2000-2003 - Pivotal Binaural/Riot Act Years

NashvillePJfan

In retrospect this was the most critical period in the band's history. Where they became the men they are today. With the Binaural and Riot Act albums and tours, Pearl Jam refined and executed their vision of becoming a band of the people, for the people.

DK28100

I was just talking to someone about that today, how the best show I saw before last night in Cleveland was the East Troy in 03, it was so important...the growth during the 03 tour especially showed how important the band really is/was

NashvillePJfan

The 2003 tour will go down as their best. Epic shows throughout tour: State College, Buffalo, East Troy, Boston 3-night stand. This is the tour where they became the best live entertainment act in history.

Jeremy8564

See I don't see the Binuaral tour as such a huge WOW factor compared to the Riot Act Tour. I mean the band was piratically night and day in terms of playing and energy between Binaural and Riot Act. I feel like they were trying to feel their way trhoguh a period of their careers that they weren't certain of where the beast was heading.

My first show was the second night Camden in '00 and it was great show, but my next show in 2003 at the Spectrum blew it out of the water. I'm not talking sets (though crazy mary as an opener was the shit) I'm talking energy and music...they had something to prove in '03 and it showed in their music...so I guess I agree with the statement of this is when the band grew into the men they are today...

Spencer

Personally, I think the Binaural tour was the last great tour the band ever did.

The band were really at their best from 1992-2000, there was a definite change from 2003 onwards.

Some people prefer that band, but it's all up to personal taste.

vedderman

Spencer wrote:

Personally, I think the Binaural tour was the last great tour the band ever did.

The band were really at their best from 1992-2000, there was a definite change from 2003 onwards.

Some people prefer that band, but it's all up to personal taste.

i miss the binaural era...

dimitrispearljam

vedderman wrote:

i miss the binaural era...

+1

reedrothchild

Spencer wrote:

Personally, I think the Binaural tour was the last great tour the band ever did.

The band were really at their best from 1992-2000, there was a definite change from 2003 onwards.

Some people prefer that band, but it's all up to personal taste.

agreed. The '94 and '98 tours were my two favorites. i will say that the '05 tour was something special though. those canadian shows are so great and the tapes really hold up.

smanchac

the Binaural tour was so important because

A - first time to do the bootlegs
B - it was the first big full tour they had in quite a while (much larger than 98)
C - matt was on board and writing songs, so, they were a full on band and working in unison and so on

plus Binaural is such a great record it pushed the band harder and further than before. part of the 03 tour was playing Binaural and riot act songs, but, Binaural was a big part of the music... showed alot of growth and just overall a defining record.

I feel this way, but thats just me.

RiotAct10

I can agree with this. In some ways it does go back to 1998, when they sort of gave up on fighting Ticketmaster, and went out and played headlining amplitheater shows and what not, but 2000 and 2003 were definitley huge in-terms of the growth this band went through to get where they are. I have enjoyed all the tours I have seen, but those tours I do see more as laying the foundation. I think the Lolla show in 2007 was big to, with Bonnaroo following the next year, and ACL, this band has gotten the tag of being a great live band on its own and lived up to it. With all that said, the last 3 shows I saw, C-bus, Indy and Cleveland, are probably my three favorite yet. I really do feel this band is at the top of their game right now, and I hope it continues.