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August 22, 1998 - Barrie, ON (15th Anniversary Thread)
Given that tomorrow is the 15th anniversary of the show in Barrie, Ontario in 1998, I thought I would dedicate a thread to honouring this great show. Who was there? I want stories/experiences etc. Let's pay homage to this great show!
08/22/98 – Molson Park: Barrie, Ontario [125m]
attendance: 35,000
support act: Cheap Trick, All Systems Go, Hayden, Cracker, Matthew Good Band
soundcheck: Not for You (snippet), Corduroy (short), I Got Shit, MFC
set: Corduroy, Brain of J, Hail Hail, Animal, Dissident, Given to Fly, MFC, Habit, Wishlist, Even Flow, Daughter/(Surrender), In Hiding, Jeremy, State of Love and Trust, Nothingman, Better Man, Leatherman, Alive
enc 1: Immortality, Rearviewmirror, Last Exit, I Got Shit/(Cinnamon Girl), Black, Do the Evolution
enc 2: Yellow Ledbetter
notes: As Cheap Trick is performing, various members of PJ are spotted rocking out (and Mike taking photos through a small hole cut in the black cloth enveloping the scaffolding!), including Ed doing chinups and swinging on the scaffolding poles like a monkey and then holding his hand out, practically above his head, snapping his fingers rapidly with Rick Nielsen acknowledging him and grinning. During the first few songs, someone tosses a football and Ed catches it and looks around as if to say, “What the hell?!” Then he says, “check this out” and he flings his shoe off his foot simply by throwing his leg up in the air and kicks the ball 40 yards into the crowd. After ‘Animal,’ Ed addresses the crowd for the first time: “We made it, looks beautiful out there, we’ll try to do it better than last time we played here, I feel better, I’m Ed Vedder.” During ‘Habit,’ Ed changes the “speaking as” line to “speaking as a dumb-ass, beer-drinking, propaganda-believing, missile-shooting, American.” ‘Surrender’ is a Cheap Trick song. Right before ‘State,’ Ed refers to a Mike having a special guest, and Mike plays the song with one of Rick Nielsen’s guitars. ‘Nothingman’ is highlighted with lightning bolts on the backdrop. During ‘Leatherman,’ Ed’s guitar cuts out during the break, Matt just keeps drumming. Then: “Driving in today, I saw two of the coolest things I’ve ever seen: First I saw a guy wearing a watermelon on his head [laughing] – that guy’s Canadian of the year; then I saw the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen on the tour: I saw a guy with a truck, and in the back of a truck he had a couch, a chair, a fridge … this song’s about a bad-ass, the people up front are a bunch of bad-asses, the people in the back are a bunch of bad-asses; you’re all a bunch of bad-asses.” During Mike’s ‘Alive’ solo, Ed is walking along the speaker stands, dancing and pointing and jumping up and down. “Next time we come here – actually there might not be a next time – I don’t know if you know this, but the Doomsday Clock was pushed forward a few minutes, the Doomsday Clock is now at 5 minutes to midnight; you guys don’t know what I’m talking about, do you – it means we’re all gonna die, fuckers …” leading to ‘Immortality.’ ‘Do the Evolution’ features the new video on the backdrop. A great crowd with Ed acknowledging: “Next time we’ll do three shows in smaller venues so we can get the same number of people in.” When the band takes the stage for ‘Yellow Ledbetter,’ the crowd noise is unbelievable and Ed covers his ears! He changes the lyrics from “don’t ever wanna feel this way again” to “am never gonna have this much fun again.” Ed appears not to want to leave, staring at the cheering crowd and leaving with his hand placed over his heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3alA4Vd3xY
This show holds a very special place in my heart for the following reasons:
- It was my first time seeing PJ live.
- It was my 20th Birthday. (which really makes me love this show even more).
- It was a spectacular summer's day/evening.
- A show in front of 30,000 people: GA
- An epic weekend away with about 8 of my best friends.
- Probably one of the best weekends of my life.
This experience changed me from casual PJ fan to hardcore fan. I have been obsessed with them ever since.
