So yeah, I feel like the guys came into Albany and beat the shit out of me for two and a half hours. And I couldn't be happier. Great set list, great energy from the crowd and the band, just an awesome night all around. A big thanks to Pearl Jam for outdoing themselves once again.
The car's on fire and there's no driver at the wheel
And the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
They played Satans Bed and Rats, now, the question is, did Eddie remember the lyrics???? Were they good? I mean, if I heard the first note of Rats I'd go ape, regardless of how good it was!!! But, I want to know!! :):)
Rats was tight, Eddie had the lyrics on the floor, and it seemed he would use them to get the verse started, and then it seemed like the lyrics sorta came back to him. And the place went nuts. With a "Ben the two of us need look no more" sing a long.
(12 rows back, Mikey and Jeff rockin out in front of me all night)
Great setlist, Rats and Satans Bed have def. been practiced by them cuz they were pretty much flawless. I guess the crowd energy was pretty good although I was sitting in section 105 in row CC, which is pretty much folding chairs that are only 3 rows up from the floor, and maybe 1 section or 2 away from the stage (Mike's Side), and it seemed like the crowd by me wasnt into it that much. But either way, still a loud show and all the guys (especially Ed) seemed to be in a really good mood and really enjoying themselves. Hopefully Hartfod tonight will be even better!
Pros : Best show I will see this year. 15 years in the making. Full blown jams. The disks are going to kick my ass.
Cons : I could not hear Mike from were I was. So, the disks really will kick my ass. Security was aweful.
I was on Mike's side and I couldn't really hear him too well either, but the show as a whole rocked. All the new stuff sounded incredible. Can't wait to see PJ again.
They played Satans Bed and Rats, now, the question is, did Eddie remember the lyrics???? Were they good? I mean, if I heard the first note of Rats I'd go ape, regardless of how good it was!!! But, I want to know!! :):)
Has he EVER remembered the lyrics to Rats? The show was FREAKING amazing! I was on Mike's side row H (Section 107). This was definately up there in my top 2 shows EVER (maybe even tied with Randall's Island 1996).
I know this is gonna sound weird (and I had my Daughter with me so I know it wasn't a drunken hallucination), but this was one of the greatest nights of my life PERIOD. It was like the stars alligned for me this day. I introduced Pearl Jam to a woman I really like about a month ago. Now understand, we are both mature (read 30something, and LATE 30something to boot!) professionals. Well, I'm standing there outside the Pepsi Arena hanging with my Daughter and I get a call, my girl is on her way up, please buy her tickets. I nearly SHIT! Just when I thought I found the perfect woman she goes and amazes me yet again. Then Pearl Jam comes on and does one of the greatest shows with one of the greatest set lists.......
What more could I want from life? Thank you Pearl Jam! Thank you Laura (Daughter). Thank you Margaret!
And thanks to all you here that I know can dig my story!
loved the show. great seats. best view i have had at any show (especially since the man in front of me was sitting down the whole time in a fold out camping chair). loved hearing the new songs, especially Ed's little rant before Army Reserve. great energy, great sound, great show.
only down sides, driving from Boston in the pouring rain, especially on the way home. got a little bit dicey with the rain and fog but made it back.
also, i really can do without evenflow and alive! i hope i don't get these in Boston..
Set List: Wasted Reprise, Life Wasted, World Wide Suicide, Severed Hand, Do The Evolution, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Given To Fly, Red Mosquito, Even Flow, Army Reserve, Daughter/Another Brick In The Wall (part II?), Off He Goes, Gone, Grievance, Jeremy, Marker In The Sand, Comatose, Why Go
1st encore: You've Got To Hide Your Love Away, Satan's Bed, Wishlist, Rats, Porch
2nd encore: Last Kiss, Come Back, Sad, Crazy Mary, Alive
Please post your Fanview if you were in attendance.
Just got home at 12:45 PM on Saturday after an amazing night in Albany. Loved the songs from the new album - love the new album period. Was thrilled to hear Satan's Bed, Off He Goes & Rats. Always love GTF too. Was a wonderful time, the crowd was PUMPED! Brought my sister to her first PJ show and she was amazed at the crowd and the electric atmosphere. I had awesome seats (Thanks 10C!) Section 106, Row J on Mike's side. Loved to see "the man" in action. He's just so into the shows. The band really seemed to be having a good time. Really happy with the seats, they were great, I'm a lucky girl!
Nothing can top Borgata Night 1, but this truly was a great night. Wished they played SOLAT, but I can't win them all! Can't wait for more, it's an addiction! I love this band!
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. "
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
damn Kat.. have fun last night? thanks for the warnings before you scream.. heh..
i'll call u when i get into Hartford...
btw.. the show rocked last night
Did I have fun? :rolleyes: What do you think? Damn you STILL "GOT JOKES" huh?
Bwhahahahahha!! No worries. I cant help it.. Im INFATUATED with the JASS. :eek: Camden will be a "what the hell are you girls screaming at?" AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH! *SCREAMS!!!!!!*
PJAMMIN' REUNION!! N-<insert inside joke here>
HELL YEAH THE SHOW ROCKED MY SOX SO HARD! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
**Get outa my way, just step aside, or pay the price ~ AC/DC**
You make me feel uncalm and I think I like it - 311
JEFF ROX MY SOX!
"Jeff is just a badass all the way across the board" ~aNiMaL~
I can even describe the amazingness that was this show, my god. A bunch of people around me were predicting openers, we werent even close... Wasted Reprise was amazing! WWS is so much better live, as is Comatose. I knew they were gonna play Satans Bed cuz they had soundchecked it along with In My Tree and Red Mosquito. A bit disappointed they didnt play In My Tree, but Red Mosquito and Satans Bed were amazing! I also figured after Ed mentioned the Albany Rats, they would play it at some point. I was so fuckign excited. The version tonight of Why Go was quite stellar. Come Back was the highlight of the night for me, I couldn't believe how amazing it was, it almost brought me to tears. My brain is still rattled from everything, I can't believe I will be seeing them again in 7 hours.
The only bad thing about the show was the kid in front of me who kept standing on his chair, and he was more excited for Why Go than Rats and Satans Bed. He also tried to be cool by complaining about Last Kiss, what a bitch.
The people to my left were real cool and i hope to see them later on the tour in Boston.
Wow! This was my 6th Pearl Jam concert and it may have been the best one yet. Our seats were section 120, row BB, a great view from the side. The energy of the band was absolutely amazing last night. The opener was just incredible, seeing Eddie up there in light with Boom on the organ for the Life Wasted Reprise was one of the highlights for me.
I heard all the the new songs I really really wanted to. Comatose just blew me away and so did Severed Hand. I loved Marker in the Sand and the way it came off live.
Porch was probably the best version ever. Off he Goes and Come Back just made me well up with tears. Eddie sounded so incredible on those songs. I almost died when the broke out Rats and Satan's Bed-I knew it was going to be a legendary night and we were so happy to be part of it.
