First Time Seeing Them / Last Time

acutejam

As we sit in our 10C fishbowl breaking down setlist-by-setlist, song-by-song, verse-by-verse the wonder that PJ and Eddie live are, we're apt to wonder why something is played so much, the "joy" of being sick of something we've seen live too often.

I came across this today and I thought it aptly applied to Pearl Jam, I think they intuitively express this:

In his last year, Joe DiMaggio was fighting injuries. But he was playing his heart out. One day, late in the season, he made a dramatic diving catch. The game meant nothing -- it didn’t affect the pennant race or anything. Someone asked him, "Why did you risk hurting yourself further, in a meaningless game?" He said, "I always remind myself that there might be someone in the stands who’s never seen me play before."

Robert Shaw, the late choral conductor (and orchestral conductor, sometimes), whenever he conducted some familiar, canonical work -- e.g., the Missa Solemnis -- he said to his forces, in the final rehearsal: "Remember: There will be people in the audience who will be hearing this work for the first time. And there will be people who will be hearing it for the last time. Make it good."

Given to...

Completely true. Thanks for the thought provoking post.

samsonite

That is BRILLIANT! Love it.

grace and peace,
sam

cyndarious1

I think we have to see Pearl Jam as a group of human beings before anything else. Somewhere I read that Mike was kind of tired of playing Corduroy during the 2000 tour since they played the song almost every show. I don't really know if this is true, but I guess this says something about how hard it must be for them to be always playing the "same" music. Sure they love what they do, no doubt about it, but even for most of people it's hard to listen to the same music day by day; imagine working your ass off on stage every show playing songs you have played tons of times... would you be tired even if you were at the top of your game?
However I think Pearl Jam has in them a solution for this problem: their shows have never become a product. The guys and their music are always fresh, with new ideas coming through, even at the last minute, and guys, that besides of being a good way of fighting against dreariness, it's something the fans appreciate. If we appreciate it the guys feel encourged to give everything on stage, and they always do

Needless to say I love them for that.

cajunkiwi

acutejam wrote:

As we sit in our 10C fishbowl breaking down setlist-by-setlist, song-by-song, verse-by-verse the wonder that PJ and Eddie live are, we're apt to wonder why something is played so much, the "joy" of being sick of something we've seen live too often.

I came across this today and I thought it aptly applied to Pearl Jam, I think they intuitively express this:

In his last year, Joe DiMaggio was fighting injuries. But he was playing his heart out. One day, late in the season, he made a dramatic diving catch. The game meant nothing -- it didn’t affect the pennant race or anything. Someone asked him, "Why did you risk hurting yourself further, in a meaningless game?" He said, "I always remind myself that there might be someone in the stands who’s never seen me play before."

Robert Shaw, the late choral conductor (and orchestral conductor, sometimes), whenever he conducted some familiar, canonical work -- e.g., the Missa Solemnis -- he said to his forces, in the final rehearsal: "Remember: There will be people in the audience who will be hearing this work for the first time. And there will be people who will be hearing it for the last time. Make it good."

I bring that DiMaggio quote up a lot when people complain about songs like Even Flow being overplayed. There are going to be people in the crowd at every show they play who have never seen them live before, and they want to hear the hits over anything else. My wife's been a fan of the band since day one, and she was unable to see them in concert until last year - she enjoyed In My Tree, but what really got her pumped up was Corduroy, Daughter, Even Flow, Why Go, Better Man, and Alive. Judging from the sound of the audience reactions on the boots, most of the crowd at any given show feels the same way. As long as people cheer louder for Even Flow than they do for Thin Air, Even flow is going to get played more often.

That being said, I've always thought they do a good job with their setlists - they play the hits on a regular basis to please that crowd, and the mix in a fair number of lesser-known songs for the fans who've seen them numerous times and want to check the rarities off their mental list. I always get the feeling that at the end of a show, everyone is leaving happy (except for the natural depression about the show being over, of course )

helplessdancer

cajunkiwi wrote:

acutejam wrote:

As we sit in our 10C fishbowl breaking down setlist-by-setlist, song-by-song, verse-by-verse the wonder that PJ and Eddie live are, we're apt to wonder why something is played so much, the "joy" of being sick of something we've seen live too often.