The things I love and remember the most from this weekend/show? Heading up to my buddy's cottage in Peterborough on the Friday night to hang out, then making the last little drive to Barrie the following morning. We found a horribly shitty little camp ground just off the 400 (Cedar Park Camp Grounds, anyone familiar with it from Barrie? http://www.cedarparkcampgrounds.com/home.html) where we had to pitch our tents in a common area surrounded by trailers . . . but it suited our needs.
We pre-drank, then cabbed to the venue . . . . we were forced to get out early because of the traffic and walked the remainder of the way to Molson Park . . . . I remember seeing "Rick The Temp" from MuchMusic in a truck along Bayview Dr. while walking . . . my buddy yelled "Hey, it's Rick The Temp" to which he replied "Hey I'll see you guys in there!"
Once inside, it was more beer for us before heading to the pit before show time . . . we pushed our way to a decent spot where my PJ virginity would be taken from me in a flash as Corduroy rang from the stage . . . . I didn't know what hit me. I remember being deep in the pit for the first few songs and quickly lost 2 of my buddies . . . I was holding onto the last of my friends who ventured into the pit with me and soon lost him too in the melee . . . . and that was the last time I saw any of my friends for the rest of the show! But it didn't matter as I enjoyed the pit a bit more before heading back a bit to enjoy the music . . . then back into the pit for the final few songs before meeting my friends at our pre-determined meeting spot.
I was tired, thirsty and covered in dust, but it was epic!
Loved the setlist for the night and many versions of the songs. Highlights for me:
- Eddie catching/kicking the football;
- "We've been here before, yeah? Well let's make it better this time. It's already better. i feel better. I'm Eddie Vedder.";
- Eddie's doomsday speech;
- Eddie's "Watermelon hat guy" story during the breakdown of Leatherman;
- Amazing versions of In Hiding, Black, Immortality, Nothingman, and YL (among other songs!);
- Hearing GTF and Evolution live for the first time (and seeing the Evolution video on the backdrop during the song).
A great show/weekend that I always remember fondly! Lastly, here's a page I made YEARS ago dedicated to my experience at Barrie . . . it's very old school, but is still up on the web for some reason :?
http://www3.sympatico.ca/jmsmiles/barrie.htm
08/22/98 – Molson Park: Barrie, Ontario [125m]
attendance: 35,000
support act: Cheap Trick, All Systems Go, Hayden, Cracker, Matthew Good Band
soundcheck: Not for You (snippet), Corduroy (short), I Got Shit, MFC
set: Corduroy, Brain of J, Hail Hail, Animal, Dissident, Given to Fly, MFC, Habit, Wishlist, Even Flow, Daughter/(Surrender), In Hiding, Jeremy, State of Love and Trust, Nothingman, Better Man, Leatherman, Alive
enc 1: Immortality, Rearviewmirror, Last Exit, I Got Shit/(Cinnamon Girl), Black, Do the Evolution
enc 2: Yellow Ledbetter
notes: As Cheap Trick is performing, various members of PJ are spotted rocking out (and Mike taking photos through a small hole cut in the black cloth enveloping the scaffolding!), including Ed doing chinups and swinging on the scaffolding poles like a monkey and then holding his hand out, practically above his head, snapping his fingers rapidly with Rick Nielsen acknowledging him and grinning. During the first few songs, someone tosses a football and Ed catches it and looks around as if to say, “What the hell?!” Then he says, “check this out” and he flings his shoe off his foot simply by throwing his leg up in the air and kicks the ball 40 yards into the crowd. After ‘Animal,’ Ed addresses the crowd for the first time: “We made it, looks beautiful out there, we’ll try to do it better than last time we played here, I feel better, I’m Ed Vedder.” During ‘Habit,’ Ed changes the “speaking as” line to “speaking as a dumb-ass, beer-drinking, propaganda-believing, missile-shooting, American.” ‘Surrender’ is a Cheap Trick song. Right before ‘State,’ Ed refers to a Mike having a special guest, and Mike plays the song with one of Rick Nielsen’s guitars. ‘Nothingman’ is highlighted with lightning bolts on the backdrop. During ‘Leatherman,’ Ed’s guitar cuts