I don't understand how anyone could argue that Cornell didn't "make" the weekend.
Look at those setlists and take out ALL of the TOTD stuff and the Stardog Champion cover...are those even CLOSE to setlists you thought we would get at something like PJ20? Be honest...I'm happy I went, and its the bands prerogative to play whatever they choose to...but I did expect a more "epic" set list both in length and in song selection.
I just don't get their process on putting these setlists together...they put together a setlist for days 3 and 4 for something like closing down the Spectrum and then put together the setlists they did for celebrating their 20th Anniversary and the setlist for the Philly show absolutely destroys the 20th anniversary show in both length and song choice....It doesn't make sense to me..having someone like Liam Finn, or Josh Homme, or Dhani Harrison, Mark Arms, or John Doe sing on a track while mildly cool..is nothing more than that..mildly cool...it seemed then entire weekend was propped up by having Cornell show up at the end of the show and having minor guests do songs with the band...
This weekend was for the band, it was for the band...it was for the band..I keep hearing that..but WE are the reason they are still a band...its the chicken and the egg argument..without us they are not still a band...so while I love the fact the band appeared to be having a blast in celebration, I do feel the 20th anniversary crowd got a little shafted. We keep telling ourselves that it was the "vibe" and the "experience" that set this performance apart...but I mean, really?...It was fun, it was a great experience...but was the vibe really THAT much better than any other performance? I've only been to 7 shows..but for me the Bonnaroo performance and the Bonnaroo vibe that night was better than PJ20...
Cincinnati 06'
Lollapalooza 07'
Bonnaroo 08'
Columbus 10'
Noblesville 10'
Alpine Valley 11'
Alpine Valley 11'
Music Midtown 12'
Wrigley Field 13'
Cincinnati 14'
Lexington 16'
I don't understand how anyone could argue that Cornell didn't "make" the weekend.
Look at those setlists and take out ALL of the TOTD stuff and the Stardog Champion cover...are those even CLOSE to setlists you thought we would get at something like PJ20? Be honest...I'm happy I went, and its the bands prerogative to play whatever they choose to...but I did expect a more "epic" set list both in length and in song selection.
I just don't get their process on putting these setlists together...they put together a setlist for days 3 and 4 for something like closing down the Spectrum and then put together the setlists they did for celebrating their 20th Anniversary and the setlist for the Philly show absolutely destroys the 20th anniversary show in both length and song choice....It doesn't make sense to me..having someone like Liam Finn, or Josh Homme, or Dhani Harrison, Mark Arms, or John Doe sing on a track while mildly cool..is nothing more than that..mildly cool...it seemed then entire weekend was propped up by having Cornell show up at the end of the show and having minor guests do songs with the band...
This weekend was for the band, it was for the band...it was for the band..I keep hearing that..but WE are the reason they are still a band...its the chicken and the egg argument..without us they are not still a band...so while I love the fact the band appeared to be having a blast in celebration, I do feel the 20th anniversary crowd got a little shafted. We keep telling ourselves that it was the "vibe" and the "experience" that set this performance apart...but I mean, really?...It was fun, it was a great experience...but was the vibe really THAT much better than any other performance? I've only been to 7 shows..but for me the Bonnaroo performance and the Bonnaroo vibe that night was better than PJ20...
To each their own. I probably couldn't disagree with you any more. If I was to have made the set list it would have looked eerily similar to what we got.
I mean I fucking loved it. These were my 25th and 26th shows and other than perhaps Santa Barbara 03 this set list was the best I've ever experienced.
But I don't pretend that everyone has to agree with me. Or act like my opinion is the only one that matters, or hold onto the fact that a few people complained and allow that vocal minority to speak for me.
Duly noted that after Release the band was a little 'off' in my opinion. In my tree is one of my favorite songs and I didn't feel it was working. (although I'm sure some did).
As for the Chris Cornell stuff. Loved it night 1, was totally into it. The fact that they played a Mother Love Bone song was perfect. Hunger Strike et. all, enough said.
If I could have waved my magic wand they would NOT have repeated those two songs. Make it epic with three songs with Cornell night 1 and No Hunger Strike, and then the anticipation would be nuts for night two when that song is played.
I rocked hard, and will admit that I sat down through 3 songs the entire weekend. 3 songs that Cornell sang on night 2. Still loved them. But was exhausted and felt the energy night two with Cornell on stage dipped.
Not for everyone, but for me.
The 60 songs we got seemed to be the perfect mix of sing a long hits and rarities. Pearl Jam knows it's audience and I thought they got it right.
I honestly can't relate to the people saying Chris Cornell ruined Pearl Jam's sets. He's my Rock n' Roll Jesus; seeing him with Pearl Jam (both with and without Eddie) made PJ20 for me. "Stardog Champion" was, without question, my highlight of the entire weekend, and if you saw me during the Temple of the Dog sets you'll have seen me with my mouth literally hanging open the entire time. I mean Christ, I heard "All Night Thing" live this weekend. Never in a million years did I dream I'd see that. Again, I'm a huge Cornell fanboy, and I don't think he "stole the show" so much as he helped push it over the top. But I'll never forget his involvement.
obviously cornell fanboys are going to orgasm over his appearance - right?
but if you were objective... and looked at the crowd night 2 during his 20+ minutes on stage... you would see what some of us are saying
some people like you LOVED it... some people sat down... some people left... some stood there and hoped for something they knew
I don't understand how anyone could argue that Cornell didn't "make" the weekend.
Look at those setlists and take out ALL of the TOTD stuff and the Stardog Champion cover...are those even CLOSE to setlists you thought we would get at something like PJ20? Be honest...I'm happy I went, and its the bands prerogative to play whatever they choose to...but I did expect a more "epic" set list both in length and in song selection.
you really don't understand that people have different opinions? just because we're PJ fans doesn't mean we have to like CC, or TOTD, or Eddie Solo, or The Who, or Neil or Barbara Streisand.
the CC song length numbers on night 2 were something like 6:25, 6:25 and 7:45
take out ALL the TOTD stuff and you'll have 20-30 minutes that PJ could have played PJ
To each their own...I'm just tossing in my 2 cents...I really enjoyed myself and I know everyone else did to so from that standpoint the weekend was a success...
I just can't get over a couple of things that makes the OCD side of me go crazy...having Cornell do a 2nd night, to me is the most insane part of it and THEN having him REPEAT two of the songs was just the icing on the "annoy the hell out of me" cake...
I'm just bitter...lol...There were so, so many songs I wanted to hear and I was so, so sure that this weekend setlist was going to be so epic in both length and rarities and that I was going to get to hear a few of my top choices like - footsteps, low light, present tense, I got shit, tremor christ, crown of thorns, fortunate son, Dirty Frank, Immortality, Indifference, Throw your arms around me, sleight of hand, untitled, ..etc...I did get to mark a ton of songs off my Pearl Jam list...and obviously seeing TOTD perform as epic, but I really only marked 3-4 songs off my top 15 "most want to hear" list and none of my top 5...so I was sad about that...I just went into it with the expectations that they are going to celebrate this in the most epic of epic ways and its going to top anything they've done...they are going to play 35 or more songs each night and they are going have a few special guests...Cornell was all but a given, really, really surprised to not see Neil Young though, its my fault for placing those expectations on the band, but when I looked at it logically, I didn't see those expectations when you consider the event too demanding...., ....but I'm gonna quit bitching...It was fun, and I have no regrets about going...
EDIT: Pillowpants - I agree with you, I would 100% trade that TOTD set on Sunday for more Pearl Jam...I was saying Cornell "made" the weekend because without him showing up, all you are left with is a decent setlist and the band performing songs with very minor special guests...Cornell essentially "justified" the weekend and gave it at least that one random thing that made it "special" ...