I came across this today and I thought it aptly applied to Pearl Jam, I think they intuitively express this:

In his last year, Joe DiMaggio was fighting injuries. But he was playing his heart out. One day, late in the season, he made a dramatic diving catch. The game meant nothing -- it didn’t affect the pennant race or anything. Someone asked him, "Why did you risk hurting yourself further, in a meaningless game?" He said, "I always remind myself that there might be someone in the stands who’s never seen me play before."

Robert Shaw, the late choral conductor (and orchestral conductor, sometimes), whenever he conducted some familiar, canonical work -- e.g., the Missa Solemnis -- he said to his forces, in the final rehearsal: "Remember: There will be people in the audience who will be hearing this work for the first time. And there will be people who will be hearing it for the last time. Make it good."

I bring that DiMaggio quote up a lot when people complain about songs like Even Flow being overplayed. There are going to be people in the crowd at every show they play who have never seen them live before, and they want to hear the hits over anything else. My wife's been a fan of the band since day one, and she was unable to see them in concert until last year - she enjoyed In My Tree, but what really got her pumped up was Corduroy, Daughter, Even Flow, Why Go, Better Man, and Alive. Judging from the sound of the audience reactions on the boots, most of the crowd at any given show feels the same way. As long as people cheer louder for Even Flow than they do for Thin Air, Even flow is going to get played more often.

That being said, I've always thought they do a good job with their setlists - they play the hits on a regular basis to please that crowd, and the mix in a fair number of lesser-known songs for the fans who've seen them numerous times and want to check the rarities off their mental list. I always get the feeling that at the end of a show, everyone is leaving happy (except for the natural depression about the show being over, of course )

well said and i agree completely

Nami

cyndarious1 wrote:

I think we have to see Pearl Jam as a group of human beings before anything else. Somewhere I read that Mike was kind of tired of playing Corduroy during the 2000 tour since they played the song almost every show. I don't really know if this is true, but I guess this says something about how hard it must be for them to be always playing the "same" music. Sure they love what they do, no doubt about it, but even for most of people it's hard to listen to the same music day by day; imagine working your ass off on stage every show playing songs you have played tons of times... would you be tired even if you were at the top of your game?
However I think Pearl Jam has in them a solution for this problem: their shows have never become a product. The guys and their music are always fresh, with new ideas coming through, even at the last minute, and guys, that besides of being a good way of fighting against dreariness, it's something the fans appreciate. If we appreciate it the guys feel encourged to give everything on stage, and they always do

Needless to say I love them for that.

Agreed.

Lately Ive been thinking about how much the fan participation at the shows drives in the performance. I didnt want to post a new thread to see if anybody had some links to interviews cause its probably discussed so much in the past. Just hearing the crowd at the shows that i've been too along with many boots (wicked goosebumps )... I can only imagine what it must feel for PJ. What a rush that must be to hear so many people singing your song and cheering for the band.

Cmon Sept!

acutejam

Wouldn't be surprised if I'd seen that Dimaggio quote around here first, no wonder it resonated! And I'm partial to true audience bootlegs, I'll take lower quality for the CROWD REACTION, the sing alongs, the hoots and hollers, they're totally fun!

I noticed I was beginning to sour on a few songs, was apt to reply on a few threads ... and then I ran across these quotes.

But it really hit home when I took my daughter to her first show and watched her experience it all for the first time. FINALLY taking my wife to her first show in Vancouver (well, she saw Bridge in the rain, so I do owe her another!), and had taken another buddy to Bridge to see 'em last year.

That's my new strategy, drag a friend who's never seen 'em to every show I can from now on!

mcgruff10

Awesome post and so true! I'm bringing a pj virgin to toronto and I really hope this comment applies to that show.

he.who.forgets

Great post, OP!

The Oracle

Brilliant, intelligent post - 100% agree with everything said by each of you. :thumbup: