Just going by how I feel today as this is likely to change day by day...
1. East Lansing 1998 - The first time. Skipped school two days to get tickets and came back in August about 90 minutes away from home. The first notes of Release I lost my mind!! I couldn't believe they were real.
2. PJ20: The entire festival was amazing. Coming over that hill at Alpine was overwhelming as it is a far bigger amphitheater than I had been used to. Seeing Cornell come out and doing songs with Mudhoney, Glen Hansard, The Strokes... amazing
3. Grand Rapids 2004: Lucked into 3rd row, such a great set of covers expressing the anger at our world at the time and thinking we were doing something bigger than just music combined with attending with a board member who I hadn't yet to meet on a romantic few days was pretty magical.
Bridge Benefit 1994, San Francisco 1995, San Diego 1995 1 & 2, Missoula 1998, Los Angeles 2000, San Diego 2000, Eddie Vedder/Beck 2/26/2002, Santa Barbara 2003, Irvine 2003, San Diego 2003, Vancouver 2005, Gorge 2005, San Diego 2006, Los Angeles 2006 1 & 2, Santa Barbara 2006, Eddie Vedder 4/10/08, Eddie Vedder 4/12/08, Eddie Vedder 4/15/08, 7/12/2008, SF 8/28/09, LA 9/30/09, LA 10/1/09, LA 10/06/09, LA 10/07/09, San Diego 10/09/09, Eddie Vedder 7/6/2011, Eddie Vedder 7/8/2011, PJ20 9/3/2011, PJ20 9/4/2011, Vancouver 9/25/2011, San Diego 11/21/13, LA 11/24/13, Ohana 9/25/21, Ohana 9/26/21, Ohana 10/1/21, EV 2/17/22, LA Forum 5/6/22, LA Forum 5/7/22, EV 10/1/22, EV 9/30/23
October 26th 1991, 3000 seat hall opening for the Pumpkins and Peppers
October 31st 2009, Philadelphia Spectrum
From almost all of the posts here you would think that this band did not start touring till around 2003.
Kind of an ignorant comment. Not all of us grew up close to where the band toured or had the funds to travel and see them. From the shows Ive been some fans weren't even born in 2003.
I think those are your top shows because hardly anyone else saw them, not that they were actually your favourite shows.
Those of us lucky enough to see them in 91-93 I think, speaking for myself, look back at those shows as extremely special due to what they have become. The energy at thoses shows in those clubs was something that I had not experienced too many times regardless of how epic the setlists are now. Nothing will top the Limelight NYC Ever. Imo.
All thay being said getting 2-1/2 - 3 hours of them now is amazing every time. I’ve never felt they just “cashed “ in a show that I’ve seen
Hey I get it. I would have LOVED to have seen them in those days. But you are right, how could a five song opener for the Billy Corgan Whiner Band and the Chilis compared to the epic concerts of today? It’s all in the beholder. The comment came across as the fan club is full of bandwagon fans, which is ridiculous since the first album sold 10 million or so. Everyone had that album... even the jockos were pumping it out at bush parties lol
Seems like everyone understands each other kind of, but I will say this about your question "How could a five song opener for [insert preferred name for Smashing Pumpkins here LOL!] compare to the epic concerts of today?"
Yes, it's in the beholder to a degree, just like many of us who were at the same 5 shows might rank them totally differently depending on a lot of variables.
But what I think is NOT obvious if you weren't there (my first shows were '93 so I only have those, not '91-'92 but still...) is that it's almost comparing apples to lobsters in that in so many ways, they're a different band now. Yes the shows are epic, and phenomenal now. But I don't think it's even a fair comparison to the pressure-cooker effect of a dramatically smaller venue, young energy, daredevil musicianship AND daraedevil stage climbing antics, an audience thrashing all over way more than in today's pits (more concentrated, probably more dangerous, but also more dynamic and crazy levels of energy)... It can EASILY be more of a life-changing experience than even the best show today. But it IS also possible to have been there then and prefer today's shows, feel today's shows are more life-changing.
Consider this: what video do you show someone if you only have one video song to try to explain why you are such a committed Pearl Jam fan? For me, it's almost always Porch from MTV Unplugged in what, '92? To have that kind of energy in an acoustic performance is... life-giving. Does NOT mean that today you can't feel your life force elevated way up, I felt that at Seattle 2. But my point is, that's the easiest entry way for me for the "uninitiated" to get grabbed by the power of Pearl Jam, and then I can spread out more "eras" of music for them over these 28 yrs. But if those days weren't unreal, why is that STILL TODAY such a reliable instant converter from "Pearl Jam, eh..." to "Holy crap, I never knew!" What video for you from the last 10 yrs holds that kind of power over the newbies? Actually I'd love to hear people's answers, maybe I"ll change up my "PJ Recruitment Video"!
In the end, we're all wildly lucky that we've had this band around for 28 yrs and counting, whether you were around in the early days or not. Even if you never liked them until 2018, you're lucky to see them now. Because they still kill it live in the most electric and transformative way!