Cincinnati 06'
Lollapalooza 07'
Bonnaroo 08'
Columbus 10'
Noblesville 10'
Alpine Valley 11'
Alpine Valley 11'
Music Midtown 12'
Wrigley Field 13'
Cincinnati 14'
Lexington 16'
I can only imagine what got left on the setlist (and not played) in order to repeat Reach Down tonight.
probably bout 3 songs lol
For me... seeing TOTD at PJ20 was exciting and incredible... kind of brought the last 19 years of my life (musically speaking...) full circle to where it all began for me...
however... i also agree that i really didn't need to hear reach down again... for anyone's info... night two they scratched Crown of Thorns and Real Me from the setlist... and night one... due to time constraints (hence the time change...) the following songs were on the list and not played:
All Those Yesterdays, Present Tense, I Got Shit, Down... and possibles Crown of Thorns and Indifference....
The shows were great. The band is great. The festival was great. Just wish i could get more. more. more... for me... cc didn't steal the show. but pearl jam stole my heart. again.
I love Cornell and SG but he didn't steal the show.
It was great to see him there but I can't figure out why they gave him four songs each night. 2 and 2 I could see....but repeating Hunger Strike both nights and especially have 4 songs on night 2 was kinda weird.
It really brought night 2 to a halt to have four relatively low tempo songs in a row
Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018) The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago 2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy 2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE) 2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston 2020: Oakland, Oakland:2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana 2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville 2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
I can only imagine what got left on the setlist (and not played) in order to repeat Reach Down tonight.
probably bout 3 songs lol
For me... seeing TOTD at PJ20 was exciting and incredible... kind of brought the last 19 years of my life (musically speaking...) full circle to where it all began for me...
however... i also agree that i really didn't need to hear reach down again... for anyone's info... night two they scratched Crown of Thorns and Real Me from the setlist... and night one... due to time constraints (hence the time change...) the following songs were on the list and not played:
All Those Yesterdays, Present Tense, I Got Shit, Down... and possibles Crown of Thorns and Indifference....
The shows were great. The band is great. The festival was great. Just wish i could get more. more. more... for me... cc didn't steal the show. but pearl jam stole my heart. again.
I really wanted to hear I got Shit....that's my fucking song
Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018) The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago 2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy 2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE) 2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston 2020: Oakland, Oakland:2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana 2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville 2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
I honestly can't relate to the people saying Chris Cornell ruined Pearl Jam's sets. He's my Rock n' Roll Jesus; seeing him with Pearl Jam (both with and without Eddie) made PJ20 for me. "Stardog Champion" was, without question, my highlight of the entire weekend, and if you saw me during the Temple of the Dog sets you'll have seen me with my mouth literally hanging open the entire time. I mean Christ, I heard "All Night Thing" live this weekend. Never in a million years did I dream I'd see that. Again, I'm a huge Cornell fanboy, and I don't think he "stole the show" so much as he helped push it over the top. But I'll never forget his involvement.
obviously cornell fanboys are going to orgasm over his appearance - right?
but if you were objective... and looked at the crowd night 2 during his 20+ minutes on stage... you would see what some of us are saying
some people like you LOVED it... some people sat down... some people left... some stood there and hoped for something they knew
I don't understand how anyone could argue that Cornell didn't "make" the weekend.
Look at those setlists and take out ALL of the TOTD stuff and the Stardog Champion cover...are those even CLOSE to setlists you thought we would get at something like PJ20? Be honest...I'm happy I went, and its the bands prerogative to play whatever they choose to...but I did expect a more "epic" set list both in length and in song selection.
you really don't understand that people have different opinions? just because we're PJ fans doesn't mean we have to like CC, or TOTD, or Eddie Solo, or The Who, or Neil or Barbara Streisand.
