I brought my daughter to Thursday's Boston 2 show, and never expected the incredible night that we wound up having.
She's a big fan of the band, because her dad (ME) always has them playing. Well, so is her six year old sister, and their two year old brother! You should hear the three of them belt out "World Wide Suicide"! LOL
I've been a fan of the band since seeing them at Lollapalooza '92. Then I joined the TEN CLUB in late '94, so my number is low, therefore we had some insane seats for the shows. I brought my wife to night one, and she rocked out... then it was decision time on night 2. Since I bought the tickets, I wanted to take Shae, but because of her nine year old age, my wife and I were torn. I really wanted her to experience the BEST live band in the world! You see, she wants to be a singer when she grows up, so who better to have her witness than the man himself?
Shae LOVES "Smile", and we sing it as a family often. Well, I suggested that if she really wanted to hear it that night (because it's not really a staple in the set), that she should write a sign to request it. So she took my advise and came up with a 'way cool' smiley mouth, that she wrote the word "SMILE" in the center of it... in crayon. Underneath it she wrote "Eddie", then added 'three crooked hearts and swirls all around'... pretty cool sign.
Well, she was having a great time when towards the end of the first encore she held it up, and Mike saw it right away! He nodded and stared down like "maybe... it's on there...we'll see", then loooked back at me and I shrugged as if to say "C'mon, it's for her" (it's hard to really get that across in a couple seconds, but I tried) and when they left the stage my daughter got a little upset because the flowers she brought for the band were still on the ground. She didn't think they were coming back out. I reassured her that they'd be back and now was a good time to hold then up if they came back with a slow song.
Well they returned for Encore 2 and kicked it up a notch with "Why Go". I was lovin' it, but told her to just be patient. After "Life Wasted", I suggested she put 'em back in the air. This is when I was floored. Everyone around her was trying to get Eddie'd attention, and pointing to the flowers! He saw them and her... he came right over and Eddie told her to come up on the stage to give them to her! She was all smiles now, and went up and over the fence, and on to the stage! Eddie said "We'd like to fulfill a request from a young lady in the third row... It isn't a request really, as she's got something for us... so we'll do this for her."
Then she made it up there! Ed said "Thanks" twice for the flowers (according to Shae) then he introduced her to to the Garden crowd... and they gave her a GREAT big cheer! Shae smiled and waved (it felt like an eternity to me!) and the two of them gave the peace sign to everyone. He then gave her a little hug, and she was escorted off the stage and back into my arms. Eddie then said (I'll NEVER forget this!!!!) "This one's for SHAE" ... then they did a stellar version of SMILE! When Ed was done with theh harmonica he came over towards me and tossed it in my hands. Everyone around me parted like they red sea to let it get to me... it was unreal! He pointed to my daughter and I put it in her hands. Then he gave me a big thumbs up! During Ledbetter he waved good-bye to her!
It was truly amazing to have experienced this with my oldest, who was in my wife's belly (she was four months pregnant in '96 when we drove from Boston to Toronto to see them) as my wife and I danced in the back of the concert hall to "Yellow Ledbetter".
Now, ten years later I was dancing with that little girl again. Only this time she was on the outside watching, as well as listening.
Thank you, everyone around, us for being so kind to her. Thank you Ten Club for caring about the fans. And THANK YOU Eddie and the band for having a heart as big as your music is!
Sorry this was so long!!!
WHat a beautiful story!
Made me smile and cry at the same time!
No words to describe love for this band right now, and for the best fans on the world...
I forgot to mention that after the show she felt like a star, with everyone being so awesome saying "You're the little girl that was on-stage with Eddie!"
I had to explain to her that this is NOT how all concerts end up! I told her that chances are she probably wouldn't be on the stage at the next show she attends!
Also... when she woke up Friday morning (we kept her home from school) the first thing she said was... "Daddy, I miss Eddie."
Excellent! I was near you, and I saw that big smile of hers when she was handed back to you. Wow, that was great!
There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
you can download it and have it forever, I know I did
I was there in boston, I want to thank you and your daughter and your family, I've been waiting 10 years, 17 shows to hear that song live...you guys made me so happy I was in section F on the floor jumping for joy, and I cried...it was so amazing to FINALLY hear that song.
Please tell Shae thank you for me and that she is awesome!
Well, I was going to post to see if anyone had any other pics of this . . . but a VIDEO is much better!