out during the break, Matt just keeps drumming. Then: “Driving in today, I saw two of the coolest things I’ve ever seen: First I saw a guy wearing a watermelon on his head [laughing] – that guy’s Canadian of the year; then I saw the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen on the tour: I saw a guy with a truck, and in the back of a truck he had a couch, a chair, a fridge … this song’s about a bad-ass, the people up front are a bunch of bad-asses, the people in the back are a bunch of bad-asses; you’re all a bunch of bad-asses.” During Mike’s ‘Alive’ solo, Ed is walking along the speaker stands, dancing and pointing and jumping up and down. “Next time we come here – actually there might not be a next time – I don’t know if you know this, but the Doomsday Clock was pushed forward a few minutes, the Doomsday Clock is now at 5 minutes to midnight; you guys don’t know what I’m talking about, do you – it means we’re all gonna die, fuckers …” leading to ‘Immortality.’ ‘Do the Evolution’ features the new video on the backdrop. A great crowd with Ed acknowledging: “Next time we’ll do three shows in smaller venues so we can get the same number of people in.” When the band takes the stage for ‘Yellow Ledbetter,’ the crowd noise is unbelievable and Ed covers his ears! He changes the lyrics from “don’t ever wanna feel this way again” to “am never gonna have this much fun again.” Ed appears not to want to leave, staring at the cheering crowd and leaving with his hand placed over his heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3alA4Vd3xY
This show holds a very special place in my heart for the following reasons:
- It was my first time seeing PJ live.
- It was my 20th Birthday. (which really makes me love this show even more).
- It was a spectacular summer's day/evening.
- A show in front of 30,000 people: GA
- An epic weekend away with about 8 of my best friends.
- Probably one of the best weekends of my life.
This experience changed me from casual PJ fan to hardcore fan. I have been obsessed with them ever since.
The things I love and remember the most from this weekend/show? Heading up to my buddy's cottage in Peterborough on the Friday night to hang out, then making the last little drive to Barrie the following morning. We found a horribly shitty little camp ground just off the 400 (Cedar Park Camp Grounds, anyone familiar with it from Barrie? http://www.cedarparkcampgrounds.com/home.html) where we had to pitch our tents in a common area surrounded by trailers . . . but it suited our needs.
We pre-drank, then cabbed to the venue . . . . we were forced to get out early because of the traffic and walked the remainder of the way to Molson Park . . . . I remember seeing "Rick The Temp" from MuchMusic in a truck along Bayview Dr. while walking . . . my buddy yelled "Hey, it's Rick The Temp" to which he replied "Hey I'll see you guys in there!"
Once inside, it was more beer for us before heading to the pit before show time . . . we pushed our way to a decent spot where my PJ virginity would be taken from me in a flash as Corduroy rang from the stage . . . . I didn't know what hit me. I remember being deep in the pit for the first few songs and quickly lost 2 of my buddies . . . I was holding onto the last of my friends who ventured into the pit with me and soon lost him too in the melee . . . . and that was the last time I saw any of my friends for the rest of the show! But it didn't matter as I enjoyed the pit a bit more before heading back a bit to enjoy the music . . . then back into the pit for the final few songs before meeting my friends at our pre-determined meeting spot.
I was tired, thirsty and covered in dust, but it was epic!
Loved the setlist for the night and many versions of the songs. Highlights for me:
- Eddie catching/kicking the football;
- "We've been here before, yeah? Well let's make it better this time. It's already better. i feel better. I'm Eddie Vedder.";
- Eddie's doomsday speech;
- Eddie's "Watermelon hat guy" story during the breakdown of Leatherman;
- Amazing versions of In Hiding, Black, Immortality, Nothingman, and YL (among other songs!);
- Hearing GTF and Evolution live for the first time (and seeing the Evolution video on the backdrop during the song).