My body is still sore from all the bouncing, I think almost the whole audience stood the entire show. The crowd rocked the house and you could tell Eddie completely enjoyed feeling the love.
The last encore was unbelievable. Hearing Sad again was so good and hearing Crazy Mary with Boom for the first time blew me away. I really thought there might be a third encore after but they ended with Alive which was perfect.
All in all it was a great evening, can't wait for 6/3 and so jealous of those going to Hartford.
Va Beach, 2000; Jones Beach Night 3 2000; Saratoga Springs 2000; Albany 2003; Reading (VFC) 2004; Albany 2006; Boston 2 2006 (one of the best nights of my life); East Rutherford 2 2006
Ok, I was a virgin until last night - long time fan, just never made the time to go before.
Last night was phenomenal - energy was high, performances were great, band was relaxed and enjoying themselves. Mike was great with the crowd as was Ed - playing off the energy.
It's easy to see they don't do this for the money, they do it because they love it. When he started in to Elderly woman, it was as if he was singing to us, and more importantly to the Freaks who he admittedly says he sees all the time. Felt like he was glad to be back in front of us and on the road again.
Tonight Hartford then off to Boston.
Thanks 10 Club
caught a bolt 'a lightnin'...
cursed the day he let it go...
Couple of non music things,Ed finished his wine & said he'd have to switch to beer. He held up an American flag,with a Peace sign instead of stars, that he got from the front. I looked up to the rafters and the only retired player's number I saw was 10. Wow! What a great night.
Most pertinent details about this show have already been talked about...figured i'd just add a few small tidbits...
the "slow" intro to Porch is awesome, I almost feel it should have been that way on TEN.
The "Another brick in the wall" daughter tag was phenomenal, I was standing behind the stage at the time, and to look out over the sea of people (cast in a blue light) singing along to this song was just other-worldly.
Comatose is SO FUCKING GOOD LIVE! can we swear on this message board? ah well, i just did. Let me repeat: Comatose is SO FUCKING GOOD LIVE! (sidenote: Mike McCready is a madman).
They turned around and played "Last kiss" to the people seated behind the stage (as Ed called them, "the working class people"), complete with Mikey standing on his amps and Matt getting REALLY into it.
Boom just lit the place up with his Crazy Mary solo. The "Boooooom" chants were just deafening afterwords.
Everyone seemed to enjoy "Satan's Bed" and "Rats" to a degree, but from where I was, I could see the whole floor, and the ten club folks REALLY tweaked when these songs started.
Great banter from Ed all night long. He was again drinking wine AND a mug of tea (gotta soothe those vox SOMEhow).
During one song (I believe it was Crazy Mary, though I could be mistaken), Stone fucked up his guitar part and Mike and Jeff cracked huge smiles and pointed both their acusatory arms at Stone, who shrugged, and continued playing.
Ed climbed the speakers during "Porch", and for a second, it seemed feasible that he might jump. Alas, he did not.
A very odd setlist tonight. it seems evident to me that the band will be playing more "hits" this tour, as opposed to last tour, which was heavier on rarities.
There's not much more to say that won't be said more eloquently by someone else, so i'll end here.
Cannot WAIT to see them in Philly and Pittsburgh.
"The only people for me are the mad ones!" - Jack Kerouac
Yet another of my world famous, rambling reviews...in two parts...
Albany Review – Pearl Jam – Pepsi Arena
12 May 2006
Wow. Second time seeing the band in eight days. The build up to this one was a little less coming off the Letterman high from last Thursday – it just kind of crept up on me. And sitting 5th row in New York, this was going to be a little bit of a different thing, but it ended up being good, having no great expectations or thinking about it constantly, really.
Raining cats and dogs in the morning, I was hoping it would let up a bit before evening, which it did. Really wanted to get downtown as early as possible, but since I only live about twenty minutes away, it wasn’t that big of a deal. I just hate going to things like this right on time, seeing it and then going right home. It kind of cheapens it, packs it all into such a small time frame, it gets lost. I like doing other things, stretching the day out. It makes it more memorable.
Finally got into Albany about two O’clock. Parking sucks in this damn city. All the people live out in the suburbs (like me) and no one really lives in the city, they all come in during the day and then go home at night. It’s deceptively bigger than its population lets on (95,000 people). Lots of big old buildings, at least to a hick like me. Anyway, finally found my way up to the arena garage, eight bucks wasn’t bad for the day. I knew some place to park on the street, but just couldn’t find it. Hadn’t been downtown in a year or two.
Got our bearings (me and lil sis – her first PJ show, BTW, this was #3 for me) and headed over Pearl St. a block to State St. Walked a few blocks up the hill and just as we were about to cross the street, my sister asks, “what’s that building?” It was the state Capital. She had no idea. Which is really sad because they take you in there in elementary school on a field trip and you see the whole deal. I remember that day like it was yesterday – we got to eat lunch in the cafeteria underground with all the state senators and assemblymen. It was pretty cool. And they let us see the million dollar staircase in the Capital building. Which has since been renovated. They covered the skylights during WWII and it’s supposed to be beautiful now with the sun shining through.
Got to the Empire State Plaza, which is basically what we thought the future was going to look like in the 1960s. Four office buildings, twenty stories each maybe, all exactly the same. One taller building, the Corning Tower, is on the other side of this big mall, a big reflecting pond. Also there is the Egg, the defining part of the Albany skyline. It’s just a big concrete half circle, which is actually a theatre on the inside. And the State Museum at one end, the Capital on the other. But the shame here (other than its ugliness) was the fact that the state bought 40 blocks of the city in the 1960s and forced all the people in those neighborhoods to relocate so they could tear their houses down to build this shit. Sad.
Went to the museum, which I hadn’t been to since I was about ten, ten years ago. Nothing’s really changed. There is a powerful 9/11 exhibit, which has all kinds of stuff pulled from the wreckage, burnt and bent. A whole NYC fire truck all corroded and crushed. It’s a good exhibit if you’re ever in town – heavy stuff though.
The rest of the museum is exactly the same as I remembered. A bunch of antique firetrucks; big exhibit on New York City, with an old subway car, stuff about Fulton Market and Fifth Ave, pretty neat now having seen it in real life over the last decade; some things on Native Americans of New York; and a big wing about the Adirondacks. Exactly the same as I remembered. My sister didn’t remember it at all – not even sitting in the old subway car, nothing. So she took her time, I was running around the corner all the time, visualizing what would be next. They did have a good little gallery on op-art, stuff that makes your eyes hurt, all geometric and optical illusion art. That was cool, and since we’d seen it all, we left, back to the box office to pick up my tickets.
It was raining when we left – I didn’t have a jacket or umbrella, so I got soaked, but didn’t really care. My sister scared the crap out of some guy walking ahead of us (she has volume control issues…) when she yelled “My pants are all wet!” This dude jumped about a foot and spun around…idiot sister.
