15 years ago today... My first PJ Show... Golden Gate Park
On this date 15 years ago I went to my first Pearl Jam concert. Now... nearly 50 shows later... what a ride it has been. Cheers to all I've met along the way and those who I shared many of these experiences with. Its been the ultimate pleasure.
Some of the notable moments that have happened since that date so long ago:
-Meeting Ed while sick as a dog on a summer day in Wisconsin
-Giving Ed a Cubs hat after an awesome show in San Diego
-Climbed a 10,000ft Volcano and had the vacation of a lifetime in Maui thanks to Ed solo
-Scored Front Row dead center in San Diego in 09 only to be asked by Ed to help him remember the lyrics to Parachutes. Great moment.
-Experienced the final two nights at Philadelphia's spectrum center in an epic 4 night showcase of as many of their songs as they could play.
-Wore the Halloween costume of Rats and Bugs for Holloween 09 to PJ Philly only to have them play both Rats and Bugs on the first night together ever which included me throwing my white rats on to stage and Ed Caught them... DURRING Rats. That was a great one.
-Have made numerous friends from around the world who have impacted my life in many ways ever since.
-Rode my bike from SF to Santa Cruz 90 miles for an awesome journey to an Ed solo 08 gig where I slept in the dirt like a homeless person... a great night.
-Met Mike McCready in a bathroom in SF one night for the chance to thank one of my hero's for creating such powerful and great art that has so positively affected my life.
-Scored a guitar pick from Ed for myself and the love of my life after sharing a wonderful night in San Diego.
-All in all the list could go on and on but thanks to the band and everyone along the way who's share some of these experiences with me. Its been a rad rad life.
-Greg
Some of the notable moments that have happened since that date so long ago:
-Meeting Ed while sick as a dog on a summer day in Wisconsin
-Giving Ed a Cubs hat after an awesome show in San Diego
-Climbed a 10,000ft Volcano and had the vacation of a lifetime in Maui thanks to Ed solo
-Scored Front Row dead center in San Diego in 09 only to be asked by Ed to help him remember the lyrics to Parachutes. Great moment.
-Experienced the final two nights at Philadelphia's spectrum center in an epic 4 night showcase of as many of their songs as they could play.
-Wore the Halloween costume of Rats and Bugs for Holloween 09 to PJ Philly only to have them play both Rats and Bugs on the first night together ever which included me throwing my white rats on to stage and Ed Caught them... DURRING Rats. That was a great one.
-Have made numerous friends from around the world who have impacted my life in many ways ever since.
-Rode my bike from SF to Santa Cruz 90 miles for an awesome journey to an Ed solo 08 gig where I slept in the dirt like a homeless person... a great night.
-Met Mike McCready in a bathroom in SF one night for the chance to thank one of my hero's for creating such powerful and great art that has so positively affected my life.
-Scored a guitar pick from Ed for myself and the love of my life after sharing a wonderful night in San Diego.
-All in all the list could go on and on but thanks to the band and everyone along the way who's share some of these experiences with me. Its been a rad rad life.
-Greg
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i remember when me and kat (10c) and a bunch of others used to chat on aol chatrooms, haha)... dang we're gettin up there. lets do another 20 years.
21 Shows and counting... Finally met Ed @ Zellerbach night 1!!!
So we all had to go through that crazy telephone system to get tickets in 95 when the boys were boycotting Ticketbastard. I was 14 and frantically calling the 1:800 number over and over and over. Busy busy busy. I thought I was toast. 20 minutes had passed. 25 minutes. 30 minutes. I figured it was over. I kept dialing. Finally I get through to experience one of the worlds first automated systems... where you would punch in your info through your phone. This was literally BRAND NEW. When I finally got through to the service I was shaking with excitement. I must mention that call waiting and star 69 were also new phone developments at the time and a buddy of mine also trying to get tickets at the time was calling me and the beeping was interrupting me trying to get my info in to Pearl Jam. Buggy. Anyhow... I start punching in my phone number or something and to my terror... I SCREWED UP my own phone number. I FREAKED OUT and in an instant of craziness... I hung up the phone. I could not believe what I had done. I thought it was all over. BUT because my buddy was calling me on the other line... all of a sudden the phone rang... and it was the pearl jam ticket service asking me to punch my number in again. I WAS SAVED. I carefully punched in my digits, finished up the process and I was on my way to my first Pearl Jam gig and a whole new direction in my life. One that I look back on and smile about while thinking about. I really couldn't be happier to have picked up this habit at such an early age and ridden this wave all the way to now.
I'm happy to announce today at the age of 29... I have just found out that my girl is pregnant with my first child. I'm going to be a daddy! Chills. Its very exciting. I always was stoked to read the stories from excited parents who brought their youngens to the shows and how they are now passing along the positivity. Now hopefully I'll have that opportunity too.
Thanks for letting me share. Life is beautiful. Big ups PJ for the assist.
EV - 5
(**Letterman'02, Irving Plaza, Storytellers, Beacon, ACL, Spectrum 3&4, Bridge School '10**)
"Constant recoil,..sometimes life don't leave you alone."
Let's connect on twitter - @Jeffgorra
Don't remember a thing about it. And I lost my shoes. And 1 sock.
They say every sin is deadly but I believe they may be wrong...I'm guilty of all seven and I don't feel too bad at all
freakishly hot that day for SF... Sacramento was just as bad (if not worse) 2 days prior
Yes sir... Ed only musterred out 7 songs... but it counts. It was still a really REALLY great day. And the make up show on November 4, 195 in San Jose. WAS FUCKING EPIC. Best boot I own.
We've had bazaro world lives mirroring each other. Would be fun to meet for a been and compare lives. HA.
What up brotha. I'm thinking about having a PJ Freak Vinyl get together at my place in the city soon.
Only Red Wine and vinly and pj freaks. You down?
1st... Been was supposed to be Beer.
2nd... Come to Freak Fest.
Freak Fest?
Great stories you shared - I remember seeing you and your girl in San Diego- Must have been a magical moment.....
best,
21 Shows and counting... Finally met Ed @ Zellerbach night 1!!!
Right on brotha... next to this day back in 95... That SD show where Elena and I scored the lottery front row dead center...was one of my BEST PJ experiences. Remind me who you are... I can't tell from your screen name or avatar. Glad we had the chance to meet in SD.
It was HOT AS HELL that day... and it was really scary as a 14 year old little guy smashed amongst shirtless sweaty men most of the day waiting for Pearl Jam for the first time. My memories of this day are still so vivid. I have some really cool pics I'm going to pull out. One is one of me crowd surfing. I'm so happy so many of you were there too. It was one of those days that just had magic about it... even with the lack of pearl jam that took place at the show... the vibe all started there for me.
1995 right? I just looked at my ticket stubs. I have two for the Sports Arena in San Diego...one from June 26 and one from Nov 6. Those stubs are so cool with your name at the top! $24 total for the show too...wow!
On a side note, does anyone remember calling 10c back in the day for tour info and other stuff? If you hit the wrong number on the phone the automated voice (in a very Beavis and Butthead kind of way) said "Uhhh...you like made an incorrect selection" or something like that. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?