A great show/weekend that I always remember fondly! Lastly, here's a page I made YEARS ago dedicated to my experience at Barrie . . . it's very old school, but is still up on the web for some reason :?
http://www3.sympatico.ca/jmsmiles/barrie.htm
Barrie 08/22/98
Montreal 10/04/00
Toronto 10/05/00
Toronto 06/28/03
Kitchener 09/11/05
Ottawa 09/16/05
Toronto 08/21/09
Toronto 09/11/11
Ottawa 09/14/11
Buffalo 10/12/13
Ottawa 05/08/16
Chicago 08/20/18
Ottawa 09/03/22
Nashville 09/16/22
Montreal 10/04/00
Toronto 10/05/00
Toronto 06/28/03
Kitchener 09/11/05
Ottawa 09/16/05
Toronto 08/21/09
Toronto 09/11/11
Ottawa 09/14/11
Buffalo 10/12/13
Ottawa 05/08/16
Chicago 08/20/18
Ottawa 09/03/22
Nashville 09/16/22
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
Some of my most vivid memories were visiting the WalMart and McD's for some pre-show nourishment and talking with other fans. Then getting in line for what seemed like hours to get into the venue, in the beating sun... seeing the guys pull in on the couch that was on a trailer - true tailgaters. Ed mentioned them during the show and it was awesome knowing exactly what he was talking about. Getting to hear the soundcheck and mingling in the beer garden and rain room were mostly what we did all afternoon, while catching Cracker and some of the other bands in what I've always referred to as the first PJ Fest. I remember seeing the poster and thinking it would be a cool souvenir and here I am 7 shows later and it's become a show tradition/obsession. When Cheap Trick hit the stage and then seeing Ed and Mike side stage watching them just added to the energy and it seemed like that anticipation just grew and grew into a palpable thing as their set went on... when PJ finally came out I was floored and all of the pent up energy I had was released in an awkward dance/bounce/singing frenzy. I'd waited so long to actually see them I could barely realize and fully appreciate what I was seeing and while it might seem corny, I was just stolen by the rhythm of the night (Gloria Estefan much?). I listen to the boot now and can transport myself to exactly where I was standing and who I was focused on, but it was so much to take in and the memories have grown foggy through the years, but it's still the moment that cemented me as a hardcore fan for sure. Black was the true highlight for me at that time of my life and I got a little emotional throughout that song. When Mike finished the last notes of YL I could hardly believe it was over... the impossible traffic back to Toronto was rendered invisible as I floated on the high of that show. It was clearly a moment of transcendence for me that has really only been eclipsed by the birth of my children.
c b j
"Me knowing the truth, I can not concur."
1996: Toronto - 1998: Chicago, Montreal, Barrie - 2000: Montreal, Toronto - 2002: Seattle X2 (Key Arena) - 2003: Cleveland, Buffalo, Toronto, Montreal, Seattle (Benaroya Hall) - 2004: Reading, Toledo, Grand Rapids - 2005: Kitchener, London, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec City - 2006: Toronto X2, Albany, Hartford, Grand Rapids, Cleveland - 2007: Chicago (Vic Theatre) - 2008: NYC X2, Hartford, Mansfield X2 - 2009: Toronto, Chicago X2, Seattle X2, Philadelphia X4 - 2010: Columbus, Noblesville, Cleveland, Buffalo, Hartford - 2011: Montreal, Toronto X2, Ottawa, Hamilton - 2012: Missoula - 2013: London, Chicago, Buffalo, Hartford - 2014: Detroit, Moline - 2015: NYC (Global Citizen Festival) - 2016: Greenville, Toronto X2, Chicago 1 - 2017: Brooklyn (RRHOF Induction) - 2018: Chicago 1, Boston 1 - 2022: Fresno, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto, NYC, Camden - 2023: St. Paul X2, Austin X2 - 2024: Vancouver X2, Portland, Sacramento, Noblesville, Philadelphia X2, Baltimore
This was my second show and I managed to get right up to the front on Stone's side. I brought a disposable camera and snapped a bunch of photos. Only a handful turned out.
I just remember Ed just constantly looking out into the dust and smiling. I think part of him wished he was in there with us.
Scan & post please! I'd love to see more pics from the show....
