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Betterman-Mansfield

TaftTaft Posts: 454
edited June 2008 in Given To Fly (live)
This deserves its own thread, period.


Preface- I have been to 100+ shows, I have a 40,000-ish Tenclub #, none of it matters.


I admit, when this song is normally played, I endure it, but do not enjoy it. HOWEVER, tonight, after the first verse, the crowd response was unlike anything I have ever seen, it was truly special.

I felt it was a moment of appreciation for Ed, and all the great moments he has brought to Boston. And he deserves it. We were up front and the rest of the band (and Ed) were in shock by the reaction.

The crowd noise, and more importantly the length of the noise was unbelievable!

Never, ever would I have believed I would go to a great Pearl Jam show and leave saying that Betterman was the highlight...but that is what happened tonight.
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Comments

  • SVRDhand13SVRDhand13 Posts: 26,172
    Thats awesome! I give a big round of applause to the classics. Even though I'd rather hear rarities I realize that those songs still rock and became mega hits for a reason.
    severed hand thirteen
    2006: Gorge 7/23 2008: Hartford 6/27 Beacon 7/1 2009: Spectrum 10/30-31
    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
  • hinxhinx Posts: 416
    Yeah, that was pretty awesome.
  • inmytree0991inmytree0991 Posts: 122
    yea, im not saying better man at msgII was better than at mansfield but i totally know where you are coming from. i normally do not love the song but the crowd was just screaming along to the lyrics and the energy was amazing. then when eddie tagged the "dont run away run away run away..." part of save it for later and screamed "dont let me down" i nearly lost it. it was AMAZING. i dont know why but that part of the show really was outstanding.
  • solat24solat24 Posts: 7
    that had me im awe. i am so glad to be a part of that there will never be a greater feeling to truly give them the appreciation they deserve and ed's body told it all
  • Bathgate66Bathgate66 Posts: 15,813
    he had done the very same thing at msg,
    at the same time in the opening parts of that song.

    it wasnt as wellreceived and didnt have the clear impact on ed that it did tonight.

    i think even he was a bit overwhelmed.


    i also liked when he came back out after one of the encores and was under the spotlight on the drum set. he played a little ratta-tat-tat and then proceded to his usual spot.


    great show!


    off he goes ?


    :eek:


    wow !
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  • tombrady12tombrady12 Posts: 57
    the cheer went on and on louder and louder it was def a special moment.
    "if you hate something don't you do it too.." "You wanta toe? i can get you toe. Believe me there are ways Dude.."
  • U R A Crazy BreedU R A Crazy Breed Posts: 8,370
    i had the chills,it was so fucking awesome!!
  • ontheroadontheroad Posts: 257
    You are completely right...it was a moment to say thanks...goosebumps, what a response.

    At the end of the song Ed said "unbelievable" with a look of awe.

    It was so loud that the concrete was shaking under our feet...got to be a first for an outdoor venue.
    "I remember when you sang that song about today, now it's tomorrow and everything has changed." - Bu$hleaguer
  • LostdoggieLostdoggie Posts: 257
    I agree with everything you said, Taft. I like Betterman but it's not why I go to the shows. In fact tonight when Eddie started playing it I turned to my friend and said "the girls love this song" but wow, easily the highlight of the night.
    Sometimes life don't leave you alone