P.S.: NEVER underestimate the power of a 5 song opener! I saw some band called the White Stripes open for Sleater Kinney in a club... Went to see Belly in '93 and some random Brit band called Radiohead opened. I saw a band I'd never heard of before called At the Drive In open for - damn, I don't even remember who they opened for, cuz we were so blown away by them we left before the headliner who we'd meant to see even came on. It was actually because of either Stone or Jeff, but after Seattle 2 2000 I made a point of seeing a band I'd never heard of called The Kills live, opening for like 4 other bands at Maxwells in NJ. Mind. Blown. And LAWD do I still get all warm and fuzzy when I remember seeing another band I'd never heard of before called Uncle Tupelo open for Drivin' And Cryin (Uncle Tupelo was Jay Ferrar and Jeff Tweedy (Jeff founded Wilco). That was another life-changing set, that UT set!
So even if you don't like those bands, I'm tellin ya, 5 song opening sets can be fucking BLISTERING and you can not even want to see the headliner after your mind is blown by that unknown opener. And become an instant, devoted, no turning back fan on the spot.
Was the headliner to At The Drive In , Jimmy Eat World on the Clarity Tour (98-99 I think )
Saw that tour at the Middle East in Cambridge Mass ( Capacity 585 ) , never heard of At The Drive In and they fucking killed , my jaw was on the floor seriously the energy that band was giving off really took the whole crowed by surprise. I need to go listen to At The Drive In now.
Montreal 08/20/98 | New York 09/11/98 | Wantagh 08/24/00 | Montreal 10/04/00 | Montreal 06/29/03 | Montreal 09/15/05
Toronto 05/10/06 | Vancouver 04/02//08 (Ed) | Manchester 06/14/08 | Montreal 08/09/08 (Ed) | Montreal 08/10/08 (Ed) Albany 06/08/09 (Ed) | Philadelphia 10/31/09 | Montreal 09/07/11 | Ottawa 05/08/16 | Brooklyn 04/07/17 (RRHOF) Dana Point 09/09/17 (Ed) | Rome 06/26/18
Mansfield 3, 2003 - the acoustic set was amazing, they played Breath, I got to see Arc performed, Eddie screwed up Wishlist but made up for it, Stone sang, they played some rarities and lots of stuff from Riot Act and Binaural (my favorite album, and one of two I've seen in their entirety, thanks to this show).
Boston 2, 2006 - just phenomenal energy (from where I was sitting). Launching the show with Severed Hand,m and not slowing down until the 9th song. Got to hear Garden (completing Ten for me), Leash, and Dissident. One of my favorite PJ show moments is when the crowd crescendos to drown out Eddie (or he lets the crowd take over) the lyric "I will scream my lungs out, 'til it fills this room" during Indifference.
Tampa 2016 - tough choice, but this was my return to PJ shows after 10 years, and my wife's 1st ever. We'd tried to get tickets to previous shows, but half-heartedly (it had been a while for me, and money was always tight in the years leading up to this). We happened to be in the area that week, and decided it would be fun. We'd already talked about Fenway, and had nixed the idea. As soon as the band came out and started playing, I looked over at my wife, and I knew we were going to Fenway for at least one night (ended up going to both).
Boston 3 acoustic set was the best. Barely anyone in there for the first few songs and got real packed once people realized what was going on. I can remember the people streaming in.
Augusta Maine 1996. Super small gym. The friend I went with wore a Dennis Rodman jersey and then he came out. IT WAS CRAZY ENERGY. Once again, It was a very small place for them to play at the height of their popularity.
The whole world will be different soon... - EV
RED ROCKS 6-19-95
AUGUSTA 9-26-96
MANSFIELD 9-15-98
BOSTON 9-29-04
BOSTON 5-25-06
MANSFIELD 6-30-08
EV SOLO BOSTON 8-01-08
BOSTON 5-17-10
EV SOLO BOSTON 6-16-11
PJ20 9-3-11
PJ20 9-4-11
WRIGLEY 7-19-13
WORCESTER 10-15-13
WORCESTER 10-16-13
HARTFORD 10-25-13
Soldier Field 1995 first show Las Vegas 2000 10th anniversary Crown of Thorns Kansas City 2010 Front row in front of Stone and Eddie tossed me cake St. Louis 1998 and Phoenix 13 are close.
Wow that was tough! So many great shows: Seattle 2 2018, Chicago 2 2016, Milwaukee 2014, PJ20, Chicago 2 2006, Chicago 2000, "The Ice Bowl", gigs with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers...
Sacramento 1995 - My first non Bridge show. My jaw was on the ground the whole show. Gorge 2005 - Such an awesome night. Had a little bit of everything. Seattle 2 2018 - They tore that stadium a new one. Incredible energy.
Narrowing down 33 shows to a top 3...sheesh. Today I'll go with the more obvious choices, in no particular order:
Spectrum 10.31.09 The Vic PJ20
Honorable mentions go to Camden 8.29.98 (my first show, opened with Long Road), Philly '03, MSG 1 '03, Philly '05, Spectrum 10.30.09, MSG 1 '10, all of the Wrigleys can go together, Milwaukee '14...