the CC song length numbers on night 2 were something like 6:25, 6:25 and 7:45
take out ALL the TOTD stuff and you'll have 20-30 minutes that PJ could have played PJ
yeah I would have taken a piss if I knew he was going to do four songs night 2.....I held that gallon for about 90 minutes
Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018) The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago 2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy 2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE) 2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston 2020: Oakland, Oakland:2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana 2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville 2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
Cornell being there was a massive bonus, and I think anyone there should do their best to put it in perspective: if you were hoping for something "special", something "unique", well...that was kinda it, right? I mean, 21 years ago (roughly) EV didn't even know Stone, Jeff or Mike...but those 3 guys were spending a lot of time with Matt and Chris. They made an emotional tribute album to a special friend, Andy Wood, and as timing would have it EV rolls into Seattle at just this moment to lay down vocals on a few tracks. Soundgarden was, by far, the big respected band at this time, and for Cornell to recognize how special a voice this guy "Crazy Eddie" guy had was a big deal. Rather than play big-shot, he essentially gave Eddie a break and invited him into his world, took him under the wing. Don't forget...Stone, Jeff, Mike, Matt, Chris were a real band that recorded a real album with EV as a guest vocalist, and TOD essentially was launched at the very same time PJ was launched. So, yes - in my opinion this reunion differentiated both nights from any "regular" PJ show, and that's something it seems most of us in attendance were hoping for. ADDED BONUS: Cornell still brings it much the same as EV! The guys voice is still so powerful. Watching Stone pretty much just become a fan while watching side-stage should tell us all something. PJ has huge respect for Cornell, as they should. And while some may feel the back-to-back was too much, I disagree. For one, it was just plain awesome. But two, consider this: not everyone in attendance was doing both nights, so anyone that missed Night 1 but who'd heard all about the TOD reunion had to be elated to get Cornell night 2.
Final thought: keep in mind this was PJ20, not PJ5 or PJ10. It was clear that EV was trying his best to "save" his voice. No way he goes 6 hours in 2 days without some help, and him being able to take a 15-20 minute "Breath" both nights must've been a relief.
Beautifully said, my friend. This was a celebration of a history of PJ that might not have happened had things not lined up right (or wrong/ unfortunately in the case of Andy) with these musicians coming together. Chris definitely played a large role in the early PJ. I was explaining to my much younger friend the history of TOTD and I realized how cool that it was that they played together at this show. I love Chris, didn't think he played too long and was thrilled that he chose to take the time out to fly to APV as a "guest" and not a warmup artist/band. I understand that some people on this board are PJ all the way/all the time, but count me in as one who massively enjoyed the TOTD portion of the set both nights.
2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN
2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA
2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)
2006- Cincinnati, OH
2008- Columbia, SC
2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2
2010- Bristow, VA
2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL
2012- Atlanta, GA
2013- Charlotte, NC
2014- Cincinnati, OH
2015- New York, NY
2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA
Cornell was a nice treat but he in no way stole the show for almost everyone around me on both nights of each show. Especially night one when only Kick Out the Jams was played after the ToTD reunion. Many people were not happy with this. PJ should have came on at 9 each night and the ToTD reunion would have been accepted more overall from the entire crowd (not just the diehards).
I can't believe that some people are complaining about what was played or what was not played...I would have loved to be there and watched them play anything with anybody...just to be a part of that whole experience. Consider yourselves lucky.
With that being said, I have been reading reviews and setlists and it looks to me like they did exactly what they have been doing for 20 years and I wouldn't have expected them to do anything less.
PJ20!
1998: Noblesville, IN 08-17
2000: Noblesville, IN 08-18
2003: Noblesville, IN 06-22
2006: Cincinnati, OH 06-24
2010: Noblesville, IN 05-07
2016: Lexington, KY 04-26, Wrigley Field 2 08-22
2018: Wrigley Field 1 08-18, Wrigley Field 2 08-20
2022: St. Louis, MO 09-18
2024: Noblesville, IN 08-26, Wrigley Field 1 08-29, Wrigley Field 2 08-31
I can't believe that some people are complaining about what was played or what was not played...I would have loved to be there and watched them play anything with anybody...just to be a part of that whole experience. Consider yourselves lucky.
With that being said, I have been reading reviews and setlists and it looks to me like they did exactly what they have been doing for 20 years and I wouldn't have expected them to do anything less.
Chris Cornell only stole the show if you are a fan of him.. I will say this, i am more of a Chris Cornell fan after hearing him live.. He has a powerful voice.. But at the time he came out i wanted to [rude comment removed. see the posting guidelines]
Reach Down has such a sick riff, I wish it would have got used for a PJ tune. Chris Cornell is great in his own way. I've never been comfortable with PJ/Soundgarden comparisons beyind saying that I love both bands but much prefer PJ. Too different animals ... Both guitar rock, but there the similarities end. Cornell belongs in SG and TOTD is a cool diversion when it happens.
