Significance of the 2000 Bootlegs/Tour
I was just thinking what a major part the 2000 bootleg program was to this band. Something we now take for granted was unheard of before the 2000 tour.
I first saw Pearl Jam last minute at Mansfield #1 in August of 2000. I had been more of a casual fan before that since Vitalogy was released, but became instantly obsessed from this point forward. I had never seen a crowd so energetic and passionate, literally screaming every word to every song and a band so personable with a large crowd. It also goes without saying that they sound incredible live.
Not long after the show, I ran across a double-disc bootleg of a show from Germany in a record store. I soon learned that every show from the tour was being officially released. Was this for real? I got my hands on almost every bootleg I could find. Since that tour, the band, especially the bootlegs have never left my rotation. I also see them every single chance I get.
If it wasn't for this initial startup, I don't think myself or likely many of the fans would feel so passionate about the band. It was perfect timing. In 2000, they certainly were no longer going to be blowing up the charts and be the obsession of the media at that point. They let everyone know just how good they are and that they are not going anywhere. The bootlegs have become such an important part of them and have drawn so many more fans. I think this was one of the most important and smartest decisions the band has made.
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So yes indeed those 2000 bootleg releases was the start of something special.
2004: Boston (x2), Toledo, Grand Rapids
2005: Kitchener, London, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto
2006: Toronto (x2), Grand Rapids, Cleveland, Detroit
2008: New York City (x2), Hartford, Boston II
2010: Buffalo, Newark, New York City (x2), Nijmegen, Berlin, Werchter
2011: Alpine Valley I, Alpine Valley II, Montreal, Toronto (x2), Ottawa, Hamilton
2012: Amsterdam (x2), Berlin (x2)
2013: London, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Brooklyn (x2)
2014: Detroit
2016: Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto (x2), Chicago (x2)
2018: Amsterdam (x2), Padua, Rome, Prague, Krakow, Berlin, Barcelona
2022: San Diego, Los Angeles (x2), Oakland (x2), Fresno, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto
2023: Fort Worth (x2), Austin (x2)
2024: Vancouver (x2), Portland, Sacramento, Las Vegas (x2), Los Angeles (x2), Dublin, Manchester, London, Berlin (x2), Barcelona (x2)
2025: Atlanta (x2), Nashville (x2), Raleigh (x2), Pittsburgh (x2)
Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
Along those same lines, Bruce Springsteen has finally come around and now offers bootlegs for his current tour. I wonder why it took him so long? They sound good, but the editing is not very good. (And I love the Boss). The student has become the teacher!
2003 Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Columbus
2004 Toledo
2005 Hamilton, Pittsburgh
2006 Cleveland, Auburn Hills, Pittsburgh
2009 Chicago
2010 Cleveland
2013 Wrigley, Pittsburgh, Buffalo
2014 Detroit
2016 Tampa, Wrigley 1, Wrigley 2
2018 Wrigley 1, Wrigley 2
2022 Hamilton
2023 Chicago 1, Chicago 2, Austin 1, Austin 2
2024 Las Vegas 1, Las Vegas 2, Wrigley 1, Wrigley 2
But it wasn't until the 2000 tour that I saw them live for the first time. It's still one of my favorite shows of the ones I've been to. I had no idea how vast their catalog was outside of official albums. I had never heard of Leatherman. Hell, I never bought CD singles so I hadn't even heard Wash yet (and what a way to hear it for the first time! The band bringing Amy on stage with the umbrella!)
That show sparked me to find other songs I hadn't heard. And when they announced they were selling official bootlegs of every show of the tour, I scoured the bins at my local stores looking for shows with songs I hadn't heard. My search for songs led to an appreciation for just how awesome this band is live. I did a lot of road tripping between here and Baltimore (about a 3 hour drive) back then to visit my girlfriend while she was away at college, and the 2000 bootlegs were always the soundtrack on my drives. I couldn't wait to see them live again! I couldn't wait for the next album even though Binaural was still fresh.
The 2000 tour and bootlegs were absolutely "it" for me! My favorite band became my obsession, my passion, and it's only grown deeper ever since!
Great post, OP!!
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Stadium - Nov 14, 1997,
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Stadium - Nov 15, 1997, Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Jun 26, 1998, Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Jun 27, 1998, United Center - Jun 29, 1998, Riverport Amphitheatre - Jul 02, 1998, Allstate Arena - Oct 09, 2000, Assembly Hall - Apr 23, 2003
United Center - Jun 18, 2003, Fox Theatre - Oct 05, 2004, United Center - May 16, 2006, United Center - May 17, 2006, United Center - Aug 23, 2009, United Center - Aug 24, 2009, Sprint Center - May 03, 2010, Scottrade Center - May 04, 2010, Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Sep 03, 2011, Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Sep 04, 2011
2009 Manchester
2010 Dublin / London
2012 Manchester I & II / Berlin I & II / EV: Manchester
2014 Amsterdam I & II / Vienna / Berlin / Leeds
My favorite thing was being able to have a silver pressed cd copy of shows you went too as souvenier. Even better than buy a tshirt
2009 - Toronto
2010 - Buffalo
2011 - Toronto 1&2
2013 - London, Pittsburgh, Buffalo
2014 - Cincinnati, St. Louis, Detroit
2016 - Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Ottawa, Toronto 1
2018 - Fenway 1&2
2022 - Hamilton, Toronto
2023 - Chicago 1&2
2024 - Las Vegas 1&2
I'm hoping it's not something I imagined, seeing that no one recalls it. My recollection was that it was chained to a display that held all the CD's. It wasn't for sale, just reference... Help me out Philly friends, I remember it at the Center City location just south of City Hall.
I bought 11/6/00 Seattle and a Tokyo boot when they were released. Also one from Italy I think.
Binaural was a bit over my head when it came out... Without the boots I'm not sure I would have been so psyched to buy Riot Act. But as things turned out I love both of those records.
I knew when they released all those shows that I was part of something special. Most of my friends didn't believe me when I told them about it. Some people still don't!
(Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)
“Put yer good money on the sunrise”
(Tim Rogers)
2005 - Sept 1 George, Sept 8 Winnipeg
2006 - May 9/10 Toronto, June 26/27 St. Paul, July 22/23 George, Oct 21/22 Mountain View
2007 - Aug 2/5 Chicago
2008 - June 22 Washington, June 24/25 New York
2009 - Aug 21 Toronto, Aug 23/24 Chicago, Sept 21/22 Seattle, Oct 27/28/30/31 Philadelphia
2010 - May 15 Hartford, May 17 Boston, Oct 23/24 Mountain View
2011 - Sept 3/4 Alpine Valley, Sept 11/12 Toronto, Sept 17 Winnipeg, Sept 19 Saskatoon
2012 - Sept 30 Missoula
2013 - July 16 London, July 19 Chicago, Oct 12 Buffalo, Dec 2 Calgary, Dec 4 Vancouver, Dec 6 Seattle
2014 - Oct 16 Detroit, Oct 19 St. Paul, Oct 20 Milwaukee
2015 - Sept 23 (Colbert)/Sept 26, New York
2016 - Apr 28/29 Philadelphia, May 10/12 Toronto, Aug 20/22 Chicago
I still have all the cardboard sleeves and they taunt me from time to time when I'm rummaging through stuff.