The history of "Philadelphia" PJ concert awesomeness

2-feign-reluctance

A few months ago I downloaded a FLAC version of Pearl Jam's 2005 concert and was reminded of how awesome their set lists are there. What are some of your favorite Pearl Jam Philadelphia memories? Looking at the concert chronology, it is so evident they really take an extra 'step' with the set list that you don't see much anywhere else.

63schoefflin

One of, if not the best cities to see them play in over the years. Personally, the Spectrum shows were the best concerts I've ever seen (nights 3 and 4 at least) but the fact that some of the old heads argue that the 05 or 03 shows were better just speaks to how strong their showing has been here.

I'm expecting much more than the '13 shows even though night 1 was pretty solid.

LukinFan

I'll make it up there for a show one of these days.

dankind

Nice idea, Chris!

I'm on a train to Philly now!

And the only real-life memory for me from Philly is the Halloween Spectrum show.

Pearl Jam owning that they commandeered Devo's "Gut Feeling" for "Got Some" by dressing up as Devo and covering "Whip It"; the crowd encouraging Eddie to get through "Bugs"; playing "Outta My Mind" for a big check to charity; bringing up the septuagenarian Spectrum worker for an ovation; the red, white and blue confetti for the one-two KO punch of "RITFW" and "Yellow Ledbetter" (with "The Star-Spangled Banner" tag); and so much more. Just an amazing show with a killer setlist that I'll keep with me forever.

eeriepadave

are we including camden shows? although i only been to one camden show (my first in '98)

YoungJam35

Exactly 13 years ago they played the Spectrum for the first time. Opened with Crazy Mary. Was a great show - very intense version of Betterman at that one too.

Who I Am

I'd say they crush all of PA historically. Philly, State College, Pittsburgh, Reading, Hershey.

FrankieG

12 Jul 1991 Philadelphia
10 Apr 1992 Philadelphia
28 Apr 2003 Philadelphia
03 Oct 2005 Philadelphia
27 Oct 2009 Philadelphia
28 Oct 2009 Philadelphia
30 Oct 2009 Philadelphia
31 Oct 2009 Philadelphia
02 Sep 2012 Philadelphia
21 Oct 2013 Philadelphia
22 Oct 2013 Philadelphia

138 unique songs played!
Even Flow 9
Alive 9
Given To Fly 7
Do The Evolution 7
Unthought Known 6
Rockin' In The Free World 6
Porch 6
Jeremy 6
Better Man 6
Yellow Ledbetter 5
Why Go 5
The Fixer 5
Spin The Black Circle 5
Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town 5
Corduroy 5
Black 5
State Of Love And Trust 4
Rearviewmirror 4
Once 4
Nothingman 4
Just Breathe 4
Hail, Hail 4
Got Some 4
Daughter 4
Crazy Mary 4
Whipping 3
Wash 3
Sonic Reducer 3
Save You 3
Not For You 3
Leash 3
Last Kiss 3
Green Disease 3
Go 3
Breath 3
Blood 3
Animal 3
1/2 Full 3
You Are 2
Yellow Moon 2
World Wide Suicide 2
Wishlist 2
Untitled 2
Unemployable 2
The End 2
Speed of Sound 2
Sirens 2
Satan's Bed 2
Present Tense 2
Pilate 2
Pendulum 2
Parachutes 2
Off He Goes 2
Oceans 2
Nothing As it Seems 2
Mind Your Manners 2
MFC 2
Lukin 2
Low Light 2
Love Reign O'er Me 2
Lightning Bolt 2
Leaving Here 2
Johnny Guitar 2
Insignificance 2
Infallible 2
In My Tree 2
I Got Shit 2
Glorified G 2
Garden 2
Faithfull 2
Deep 2
Crown Of Thorns 2
Come Back 2
Brain Of J. 2
Baba O'Riley 2
Amongst The Waves 2
Alone 2
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away 1
Whip It 1
Wasted Reprise 1
W.M.A. 1
Tremor Christ 1
The Real Me 1
Sweet Lew 1
Supersonic 1
Soon Forget 1
Smile 1
Severed Hand 1
Sad 1
Rival 1
Rats 1
Push Me, Pull Me 1
Parting Ways 1
Out of My Mind 1
No Way 1
Mother 1
Mankind 1
Man Of The Hour 1
Love Boat Captain 1
Long Road 1
Little Sister 1
Light Years 1
Life Wasted 1
Let The Records Play 1
Leatherman 1
Last Exit 1
Know Your Rights 1
Inside Job 1
Indifference 1
In Hiding 1
Immortality 1
I'm Open 1
I Believe In Miracles 1
I Am Mine 1
Hold On 1
Harvest Moon 1
Hard To Imagine 1
Habit 1
Grievance 1
Gonna See My Friend 1
Gone 1
Ghost 1
Future Days 1
Fortunate Son 1
Force of Nature 1
Footsteps 1
Evacuation 1
Down 1
Dissident 1
Cropduster 1
Comatose 1
Bugs 1
Bleed For Me 1
Bee Girl 1
Around The Bend 1
All Those Yesterdays 1
All Night 1
99 Problems 1