Sounds like some of you were not that bothered by PJ celebrating their 20 years and are more into Cornell and the TOTD stuff.
strange.
Cornell is like marmite... and i hate marmite.
oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
Sounds like some of you were not that bothered by PJ celebrating their 20 years and are more into Cornell and the TOTD stuff.
strange.
Cornell is like marmite... and i hate marmite.
TOTD and Mother Love Bone are intertwined within PJ and are an important part of their history. Probably a little more important the the eight cover songs PJ played, yet nobody (including me) is complaining about that.
Sounds like some of you were not that bothered by PJ celebrating their 20 years and are more into Cornell and the TOTD stuff.
strange.
Cornell is like marmite... and i hate marmite.
TOTD and Mother Love Bone are intertwined within PJ and are an important part of their history. Probably a little more important the the eight cover songs PJ played, yet nobody (including me) is complaining about that.
its 20 years of Pearl Jam... the earlier part of it was what it was. But this was 20 years of PJ.
be like seeing the Beatles play a 20 year celebration weekend and then devoting 8 songs to John Lennon's shit skiffle band and a guest appearance by Johnny Moondog on washboard.
oh.. i 'complained' about the cover songs... again i find it odd that a band with a gargantuan back catalogue such as theirs would play Arms Aloft and an MC5 song. :?
oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
I don't know about stealing the show because I wasn't there, but.........How many years have people been desperate to hear a full TOTD reunion show? And when would it be more appropriate given that TOTD was such a huge part of PJ's beginning? I don't really see it as them letting Cornell sing 4 songs a night, I see it as him agreeing to sing so that they could acknowledge an important part of their past. And in terms of him playing both nights - if I could have only made one night and it was the night they didn't do the TOTD songs, I would have been gutted.
I think the OP's thread title is way too antagonistic, all it does is draw the people in here who don't like Cornell. I've no doubt that for many thousands of people in attendance that the TOTD reunion made the show that bit more special.
its 20 years of Pearl Jam... the earlier part of it was what it was. But this was 20 years of PJ.
be like seeing the Beatles play a 20 year celebration weekend and then devoting 8 songs to John Lennon's shit skiffle band and a guest appearance by Johnny Moondog on washboard.
oh.. i 'complained' about the cover songs... again i find it odd that a band with a gargantuan back catalogue such as theirs would play Arms Aloft and an MC5 song. :?
Well, since you traveled all the way from Scotland to Wisconsin, I guess you have a right to complain ... you did make the show, right?
I have my own thoughts on this issue, but what matters most to me is that I was able to be there in person for these shows. Were setlist exectations high? For sure! Were they fulfilled? Probably not for me or most fans. Then again, I don't plan/run the shows. So we take what we can get. For the most part, I was happy with what I got over the two nights.
My take on this issue is that the MLB & TOTD stuff should have been setup as an opener, not an encore. Because of the inclusion of those songs, we missed others listed on the written out setlists I've seen from the shows (esp. night 1).
As for the other collabs, I could take them or leave them for the most part.
Again, glad I was there. However, I have enjoyed other PJ shows I have attended much more and I can find many over the 20 years that are much more pleasing to me.
But ultimately, thank you PJ for the weekend.
192xxx 6/26+27/98, 10/8/00 (IB), 6/21/03, 9/3+4/11 (PJ20) - East Troy 6/29/98, 10/9/00, 6/18/03, 5/16+17/06, 8/23+24/09, 8/20+22/16, 8/18+20/18, 8/29+31/24 - Chicago 6/6/03 - Las Vegas 10/5/04, 9/18/22 - St. Louis 6/29/06, 10/20/14 - Milwaukee 11/19/13 - Phoenix 4/26/16 - Lexington
I just hope CC got it out of his system since he's in Toronto for the movie premiere, or at least realizes one song is enough per night! :?
