***Chicago II Fanviews 5/17 Here ***

roninhack

was it just me or did it seem like mike was just hurling picks all over the place??

Cocacolakid

Tonight's show was very tight, the band sounded better than night 1, and the setlist was fantastic! I thought night 1 was a really good performance but kind of lacked something special. Tonight had Special dripping all over it...

Some of the memorable moments...the couple who were in front of me for night one were again two rows in front of me for night two, in section 1, seats 1 and 2. They were married last weekend and the bride walked down the aisle to Lowlight, which was played last night and the couple were still pumped up that it was played in Chicago.

Mike was extremly tight on Evenflow, one of his best performances I've ever heard in person. He made up for last night when he seemed to have some tech problems during that song. As he was ending his blistering guitar work on Evenflow, Ed stood center stage, looked over at the crowd, and back at Mike and put out a hand like, "can you believe this guy?" The crowd went nuts. Mike really had everyone eating out of his hands tonight, including myself. Yesterday we sat centerstage in row 4, tonight we were row 3, far left, near Mike and you see such a different show from different seats. Mike dominated our side. I've never seen someone appear to get high off music as much as Mike does, and he does it consistently. It's a real joy to watch him.

Eddie bantered with the crowd a couple of times about where people were from, and he named off several Chicago area towns, Rockton, Schaumburg, Naperville, etc. The crowd seemed to half-assed boo some of the towns, to Eddie's chagrin. Eddie said something like, "what, you don't like some of these towns? You hate these towns? What towns do you like?" And the crowd screamed out wherever they were from. Before the next song started, Eddie added, "Park Forest?" Which brought more boo's. Then they played a song and Eddie ran over to Matt as it finished, asked him something, and came back to the mic. He said, "Matt, as you know, was also in...also...foremost in Soundgarden. And the guitar player in Soundgarden, KIM THAYIL, is from Park Forest, so there!" Which elicited laughter.

The real highlite was so many b-sides and songs they haven't played very often the last few tours...Save it for Later by itself, not as a tag, Down, Lukin, Why Go, Man of the Hour, Footsteps (as part of the reverse mamasan trilogy), Crown of Thorns.

For the second encore, as the rest of the band took the stage, we could hear Eddie's voice talking but he wasn't on the stage. Then the band started Last Kiss and the spotlights came on to show Eddie way in the back of the stadium. His microphone kept cutting out, but it was very cool and made me think of The Rolling Stones Bridges to Babylon tour, or some of the U2 tours where they went out into the audience to sing. A very unexpected surprise.

Earlier in the show Eddie was singing, not sure which song, and he strapped on a guitar he didn't play all night, it was a dark brown. Then he set it on his head, like he was going to play like Mike, but used it to reflect a spotlight that beamed down on him out into the crowd. This was really cool - he pointed the guitar as he sang and covered all three decks of the stadium, one at a time, with light, moving the light beam over every section of the crowd. He never played the guitar during the song, he just played with it. It was like a giant spotlight. Another surprise by the boys!

Another lyric change tonight...during Glorified G, Eddie changed the lyrics from...

"Got a gun, 'fact I got two,
That's ok man, 'cause I love guns!"

to

"Got a gun, 'fact I got two,
That's ok man, 'cause I'm the vice president"


Eddie also made a very small political speech near the end, either before Rocking in the Free World or Yellow Ledbetter, about how we live in a democracy, "actually we do not have a democracy, we live in a country that is trying to have a democracy," which got a round of applause by some people but other's were suspiciously quiet, like suddenly some people were on edge. Eddie sensed this because he cut it short, and said that people need to participate for it to be a democracy, and then said, "I'll shut the fuck up now and play some songs" and the crowd cheered. It was a little surprising to me that there was such a raw nerve hit by any mention of politics when there are several very political songs on this album, which the crowd went nuts for earlier. Before tonight I thought it might be safe for them to bring Bushleager back out sometime, given how the political climate has changed in three years and Bush's approval ratings are so low. But I think the reaction to that mini-speech showed that's not true. I'm curious to hear this on the bootleg, although you won't pick up the sudden feeling of nervousness I felt in the crowd. It was an odd moment, I'm glad it only lasted a few seconds.