mcgruff10

I think in order i'd go:
spectrum 03
philly 3, 2009
philly 4, 2009
wells fargo 05
philly 2, 2013
philly 2, 2009 (the only clunker i've seen)

I missed philly 1, 09 and and philly 1, 13.

FrankieG

Ed, I made it easy. Here's everything that hasn't been played in Philly (I didn't look at Camden setlists.)

All Along The Watchtower 0
All Or None 0
Arc 0
Army Reserve 0
Big Wave 0
Black Red Yellow 0
Breakerfall 0
Bu$hleaguer 0
Can't Keep 0
Chloe Dancer 0
Comfortably Numb 0
Dead Man 0
Dirty Frank 0
Don't Gimme No Lip 0
Driftin' 0
Education 0
Eruption 0
Fatal 0
Fuckin' Up 0
Get Right 0
Getaway 0
God's Dice 0
Help Help 0
Hitchhiker 0
Hunger Strike 0
In the Moonlight 0
Just A Girl 0
Kick Out The Jams 0
Little Wing 0
Marker In The Sand 0
My Father's Son 0
Of The Earth 0
Of The Girl 0
Other Side 0
Patriot 0
Red Mosquito 0
Release 0
Setting Forth 0
Sleight Of Hand 0
Sometimes 0
Strangest Tribe 0
Swallowed Whole 0
Thin Air 0
Throw Your Arms Around Me 0
Thumbing My Way 0
U 0
Undone 0
Who You Are 0

FrankieG

mcgruff10 said:

I think in order i'd go:
spectrum 03
philly 3, 2009
philly 4, 2009
wells fargo 05
philly 2, 2013
philly 2, 2009 (the only clunker i've seen)

I missed philly 1, 09 and and philly 1, 13.

Of the shows I have been at:
#3 - 2009
#1 - 2013
#4 - 2009
#2 - 2013
#1 - 2009
MIA
#2 - 2009

Who I Am

FrankieG said:

Ed, I made it easy. Here's everything that hasn't been played in Philly (I didn't look at Camden setlists.)
Arc 0
Of The Girl 0
Release 0
Sometimes 0

I'd take any/all...Nice Work!

ledvedder7

FrankieG said:

Ed, I made it easy. Here's everything that hasn't been played in Philly (I didn't look at Camden setlists.)

All Along The Watchtower 0
All Or None 0
Arc 0
Army Reserve 0
Big Wave 0
Black Red Yellow 0
Breakerfall 0
Bu$hleaguer 0
Can't Keep 0
Chloe Dancer 0
Comfortably Numb 0
Dead Man 0
Dirty Frank 0
Don't Gimme No Lip 0
Driftin' 0
Education 0
Eruption 0
Fatal 0
Fuckin' Up 0
Get Right 0
Getaway 0
God's Dice 0
Help Help 0
Hitchhiker 0
Hunger Strike 0
In the Moonlight 0
Just A Girl 0
Kick Out The Jams 0
Little Wing 0
Marker In The Sand 0
My Father's Son 0
Of The Earth 0
Of The Girl 0
Other Side 0
Patriot 0
Red Mosquito 0
Release 0
Setting Forth 0
Sleight Of Hand 0
Sometimes 0
Strangest Tribe 0
Swallowed Whole 0
Thin Air 0
Throw Your Arms Around Me 0
Thumbing My Way 0
U 0
Undone 0
Who You Are 0

Nice work!
Add Oceans

ledvedder7

ledvedder7 said:

FrankieG said:

Ed, I made it easy. Here's everything that hasn't been played in Philly (I didn't look at Camden setlists.)