You are aware that Cornell would have been ASKED BY THE BAND to come up and sing? It's not like he barged up there and insisted on singing four songs - and more to the point, TOTD reunions have been very few and far between, it's not like it's a regular occurance.
You are aware that Cornell would have been ASKED BY THE BAND to come up and sing? It's not like he barged up there and insisted on singing four songs - and more to the point, TOTD reunions have been very few and far between, it's not like it's a regular occurance.
No one knows how it all went down for sure... but I have a VERY hard time believing the band was like 'hey Chris, you muffed a few lyrics in that 8 minute Reach Down song last night, so lets try that again to fix those lyrics.'
Obviously no one knows... but they added stuff on night 1 that wasnt on the setlist (Say Hello to Heaven) and repeated two on night 2 with Reach Down being a song many in the crowd didnt get into and it was probably the longest song played over the two nights.
I disagree with the OP.
I just hope CC got it out of his system since he's in Toronto for the movie premiere, or at least realizes one song is enough per night! :?
Yes, but apparently Neil Young is also in Toronto. Just to spite you, I'm sure we'll have an encore full of Mirror Ball tracks instead.
Comments
Look at those setlists and take out ALL of the TOTD stuff and the Stardog Champion cover...are those even CLOSE to setlists you thought we would get at something like PJ20? Be honest...I'm happy I went, and its the bands prerogative to play whatever they choose to...but I did expect a more "epic" set list both in length and in song selection.
I just don't get their process on putting these setlists together...they put together a setlist for days 3 and 4 for something like closing down the Spectrum and then put together the setlists they did for celebrating their 20th Anniversary and the setlist for the Philly show absolutely destroys the 20th anniversary show in both length and song choice....It doesn't make sense to me..having someone like Liam Finn, or Josh Homme, or Dhani Harrison, Mark Arms, or John Doe sing on a track while mildly cool..is nothing more than that..mildly cool...it seemed then entire weekend was propped up by having Cornell show up at the end of the show and having minor guests do songs with the band...
This weekend was for the band, it was for the band...it was for the band..I keep hearing that..but WE are the reason they are still a band...its the chicken and the egg argument..without us they are not still a band...so while I love the fact the band appeared to be having a blast in celebration, I do feel the 20th anniversary crowd got a little shafted. We keep telling ourselves that it was the "vibe" and the "experience" that set this performance apart...but I mean, really?...It was fun, it was a great experience...but was the vibe really THAT much better than any other performance? I've only been to 7 shows..but for me the Bonnaroo performance and the Bonnaroo vibe that night was better than PJ20...
Lollapalooza 07'
Bonnaroo 08'
Columbus 10'
Noblesville 10'
Alpine Valley 11'
Alpine Valley 11'
Music Midtown 12'
Wrigley Field 13'
Cincinnati 14'
Lexington 16'
To each their own. I probably couldn't disagree with you any more. If I was to have made the set list it would have looked eerily similar to what we got.
I mean I fucking loved it. These were my 25th and 26th shows and other than perhaps Santa Barbara 03 this set list was the best I've ever experienced.
But I don't pretend that everyone has to agree with me. Or act like my opinion is the only one that matters, or hold onto the fact that a few people complained and allow that vocal minority to speak for me.
Duly noted that after Release the band was a little 'off' in my opinion. In my tree is one of my favorite songs and I didn't feel it was working. (although I'm sure some did).
As for the Chris Cornell stuff. Loved it night 1, was totally into it. The fact that they played a Mother Love Bone song was perfect. Hunger Strike et. all, enough said.
If I could have waved my magic wand they would NOT have repeated those two songs. Make it epic with three songs with Cornell night 1 and No Hunger Strike, and then the anticipation would be nuts for night two when that song is played.
I rocked hard, and will admit that I sat down through 3 songs the entire weekend. 3 songs that Cornell sang on night 2. Still loved them. But was exhausted and felt the energy night two with Cornell on stage dipped.
Not for everyone, but for me.