Eddie was again in a very giving mood during the final two songs. He must have thrown out at least 6 tamborines, maybe more. He also smashed two of them up during Rockin' in the Free World.

A buddy and I commented on how a casual fan might have been slightly disappointed in the setlist - no jeremy, no daughter, etc. But for anyone who saw both nights, or a die hard fan, the setlist and the peformance were both fantastic. A great change and one of the best Pearl Jam concerts I've ever seen.

TruantOranje

Pearl Jam 5/17/06
by TruantOranje

After Chicago I, there is no way Chicago II could possibly be better. That was my sentiment for exactly 24 hours. That sentiment has since expired. Tonight's show at the United Center was beyond devastating. It was beyond any previous musical experience.

I arrived behind schedule due to unforseen traffic issues and missed My Morning Jacket much to my chagrin; they'd impressed me the night before. I grabbed my tickets from the fan club booth and headed inside. After swallowing a $7 beer and listening to the closing of MMJ from the lobby, I waited for the house lights to come on and then made my way to the floor. I watched the techs line check the equipment and made small talk with the folks nearby. My wife was worried that at 5'2" she wouldn't be able to see from the floor, so she wore boots with 4 inch heals, which I found unsettling as she was able to look me in the chin rather than the chest. But this small adjustment and all small talk evaporated as Master/Slave clanked out of the stage speakers and the house lights first dimmed, then darkened. The crowd, no longer 15,000 separate voices, became one crushing cheer. And then Master/Slave flawlessly slid into the back-masked guitar intro of Severed Hand and the night was on.

No matter how often I see it, it still pinches my flesh into goosebumps to see those five shadow-figures step onstage. The crowd exploded into uproar as the band launched into Severed Hand full-throttle. After World Wide Suicide and Life Wasted (staple live songs from the new record and all performed the night before, but no less powerful mind you) came Animal - to keep the blood flowing - followed by an intense Marker in the Sand that threatened to blow the roof off the place. The band kept the tempo quick with Evolution (crowd SCREAMING "It's Evolution Babeeeeey!") and a blistering Whipping(!!!) before steaming into 1/2 Full. Ed brought out a Fender Telecaster polished to a mirror-shine which he raised overhead and used to reflect one of the stage halogens into a makeshift spotlight he then played over the crowd. No section went untouched by this stunning brilliance. I'm still seeing spots from it. It was like a lighthouse shooting rays over an ocean in search of lost ships. "Won't someone save...won't someone save...the world?" Outstanding.

The guys kept us safe with I Am Mine before Mike KILLED the solo in Even Flow - perhaps the finest I've heard it yet. Gone was a revelation and gave me a renewed appreciation for its brilliance. People jigged and bounced all over to the chorus. Insignificance was utterly astounding and came after a brief aside from Ed who called out the names of several Chicago suburbs (garnering mass response from the locals) and saying it was all right to have pride for one's hometown.

Save it for Later was actually separate from Better Man - it's own entity, like a parasite detached from its host. We were treated to Down in which Mike was all over the stage, grinning and playing to the crowd. Garden was rocked harder than it ever was before (especially fun to watch Stone and Jeff singing backup, as in the days of old). Inside Job was overshot with green lasers that served to intensify the experience of its beauty. Boom nailed the piano arrangements. I think my heart stopped once or twice during this.

What better way to follow up Inside Job than with Lukin? And of course what's a more apt main set closer than Why Go?

Something to keep in mind: the crowd did not quiet after Ed's final "Why?!" It just kept chanting/squealing/whistling/shrieking. It was something living.

The first encore started out with slower numbers, perhaps required after all the blood-pumping heat of the main set: Man of the Hour followed a chiming Wasted Reprise performed by Ed and Boom. Then one of the night's finest gems was unearthed: the Mamasan Triology. Yes, that's right. Footsteps (with Ed on harmonica), into Once, into Alive. Wow. Wow. One more. Wow.

Encore two began with two lasts - one a kiss and one an exit. The first was an experiment. When the band reemerged from the break, it was evident Ed was not among them, though his voice was speaking to the crowd as if from heaven. It finally took two spotlights to pick him out at the soundboard near the back of the floor at which time the band broke into Last Kiss. Ed had some microphone trouble (or it could be that in the vastness of the room, there was a delay in what was being played onstage and what he was hearing in his position), but the lyrics were a bit delayed at times. No matter - Ed let the crowd sing most of the song for him. Afterward, he was rushed back to the stage where Matt busted the intro to Last Exit wide open and Stone, Jeff, and Mike followed suit.