Walked right in and up to the window at the box office – got section 106, Mike’s side, row Q. I had a feeling I’d be Mike’s side since I was Stone’s last week fate or something…back to the car. Grabbed an umbrella, walked over to the Bayou Café on North Pearl, about five blocks from the arena. We live right down the street from the original Bayou in Glenville…figured we’d try to downtown version since we were there. Every time I’ve gone into the Bayou at home, the kitchen is always blasting PJ. Lost Dogs and Ten, most of the time. So I figured they’d have a PJ contingent fueling up before the show. Not so much…just a bunch of 30 somethings getting drunk. They had two guys on guitar – they played Last Dance With Mary Jane (Mary Jane’s Last Dance?), and one guy had a sweet looking maroon Strat and just went off on the solo. The singer really needed a harmonica to sell it though. Was a little too rough otherwise. But the food was good and we got out, back to the car once again.
Lined up outside the doors at 6:20, they were supposed to open at 6:30 – I still needed a poster. Waited and waited and waited. Gave us some gruff about the digital camera, but not too much. Finally they let us in about 6:50. Ran, got a poster, headed to the seats, real good view of the whole stage. Only problem was the cable hanging down from the PA on Mike’s side. It was a little annoying, but got used to it. Right at 7:30, My Morning Jacket came on and fuckin RAWKED.
I can’t remember the names of all their songs, and there were a few I didn’t know, but they played One Big Holiday early, which was what I was really looking forward to. Jim James was nasty on guitar on this one – and he had shoes on. That was a rarity. He only talked once, just to say they were from Kentucky, and had seen a bunch of cities over the years. “But your city is getting a special award tonight” he said. “You’ve got the nicest looking Kinko’s here in Albany, it’s right around the corner on State St.” It’s in some old building apparently. We’ve got that going for us. They played some really quiet, slow-building, Pink Floydish stuff I didn’t like so much, but ended on a great note with Mahgeeta, my second favorite song by them. It’s got a very deliberate ending, with a lot of stops and starts, and James was just holding up his guitar at the end, slamming the strings with his free hand. And with that they left the stage, to a really good reception from the folks who got there early. Really good opening band, great to see them play a 45-minute set.
OK, so the waiting sets in again. Quick bathroom run. Beer line was the length of the side of the whole arena. Met my neighbors…guy and gal, both 10cers… They were excited all night, good to meet them. Also smoking weed all night too…could’ve done without that though. They get the rugs laid out, everything set up, and the guitar techs are out there strumming away, testing the mics and Matt’s kit. The excitement was really building – the floor was full, but some of the side sections were still filling in. Stone’s tech was still on stage, strumming away, and the crowd started cheering and clapping, but he just wouldn’t leave! One of the guys came out with the uke, so we were thinking maybe Soon Forget or Can’t Keep, but Ed never ended up using it. The stage cleared, the lights dimmed a bit and Master/Slave came on. Here we go.
First to come out on stage was Boom, and he got a huge: BOOM, from everyone. He headed right back to the B3, and then Ed came out, wine and notebook in hand, waving to the crowd. A big blue light focused on Boom, and the crowd just drowned out all the noise for a good minute or two. Wasted Reprise! Ed sounded good on the vocals and then the other three took the stage and they ripped right into Life Wasted. What a great opening segue. Mike was nasty on the solo, but you still couldn’t hear him all that well, just mixed down too low.
Ed picked up his tele and eBow and you knew WWS was coming. A good version, the crowd knew all the words – again, the “another, another, another WAY” part was great with the crowd screaming along. Right into Severed Hand, with another great Mike solo. Behind his head already – wow, he was ON. Right when you think they’d let up, they crunch right into Do the Evolution, which really got everyone going. Always great early in the set. Seems like the “first man to change poo poo pants” is catching on…heard this one a lot recently… Stone was good on the solo, the hallelujah part was great, they turned the lights on the whole crowd, everyone was singing back in unison.
Ed broke in a little here, put on his Rickenbacker, Stone an acoustic. Ed said it was “good to be back in the home of the River Rats,” our AHL hockey team. And I’d seen a ton of their games right in the same building, and I yelled out “RATS!” which got some laughs from people in front of me, because they’d never play that, right? Constantly going between tea and wine, Ed said this next one “is for you to sing” – Small Town. A good one here, finally we’re slowing down a bit.
Ah, Given to Fly next. I really liked the version from Philly back in October a little better than this one…I don’t know what it was. Again, the crowd knew all the words and was crunching along during the chorus – really a sight to see. Afterwards, Ed said something about “we’re playing some songs tonight we’ve haven’t played in a while, here’s the first one.”
RED fuckin MOSQUITO! Mike was sick on the slide with this one, it sounded better than ever – maybe that was just my shock that they brought it back. And it was funny because my friend who I had gone to Letterman with said this was her favorite song, and they just never play it. I cheered twice as loud at the end, I hope that’s a regular from now on. Mike was just incredible all night…jumping around, made Red Mosquito sound fresh again. Hard to explain, but just a great surprise for everyone.
Right into Even Flow. MAN. Mike on this one just kind of grabbed on right in the upper part of the fretboard and didn’t let go, knuckles almost on the pickups. Just bending back and forth, really going for the sonic attack here – just bending and trem bar like crazy, off to the amp for a bit for some feedback. Matt, as always, was insane coming out of the solo, Ed was taking his time back by Boom, I could tell Mike was looking for him, so he could get back into the song.
Ed took another chance to speak. I think he made a joke here about Mike’s guitar, saying “that’s a 59 strat, but Mike just put ten years on it, now it’s a 49.” Then about the tax cuts he saw in the morning paper, with his “morning cigarette and…bottle of wine.”
He went on some little rant about money and the top 2% of the population and education…not that I don’t agree, but it was hard to follow what he was saying… too much wine, I think. “This next song is about that,” he said “these people trying to get an education and the army reserve…”. Army Reserve, which I really liked on the record, but just didn’t seem to translate to such a big room. It was great at Letterman; I could really hear Boom at the end, but here, not so much. This was also the beer run song, you could see the people in waves running back (even from the floor) to grab a drink, I guess. We’ll see what happens to this one. Stone was really grooving at the end, I was getting into it then, but it was just maybe a little abrupt or something ending.
Someone brought out a standup, Stone had his new guitar and strummed it a bit – Daughter. Good version here too – Another Brick in the Wall, we all knew the words, Ed started us off and let us go. With the lasers and everything, I thought it was a Pink Floyd show for a minute. A good jam.
The Rickenbacker was back – this time for Off He Goes. Oh man, this one is my favorite off of No Code…well, maybe except for Smile, but… This was a great version. Mike was really rockin on the solos, he usually goes for more of a bluesy thing, but it added a little something to this one. Everyone knew the words to this one too…that was a good feeling. I’m really excited at this point! No Code was being well represented, which is always a good thing. Yeah, listen to Mike on Off He Goes…gave it a great feel.