    8/20/98 - Montreal
    8/29/00, 8/30/00 - Mansfield
    7/02/03, 7/03/03, 7/11/03 - Mansfield
    9/28/04, 9/29/04 - Boston
    5/24/06, 5/25/06 - Boston
    6/28/08, 6/30/08 - Mansfield
  • foucaultfoucault Posts: 13
    I've heard Betterman so many times...they've played it at every show I've seen. All that in mind, I was blown away by the audience response tonight, and Ed's visible reaction. It's pretty amazing to see a crowd have such an effect on the band, rather than the other way around. = )
  • BlackCorduroyBlackCorduroy Posts: 1,374
    Ed's reaction was the greatest. It was such an awesome moment.
  • FlaggFlagg Posts: 5,856
    Wait til you hear the boot. It was just incredible. We would not let him continue. He was in awe of the crowd right then. I have no words. Just when I think I have seen it all, something the band or the fans do amazes me. My wife and I had goosebumps during that moment and it made every penny worth it.
    DAL-7/5/98,10/17/00,6/9/03,11/15/13
    BOS-9/28/04,9/29/04,6/28/08,6/30/08, 9/5/16, 9/7/16, 9/2/18
    MTL-9/15/05, OTT-9/16/05
    PHL-5/27/06,5/28/06,10/30/09,10/31/09
    CHI-8/2/07,8/5/07,8/23/09,8/24/09
    HTFD-6/27/08
    ATX-10/4/09, 10/12/14
    KC-5/3/2010,STL-5/4/2010
    Bridge School-10/23/2010,10/24/2010
    PJ20-9/3/2011,9/4/2011
    OKC-11/16/13
    SEA-12/6/13
    TUL-10/8/14
  • RipitLikePujolsRipitLikePujols Posts: 219
    Just bought the boot....these reflections give me goosebumps...and bring tears....sounds like an amazing a appreciation of the band.,.......................................WHAT A SPECIAL MOMENT FOR ALL OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wish I could see the band's reaction....hopefully some of the emotion will come through in the boot.................

    God bless all of you who were there tonight and this band

    I hope they play out here soon..............


    Seeing them live is the closest I feel to God..............haven't seen them

    since Gorge.................I MISS THEM SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    THANK YOU MANSFIELD FOR MAKING THE BAND SMILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    "WE'RE UH, WE'RE GONNA DO THIS ONE WHICH IS UH, CERTAINLY NOT A USUAL ONE, AND THEN UH, JUST TAKE A FEW MORE MINUTES, THEN UH, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA DO OUR BEST TO KEEP TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS AWAKE FR..." (cheering at intro)...

    --->H2I

    (special moment)
  • FlaggFlagg Posts: 5,856
    It was special. You have to hear this. The thunder of the crowd of the crowd yelling and then beating on those chairs. I am speechless (even though I have said a lot on this).
    DAL-7/5/98,10/17/00,6/9/03,11/15/13
    BOS-9/28/04,9/29/04,6/28/08,6/30/08, 9/5/16, 9/7/16, 9/2/18
    MTL-9/15/05, OTT-9/16/05
    PHL-5/27/06,5/28/06,10/30/09,10/31/09
    CHI-8/2/07,8/5/07,8/23/09,8/24/09
    HTFD-6/27/08
    ATX-10/4/09, 10/12/14
    KC-5/3/2010,STL-5/4/2010
    Bridge School-10/23/2010,10/24/2010
    PJ20-9/3/2011,9/4/2011
    OKC-11/16/13
    SEA-12/6/13
    TUL-10/8/14
  • Spot In The SkySpot In The Sky Posts: 1,175
    Wow this def sounds better than the norm, I think I will get the boot for this song alone based on this thread.
    The Betterman at Camden 1 was pretty special I thought.
    "The world is dangerous, feel safe here tonight..." EV 9/17/06

    38+6 shows at the age of 27 and counting...but still no Undone

    My podcast: Hotel Manager Talk- Dedicated to Hotel Employees, tell your friends. http://www.HotelManagerTalk.com
  • The AkkusThe Akkus Posts: 1,095
    I wish I could have been there!
    So far, the best betterman I have ever heard is Alpine Vally 2003.
    1998 - Noblesville * Knoxville
    2000 - Noblesville * Cincinnati * Columbus
    2003 - Lexington * East Troy * Noblesville* Columbus
    2006 - Cincinnati
    2008 - NYC night 1 * NYC night 2
    2009 - EV Solo Nashville
    2010 - Columbus * Noblesville * Cleveland
    2011 - East Troy night 1 * East Troy night 2
    2014 - Cincinnati
    2016 - Greenville * Lexington
    2022 - Louisville
    2024 - Noblesville
  • loucifaloucifa Posts: 42
    This was no doubt the highlight of the show.