Awesome!
Thanks.
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
Thanks to one of the greatest guys in the world I was 2 rows behind you! That was an incredible moment. My son is 6 and loves the band, so I could completely empathize with your excitement. What a wonderful memory from a perfect evening w/the greatest band on earth!
Thank you so much for sharing that incredible story. You have a very special brave little girl to beable to get up there in front of all those people. Seeing her standing there giving the peace sign sent chills down my spine.
I can see hope in a little girls eyes, "Seeing visions of fallin up somehow".
I hope she gets to read all these posts.
Thanks for the video and pictures to whomever posted them.
"it feels like it's the end of the world and we all got a good seat. you know -- step right up, get your tickets...here we go."
I've been telling every one I know this whole story ever since I got back from Boston!!!
My 15 yr old son and I were right behind you two, a couple of seats down and what a privilege it was to witness the whole thing first hand!!
Even before the show started I leaned over to my son and said "Mark my words......that little girl will end up on stage tonight"
I've always said kids are PJ magnets!
My son got to have a special experience with Eddie in 2003 when he was 12 and at his first concert. (Listen to the 7/2/03 boot......he got to do the '1-2-3-4' count before Porch. )
And here's a pic (brag, brag......us PJ parents can't resist the opportunity!:p) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/Born2Jam/Ed-and-Kris.jpg
Kris was born the same year as Pearl Jam, and he grew up listening to their music. He's now as big a fan as me, and was inspired by Mike to play guitar when he was quite young. I know what you mean when you talk about what a great experience it is to share this all with your kids.......I got the unique privilege of Eddie passing a guitar pick to me to hand to Kris on our special night. It felt like a right of passage or something. It's hard to put into words.
Seeing you and Shae that night just brought back all those feelings and memories for me again. So glad you got this sweet experience!
After the show I was razzing my son and giving him crap for not being little and cutsie anymore! He's almost a man now and just another guy in the crowd!
I teased him that next tour, he's staying home and my cute little 8 yr old son is coming with me instead!
Congrats Smile-Dad and Shae!
That little girl of your ROCKS!!
"This band has provided many people a soundtrack to their lives.." ~ CitizenRick
What a beautiful story ... brought a smile to my face & heart and tears to my eyes.
It is so awesome to know that parents can share music with their kids ... especially the love of my life, pearl jam ... this brings me hope on so many levels!
As your daughter said "Daddy, I miss Eddie" ... ater two incredible nights in Chicago I miss him too (as welll as the whole band), as I'm sure you all do too!
So glad your daughter experiened these amazing moments. Here's to Shae realizing her dream of being a singer!!! Who knows maybe even singing with Eddie one day!
I forgot to mention that after the show she felt like a star, with everyone being so awesome saying "You're the little girl that was on-stage with Eddie!"
I had to explain to her that this is NOT how all concerts end up! I told her that chances are she probably wouldn't be on the stage at the next show she attends!
Also... when she woke up Friday morning (we kept her home from school) the first thing she said was... "Daddy, I miss Eddie."
That pretty much broke my heart.
I told her that I missed him too!
Awwwww, me too!
i'll wait for angels, but i won't hold my breath. imagine they're busy; think i'm doing okay.
I brought my daughter to Thursday's Boston 2 show, and never expected the incredible night that we wound up having.
We were behind the stage and saw all of that - that is awesome! I had a similar (though not nearly as cool) experience at my first big concert, and I am a music junky to this day!
PS - Your daughter is adorable!!
Boston Garden 5/25/06
Lollapalooza 8/5/07
Madison Square Garden 6/24/08 and 6/25/08
Mansfield 6/30/08
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The answers are fatal......
I forgot to mention that after the show she felt like a star, with everyone being so awesome saying "You're the little girl that was on-stage with Eddie!"
I had to explain to her that this is NOT how all concerts end up! I told her that chances are she probably wouldn't be on the stage at the next show she attends!
Also... when she woke up Friday morning (we kept her home from school) the first thing she said was... "Daddy, I miss Eddie."
That pretty much broke my heart.
I told her that I missed him too!
AW!!! Wow. She is beautiful and what a wonderful father you are. God bless you.
"...like a word misplaced, nothing said, what a waste.."
"Sometimes life should be consumed in measured doses"
6-01-06
6/25/08
Free Speedy
and Metsy!