Glorified G. That's all I have to say about that. Just Glorified G.

Elderly Woman was gorgeous with the crowd singing "HELLLLOOOOOO" at full volume with arms upraised; it was enough to make your eyes water. Two covers came next, back to back. The first was Crown of Thorns, after Ed spoke a short diatribe about how it was reserved for special occasions. It was nothing short of jaw-dropping. A solid Rockin in the Free World and Yellow Ledbetter closed the night out with a shattering crescendo from the crowd before the mass exodus.

Chicago I was special in its own way, like a kid who tries hard to imitate his big brother but just misses the grade. As of this writing, I am spent to the point of exhaustion from the sheer exhiliration of a top-shelf performance. My wife had to drive me home as I was too wired to sit and steer. Thank you, gentlemen, for an overwhelming evening. See you in Milwaukee.

herogroundzero

awesome thread

Ms. Haiku

Lost doggies, yeah!!!!!!!! I'm sooooo excited for Boston.

dthomas

sorry to repost this but here's mine with pics
http://www.deadlinepublishing.com

my personal blog. I don't make money on it but spent a lot of time on the post so please take a look.

pjdeadhead

Holy Cow!! Last night was one of those special nights! This was my 23rd show and it is right up near the top of the list for so many reasons. For those of you not there, buy this boot!!! Our seats where great. First row of 115 just a few feet to the right of the madman himself, Mr McCready! The new stuff just rocks! Animal was great! Marker was so good, that song touches a nerve on me! 1/2 Full was a very pleasant surprise, and so good! Ed's guitar/spotlight trick was cool! I remember him doing something like that in St Louis back in '03. I Am Mine was very good too. Even Flow, well it was Even Flow, off to the bathroom, back in time for the solo! Gone and Inside Job were surreal. Inside Job, WOW! So good! Down was another surprise, and very well received. Garden rocked hard. I think Matt cost us an extra song. Did anybody else hear Ed start into Corduroy after Lukin?? Matt started the drums to Why Go, and Ed looked up, shrugged and handed off his guitar. The first encore was great, Man of the Hour is such a beautiful song. I could have done without the guy behind me who decided to talk through the entire song! Just because you don't know the song, don't ruin it for does of us who do! Then it happened!! After waiting 22 shows and 14 years, they finally gave me Footsteps!!! I scared the crap out of my buddy standing next to me with my reaction! That was a very special moment, I will never forget. Then into Once and Alive, are you kidding me?? I knew the 2nd encore would be something special after that! Last Kiss, ok. Last Exit, smoked! Glorified G, F'n A!! Crown of Thorns!!!!!! Holy shit! Tears in my eyes for the second time of the night! RITFW brought the house down, and Yellow Ledbetter capped off a great 2 night stand! Tuesday was an intense romp through the standards. Last night was for the freaks!! See you boys at Summerfest!

sparky1231

Just a side note...The mirror/light stunt during 1/2 full is nothing new...They did that in the 03' many times I believe...Philly-Spectrum was one of those shows....It is sweet when he does it though

Anon

Wow you guys got a great show..lucky bastards.oh well come on summerfest.

clk019

sparky1231 wrote:

Just a side note...The mirror/light stunt during 1/2 full is nothing new...They did that in the 03' many times I believe...Philly-Spectrum was one of those shows....It is sweet when he does it though

Just the imagery of it...won't someone please save the world and the spotlight is shining on him and yeah Eddie please save us nonsense that little kids are made of and then no, it's all of you that have to make change and he points that out during a wicked jam....great stuff. The whole night was like this little boy coming home and showing his hometown...hey - here I am. I did this...you can too. great stuff.

inmytree29

Teb Club: 305xxx
Seats: Sec. 5 Row 4

This show definatly compares to Grand Rapids '04 as one of the greatest shows I have ever witnessed. It started off just like last night's show with very similiar song selections. However, as the night went on, the show grew stronger and stronger.

Song highlights: Glorified G, Inside Job, 1/2 Full, Why Go, Once,

CaterinaA

SPEEDY MCCREADY wrote:

four or five virgins ..............and a pelican.......


holy fuckballs...............