    Got back to the car after show and talked about it with wife and she said "that was the first time I've seen the crowd take control from Ed and it was awesome!"

    Was a great moment!
    2008-06-28\\2008-06-30\\2006-05-25\\2006-05-24\\2006-05-13\\2005-10-03\\
    2004-09-28\\2004-09-29\\2003-07-11\\2003-07-02\\2003-07-03\\2000-08-29\\
    2000-08-30\\1998-09-16\\1998-09-15\\1996-09-26\\
  • kh65kh65 Posts: 946
    Taft wrote:
    This deserves its own thread, period.


    Preface- I have been to 100+ shows, I have a 40,000-ish Tenclub #, none of it matters.


    I admit, when this song is normally played, I endure it, but do not enjoy it. HOWEVER, tonight, after the first verse, the crowd response was unlike anything I have ever seen, it was truly special.

    I felt it was a moment of appreciation for Ed, and all the great moments he has brought to Boston. And he deserves it. We were up front and the rest of the band (and Ed) were in shock by the reaction.

    The crowd noise, and more importantly the length of the noise was unbelievable!

    Never, ever would I have believed I would go to a great Pearl Jam show and leave saying that Betterman was the highlight...but that is what happened tonight.

    I couldn't agree more!! I think it left Ed speachless and I was really surprised he didn't say something about it. But he was totally enjoying it! I can't wait to relive it on the boot!! If you weren't there words can't do that reaction justice. :)

    BTW.. I was in row D sec. 2 right by Stone's mike and I had great view of Ed's face. He honestly couldn't believe it, he even turned back to the band and said something to them.
    "If you're not living on the edge you're taking up too much room."

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  • PJim87PJim87 Posts: 18
    Was my first pearl jam concert ever being to, and i had my 5 songs i wished they would play all being fast hard songs ( severed hand, go, animal, state of love and trust, and life wasted). And i got one of em, but i will never get over the betterman. Corny as it may sound that was mind blowing. Very special moment, and everyone that is only going to the second show really missed out, doubt it will happen again. BUT we can always hope for it
  • LongerRoadLongerRoad Posts: 72
    can someone throw this up on youtube?
  • PearlJamVixenPearlJamVixen Posts: 88
    It was amazing--a truly monumental experience. I LOVED how amazed Eddie looked....I think they really appreciated our appreciation.

    I normally don't like Betterman at all, and wish they wouldn't play it, but last night's version was PHENOMENAL!!!!!!!!
    8/7/92, 4/12/94,10/2/96,9/15/98, 8/29/00,8/30/00,10/28/00,4/8/03,4/29/03, 7/2/03, 7/3/03, 7/11/03, 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 5/25/06, 6/27/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 5/20/10, 9/7/11, 10/15/13, 10/16/13, 10/25/13, 12/6/13, 4/8/16, 9/2/18, 9/4/18, 5/6/22, 5/7/22
  • Jam10Jam10 Posts: 654
    I would say at Lollapalooza 2007 Betterman had the same effect on the fans and on the band. I was at Lollapalooza and that was just incredible!
  • ManOfTheHourManOfTheHour Posts: 32
    LongerRoad wrote:
    can someone throw this up on youtube?

    I second that.

    About the actual song though, when it first started playing I kind of rolled my eyes a little. Don't get me wrong, it's a great song, but when you've heard it live so many times, you get tired of it. I've always said the reaction from the crowd to Betterman in 2003 (Mansfield) was the loudest singing I've ever heard, but last night topped it by far! After the second verse, the crowd took control for what seemed like forever. SO LOUD! Eddie had the look of utter disbelief on his face. At one point he stepped back from the sheer force of what was thousands of hands and voices expressing their love for the band. Truly astounding!

