My first live PJ experience- the MSGs
samjam
New York Posts: 9,283
The MSG concerts are my very first Pearl Jam concerts and I'm on cloud 9- it was everything I expected and imagined and much, much more. I keep having to tell myself that it really happened & it was real!!! It's one thing to see YouTube videos and listen to boots, but live-- oh my gosh. Just completely mind-blowing and moving and incredible. THANK YOU, PEARL JAM! And if you're reading this whole thing, thank YOU 
Here are my recaps of the MSGs. Yeah, I know I could have just written this on the Fanviews page, but I feel like this is a special occasion
Here's my review of MSGI & MSGII:
MSGI 5/20/10:
My very first PJ show blew away my expectations! After barely being able to make it through the school day, I finally got to the Garden with my friend, and we got our 10C tickets-- section 204, row D- which considering my fanclub number (447xxx), I was very happy with!! Met a bunch of cool people in my section, minus two drunk/high guys who FELL ASLEEP in between the Black Keys & PJ (major idiots and texting the whole show!) Anyway, waiting for PJ was such a rush of emotions-- it was absolutely insane!! The Black Keys were totally awesome-- great sound, great music- I really enjoyed their performance. Then we waited some more, and finally Metamorphosis II came on & my stomach completely dropped. Sometimes- awesome opener!! Then they ripped into Breakerfall, Last Exit, and Animal- what a way to open! Little 5'3" me in section 204 was jumping around the whole time!!! I really wanted Severed Hand, which was awesome to get. Then Small Town--though not uncommon, the first time hearing 20,000 people collectively saying 'I just want to scream HELLOOO' was mind blowing. I called I Am Mine, and really wanted it so that was a treat! Force of Nature is my favorite off of BS & I'm SO happy I got it! Down was great, and I Got I'd was AMAZING- one of my favorites & I'm so glad I got to hear it! Army Reserve was a treat too! Loved Unthought Known and the energy it brought! The strings in Encore 1 were really awesome- The End was beautiful, but I thought Just Breathe was a bit of a mood killer. Lukin with strings = awesome! After hearing You Are live, I definitely have a new appreciation for it- I really loved it! The rest of Encore 1 just blew my mind--- I screamed so loudly when I heard the first few notes of LROM! That followed by SOLAT, Once, the Porch- sick! And what can I say about encore 2??? Mind officially blown!! When Ed said that Stone was gonna sing I freaked!! I feel so lucky to get Mankind. Jumped around like a maniac during Leash- so much fun! Crazy Mary & I Believe in Miracles were treats as well! My first Alive was like a religious experience- when they put the house lights on, chills ran through me--I felt a few tears about to well up at a few moments- it was magical! I wasn't expecting Indifference to close, but I was sure happy I got it- another religious experience. It's hard to find the proper words to express your first Pearl Jam experience, and I'm having trouble really finding them myself. But just WOW.
Little did I know what night 2 had in store
MSG II 5/21/10:
HOLY MOTHER OF GOD what a show!!!!! Yesterday is sort of a blur for me---that was real, right? Section 204 & row D again, but seats 1&2, so we were a little bit closer. After the show the night before, I was even more excited for this concert- the night before got me so pumped!! First, the poster was crazy awesome- I went in ready to buy another shirt, but bought the poster instead- well done Ames Bros!! Fast forward to Band of Horses--I thought they were killer! I was more familiar with their stuff than The Black Keys, and knew most of the songs they played, so I really enjoyed myself! Really wanted to hear Long Road or Release to open, but PJ got it started with Corduroy and that really got my adrenaline pumping! Jumping around from the very start- I loved it! Hail, Hail was awesome---one of the songs I really really wanted to hear and I'm so glad I got it!! DTE as the 3rd song was a really awesome surprise! WWS kicked ass- I really love this song and loved jumping around to it live! Got Some was pretty cool- not my favorite on the album but they really kicked it into high gear live! I love when that happens! So I had an inkling that Breath was gonna be played- and boy am I glad I was right! I heard the first few notes and COMPLETELY freaked out! I think I was one of the only ones in my section to go bonkers over it AND know every single word Nothingman was magical- closing my eyes and holding up my hands to 'Into the sun, into the sun' was indeed an amazing moment. Couldn't believe I heard I'm Open next! Unthought Known this night was better than the night before, I think. The crowd was really into this one! Oh- speaking of the crowd- AMAZING! Best & loudest crowd I've ever been a part of at a concert- it was just amazing! Grievance was great, as was Amongst the Waves! Present Tense is one of my all time favorites and is SO meaningful to me, and to hear it played live and hear the crowd gave me the chills- one of my personal favorite moments! Not For You was sick- been really listening to that one in particular a lot lately & loved hearing it! Push Me, Pull Me- are you serious???? Again, one of the only people in my section to