GONE. The spotlight came down on Ed as he started it off, everyone else in darkness. Mike was going for some background stuff here, ran into a little feedback, but a great, great song. I really, really like this one. Best chorus on the new record. Ed seemed to be a bit better with the words than he was at Letterman, except he “switched” the “only looks good when I’m speeding” and “lost all feeling” parts, but that was neat too.
Right the fuck into Grievance. Some Binaural love too, the place was right back rockin, just like that. Some guy in the front row had an American flag with the stars in a peace sign and threw it up on stage, Ed put in on like a cape right at the beginning of the last part, where it changes there into the “I just wanna be…” It fell to the ground (much to the dismay of all the former Boy Scouts I think) but Ed threw it back to the guy in the front after the song. It was a great image and got some applause. Good to hear that one too. Didn’t see too many peace signs there…my neighbors said security wouldn’t let them bring a sign in…they might have squelched it at the door.
Jeff put on his big bass…Jeremy…sounded incredible, the bass. The ending was great, his harmonics just resonating so well – just an incredible feeling of that sound. The ending singing part was taken by the crowd, Ed was waving a bit, giving thanks. The red spotlight on Jeff at the end was great – very somber, but the crowd still went nuts. I think Ed said something here about Boom before Marker in the Sand, but this was a really good one. The ending here too seemed a bit more abrupt than it was last week, but this song just has that great tempo change and insane ending, “calling OUT.” Right into Comatose, which again had us all rockin hard. Lights on this were good, minimal – helped the song nicely.
WHY GO HOME. Again, such a good idea to bring this one back. Diagnosed by some stupid FUCK, plus WHY GO HOME was just deafening from the whole building each time. Great set ender. Wow.
At this point, we all kind of put our hands on our heads and looked at each other. What a set! The crowd wouldn’t let ‘em take a break, two minutes later, clapping in unison for their return.
Ed’s back out first, by himself, harmonica rack and acoustic, comes out strumming and talking for a bit. I think he asked if everyone was from Albany…didn’t get too much of a response, but I made some noise. Said he always sees the same people in front, started talking about the normal people who know the stuff from the radio and the freaks who want to hear the stuff they never play. There was also something in there about Friday night…”shouldn’t you be off getting laid?” Which got some laughs. You’ve got to Hide Your Love Away, the crowd singing every word – Ed nailed the harp solo at the end, which was really impressive. Another Beatles reference in the past eight days… But a great band to fall back on when you want.
Then, out of nowhere, the band comes back, and Stone launches into this riff I know like the back of my hand but can’t place for about five seconds. SATAN’S BED?!?!?!! What the fuck! HOLY SHIT. Ed knew the fuckin words too! (He did use an idiot sheet for the second verse, but…) Mike was exceptionally nasty here…I think they kind of tweaked the song to give him a ton of licks… this is going the be great live if they ever play it again. They flashed the lights during “dick” too…that was really funny. State College this was not. A polished Satan’s Bed. Who’d thunk it?
After that, those in the know were going insane! Wow, really one for the freaks. Ed picks up a guitar again…WISHLIST. I really wanted this one too. Ed fucks up the “messenger” part, but recovers. Mirrorball drops, everyone in a great mood. Going for the ebow, it’s just not working for Ed, he chucks it back towards Matt and starts doing some crazy picking real high on the fretboard, but really working nicely. I’d never heard one like this before…great groove…Stone was rockin out on it too. There was a little bit of tag, but nothing great. I think Ed said he “wished us all well,” or “the best.” They take a little break here and Ed starts to talk again.
“Well, here’s one for the freaks,” he said. “I don’t think Matt Cameron has ever played this one live with us before… Here’s one for the home team.” Huh? What the hell could it be? RATS! They’re fucking playing RATS! And it was good too! Wow…thanks to the River Rats on this one…even though they’ve been terrible for six or seven years…they got Albany RATS! Wow… At this point, it feels like I just won the lottery or something…kind of bracing myself for Leash at some point… They don’t sleep, they don’t eat…no, not after this show!
Ed guitars himself again…funky Porch! Oh fuck yeah. Thunders right to the solo…Mike goes off for a long time… stopped for a second to reach behind his back and turn his volume up. THANK YOU! Wnet behind his head at some point, I believe… he uses the slide here too. WOW. Really going for the slide a ton lately, which is great. Ed again goes MIA off stage…Mike starts running in circles, about ten times…Stone’s even grooving heavy over there. Mike kind of drops out, and STONE SOLOS TOO! Wow…this jam is just building, building…very RVM-ish…Jeff and Matt thumping along…Stone and Mike just going off on each other, playing riffs…Ed all of a sudden comes back, grabs his guitar again and gets in on it too…MAN! Still jamming…Ed tries some sing-a-longs here…doesn’t work too well, but very cool. Everyone assembles back by Matt, trying to get back into the ending of the song…trying, trying, rockin out… Holy CRAP. Finally back into the “touch you, hold you” part…Ed going nuts…great mic swing at the end…very prolonged here too…Ed just swinging and swinging. Last final thrash, Ed picks up notebook and walks off.
WE’RE ALL IN SHOCK. HOW INSANELY GOOD WAS THAT? What will they have left? Best version I’ve ever heard. I know some of the old ones are great, legendary…but this was insane. WOW. Fuckin Porch. Two great versions in eight days. Unbelievable.
Someone on the staff comes out in the break and scratches something off the setlist and writes another song on. I’m not sure what was crossed off or added. Band comes out again…thunderous applause. Ed says they have to play one to the back… “the working class people…the people who were at work when tickets went on sale.” He then kind of laughed…said he apologized…didn’t mean to push any buttons. Mike climbs up on Jeff’s amps, Jeff pulled his pant leg, making sure he wasn’t breaking anything. Matt sounded like he was playing some bongos or something unusual. Everyone comes back to the front of the stage. Somewhere in here Ed gives away his empty wine bottle and starts on a beer. There seems to be some deliberation with the guys. Ed says, “Let’s do Come Back,” and goes right into the intro.
WOW. Many people’s favorite off the new one…mine too. Sounded incredible…lighters went up instantly. So, so good. It really is the new Black, I see that so much. To me is resonates a little more – not about loss, but just separation, distance. I like it a lot. This cemented that, hearing it live. The whole of us at the end, I’ll be here, come back, incredibly powerful. Great tune.
Then, Stone rips right into Sad. Holy crap! I couldn’t believe it when I heard this (and Alone) in Philly let alone again. Very similar thematically to Come Back really, I feel the same thing when I hear it. Great riff…basically in shock at this point. After the song, Ed said “Sad enough yet?” Which got some laughs. Stone had his acoustic…spotlight on Boom. Not Crazy Mary at this point? Fuck yeah! Stone messed up right in the first verse…laughed real good but got right back on it, Boom was nasty in his solo, really jamming, bouncing along back there, but no Mike solo here. Kind of a bummer for me, I was waiting for it so bad, but Boom made up for it. Had BOOM!!! poured down on him after that…totally deserved it.