    And to those saying the show was too short, it's not the band who makes these curfews. Comcast, Tweeter, Greatwoods, whatever you wanna call it, has always imposed a strict curfew of 11:00. Alive ended at 11:00 on the dot. Props to the band for using 2:15 to play a killer setlist. See you guys tomorrow for night II. ( I love saying that :))
    Mansfield I & II 1998
    Mansfield I & II 2000
    Montreal 2000
    Mansfield I, II & III (The Experiment) 2003
    Boston I & II 2004
    Montreal 2005
    Hartford 2006
    Boston I & II 2006
    Mansfield I 2008
  • Champagne BreakfastChampagne Breakfast Posts: 1,526
    That's awesome.
    MSG 2 was similar. In 12 years, I have NEVER heard betterman like the last time around. Especially during "Don't Let Me Downnnnnnn" during Save it for Later.
    The place was sooo electric the speakers and amps on the stage were literally shaking.

    It was chilling
    PJ - 36
    EV - 5
    (**Letterman'02, Irving Plaza, Storytellers, Beacon, ACL, Spectrum 3&4, Bridge School '10**)

    "Constant recoil,..sometimes life don't leave you alone."
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  • LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSunLikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun Posts: 6,097
    the crowd always makes this song great. i never get tired of hearing this one. its just a great song live.
  • fall by the waysidefall by the wayside Jericho, VT Posts: 757
    By far the best Better Man I've ever witnessed. When it first started I actually sat down. By the end of the song I had goosebumps. It was un-fucking-believable.
    9/13/98, 10/4/00, 4/29/03, 6/29/03, 7/2/03, 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 9/15/05, 9/16/05, 5/12/06, 5/13/06, 6/27/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 10/30/09, 10/31/09, 5/15/10, 9/11/11, 9/12/11, 10/19/13, 10/21/13, 10/22/13, 10/25/13, 10/27/13, 9/26/15, 4/28/16, 4/29/16, 8/5/16, 8/7/16, 8/13/18, 9/2/18, 9/4/18, 9/26/21, 9/1/22, 9/2/22, 9/14/22, 9/18/23, 9/19/23, 9/7/24, 9/9/24, 9/12/24, 9/15/24, 9/17/24
  • ricardofurrielricardofurriel Posts: 265
    LongerRoad wrote:
    can someone throw this up on youtube?

    Like most of you, when Betterman started I put my head down for second. After so many times, you know what it is. It's not that I don't like it, it's just that... you know what I mean...

    It was an incredible moment when the crowd took over. Incredible.

    Luckily, knowing that some friends of mine would love to be with me, I decided to pick my camera out of my pocket... And here's the result (of course it does not do it justice but it should give you the idea):


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnMp10twB3Y
    Severed Hand
  • rival420rival420 Massachusetts Posts: 58
    Of course that video does not give you the same effect as being there. I've been to 100+ concerts and 12 of them being Pearl Jam shows. In all my years I have never seen a crowd reaction like that! It was fucking mind blowing..

    And trust me, I have listened to all of the bootlegs out there and own about 350 of them and there is no other performance of Better Man like this one! I am still in disbelief that I witnessed this..

    So Boston, lets do it again tomorrow night!
  • LongerRoadLongerRoad Posts: 72
    THANK YOU!!!
    ricardofurriel wrote:
    Like most of you, when Betterman started I put my head down for second. After so many times, you know what it is. It's not that I don't like it, it's just that... you know what I mean...

    It was an incredible moment when the crowd took over. Incredible.

    Luckily, knowing that some friends of mine would love to be with me, I decided to pick my camera out of my pocket... And here's the result (of course it does not do it justice but it should give you the idea):


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnMp10twB3Y
  • 3inputchick3inputchick Posts: 845
    A very narricist moment for Ed...... good for him!!!
    A pessimist is a man who thinks all women are bad. An optimist is one who hopes they are.
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