of my favorite songs...Long Road & Come Back.

Great Night, but my expectations for Ireland are higher

angiebabyaz

Lollapalooza Phoenix AZ 9/8/92!! All us folks on the lawn jumped the fence and jammed with the band in the pit and in the aisles! Great time!

left the porch

cropduster82 wrote:

September 29, 2004. It was at the Fleetcenter (now TD Garden) in Boston. I had just gotten to my seats with a couple of beers. Looking at the stage I see a few guitar techs and drum techs moving wires and tuning guitars. The stage is empty and the lights dim. I just thought it was part of the test. A guy walks on stage and picks up a guitar and without warning I realize it's Eddie Vedder and he starts singing I Am a Patriot to a practically empty arena. The spotlight is the only light in the building and looking at all the exits around the arena I see people RUNNING in to catch this song. Such a great first song at my first show. I'll never forget it.

I was there too, as well as the night before. I caught both pre-sets, night one was Don't be Shy and Hide Your Love Away. Totally awesome.

llove

My first and only show was Molson Amphitheater Toronto 8/21/09 and the opener was Of the Girl. I had the time of my life! I listen to the boot often. Excited to go to my second show in New Orleans. Wonder what they will open with there?