Stone’s got his Gibson on now, hit that A chord just a bit, I knew Alive was coming. WOW. Mike again, going behind his head in the solo. Right out on top of the monitors on the side of the stage (I got a nice picture of this), Ed ran out to the same spot on Stone’s side, basking in the crowd. Then they switched sides, Mike running across to Stone’s and going nuts over there. Another great “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!” with the fist pumps to end this one, lights on the whole place. Almost an overwhelming feeling…totally exhausted at this point…spent. WOW. Ed picks up his notebook and waves, “thanks, goodnight.” Waves all around…someone throws a Bush mask on stage, Stone picks it up, put it on the mic, gets some nasty feedback. Somehow Jeff puts it on, wears it around. Stone grabs the mic says, “it looks like him…but a little chesty.” Ed took it again, “there’s a good word for tonight. Chesty. Thanks, goodbye.” They leave the stage, crowd still going nuts, wanting more. Lights come on after a minute or two…kind of a sigh, some tongue in cheek boos…crew comes back on stage…packs up. Took a few pictures of ourselves after the fact…looking totally wasted…and we were.
Well, I’m sure there’s a ton I’ve left out, but… Just another great fuckin show. This band never disappoints. And now I’ve seen Rats and Satan’s Bed and Red Mosquito. WOW. There’s not too much to say at this point…I have to let it sink in. And the tour’s only begun. Man, I hope all you guys that seem ‘em later get as good a show as this. Infuckingcredible. But just like the new record, this show ended on a great note: I’m still alive. And I know it’s not about that…but this was, to me.
Amazing show! Much more energy than Ottawa IMO. I thought Porch was fantastic. Just all out a great show. I am a freak, so I certaitly enjoyed it.
Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
I couldn't have had a better time....I had 3rd row on mikes side (wing) which turned up being 1st row because the two rows in front of us were taped off...so we were not only raised up some, there was no one in front of us....soo awesome....and my god they bust out two songs they pretty much never play.....what a truly special show....and what a great 2 songs to dig out of the grave....wow, just wow
It took me a minute to recognize Rats and Satans Bed, I don't know the words, but I went nuts. I thought Why Go was cool. I like the hits just as much as the rarities.
Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
Comments
" This one's for the home team...."
Eddie before they broke out Rats 5/12/06
Buffalo 5/2/03
Albany 5/12/06
plus me on the Letterman webcast
http://edisk.fandm.edu/william.montgomery/files/PJMay06/
will type up a full review sometime today...
my usual 4000 word thing...
Hail Hail HIPPIEMOM
Wishlist Foundation-
http://www.wishlistfoundation.org
info@wishlistfoundation.org
And the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
Rats was tight, Eddie had the lyrics on the floor, and it seemed he would use them to get the verse started, and then it seemed like the lyrics sorta came back to him. And the place went nuts. With a "Ben the two of us need look no more" sing a long.
(12 rows back, Mikey and Jeff rockin out in front of me all night)
Cons : I could not hear Mike from were I was. So, the disks really will kick my ass. Security was aweful.
I was on Mike's side and I couldn't really hear him too well either, but the show as a whole rocked. All the new stuff sounded incredible. Can't wait to see PJ again.
Albany '03
Albany '06
Has he EVER remembered the lyrics to Rats? The show was FREAKING amazing! I was on Mike's side row H (Section 107). This was definately up there in my top 2 shows EVER (maybe even tied with Randall's Island 1996).
I know this is gonna sound weird (and I had my Daughter with me so I know it wasn't a drunken hallucination), but this was one of the greatest nights of my life PERIOD. It was like the stars alligned for me this day. I introduced Pearl Jam to a woman I really like about a month ago. Now understand, we are both mature (read 30something, and LATE 30something to boot!) professionals. Well, I'm standing there outside the Pepsi Arena hanging with my Daughter and I get a call, my girl is on her way up, please buy her tickets. I nearly SHIT! Just when I thought I found the perfect woman she goes and amazes me yet again. Then Pearl Jam comes on and does one of the greatest shows with one of the greatest set lists.......
What more could I want from life? Thank you Pearl Jam! Thank you Laura (Daughter). Thank you Margaret!
And thanks to all you here that I know can dig my story!
PEARL JAM ROCKS!
only down sides, driving from Boston in the pouring rain, especially on the way home. got a little bit dicey with the rain and fog but made it back.
also, i really can do without evenflow and alive! i hope i don't get these in Boston..
congrats to everyone that was there
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
I saw Hard To Imagine LIVE at MSG!
Did I have fun? :rolleyes: What do you think?
Bwhahahahahha!! No worries. I cant help it.. Im INFATUATED with the JASS.
PJAMMIN' REUNION!! N-<insert inside joke here>
HELL YEAH THE SHOW ROCKED MY SOX SO HARD! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You make me feel uncalm and I think I like it - 311
JEFF ROX MY SOX!
"Jeff is just a badass all the way across the board" ~aNiMaL~
"Chill out Kaddikat"
I will scream my lungs out till it fills this room
The Ocean is full Cause Everyone's Crying
The only bad thing about the show was the kid in front of me who kept standing on his chair, and he was more excited for Why Go than Rats and Satans Bed. He also tried to be cool by complaining about Last Kiss, what a bitch.
The people to my left were real cool and i hope to see them later on the tour in Boston.
I heard all the the new songs I really really wanted to. Comatose just blew me away and so did Severed Hand. I loved Marker in the Sand and the way it came off live.
Porch was probably the best version ever. Off he Goes and Come Back just made me well up with tears. Eddie sounded so incredible on those songs. I almost died when the broke out Rats and Satan's Bed-I knew it was going to be a legendary night and we were so happy to be part of it.
My body is still sore from all the bouncing, I think almost the whole audience stood the entire show. The crowd rocked the house and you could tell Eddie completely enjoyed feeling the love.
The last encore was unbelievable. Hearing Sad again was so good and hearing Crazy Mary with Boom for the first time blew me away. I really thought there might be a third encore after but they ended with Alive which was perfect.
All in all it was a great evening, can't wait for 6/3 and so jealous of those going to Hartford.
that sums it up
Last night was phenomenal - energy was high, performances were great, band was relaxed and enjoying themselves. Mike was great with the crowd as was Ed - playing off the energy.
It's easy to see they don't do this for the money, they do it because they love it. When he started in to Elderly woman, it was as if he was singing to us, and more importantly to the Freaks who he admittedly says he sees all the time. Felt like he was glad to be back in front of us and on the road again.
Tonight Hartford then off to Boston.
Thanks 10 Club
cursed the day he let it go...
the "slow" intro to Porch is awesome, I almost feel it should have been that way on TEN.