Damn you

Since I read this post all I've done is sing "four or five virgins and a pelican"...

YieldInHiding

CaterinaA wrote:

Damn you

Since I read this post all I've done is sing "four or five virgins and a pelican"...

I had to sing it once during the show.

ItIsEvolutionBaby

Section 122 seat 3 and 4...awesome seats...these were the equivalent of the 14th and 15th row on stone side....i was kinda scared that i wouldn't have the greatest seats but tenclub takes care of me once again. awesome awesome show!

oh yeah, my number is 218xxx...

i saw garden live...my life is complete.

YieldInHiding

sparky1231 wrote:

Just a side note...The mirror/light stunt during 1/2 full is nothing new...They did that in the 03' many times I believe...Philly-Spectrum was one of those shows....It is sweet when he does it though

Was that the first time he did it with his guitar though? I haven't heard of him doing that. Before, it was just a mirror.

smithnic

sec 113
row 3, 9 and 10

Holy crap!! I can't even begin to put into words what I amstill recovering from!! Two nights of the greatest band in the world topped off with the most amazing show I have ever had the priveldge of witnessing. The best parts had to be the Footsteps-Once-Alive mini-opera that has only been odone once in the history of the band, along with Ed singing Last Kiss from the sound board, and then to top it all off my favorite PJ song, 1/2 Rull and without a mirror he improvises and uses the guitar!! I can't belive I get to go to 3 more shows!!!!

jlew24asu

ok well I dont even know how to begin. I, like others around here, consider myself a pearl jam nutcase. I have every live show in exsistence (almost), about 20 posters, my ipod nano has nothing but pj on it, etc etc. This was a show for the die hards. I was praying for breath or crown of thorns and wow it happened. Footsteps, once, alive. wow. This show speaks for itself. it really was amazing. My 2 biggest points of the show...... After hearing tons of versions of Evenflow and Alive, I honestly would say this is one of the best versions of these songs I ever heard. maybe i am bias cuz i was there, but get the boot and listen. Mike blew away the solo at evenflow and the crowd was so into Alive during the "yea!" chants it was beautiful.

new songs rocked. Severed hand is so fucking good live. marker in the sand is one of my favs and sounded awsome.

Save it for later was alot more then a tag this time. it was almost like a full seperate version and it was great. i hope that makes the boot.

one of the funny moments was before and after small town. eddie was callin out a bunch of suburbs and got boos. not at eddie but at the town he mentioned. after the song eddie said hey I have another one for you...park forest...which got boos and eddie started laughing and said come on what the fuck is wrong with park forest. he mentioned it cuz the guitar player from matt's soundgarden was from there. anyway, crowd and the band got a kick out of that.

Eddie singing on the other side of the stadium was really cool during last kiss, must have been a huge treat for the people on the floor. the whole show you cant see shit and then eddie is basically standing next to you singing an encore song.

after watching and listening to so many boots of garden and why go, it is so great to finally sing along with them in the present day. and garden is slightly different but not really, it is still one of their best songs ever.


This show was a classic. BUY the boot and listen for yourself. see you in cincy and philly!!!!!


~[/quote]

TruantOranje

member # 164xxx; section 2, row 19. dead center.

Truth Machine

Show was great as usual. My favorite part was the jackass that tried to run down the aisle in section two during Rockin' only to be ejected from the building when all he had to do was listen and return to his seat. Serves all of the morons that try that shit right. Another thing, the people that think it's cool to sneak friends into a different row without repercussions have another thing coming.

fenderblender

My thoughts:

PJ flat out rocked. Couldn't have asked for a better set list. The new songs bring a fresh energy and and absolutely rock live. The vibe in the room was amazing. Mike McCready is a god. Jeff and Stone playing face to face during "Crown of Thorns" made me weep. "Alive" was un-effin-believable. I thought they were going to break into "Outshined" or some other Soundgarden song during the suburbs/Park Forest chat. Mike McCready is a god. Drunk Eddie is fun. Great, great show. "Insignificant", "Garden", "Footsteps", "Save it for Later" - if you are only going to buy 1 bootleg, buy this 1. This is the show I will forever compare future show to. It was that good.