freak . So in the subway station on the way to MSG, I actually saw a rat and said to my friend, "It's a sign! They're gonna play Rats!" So I'm pretty sure that's why it was played But regardless, it was sick! Daughter & The Fixer were 2 great ones. I LOVE Why Go and was so happy they closed main set with it! At this point I was freaking the fuck out-- what was happening to me??? The feeling was indescribable- I knew it was a special night already and the encores hadn't even happened yet! THE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD! The End & Just Breathe again were cool, but the strings highlight was the different version of Lukin- I loved it! Then my jaw just dropped. Black, Red, Yellow? Sweet Lew? I felt so lucky!! I kept saying "HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!" Then Given to Fly. One of my favorites moments from that night. The song, the meaning, the crowd, it being performed right in front of my eyes- it was almost too much for me! My head was back, I was jumping around, eyes closed- what a feeling! I was really moved! STBC & RVM kicked my ass. Loved seeing Mike & Jeff run around during that! More chills at the first 'Saw things, saw things...' at the end of RVM- just whoa! At that point I was in a state of shock- I felt like the luckiest person alive! I mean what a setlist! Better Man was another indescribable feeling. The crowd KICKED ASS- before the 2nd verse, we cheered SO loud for about a minute straight- I was so moved and you could tell Ed was too! Black was a magical moment- after hearing it live, I found a new appreciation for it- it's just even better! One of the only moments I kept quiet during the whole show- I closed my eyes & sang really quietly to myself and just was swaying from side to side- amazing moment. What can I say- THE REAL ME!! I freaked, one of my favorite covers! So much fun, so much energy! Hunger Strike with Ben from BoH was really special- Ben's no Chris Cornell, but I thought he did quite well on it! Just hearing Ed sing his part of that was awesome enough! Alive was incredible once again, and I got more chills once again! Kick Out the Jams kicked my ass for sure! And Yellow Ledbetter with the house lights on was just a special moment. I wanted that night to go on forever! I know I experienced something amazing that I will remember forever after that night. I'm sill pinching myself and I'm still in awe.
All in all, I LOVE THIS BAND. I feel so lucky to have seen them, even if (FOR NOW!) it's just twice. I'm even more hooked than I was before. This band means so much to me, and seeing them live was just the most amazing and moving experience. All I can muster up right now is simply THANK YOU.
Here are my recaps of the MSGs. Yeah, I know I could have just written this on the Fanviews page, but I feel like this is a special occasion
Here's my review of MSGI & MSGII:
MSGI 5/20/10:
My very first PJ show blew away my expectations! After barely being able to make it through the school day, I finally got to the Garden with my friend, and we got our 10C tickets-- section 204, row D- which considering my fanclub number (447xxx), I was very happy with!! Met a bunch of cool people in my section, minus two drunk/high guys who FELL ASLEEP in between the Black Keys & PJ (major idiots and texting the whole show!) Anyway, waiting for PJ was such a rush of emotions-- it was absolutely insane!! The Black Keys were totally awesome-- great sound, great music- I really enjoyed their performance. Then we waited some more, and finally Metamorphosis II came on & my stomach completely dropped. Sometimes- awesome opener!! Then they ripped into Breakerfall, Last Exit, and Animal- what a way to open! Little 5'3" me in section 204 was jumping around the whole time!!! I really wanted Severed Hand, which was awesome to get. Then Small Town--though not uncommon, the first time hearing 20,000 people collectively saying 'I just want to scream HELLOOO' was mind blowing. I called I Am Mine, and really wanted it so that was a treat! Force of Nature is my favorite off of BS & I'm SO happy I got it! Down was great, and I Got I'd was AMAZING- one of my favorites & I'm so glad I got to hear it! Army Reserve was a treat too! Loved Unthought Known and the energy it brought! The strings in Encore 1 were really awesome- The End was beautiful, but I thought Just Breathe was a bit of a mood killer. Lukin with strings = awesome! After hearing You Are live, I definitely have a new appreciation for it- I really loved it! The rest of Encore 1 just blew my mind--- I screamed so loudly when I heard the first few notes of LROM! That followed by SOLAT, Once, the Porch- sick! And what can I say about encore 2??? Mind officially blown!! When Ed said that Stone was gonna sing I freaked!! I feel so lucky to get Mankind. Jumped around like a maniac during Leash- so much fun! Crazy Mary & I Believe in Miracles were treats as well! My first Alive was like a religious experience- when they put the house lights on, chills ran through me--I felt a few tears about to well up at a few moments- it was magical! I wasn't expecting Indifference to close, but I was sure happy I got it- another religious experience. It's hard to find the proper words to express your first Pearl Jam experience, and I'm having trouble really finding them myself. But just WOW.