The "Another brick in the wall" daughter tag was phenomenal, I was standing behind the stage at the time, and to look out over the sea of people (cast in a blue light) singing along to this song was just other-worldly.
Comatose is SO FUCKING GOOD LIVE! can we swear on this message board? ah well, i just did. Let me repeat: Comatose is SO FUCKING GOOD LIVE! (sidenote: Mike McCready is a madman).
They turned around and played "Last kiss" to the people seated behind the stage (as Ed called them, "the working class people"), complete with Mikey standing on his amps and Matt getting REALLY into it.
Boom just lit the place up with his Crazy Mary solo. The "Boooooom" chants were just deafening afterwords.
Everyone seemed to enjoy "Satan's Bed" and "Rats" to a degree, but from where I was, I could see the whole floor, and the ten club folks REALLY tweaked when these songs started.
Great banter from Ed all night long. He was again drinking wine AND a mug of tea (gotta soothe those vox SOMEhow).
During one song (I believe it was Crazy Mary, though I could be mistaken), Stone fucked up his guitar part and Mike and Jeff cracked huge smiles and pointed both their acusatory arms at Stone, who shrugged, and continued playing.
Ed climbed the speakers during "Porch", and for a second, it seemed feasible that he might jump. Alas, he did not.
A very odd setlist tonight. it seems evident to me that the band will be playing more "hits" this tour, as opposed to last tour, which was heavier on rarities.
There's not much more to say that won't be said more eloquently by someone else, so i'll end here.
Cannot WAIT to see them in Philly and Pittsburgh.
"Ger was a brave friend." -BhagavadGita
Albany Review – Pearl Jam – Pepsi Arena
12 May 2006
Wow. Second time seeing the band in eight days. The build up to this one was a little less coming off the Letterman high from last Thursday – it just kind of crept up on me. And sitting 5th row in New York, this was going to be a little bit of a different thing, but it ended up being good, having no great expectations or thinking about it constantly, really.
Raining cats and dogs in the morning, I was hoping it would let up a bit before evening, which it did. Really wanted to get downtown as early as possible, but since I only live about twenty minutes away, it wasn’t that big of a deal. I just hate going to things like this right on time, seeing it and then going right home. It kind of cheapens it, packs it all into such a small time frame, it gets lost. I like doing other things, stretching the day out. It makes it more memorable.
Finally got into Albany about two O’clock. Parking sucks in this damn city. All the people live out in the suburbs (like me) and no one really lives in the city, they all come in during the day and then go home at night. It’s deceptively bigger than its population lets on (95,000 people). Lots of big old buildings, at least to a hick like me. Anyway, finally found my way up to the arena garage, eight bucks wasn’t bad for the day. I knew some place to park on the street, but just couldn’t find it. Hadn’t been downtown in a year or two.
Got our bearings (me and lil sis – her first PJ show, BTW, this was #3 for me) and headed over Pearl St. a block to State St. Walked a few blocks up the hill and just as we were about to cross the street, my sister asks, “what’s that building?” It was the state Capital. She had no idea. Which is really sad because they take you in there in elementary school on a field trip and you see the whole deal. I remember that day like it was yesterday – we got to eat lunch in the cafeteria underground with all the state senators and assemblymen. It was pretty cool. And they let us see the million dollar staircase in the Capital building. Which has since been renovated. They covered the skylights during WWII and it’s supposed to be beautiful now with the sun shining through.
Got to the Empire State Plaza, which is basically what we thought the future was going to look like in the 1960s. Four office buildings, twenty stories each maybe, all exactly the same. One taller building, the Corning Tower, is on the other side of this big mall, a big reflecting pond. Also there is the Egg, the defining part of the Albany skyline. It’s just a big concrete half circle, which is actually a theatre on the inside. And the State Museum at one end, the Capital on the other. But the shame here (other than its ugliness) was the fact that the state bought 40 blocks of the city in the 1960s and forced all the people in those neighborhoods to relocate so they could tear their houses down to build this shit. Sad.
Went to the museum, which I hadn’t been to since I was about ten, ten years ago. Nothing’s really changed. There is a powerful 9/11 exhibit, which has all kinds of stuff pulled from the wreckage, burnt and bent. A whole NYC fire truck all corroded and crushed. It’s a good exhibit if you’re ever in town – heavy stuff though.
The rest of the museum is exactly the same as I remembered. A bunch of antique firetrucks; big exhibit on New York City, with an old subway car, stuff about Fulton Market and Fifth Ave, pretty neat now having seen it in real life over the last decade; some things on Native Americans of New York; and a big wing about the Adirondacks. Exactly the same as I remembered. My sister didn’t remember it at all – not even sitting in the old subway car, nothing. So she took her time, I was running around the corner all the time, visualizing what would be next. They did have a good little gallery on op-art, stuff that makes your eyes hurt, all geometric and optical illusion art. That was cool, and since we’d seen it all, we left, back to the box office to pick up my tickets.
It was raining when we left – I didn’t have a jacket or umbrella, so I got soaked, but didn’t really care. My sister scared the crap out of some guy walking ahead of us (she has volume control issues…) when she yelled “My pants are all wet!” This dude jumped about a foot and spun around…idiot sister.
Walked right in and up to the window at the box office – got section 106, Mike’s side, row Q. I had a feeling I’d be Mike’s side since I was Stone’s last week fate or something…back to the car. Grabbed an umbrella, walked over to the Bayou Café on North Pearl, about five blocks from the arena. We live right down the street from the original Bayou in Glenville…figured we’d try to downtown version since we were there. Every time I’ve gone into the Bayou at home, the kitchen is always blasting PJ. Lost Dogs and Ten, most of the time. So I figured they’d have a PJ contingent fueling up before the show. Not so much…just a bunch of 30 somethings getting drunk. They had two guys on guitar – they played Last Dance With Mary Jane (Mary Jane’s Last Dance?), and one guy had a sweet looking maroon Strat and just went off on the solo. The singer really needed a harmonica to sell it though. Was a little too rough otherwise. But the food was good and we got out, back to the car once again.
Lined up outside the doors at 6:20, they were supposed to open at 6:30 – I still needed a poster. Waited and waited and waited. Gave us some gruff about the digital camera, but not too much. Finally they let us in about 6:50. Ran, got a poster, headed to the seats, real good view of the whole stage. Only problem was the cable hanging down from the PA on Mike’s side. It was a little annoying, but got used to it. Right at 7:30, My Morning Jacket came on and fuckin RAWKED.