We were behind the stage and saw all of that - that is awesome! I had a similar (though not nearly as cool) experience at my first big concert, and I am a music junky to this day!
PS - Your daughter is adorable!!
I had to comment on your signature Melissa-I feel like a goober--
THOSE are the words in Porch? "Initiatives!!" OMG. 16 years, now I finally know what was being said there!
THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!
"...like a word misplaced, nothing said, what a waste.."
"Sometimes life should be consumed in measured doses"
6-01-06
6/25/08
Free Speedy
and Metsy!
Comments
WHat a beautiful story!
Made me smile and cry at the same time!
No words to describe love for this band right now, and for the best fans on the world...
awwwwww
I miss him too!
The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
Well, I was going to post to see if anyone had any other pics of this . . . but a VIDEO is much better!
Awesome!
Thanks.
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
www.quietrhythm.livejournal.com
I can see hope in a little girls eyes, "Seeing visions of fallin up somehow".
I hope she gets to read all these posts.
Thanks for the video and pictures to whomever posted them.
- EV
makes me proud to be a pearl jam-fan!!
And I know she's reached my heart,... in thin air
http://www.myspace.com/lizardkings1
(This Post May Have Been Edited By AT&T)
My 15 yr old son and I were right behind you two, a couple of seats down and what a privilege it was to witness the whole thing first hand!!
Even before the show started I leaned over to my son and said "Mark my words......that little girl will end up on stage tonight"
I've always said kids are PJ magnets!
My son got to have a special experience with Eddie in 2003 when he was 12 and at his first concert. (Listen to the 7/2/03 boot......he got to do the '1-2-3-4' count before Porch.
And here's a pic (brag, brag......us PJ parents can't resist the opportunity!:p)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/Born2Jam/Ed-and-Kris.jpg
Kris was born the same year as Pearl Jam, and he grew up listening to their music. He's now as big a fan as me, and was inspired by Mike to play guitar when he was quite young. I know what you mean when you talk about what a great experience it is to share this all with your kids.......I got the unique privilege of Eddie passing a guitar pick to me to hand to Kris on our special night. It felt like a right of passage or something. It's hard to put into words.
Seeing you and Shae that night just brought back all those feelings and memories for me again. So glad you got this sweet experience!
After the show I was razzing my son and giving him crap for not being little and cutsie anymore! He's almost a man now and just another guy in the crowd!
I teased him that next tour, he's staying home and my cute little 8 yr old son is coming with me instead!
Congrats Smile-Dad and Shae!
That little girl of your ROCKS!!
sadly yes
Keepin us close, so close... on down the line... sometimes I burn like a dot on the sun
It is so awesome to know that parents can share music with their kids ... especially the love of my life, pearl jam ... this brings me hope on so many levels!
As your daughter said "Daddy, I miss Eddie" ... ater two incredible nights in Chicago I miss him too (as welll as the whole band), as I'm sure you all do too!
So glad your daughter experiened these amazing moments. Here's to Shae realizing her dream of being a singer!!! Who knows maybe even singing with Eddie one day!
Awwwww, me too!
thanks for sharing...
Katowice....2007
14/09/06, 16/09/06, 17/09/06, 19/09/06, 20/09/06 ~ The Stone lookalike leg of the 2006 tour
18/06/07 - Amazing, just amazing
04/07/06 ~Proud to be part of the AIC Astoria Crew~
Rockin' out to Creadles
Still Looking for the above
15 shows and counting...
We were behind the stage and saw all of that - that is awesome! I had a similar (though not nearly as cool) experience at my first big concert, and I am a music junky to this day!
PS - Your daughter is adorable!!
Lollapalooza 8/5/07
Madison Square Garden 6/24/08 and 6/25/08
Mansfield 6/30/08
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The answers are fatal......
AW!!! Wow. She is beautiful and what a wonderful father you are. God bless you.
"Sometimes life should be consumed in measured doses"
6-01-06
6/25/08
Free Speedy
and Metsy!
I had to comment on your signature Melissa-I feel like a goober--
THOSE are the words in Porch? "Initiatives!!" OMG. 16 years, now I finally know what was being said there!
THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!
"Sometimes life should be consumed in measured doses"
6-01-06
6/25/08
Free Speedy
and Metsy!
Loved your story!!!
Congratulations
Where I'm not ugly and you're lookin' at me
You might get lost
The smile on Shae is priceless
It makes me smile