Montreal 10/04/00
Toronto 10/05/00
Toronto 06/28/03
Kitchener 09/11/05
Ottawa 09/16/05
Toronto 08/21/09
Toronto 09/11/11
Ottawa 09/14/11
Buffalo 10/12/13
Ottawa 05/08/16
Chicago 08/20/18
Ottawa 09/03/22
Nashville 09/16/22
Had a blast.
My old man picked me up outside the venue, and said, "that sounded amazing"....
1996 - Toronto
1998 - Montreal, Toronto
2000 - Montreal, Toronto
2003 - Toronto, Montreal
2004 - Boston I, Boston II
2005 - Kitchener, London, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa
2011 - Toronto I, Toronto II, Ottawa
2013 - London, Seattle
2016 - Ottawa, Toronto I, Toronto II
:think:
Think I'm gonna have to put Barrie '98 on now ...
"Let's check Idaho."
Amen to the cassettes....those were the days.
Now we got people complaining about Pearl Jam baseball cards...*facepalm*
1996 - Toronto
1998 - Montreal, Toronto
2000 - Montreal, Toronto
2003 - Toronto, Montreal
2004 - Boston I, Boston II
2005 - Kitchener, London, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa
2011 - Toronto I, Toronto II, Ottawa
2013 - London, Seattle
2016 - Ottawa, Toronto I, Toronto II
Don't think it was Barrie.
And if anyone else has pictures from the day, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see them . . . . one my buddies took his disposable and we took a bunch of pics at Molson Park . . . not sure what he ever did with them . . I'm sure they're lost or tucked away somewhere at his parent's place or something. I should ask him about them...
Montreal 10/04/00
Toronto 10/05/00
Toronto 06/28/03
Kitchener 09/11/05
Ottawa 09/16/05
Toronto 08/21/09
Toronto 09/11/11
Ottawa 09/14/11
Buffalo 10/12/13
Ottawa 05/08/16
Chicago 08/20/18
Ottawa 09/03/22
Nashville 09/16/22
1996 - Buffalo
1998 - Barrie
1998 - Pittsburgh
2006 - Pittsburgh
2009 - Philly Night 4
2011 - EV - Detroit
2013 - Pittsburgh
2013 - Baltimore
Was it the orange guitar pick with the word "ed" on it?
"Me knowing the truth, I can not concur."
1996: Toronto - 1998: Chicago, Montreal, Barrie - 2000: Montreal, Toronto - 2002: Seattle X2 (Key Arena) - 2003: Cleveland, Buffalo, Toronto, Montreal, Seattle (Benaroya Hall) - 2004: Reading, Toledo, Grand Rapids - 2005: Kitchener, London, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec City - 2006: Toronto X2, Albany, Hartford, Grand Rapids, Cleveland - 2007: Chicago (Vic Theatre) - 2008: NYC X2, Hartford, Mansfield X2 - 2009: Toronto, Chicago X2, Seattle X2, Philadelphia X4 - 2010: Columbus, Noblesville, Cleveland, Buffalo, Hartford - 2011: Montreal, Toronto X2, Ottawa, Hamilton - 2012: Missoula - 2013: London, Chicago, Buffalo, Hartford - 2014: Detroit, Moline - 2015: NYC (Global Citizen Festival) - 2016: Greenville, Toronto X2, Chicago 1 - 2017: Brooklyn (RRHOF Induction) - 2018: Chicago 1, Boston 1 - 2022: Fresno, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto, NYC, Camden - 2023: St. Paul X2, Austin X2 - 2024: Vancouver X2, Portland, Sacramento, Noblesville, Philadelphia X2, Baltimore
I remember sneaking a quarter of shrooms in and splitting it with a buddy.
I didn't catch much off of them, but my buddy did big time. lol.
Great show, loved it, got to crowd surf at a Pj show, was so close, it was awesome, i wish shows were still GA, because at 33 i'm still in great shape and bring high energy as a fan.