Lollapalooza 92 with PJ Fenway '16 Night 1 in the nosebleeds but also at the HOB viewing event the next night - radical. Seattle '18 Night 1, GA, 10 feet from stage. Worth 10 hours of sitting out on the concrete. I had a great spot, next to the ATM, in the shade, they moved us an hour later and it was full sun sittin' on concrete for the rest of the day...WORTH IT. I'm looking forward to sitting for hours again this tour!!!
Comments
1. East Lansing 1998 - The first time. Skipped school two days to get tickets and came back in August about 90 minutes away from home. The first notes of Release I lost my mind!! I couldn't believe they were real.
2. PJ20: The entire festival was amazing. Coming over that hill at Alpine was overwhelming as it is a far bigger amphitheater than I had been used to. Seeing Cornell come out and doing songs with Mudhoney, Glen Hansard, The Strokes... amazing
3. Grand Rapids 2004: Lucked into 3rd row, such a great set of covers expressing the anger at our world at the time and thinking we were doing something bigger than just music combined with attending with a board member who I hadn't yet to meet on a romantic few days was pretty magical.
PJ20 Night 1
Gorge 2005
Was the headliner to At The Drive In , Jimmy Eat World on the Clarity Tour (98-99 I think )
Saw that tour at the Middle East in Cambridge Mass ( Capacity 585 ) , never heard of At The Drive In and they fucking killed , my jaw was on the floor seriously the energy that band was giving off really took the whole crowed by surprise. I need to go listen to At The Drive In now.
Bonnaroo - 06/18/08
Philly - 10/31/09
Toronto 05/10/06 | Vancouver 04/02//08 (Ed) | Manchester 06/14/08 | Montreal 08/09/08 (Ed) | Montreal 08/10/08 (Ed)
Albany 06/08/09 (Ed) | Philadelphia 10/31/09 | Montreal 09/07/11 | Ottawa 05/08/16 | Brooklyn 04/07/17 (RRHOF)
Dana Point 09/09/17 (Ed) | Rome 06/26/18
Dublin 2006
Toronto 2 2011 (night 1 had some special moments but they were better from start to finish on night 2)
Krakow 2018
Augusta Maine 1996. Super small gym. The friend I went with wore a Dennis Rodman jersey and then he came out. IT WAS CRAZY ENERGY. Once again, It was a very small place for them to play at the height of their popularity.
RED ROCKS 6-19-95
AUGUSTA 9-26-96
MANSFIELD 9-15-98
BOSTON 9-29-04
BOSTON 5-25-06
MANSFIELD 6-30-08
EV SOLO BOSTON 8-01-08
BOSTON 5-17-10
EV SOLO BOSTON 6-16-11
PJ20 9-3-11
PJ20 9-4-11
WRIGLEY 7-19-13
WORCESTER 10-15-13
WORCESTER 10-16-13
HARTFORD 10-25-13
Las Vegas 2000 10th anniversary Crown of Thorns
Kansas City 2010 Front row in front of Stone and Eddie tossed me cake
St. Louis 1998 and Phoenix 13 are close.
Philly 2 2016 (Ten show)
Krakow 2018
2008: Camden 2, Hartford
2010: Hartford
2013: Wrigley, Worcester x2, Hartford
2015: NYC
2016: Philly 2, MSG x2, Boston 2, (TOTD Philly 2, MSG)
2018: Prague, Krakow, Berlin, Boston x2
2022: San Diego, Sacramento, Las Vegas
Fenway 2 2016
Seattle 2 2018
Spectrum 10-31
2. Krakow 2018
3. Gorge 2005
Borgata AC, NJ 10.01.05
Philly 10.31.09
East Troy 2003
Moline 2014
Wow that was tough! So many great shows: Seattle 2 2018, Chicago 2 2016, Milwaukee 2014, PJ20, Chicago 2 2006, Chicago 2000, "The Ice Bowl", gigs with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers...
I feel lucky to be a fan of this band.
2. gorge ‘05
3. Groundwork Key Arena 2001 ( charity show with R.E.M.)
Soldier Field
Moline
Gorge 2005 - Such an awesome night. Had a little bit of everything.
Seattle 2 2018 - They tore that stadium a new one. Incredible energy.
Toronto 1 2011
Detroit 2014
Spectrum 10.31.09
The Vic
PJ20
Honorable mentions go to Camden 8.29.98 (my first show, opened with Long Road), Philly '03, MSG 1 '03, Philly '05, Spectrum 10.30.09, MSG 1 '10, all of the Wrigleys can go together, Milwaukee '14...
Fenway '16 Night 1 in the nosebleeds but also at the HOB viewing event the next night - radical.
Seattle '18 Night 1, GA, 10 feet from stage. Worth 10 hours of sitting out on the concrete. I had a great spot, next to the ATM, in the shade, they moved us an hour later and it was full sun sittin' on concrete for the rest of the day...WORTH IT. I'm looking forward to sitting for hours again this tour!!!
Stockholm 12
Amsterdam 1 14
Just PJ gigs though. First time I saw Tool in Auckland in 01 was just as special as any gig save Wellington.
Wellington 1998
London 2007
Brisbane 2009
Stockholm 2012
EV Dublin 2017
Milan 2018
Padova 2018
Boston 2 2018