I can’t remember the names of all their songs, and there were a few I didn’t know, but they played One Big Holiday early, which was what I was really looking forward to. Jim James was nasty on guitar on this one – and he had shoes on. That was a rarity. He only talked once, just to say they were from Kentucky, and had seen a bunch of cities over the years. “But your city is getting a special award tonight” he said. “You’ve got the nicest looking Kinko’s here in Albany, it’s right around the corner on State St.” It’s in some old building apparently. We’ve got that going for us. They played some really quiet, slow-building, Pink Floydish stuff I didn’t like so much, but ended on a great note with Mahgeeta, my second favorite song by them. It’s got a very deliberate ending, with a lot of stops and starts, and James was just holding up his guitar at the end, slamming the strings with his free hand. And with that they left the stage, to a really good reception from the folks who got there early. Really good opening band, great to see them play a 45-minute set.
OK, so the waiting sets in again. Quick bathroom run. Beer line was the length of the side of the whole arena. Met my neighbors…guy and gal, both 10cers… They were excited all night, good to meet them. Also smoking weed all night too…could’ve done without that though. They get the rugs laid out, everything set up, and the guitar techs are out there strumming away, testing the mics and Matt’s kit. The excitement was really building – the floor was full, but some of the side sections were still filling in. Stone’s tech was still on stage, strumming away, and the crowd started cheering and clapping, but he just wouldn’t leave! One of the guys came out with the uke, so we were thinking maybe Soon Forget or Can’t Keep, but Ed never ended up using it. The stage cleared, the lights dimmed a bit and Master/Slave came on. Here we go.
First to come out on stage was Boom, and he got a huge: BOOM, from everyone. He headed right back to the B3, and then Ed came out, wine and notebook in hand, waving to the crowd. A big blue light focused on Boom, and the crowd just drowned out all the noise for a good minute or two. Wasted Reprise! Ed sounded good on the vocals and then the other three took the stage and they ripped right into Life Wasted. What a great opening segue. Mike was nasty on the solo, but you still couldn’t hear him all that well, just mixed down too low.
Ed picked up his tele and eBow and you knew WWS was coming. A good version, the crowd knew all the words – again, the “another, another, another WAY” part was great with the crowd screaming along. Right into Severed Hand, with another great Mike solo. Behind his head already – wow, he was ON. Right when you think they’d let up, they crunch right into Do the Evolution, which really got everyone going. Always great early in the set. Seems like the “first man to change poo poo pants” is catching on…heard this one a lot recently… Stone was good on the solo, the hallelujah part was great, they turned the lights on the whole crowd, everyone was singing back in unison.
Ed broke in a little here, put on his Rickenbacker, Stone an acoustic. Ed said it was “good to be back in the home of the River Rats,” our AHL hockey team. And I’d seen a ton of their games right in the same building, and I yelled out “RATS!” which got some laughs from people in front of me, because they’d never play that, right? Constantly going between tea and wine, Ed said this next one “is for you to sing” – Small Town. A good one here, finally we’re slowing down a bit.
Ah, Given to Fly next. I really liked the version from Philly back in October a little better than this one…I don’t know what it was. Again, the crowd knew all the words and was crunching along during the chorus – really a sight to see. Afterwards, Ed said something about “we’re playing some songs tonight we’ve haven’t played in a while, here’s the first one.”
RED fuckin MOSQUITO! Mike was sick on the slide with this one, it sounded better than ever – maybe that was just my shock that they brought it back. And it was funny because my friend who I had gone to Letterman with said this was her favorite song, and they just never play it. I cheered twice as loud at the end, I hope that’s a regular from now on. Mike was just incredible all night…jumping around, made Red Mosquito sound fresh again. Hard to explain, but just a great surprise for everyone.
Right into Even Flow. MAN. Mike on this one just kind of grabbed on right in the upper part of the fretboard and didn’t let go, knuckles almost on the pickups. Just bending back and forth, really going for the sonic attack here – just bending and trem bar like crazy, off to the amp for a bit for some feedback. Matt, as always, was insane coming out of the solo, Ed was taking his time back by Boom, I could tell Mike was looking for him, so he could get back into the song.
Ed took another chance to speak. I think he made a joke here about Mike’s guitar, saying “that’s a 59 strat, but Mike just put ten years on it, now it’s a 49.” Then about the tax cuts he saw in the morning paper, with his “morning cigarette and…bottle of wine.”
Someone brought out a standup, Stone had his new guitar and strummed it a bit – Daughter. Good version here too – Another Brick in the Wall, we all knew the words, Ed started us off and let us go. With the lasers and everything, I thought it was a Pink Floyd show for a minute. A good jam.
The Rickenbacker was back – this time for Off He Goes. Oh man, this one is my favorite off of No Code…well, maybe except for Smile, but… This was a great version. Mike was really rockin on the solos, he usually goes for more of a bluesy thing, but it added a little something to this one. Everyone knew the words to this one too…that was a good feeling. I’m really excited at this point! No Code was being well represented, which is always a good thing. Yeah, listen to Mike on Off He Goes…gave it a great feel.
GONE. The spotlight came down on Ed as he started it off, everyone else in darkness. Mike was going for some background stuff here, ran into a little feedback, but a great, great song. I really, really like this one. Best chorus on the new record. Ed seemed to be a bit better with the words than he was at Letterman, except he “switched” the “only looks good when I’m speeding” and “lost all feeling” parts, but that was neat too.
Right the fuck into Grievance. Some Binaural love too, the place was right back rockin, just like that. Some guy in the front row had an American flag with the stars in a peace sign and threw it up on stage, Ed put in on like a cape right at the beginning of the last part, where it changes there into the “I just wanna be…” It fell to the ground (much to the dismay of all the former Boy Scouts I think) but Ed threw it back to the guy in the front after the song. It was a great image and got some applause. Good to hear that one too. Didn’t see too many peace signs there…my neighbors said security wouldn’t let them bring a sign in…they might have squelched it at the door.
Jeff put on his big bass…Jeremy…sounded incredible, the bass. The ending was great, his harmonics just resonating so well – just an incredible feeling of that sound. The ending singing part was taken by the crowd, Ed was waving a bit, giving thanks. The red spotlight on Jeff at the end was great – very somber, but the crowd still went nuts. I think Ed said something here about Boom before Marker in the Sand, but this was a really good one. The ending here too seemed a bit more abrupt than it was last week, but this song just has that great tempo change and insane ending, “calling OUT.” Right into Comatose, which again had us all rockin hard. Lights on this were good, minimal – helped the song nicely.
WHY GO HOME. Again, such a good idea to bring this one back. Diagnosed by some stupid FUCK, plus WHY GO HOME was just deafening from the whole building each time. Great set ender. Wow.
At this point, we all kind of put our hands on our heads and looked at each other. What a set! The crowd wouldn’t let ‘em take a break, two minutes later, clapping in unison for their return.
Ed’s back out first, by himself, harmonica rack and acoustic, comes out strumming and talking for a bit. I think he asked if everyone was from Albany…didn’t get too much of a response, but I made some noise. Said he always sees the same people in front, started talking about the normal people who know the stuff from the radio and the freaks who want to hear the stuff they never play. There was also something in there about Friday night…”shouldn’t you be off getting laid?” Which got some laughs. You’ve got to Hide Your Love Away, the crowd singing every word – Ed nailed the harp solo at the end, which was really impressive. Another Beatles reference in the past eight days… But a great band to fall back on when you want.