Little did I know what night 2 had in store
MSG II 5/21/10:
HOLY MOTHER OF GOD what a show!!!!! Yesterday is sort of a blur for me---that was real, right? Section 204 & row D again, but seats 1&2, so we were a little bit closer. After the show the night before, I was even more excited for this concert- the night before got me so pumped!! First, the poster was crazy awesome- I went in ready to buy another shirt, but bought the poster instead- well done Ames Bros!! Fast forward to Band of Horses--I thought they were killer! I was more familiar with their stuff than The Black Keys, and knew most of the songs they played, so I really enjoyed myself! Really wanted to hear Long Road or Release to open, but PJ got it started with Corduroy and that really got my adrenaline pumping! Jumping around from the very start- I loved it! Hail, Hail was awesome---one of the songs I really really wanted to hear and I'm so glad I got it!! DTE as the 3rd song was a really awesome surprise! WWS kicked ass- I really love this song and loved jumping around to it live! Got Some was pretty cool- not my favorite on the album but they really kicked it into high gear live! I love when that happens! So I had an inkling that Breath was gonna be played- and boy am I glad I was right! I heard the first few notes and COMPLETELY freaked out! I think I was one of the only ones in my section to go bonkers over it AND know every single word
Nothingman was magical- closing my eyes and holding up my hands to 'Into the sun, into the sun' was indeed an amazing moment. Couldn't believe I heard I'm Open next! Unthought Known this night was better than the night before, I think. The crowd was really into this one! Oh- speaking of the crowd- AMAZING! Best & loudest crowd I've ever been a part of at a concert- it was just amazing! Grievance was great, as was Amongst the Waves! Present Tense is one of my all time favorites and is SO meaningful to me, and to hear it played live and hear the crowd gave me the chills- one of my personal favorite moments! Not For You was sick- been really listening to that one in particular a lot lately & loved hearing it! Push Me, Pull Me- are you serious???? Again, one of the only people in my section to freak . So in the subway station on the way to MSG, I actually saw a rat and said to my friend, "It's a sign! They're gonna play Rats!" So I'm pretty sure that's why it was played But regardless, it was sick! Daughter & The Fixer were 2 great ones. I LOVE Why Go and was so happy they closed main set with it! At this point I was freaking the fuck out-- what was happening to me??? The feeling was indescribable- I knew it was a special night already and the encores hadn't even happened yet! THE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD! The End & Just Breathe again were cool, but the strings highlight was the different version of Lukin- I loved it! Then my jaw just dropped. Black, Red, Yellow? Sweet Lew? I felt so lucky!! I kept saying "HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!" Then Given to Fly. One of my favorites moments from that night. The song, the meaning, the crowd, it being performed right in front of my eyes- it was almost too much for me! My head was back, I was jumping around, eyes closed- what a feeling! I was really moved! STBC & RVM kicked my ass. Loved seeing Mike & Jeff run around during that! More chills at the first 'Saw things, saw things...' at the end of RVM- just whoa! At that point I was in a state of shock- I felt like the luckiest person alive! I mean what a setlist! Better Man was another indescribable feeling. The crowd KICKED ASS- before the 2nd verse, we cheered SO loud for about a minute straight- I was so moved and you could tell Ed was too! Black was a magical moment- after hearing it live, I found a new appreciation for it- it's just even better! One of the only moments I kept quiet during the whole show- I closed my eyes & sang really quietly to myself and just was swaying from side to side- amazing moment. What can I say- THE REAL ME!! I freaked, one of my favorite covers! So much fun, so much energy! Hunger Strike with Ben from BoH was really special- Ben's no Chris Cornell, but I thought he did quite well on it! Just hearing Ed sing his part of that was awesome enough! Alive was incredible once again, and I got more chills once again! Kick Out the Jams kicked my ass for sure! And Yellow Ledbetter with the house lights on was just a special moment. I wanted that night to go on forever! I know I experienced something amazing that I will remember forever after that night. I'm sill pinching myself and I'm still in awe.All in all, I LOVE THIS BAND. I feel so lucky to have seen them, even if (FOR NOW!) it's just twice. I'm even more hooked than I was before. This band means so much to me, and seeing them live was just the most amazing and moving experience. All I can muster up right now is simply THANK YOU.
"Sometimes you find yourself having to put all your faith in no faith."