All Along The Watchtower 0
All Or None 0
Arc 0
Army Reserve 0
Big Wave 0
Black Red Yellow 0
Breakerfall 0
Bu$hleaguer 0
Can't Keep 0
Chloe Dancer 0
Comfortably Numb 0
Dead Man 0
Dirty Frank 0
Don't Gimme No Lip 0
Driftin' 0
Education 0
Eruption 0
Fatal 0
Fuckin' Up 0
Get Right 0
Getaway 0
God's Dice 0
Help Help 0
Hitchhiker 0
Hunger Strike 0
In the Moonlight 0
Just A Girl 0
Kick Out The Jams 0
Little Wing 0
Marker In The Sand 0
My Father's Son 0
Of The Earth 0
Of The Girl 0
Other Side 0
Patriot 0
Red Mosquito 0
Release 0
Setting Forth 0
Sleight Of Hand 0
Sometimes 0
Strangest Tribe 0
Swallowed Whole 0
Thin Air 0
Throw Your Arms Around Me 0
Thumbing My Way 0
U 0
Undone 0
Who You Are 0

Nice work!
Add Oceans

My mistake. I forgot about the early 90's. Has not been played since.

MusicDude415

Certainly a highlight was the 3 and a half hour marathon show on Halloween in 2009. I listen to that boot on a regular basis. Still have some of the confetti in my ticket stub book.

pjhawks

2003 is still my favorite PJ show and the loudest crowd for any concert i've ever been at.

2009 of course was incredible. night 1 highly underrated.

MIA was pretty damn cool seeing them on the Parkway.

i thought the 2013 shows were damn good as well.

Kanye East

4 shows in 5 nights to close out the Spectrum was pretty fucking spectacular. Although it kind of ruined things in a way, because I know that it'll never get better than that. It was the pinnacle of my PJ concert going career.

kosteva2

I've been to every Philly/Camden/Reading/Hershey show since '98. Only missed Atlantic City '05 as far as "Philly area" shows go. Admittedly a lot of the Camden ones blend together after a while so some of the shows from the 2000's don't pop out as much.
Here's my rankings:
1. Wells Fargo '05. Just look at the setlist. Band was very "on."
2. Spectrum 3 '09. Great set w/ variety. Great energy in crowd.
3. Spectrum 4 '09. Long show, some breakouts, rarities. Energy down just a touch from night 3.
4. Spectrum '03. Was pretty close to putting this one as high as #2 but too hard to displace the '09 Spectrum standouts. Great energy band and crowd. You can tell the band appreciated the significance of the legacy of the Spectrum and it showed. This was in the midst of one of the best runs the band ever had in April '03 w/ Spectrum, PSU, Buffalo, Pittsburgh all in a row. Arguably their best tour.
5. Camden 1 '98. A little biased since very heavy on Ten before the catalog started getting diluted.

kosteva2

FrankieG said:

Ed, I made it easy. Here's everything that hasn't been played in Philly (I didn't look at Camden setlists.)

All Along The Watchtower 0
All Or None 0
Arc 0
Army Reserve 0
Big Wave 0
Black Red Yellow 0
Breakerfall 0
Bu$hleaguer 0
Can't Keep 0
Chloe Dancer 0
Comfortably Numb 0
Dead Man 0
Dirty Frank 0
Don't Gimme No Lip 0
Driftin' 0
Education 0
Eruption 0
Fatal 0
Fuckin' Up 0
Get Right 0
Getaway 0
God's Dice 0
Help Help 0
Hitchhiker 0
Hunger Strike 0
In the Moonlight 0
Just A Girl 0
Kick Out The Jams 0
Little Wing 0
Marker In The Sand 0
My Father's Son 0
Of The Earth 0
Of The Girl 0
Other Side 0
Patriot 0
Red Mosquito 0
Release 0
Setting Forth 0
Sleight Of Hand 0
Sometimes 0
Strangest Tribe 0
Swallowed Whole 0
Thin Air 0
Throw Your Arms Around Me 0
Thumbing My Way 0
U 0
Undone 0
Who You Are 0

Release was played Camden 1 '98 (last time, way overdue)
I don't think they've done Oceans
Of the Girl was opener at one of the '00 Camdens (very underrated opener).
Didn't look too hard but a lot of the ones above showed up a one of the many Camdens.

KP_McMinn

Kanye East said:

4 shows in 5 nights to close out the Spectrum was pretty fucking spectacular. Although it kind of ruined things in a way, because I know that it'll never get better than that. It was the pinnacle of my PJ concert going career.

lol...thats funny shit...

KP_McMinn

pjhawks said:

2003 is still my favorite PJ show and the loudest crowd for any concert i've ever been at.

2009 of course was incredible. night 1 highly underrated.

MIA was pretty damn cool seeing them on the Parkway.

i thought the 2013 shows were damn good as well.

yea dude, nobody really talks about night 1. That was my favorite of the 3 i went too...
also, it helps that i hit the lottery that night, front row center....