Then, out of nowhere, the band comes back, and Stone launches into this riff I know like the back of my hand but can’t place for about five seconds. SATAN’S BED?!?!?!! What the fuck! HOLY SHIT. Ed knew the fuckin words too! (He did use an idiot sheet for the second verse, but…) Mike was exceptionally nasty here…I think they kind of tweaked the song to give him a ton of licks… this is going the be great live if they ever play it again. They flashed the lights during “dick” too…that was really funny. State College this was not. A polished Satan’s Bed. Who’d thunk it?
After that, those in the know were going insane! Wow, really one for the freaks. Ed picks up a guitar again…WISHLIST. I really wanted this one too. Ed fucks up the “messenger” part, but recovers. Mirrorball drops, everyone in a great mood. Going for the ebow, it’s just not working for Ed, he chucks it back towards Matt and starts doing some crazy picking real high on the fretboard, but really working nicely. I’d never heard one like this before…great groove…Stone was rockin out on it too. There was a little bit of tag, but nothing great. I think Ed said he “wished us all well,” or “the best.” They take a little break here and Ed starts to talk again.
“Well, here’s one for the freaks,” he said. “I don’t think Matt Cameron has ever played this one live with us before… Here’s one for the home team.” Huh? What the hell could it be? RATS! They’re fucking playing RATS! And it was good too! Wow…thanks to the River Rats on this one…even though they’ve been terrible for six or seven years…they got Albany RATS! Wow… At this point, it feels like I just won the lottery or something…kind of bracing myself for Leash at some point… They don’t sleep, they don’t eat…no, not after this show!
Ed guitars himself again…funky Porch! Oh fuck yeah. Thunders right to the solo…Mike goes off for a long time… stopped for a second to reach behind his back and turn his volume up. THANK YOU! Wnet behind his head at some point, I believe… he uses the slide here too. WOW. Really going for the slide a ton lately, which is great. Ed again goes MIA off stage…Mike starts running in circles, about ten times…Stone’s even grooving heavy over there. Mike kind of drops out, and STONE SOLOS TOO! Wow…this jam is just building, building…very RVM-ish…Jeff and Matt thumping along…Stone and Mike just going off on each other, playing riffs…Ed all of a sudden comes back, grabs his guitar again and gets in on it too…MAN! Still jamming…Ed tries some sing-a-longs here…doesn’t work too well, but very cool. Everyone assembles back by Matt, trying to get back into the ending of the song…trying, trying, rockin out… Holy CRAP. Finally back into the “touch you, hold you” part…Ed going nuts…great mic swing at the end…very prolonged here too…Ed just swinging and swinging. Last final thrash, Ed picks up notebook and walks off.
WE’RE ALL IN SHOCK. HOW INSANELY GOOD WAS THAT? What will they have left? Best version I’ve ever heard. I know some of the old ones are great, legendary…but this was insane. WOW. Fuckin Porch. Two great versions in eight days. Unbelievable.
Someone on the staff comes out in the break and scratches something off the setlist and writes another song on. I’m not sure what was crossed off or added. Band comes out again…thunderous applause. Ed says they have to play one to the back… “the working class people…the people who were at work when tickets went on sale.” He then kind of laughed…said he apologized…didn’t mean to push any buttons. Mike climbs up on Jeff’s amps, Jeff pulled his pant leg, making sure he wasn’t breaking anything. Matt sounded like he was playing some bongos or something unusual. Everyone comes back to the front of the stage. Somewhere in here Ed gives away his empty wine bottle and starts on a beer. There seems to be some deliberation with the guys. Ed says, “Let’s do Come Back,” and goes right into the intro.
WOW. Many people’s favorite off the new one…mine too. Sounded incredible…lighters went up instantly. So, so good. It really is the new Black, I see that so much. To me is resonates a little more – not about loss, but just separation, distance. I like it a lot. This cemented that, hearing it live. The whole of us at the end, I’ll be here, come back, incredibly powerful. Great tune.
Then, Stone rips right into Sad. Holy crap! I couldn’t believe it when I heard this (and Alone) in Philly let alone again. Very similar thematically to Come Back really, I feel the same thing when I hear it. Great riff…basically in shock at this point. After the song, Ed said “Sad enough yet?” Which got some laughs. Stone had his acoustic…spotlight on Boom. Not Crazy Mary at this point? Fuck yeah! Stone messed up right in the first verse…laughed real good but got right back on it, Boom was nasty in his solo, really jamming, bouncing along back there, but no Mike solo here. Kind of a bummer for me, I was waiting for it so bad, but Boom made up for it. Had BOOM!!! poured down on him after that…totally deserved it.
Stone’s got his Gibson on now, hit that A chord just a bit, I knew Alive was coming. WOW. Mike again, going behind his head in the solo. Right out on top of the monitors on the side of the stage (I got a nice picture of this), Ed ran out to the same spot on Stone’s side, basking in the crowd. Then they switched sides, Mike running across to Stone’s and going nuts over there. Another great “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!” with the fist pumps to end this one, lights on the whole place. Almost an overwhelming feeling…totally exhausted at this point…spent. WOW. Ed picks up his notebook and waves, “thanks, goodnight.” Waves all around…someone throws a Bush mask on stage, Stone picks it up, put it on the mic, gets some nasty feedback. Somehow Jeff puts it on, wears it around. Stone grabs the mic says, “it looks like him…but a little chesty.” Ed took it again, “there’s a good word for tonight. Chesty. Thanks, goodbye.” They leave the stage, crowd still going nuts, wanting more. Lights come on after a minute or two…kind of a sigh, some tongue in cheek boos…crew comes back on stage…packs up. Took a few pictures of ourselves after the fact…looking totally wasted…and we were.
Well, I’m sure there’s a ton I’ve left out, but… Just another great fuckin show. This band never disappoints. And now I’ve seen Rats and Satan’s Bed and Red Mosquito. WOW. There’s not too much to say at this point…I have to let it sink in. And the tour’s only begun. Man, I hope all you guys that seem ‘em later get as good a show as this. Infuckingcredible. But just like the new record, this show ended on a great note: I’m still alive. And I know it’s not about that…but this was, to me.
http://edisk.fandm.edu/william.montgomery/files/PJMay06/
That's exactly how I'd describe the show. I've seen several shows, beginning in '92, and this could have been the best (or damn close).
Thanks 10C, and thanks guys!
Jim
I know it's the next day...but tons of people are saying this.
WOW.
Amazing show! Much more energy than Ottawa IMO. I thought Porch was fantastic. Just all out a great show. I am a freak, so I certaitly enjoyed it.
http://www.s109718014.onlinehome.us/sharptoe/PJAlbany2006/