~not a dude~
2010: MSGx2
2012: Made In America
2013: Pittsburgh, Brooklynx2, Hartford, Baltimore
2014: Leeds, Milton Keynes, Detroit
2015: Global Citizen Festival
2016: Phillyx2, MSGx2, Fenwayx2
2018: Barcelona, Wrigleyx2
~not a dude~
2010: MSGx2
2012: Made In America
2013: Pittsburgh, Brooklynx2, Hartford, Baltimore
2014: Leeds, Milton Keynes, Detroit
2015: Global Citizen Festival
2016: Phillyx2, MSGx2, Fenwayx2
2018: Barcelona, Wrigleyx2
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Comments
My first show was Hartford 98. I was 7 years old. As you could imagine, I was scared shitless.
it's also awesome to see another big fan around my age! there seems to not be many of us. (turned 18 early may)
msg 1 and 2 were my 12th and 13th show.
i was at all 4 philly shows and a lot of other amazing ones (in my sig).
BUT...
i have to say msg 2 is the best show i have EVER BEEN TO! hands down just the most incredible experience of my life. i never thought ANYTHING would top philly 3. philly 4 and boston came close but night 2 at msg fucking topped it! on paper the setlist for philly 3 maaay look better, the crowd that night was also AMAZING, it was the best seats i've ever had, mike pointed at me, and it was another emotional show. but STILL msg 2 topped it! i honestly can't even put my finger on why. it was just ridiculously special. the crowd was hands down the BEST i have ever seen, the band sounded better then ever, and there were tons of treats in the setlist. i also feel like that was the most emotional show i have ever been to. it may just have been the feeling inside me, but ed's speech about howard zinn's spirit being in the building and going into i'm open or his speech before wasted reprise just made it all so emotional and incredible. that show was just truly otherworldly. it's the only word i can come up with to describe it.
what a night.
great thread.
2008: MSG 1, Hartford, Mansfield 2, Ed Solo NYC 1
2009: London (O2), Philly 1, 2, 3, & 4
2010: Hartford, Boston, MSG 1 & 2
2011: Ed Solo Hartford
2012: Philly (MIA Fest)
2013: Worcester 2, Brooklyn 1 & 2, Hartford
2008: MSG 1, Hartford, Mansfield 2, Ed Solo NYC 1
2009: London (O2), Philly 1, 2, 3, & 4
2010: Hartford, Boston, MSG 1 & 2
2011: Ed Solo Hartford
2012: Philly (MIA Fest)
2013: Worcester 2, Brooklyn 1 & 2, Hartford
http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e382/ ... OutGuy.flv
I was about 4 seats down from you if I remember correctly, with the passed out guys in between
It sure was! I'm still in awe and cannot believe I was part of such a beautiful, moving night! Awesome to come across another person my age on here too!
Yup-- I remember you!
Those guys were something else- just WHY?? is all I can say!
~not a dude~
2010: MSGx2
2012: Made In America
2013: Pittsburgh, Brooklynx2, Hartford, Baltimore
2014: Leeds, Milton Keynes, Detroit
2015: Global Citizen Festival
2016: Phillyx2, MSGx2, Fenwayx2
2018: Barcelona, Wrigleyx2
It sure was! I'm still in awe and cannot believe I was part of such a beautiful, moving night! Awesome to come across another person my age on here too!
....
yess! it was moving beyond words. there seems to be few of us at this age! i'm not sure why!
2008: MSG 1, Hartford, Mansfield 2, Ed Solo NYC 1
2009: London (O2), Philly 1, 2, 3, & 4
2010: Hartford, Boston, MSG 1 & 2
2011: Ed Solo Hartford
2012: Philly (MIA Fest)
2013: Worcester 2, Brooklyn 1 & 2, Hartford
MTL 9/15/05
HRTFD 5/13/06
BOS 5/24/06, 5/25/06
VEGAS 7/6/06
CHI 8/5/07
NJ 6/19/08
NYC 6/25/08
HRTFD 6/27/08
MANSFLD 6/28/08, 6/30/08
E.V. BOS 8/1/08
CHI 8/23/09, 8/24/09
PHILLY 10/30/09, 10/31/09
BOS 5/17/10
CHI 7/19/13
WOOSTA 10/15/13, 10/16/13
HRTFD 10/25/13
BOS 8/5/16, 8/7/16
BOS 9/2/18, 9/4/18
I got chills when you were talking about Nothingman
I can tell you had a great time!
2010: 5/20 NY, 5/21 NY ... 2011: 6/21 EV NY, 9/3 WI, 9/4 WI ... 2012: 9/2 PA, 9/22 GA ... 2013: 10/18 NY, 10/19 NY, 10/21 PA, 10/22 PA, 10/27 MD
2015: 9/23 NY, 9/26 NY ... 2016: 4/28 PA, 4/29 PA, 5/1 NY, 5/2 NY, 6/11 TN, 8/7 MA, 11/4 TOTD PA, 11/5 TOTD PA ... 2018: 8/10 WA
2022: 9/14 NJ ... 2024: 5/28 WA, 9/7 PA, 9/9 PA ---- http://imgur.com/a/nk0s7