My Pearl Jam story

dewfus

Im a relatively new fan club member, since 2009, but have been a fan since that first time I saw the video for Alive 21 years ago in my parents basement as a senior in high school. As a teenager, that first album seemed to speak just to me. Pearl Jam has been providing music to the soundtrack of my life ever since. As we all do, I have countless Pearl Jam memories, the first time I saw them live at Alpine Valley in 1992 on the Lollapalooza tour and watching the band and a sick Ed use the energy from the crowd at a show in Minneapolis in 1998. (Stone's guitar cut out just as they started in on All Those Yesterdays and while they worked feverishly to get it fixed, the crowd went from a dull roar to full throated appreciation just to fill the break. The band, clearly appreciative of the love, gave it right back and played the rest of the show like it was their last.) I got to see Ed play solo in Chicago which was such a different experience and I have so many others. But the band is also there as I drive to work, mow my lawn and clean the house. Albums float in and out of favor as old favorites become new favorites. Backspacer always reminds me of Paris as it had just come out a week before my first trip to Europe. I understand the possessiveness of fans on the board here because everyone's relationship with the music is so personal. I have never posted on the boards before. I visit often in between albums just to see if there are any nuggets of news but have never felt a need to add anything. Im writing now because my favorite Pearl Jam memory happened in Chicago just a few years ago and I am so looking forward to seeing them at Wrigley I want to share this someone, even if I dont know any of you. Im married with 4 kids. My kids cant stand Pearl Jam. They think it is too old. I smile when they complain and think back to what I thought of my dad's music. Before 2009, my wife used to tolerate Pearl Jam. She had probably heard every album a dozen times but couldn't name a song besides Jeremy. We take an annual trip to Chicago without the kids and in 2009 I talked her into planning it around their show at the United Center. We saw the first of 2 nights they played. The band had lost a friend in Chicago and it was obviously a very emotional show. They opened with Long Road that night. As they played Given to Fly, my wife was absolutely mesmerized. The crowd seemed to be the ones performing and the band was just there keep us organized. We stood with our arms around each other as I sang along, she didnt know the words or even the name of the song but the power of the performace marked that song for her. After that Jeff led the crowd in Happy Birthday for the friend he lost which led into Come Back. Come Back is a song I had heard many times but was not one of my favorites. I didnt dislike it but it wasnt one that ever rose to the top for me. But that night in Chicago, as I stood with my wife in each others arms and dancing along to what instantly became my wife's favorite song I will never listen to it the same way again. She became a fan that night and we shared our favorite Pearl Jam memory. Its a cold winter in Minnesota this year and the announcement of a show at Wrigley in July certainly provided some hope on a cold day for a summer that now cant come soon enough. Now when Given to Fly comes on the radio when we are in the car, she is the one that turns it up. As I look forward to Wrigley, I hope the band plays Given to Fly at sunset or my wife's favorite song Come Back so she can sing along this time. But if they don't, I know we will have new favorite memories. I always do when I go see MY band play. Cheers

HK_PJMomma

Beautiful!!! We all have many pearl jam stories for certain.. but thank you for sharing.

deftones

Wonderful story it's never too late for your first post

Abe Froman

dewfus wrote:

dancing along to what instantly became my wife's favorite song I will never listen to it the same way again.

Great story/post! This happened to me with "Man of the Hour". We saw Ed perform it solo in Chicago 08' and became one of my favorites when they played it the night your talking about in 09 because of my wifes reaction. Just like you said, I've never listened to it the same way again.

rearviewross

No, no, no. That is not how you make your first post in the forum. This is how you do it viewtopic.php?f=5&t=203099

In all seriousness, nice story. Cannot wait for this cold ass winter to end and July 19th to come.

Nevermind90

Yey! Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

I understand the possessiveness of fans on the board here because everyone's relationship with the music is so personal.

says it all! all the personal pearl jam memories are one of the greatest thing around here! to hear peoples stories!

shetellsherself

Nevermind90 wrote:

Yey! Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

I understand the possessiveness of fans on the board here because everyone's relationship with the music is so personal.

says it all! all the personal pearl jam memories are one of the greatest thing around here! to hear peoples stories!

Lovely story. How beautiful that you can now share your love of pj with the person you love. That's a gift. The above statement is so true. We all share personal connections with the music. I hope you have a fantastic time in Chicago making new memories.


Jen

loix71

nice story!!!
welcome on the board

vant0037

dewfus wrote:

Im a relatively new fan club member, since 2009, but have been a fan since that first time I saw the video for Alive 21 years ago in my parents basement as a senior in high school. As a teenager, that first album seemed to speak just to me. Pearl Jam has been providing music to the soundtrack of my life ever since. As we all do, I have countless Pearl Jam memories, the first time I saw them live at Alpine Valley in 1992 on the Lollapalooza tour and watching the band and a sick Ed use the energy from the crowd at a show in Minneapolis in 1998. (Stone's guitar cut out just as they started in on All Those Yesterdays and while they worked feverishly to get it fixed, the crowd went from a dull roar to full throated appreciation just to fill the break. The band, clearly appreciative of the love, gave it right back and played the rest of the show like it was their last.) I got to see Ed play solo in Chicago which was such a different experience and I have so many others. But the band is also there as I drive to work, mow my lawn and clean the house. Albums float in and out of favor as old favorites become new favorites. Backspacer always reminds me of Paris as it had just come out a week before my first trip to Europe. I understand the possessiveness of fans on the board here because everyone's relationship with the music is so personal. I have never posted on the boards before. I visit often in between albums just to see if there are any nuggets of news but have never felt a need to add anything. Im writing now because my favorite Pearl Jam memory happened in Chicago just a few years ago and I am so looking forward to seeing them at Wrigley I want to share this someone, even if I dont know any of you. Im married with 4 kids. My kids cant stand Pearl Jam. They think it is too old. I smile when they complain and think back to what I thought of my dad's music. Before 2009, my wife used to tolerate Pearl Jam. She had probably heard every album a dozen times but couldn't name a song besides Jeremy. We take an annual trip to Chicago without the kids and in 2009 I talked her into planning it around their show at the United Center. We saw the first of 2 nights they played. The band had lost a friend in Chicago and it was obviously a very emotional show. They opened with Long Road that night. As they played Given to Fly, my wife was absolutely mesmerized. The crowd seemed to be the ones performing and the band was just there keep us organized. We stood with our arms around each other as I sang along, she didnt know the words or even the name of the song but the power of the performace marked that song for her. After that Jeff led the crowd in Happy Birthday for the friend he lost which led into Come Back. Come Back is a song I had heard many times but was not one of my favorites. I didnt dislike it but it wasnt one that ever rose to the top for me. But that night in Chicago, as I stood with my wife in each others arms and dancing along to what instantly became my wife's favorite song I will never listen to it the same way again. She became a fan that night and we shared our favorite Pearl Jam memory. Its a cold winter in Minnesota this year and the announcement of a show at Wrigley in July certainly provided some hope on a cold day for a summer that now cant come soon enough. Now when Given to Fly comes on the radio when we are in the car, she is the one that turns it up. As I look forward to Wrigley, I hope the band plays Given to Fly at sunset or my wife's favorite song Come Back so she can sing along this time. But if they don't, I know we will have new favorite memories. I always do when I go see MY band play. Cheers

Hello...might I direct you here...

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=171885

pdalowsky

Really nice story .....

he.who.forgets

Very nice story, thanks for sharing. Don't be a stranger :P

LeatherMosquitoMan

I love it