I have the boot to this show, wish i could get some video footage
2010 WATCH IT GO TO FIRE!!
Yes, sir! All of my buddies that petered out early were back in the dust wondering who got it where we were (right in front of Ed, my armpits were bruised for weeks)... Then when we met out at the Molson Park sign, I showed them and palm was bruised from holding it so tight! Haha! I was so jazzed that I actually drove the whole way home (10 hours) to PA because I couldn't wait to show everyone and tell the story. Longest and coolest day of my PJ life! I was 19.
I believe Ed handed out a handful that night. I kept thinking you have to give me one! And I swear in I Got Shit he looked at me and said (off mic) "Next one.".... it was insane.
1996 - Buffalo
1998 - Barrie
1998 - Pittsburgh
2006 - Pittsburgh
2009 - Philly Night 4
2011 - EV - Detroit
2013 - Pittsburgh
2013 - Baltimore
That's a great story. I was lucky enough to score the same pick a couple of nights prior at the Montreal show. I can still remember how much Ed enjoyed interacting with those of us up front at the Barrie show. He was practically grinning, he was in such a great mood.
"Me knowing the truth, I can not concur."
1996: Toronto - 1998: Chicago, Montreal, Barrie - 2000: Montreal, Toronto - 2002: Seattle X2 (Key Arena) - 2003: Cleveland, Buffalo, Toronto, Montreal, Seattle (Benaroya Hall) - 2004: Reading, Toledo, Grand Rapids - 2005: Kitchener, London, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec City - 2006: Toronto X2, Albany, Hartford, Grand Rapids, Cleveland - 2007: Chicago (Vic Theatre) - 2008: NYC X2, Hartford, Mansfield X2 - 2009: Toronto, Chicago X2, Seattle X2, Philadelphia X4 - 2010: Columbus, Noblesville, Cleveland, Buffalo, Hartford - 2011: Montreal, Toronto X2, Ottawa, Hamilton - 2012: Missoula - 2013: London, Chicago, Buffalo, Hartford - 2014: Detroit, Moline - 2015: NYC (Global Citizen Festival) - 2016: Greenville, Toronto X2, Chicago 1 - 2017: Brooklyn (RRHOF Induction) - 2018: Chicago 1, Boston 1 - 2022: Fresno, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto, NYC, Camden - 2023: St. Paul X2, Austin X2 - 2024: Vancouver X2, Portland, Sacramento, Noblesville, Philadelphia X2, Baltimore
Happy birthday to your son!!!!!!!!!!!!
Montreal 10/04/00
Toronto 10/05/00
Toronto 06/28/03
Kitchener 09/11/05
Ottawa 09/16/05
Toronto 08/21/09
Toronto 09/11/11
Ottawa 09/14/11
Buffalo 10/12/13
Ottawa 05/08/16
Chicago 08/20/18
Ottawa 09/03/22
Nashville 09/16/22
You like that website I made, eh? :roll: I made that back in 2000 when my parents finally got the internet at home and had some webspace with their sympatico account. I honestly didn't even know it was still up online until I did an image search for "Pearl Jam Barrie 98" and it took me to my site
I know my parents still have their sympatico e-mail address, so obviously their webspace is still active!
Montreal 10/04/00
Toronto 10/05/00
Toronto 06/28/03
Kitchener 09/11/05
Ottawa 09/16/05
Toronto 08/21/09
Toronto 09/11/11
Ottawa 09/14/11
Buffalo 10/12/13
Ottawa 05/08/16
Chicago 08/20/18
Ottawa 09/03/22
Nashville 09/16/22
Front to back, solid show.
It will always have a spot in my heart as a top five.
Can't see me or any of my friends
Got any other pics of the show? The guys on stage? The venue? The crowd?
edit: I see you mentioned you'd see if you could find them
Montreal 10/04/00
Toronto 10/05/00
Toronto 06/28/03
Kitchener 09/11/05
Ottawa 09/16/05
Toronto 08/21/09
Toronto 09/11/11
Ottawa 09/14/11
Buffalo 10/12/13
Ottawa 05/08/16
Chicago 08/20/18
Ottawa 09/03/22
Nashville 09/16/22