The 60 songs we got seemed to be the perfect mix of sing a long hits and rarities. Pearl Jam knows it's audience and I thought they got it right.
obviously cornell fanboys are going to orgasm over his appearance - right?
but if you were objective... and looked at the crowd night 2 during his 20+ minutes on stage... you would see what some of us are saying
some people like you LOVED it... some people sat down... some people left... some stood there and hoped for something they knew
you really don't understand that people have different opinions? just because we're PJ fans doesn't mean we have to like CC, or TOTD, or Eddie Solo, or The Who, or Neil or Barbara Streisand.
the CC song length numbers on night 2 were something like 6:25, 6:25 and 7:45
take out ALL the TOTD stuff and you'll have 20-30 minutes that PJ could have played PJ
I just can't get over a couple of things that makes the OCD side of me go crazy...having Cornell do a 2nd night, to me is the most insane part of it and THEN having him REPEAT two of the songs was just the icing on the "annoy the hell out of me" cake...
I'm just bitter...lol...There were so, so many songs I wanted to hear and I was so, so sure that this weekend setlist was going to be so epic in both length and rarities and that I was going to get to hear a few of my top choices like - footsteps, low light, present tense, I got shit, tremor christ, crown of thorns, fortunate son, Dirty Frank, Immortality, Indifference, Throw your arms around me, sleight of hand, untitled, ..etc...I did get to mark a ton of songs off my Pearl Jam list...and obviously seeing TOTD perform as epic, but I really only marked 3-4 songs off my top 15 "most want to hear" list and none of my top 5...so I was sad about that...I just went into it with the expectations that they are going to celebrate this in the most epic of epic ways and its going to top anything they've done...they are going to play 35 or more songs each night and they are going have a few special guests...Cornell was all but a given, really, really surprised to not see Neil Young though, its my fault for placing those expectations on the band, but when I looked at it logically, I didn't see those expectations when you consider the event too demanding...., ....but I'm gonna quit bitching...It was fun, and I have no regrets about going...
EDIT: Pillowpants - I agree with you, I would 100% trade that TOTD set on Sunday for more Pearl Jam...I was saying Cornell "made" the weekend because without him showing up, all you are left with is a decent setlist and the band performing songs with very minor special guests...Cornell essentially "justified" the weekend and gave it at least that one random thing that made it "special" ...
Lollapalooza 07'
Bonnaroo 08'
Columbus 10'
Noblesville 10'
Alpine Valley 11'
Alpine Valley 11'
Music Midtown 12'
Wrigley Field 13'
Cincinnati 14'
Lexington 16'
For me... seeing TOTD at PJ20 was exciting and incredible... kind of brought the last 19 years of my life (musically speaking...) full circle to where it all began for me...
however... i also agree that i really didn't need to hear reach down again... for anyone's info... night two they scratched Crown of Thorns and Real Me from the setlist... and night one... due to time constraints (hence the time change...) the following songs were on the list and not played:
All Those Yesterdays, Present Tense, I Got Shit, Down... and possibles Crown of Thorns and Indifference....
The shows were great. The band is great. The festival was great. Just wish i could get more. more. more... for me... cc didn't steal the show. but pearl jam stole my heart. again.
It was great to see him there but I can't figure out why they gave him four songs each night. 2 and 2 I could see....but repeating Hunger Strike both nights and especially have 4 songs on night 2 was kinda weird.
It really brought night 2 to a halt to have four relatively low tempo songs in a row
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
I really wanted to hear I got Shit....that's my fucking song
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
yeah I would have taken a piss if I knew he was going to do four songs night 2.....I held that gallon for about 90 minutes
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
Beautifully said, my friend. This was a celebration of a history of PJ that might not have happened had things not lined up right (or wrong/ unfortunately in the case of Andy) with these musicians coming together. Chris definitely played a large role in the early PJ. I was explaining to my much younger friend the history of TOTD and I realized how cool that it was that they played together at this show. I love Chris, didn't think he played too long and was thrilled that he chose to take the time out to fly to APV as a "guest" and not a warmup artist/band. I understand that some people on this board are PJ all the way/all the time, but count me in as one who massively enjoyed the TOTD portion of the set both nights.
livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=446
1995- New Orleans, LA : New Orleans, LA
1996- Charleston, SC
1998- Atlanta, GA: Birmingham, AL: Greenville, SC: Knoxville, TN
2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN
2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA
2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)
2006- Cincinnati, OH
2008- Columbia, SC
2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2
2010- Bristow, VA
2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL
2012- Atlanta, GA
2013- Charlotte, NC
2014- Cincinnati, OH
2015- New York, NY
2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA
2017- ED VED- Louisville, KY
2018- Chicago, IL x2, Boston, MA x2
2020- Nashville, TN
2022- Smashville
2023- Austin, TX x2
2024- Baltimore
2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
2017: RRHoF 4/7 2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4 2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18
2022: MSG 9/11 2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
2025: Pittsburgh 5/16+5/18
With that being said, I have been reading reviews and setlists and it looks to me like they did exactly what they have been doing for 20 years and I wouldn't have expected them to do anything less.
PJ20!
It was truly awesome...
for the least they could possibly do
PJ up in a few days.. there's a bunch to go through
Chris Cornell only stole the show if you are a fan of him.. I will say this, i am more of a Chris Cornell fan after hearing him live.. He has a powerful voice.. But at the time he came out i wanted to [rude comment removed. see the posting guidelines]
"I need honesty, I need truth, and I need hope...I need it! That's what music means to me." EV
More ToTD touring = less PJ touring. No thanks
2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
2017: RRHoF 4/7 2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4 2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18
2022: MSG 9/11 2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
2025: Pittsburgh 5/16+5/18
strange.
Cornell is like marmite... and i hate marmite.
OK, that was awesome. Chris Cornell compared to Marmite is gold, Jerry ... Gold!
its 20 years of Pearl Jam... the earlier part of it was what it was. But this was 20 years of PJ.
be like seeing the Beatles play a 20 year celebration weekend and then devoting 8 songs to John Lennon's shit skiffle band and a guest appearance by Johnny Moondog on washboard.
oh.. i 'complained' about the cover songs... again i find it odd that a band with a gargantuan back catalogue such as theirs would play Arms Aloft and an MC5 song. :?
I think the OP's thread title is way too antagonistic, all it does is draw the people in here who don't like Cornell. I've no doubt that for many thousands of people in attendance that the TOTD reunion made the show that bit more special.
It certainly did for me.
My take on this issue is that the MLB & TOTD stuff should have been setup as an opener, not an encore. Because of the inclusion of those songs, we missed others listed on the written out setlists I've seen from the shows (esp. night 1).
As for the other collabs, I could take them or leave them for the most part.
Again, glad I was there. However, I have enjoyed other PJ shows I have attended much more and I can find many over the 20 years that are much more pleasing to me.
But ultimately, thank you PJ for the weekend.
6/26+27/98, 10/8/00 (IB), 6/21/03, 9/3+4/11 (PJ20) - East Troy
6/29/98, 10/9/00, 6/18/03, 5/16+17/06, 8/23+24/09, 8/20+22/16, 8/18+20/18, 8/29+31/24 - Chicago
6/6/03 - Las Vegas
10/5/04, 9/18/22 - St. Louis
6/29/06, 10/20/14 - Milwaukee
11/19/13 - Phoenix
4/26/16 - Lexington
If you've always wanted to hear some ToTD songs... he stole the show in that you got a massive surprise in the encore.
If you didn't want ToTD and just wanted PJ... he stole the show in that playing four songs caused PJ to cut 5 songs out of the setlist.
I just hope CC got it out of his system since he's in Toronto for the movie premiere, or at least realizes one song is enough per night! :?
You are aware that Cornell would have been ASKED BY THE BAND to come up and sing? It's not like he barged up there and insisted on singing four songs - and more to the point, TOTD reunions have been very few and far between, it's not like it's a regular occurance.
Obviously no one knows... but they added stuff on night 1 that wasnt on the setlist (Say Hello to Heaven) and repeated two on night 2 with Reach Down being a song many in the crowd didnt get into and it was probably the longest song played over the two nights.
Yes, but apparently Neil Young is also in Toronto. Just to spite you, I'm sure we'll have an encore full of Mirror Ball tracks instead.