Why does Pearl Jam totally disregard Binaural?

Gern Blansten

my2hands said:

Been saying this for a few years...they lean WAY too heavily on songs written 1998 or earlier... 90% of their live shows are now songs that are over 20 years old 

They've become a nostalgia act, and I'm considering retiring from the live scene unless it's very local 

That might be where I'm at...definitely love that they still have a different setlist each night but it's really like listening to about 50 songs on shuffle.  Too many listens and you get tired of it.

rummy

my2hands said:

Been saying this for a few years...they lean WAY too heavily on songs written 1998 or earlier... 90% of their live shows are now songs that are over 20 years old 

They've become a nostalgia act, and I'm considering retiring from the live scene unless it's very local 

Given the bashing of Backspacer and Lightning Bolt around here (I try not to bash but generally nod my head in agreement), the songs from at least 12 years ago, anyway, are their bread and butter.

bootlegger10

Pearl Jam tours are my way of seeing the world and seeing friends.   If I am with my friends at a show I will have a great time always.  If I go to a show by myself or our seats aren’t all together, than one or two shows a tour would be enough for me, and I would probably leave after the first major hit is played in the last encore.

ikiT

Yo if I'm there....I ride the wave where it takes me.  They can play whatever they want.
Stop looking at your phone.

gems_n_rhinestones

IMO while I love quite a few songs from those albums, I think even people who were big PJ fans in the 90s just aren’t familiar with them. They just weren’t promoted much. And while I love say Grievance, it’s the type of song a good portion of the crowd doesn’t and it kinda takes away momentum. 

bootlegger10

Tiki said:

Yo if I'm there....I ride the wave where it takes me.  They can play whatever they want.
Stop looking at your phone.

Your opinion could change if you have seen more than 12 shows with the first one being in 2010.   Once you get into the 50's your tune could change a little, but that is the problem with going to so many shows.  Tough not to get burned out on certain tunes.

ikiT

I wasn't ready for the live experience. 

At 52 years old, I been on for the whole ride, just not in person.  1991 WBCN.  vs vital nocode yield All those official bootlegs. Turns out Binaural was actually my DIVORCE soundtrack. 

Everyone has a different path, Bro.

ikiT

I'm familiar with the catalog.

bootlegger10

Did not intend to imply that you haven’t been a fan that long.  The best part of shows for me is hearing something that I have to think about what is for a few seconds.   

mcgruff10

bootlegger10 said:

Did not intend to imply that you haven’t been a fan that long.  The best part of shows for me is hearing something that I have to think about what is for a few seconds.   

Agreed! My wife is amazed how I can usually call out 15 songs before they are played based on the guitar tune/effect or the chord ed is playing.  He usually holds the chord a few seconds before playing it. 
That s why I agree with you. Man I was actually pumped when I thought they were playing who you are but it turned out to be in my tree. (If that makes sense at all lol)

ikiT

or the appearance of the guitar itself...

That Jimmy Page double neck?  Inside Job.  Mikey actually went to the specs in AMS.

bootlegger10

mcgruff10 said:

bootlegger10 said:

Did not intend to imply that you haven’t been a fan that long.  The best part of shows for me is hearing something that I have to think about what is for a few seconds.   

Agreed! My wife is amazed how I can usually call out 15 songs before they are played based on the guitar tune/effect or the chord ed is playing.  He usually holds the chord a few seconds before playing it. 
That s why I agree with you. Man I was actually pumped when I thought they were playing who you are but it turned out to be in my tree. (If that makes sense at all lol)

I get it.  Elderly, Given to Fly, Even Flow, Sirens, etc... are all easy ones to pick out on the guitar. 

mcgruff10

bootlegger10 said:

mcgruff10 said:

bootlegger10 said:

Did not intend to imply that you haven’t been a fan that long.  The best part of shows for me is hearing something that I have to think about what is for a few seconds.   

Agreed! My wife is amazed how I can usually call out 15 songs before they are played based on the guitar tune/effect or the chord ed is playing.  He usually holds the chord a few seconds before playing it. 
That s why I agree with you. Man I was actually pumped when I thought they were playing who you are but it turned out to be in my tree. (If that makes sense at all lol)

I get it.  Elderly, Given to Fly, Even Flow, Sirens, etc... are all easy ones to pick out on the guitar. 

We should next to each other at a show and have a competition! Lol

bootlegger10

mcgruff10 said:

bootlegger10 said:

mcgruff10 said:

bootlegger10 said:

Did not intend to imply that you haven’t been a fan that long.  The best part of shows for me is hearing something that I have to think about what is for a few seconds.   

Agreed! My wife is amazed how I can usually call out 15 songs before they are played based on the guitar tune/effect or the chord ed is playing.  He usually holds the chord a few seconds before playing it. 
That s why I agree with you. Man I was actually pumped when I thought they were playing who you are but it turned out to be in my tree. (If that makes sense at all lol)

I get it.  Elderly, Given to Fly, Even Flow, Sirens, etc... are all easy ones to pick out on the guitar. 

We should next to each other at a show and have a competition! Lol

Ha.  People around us would hhhhhaaaaattttteeee  us.

mcgruff10

bootlegger10 said:

mcgruff10 said:

bootlegger10 said:

mcgruff10 said:

bootlegger10 said:

Did not intend to imply that you haven’t been a fan that long.  The best part of shows for me is hearing something that I have to think about what is for a few seconds.   

Agreed! My wife is amazed how I can usually call out 15 songs before they are played based on the guitar tune/effect or the chord ed is playing.  He usually holds the chord a few seconds before playing it. 
That s why I agree with you. Man I was actually pumped when I thought they were playing who you are but it turned out to be in my tree. (If that makes sense at all lol)

I get it.  Elderly, Given to Fly, Even Flow, Sirens, etc... are all easy ones to pick out on the guitar. 

We should next to each other at a show and have a competition! Lol

Ha.  People around us would hhhhhaaaaattttteeee  us.

We d either get punched or have beer thrown at us lol. 

RobbyD462

Seattle 1

Milestone

I also can't see the "Dark times for them" argument.  Many of their songs are from tough/dark times.  

I don’t know if it’s an argument.  It’s fairly well documented in interviews. Mike’s sobriety, Ed’s end of marriage, Stone comments about not feeling relevant anymore, Denmark, ect. Another drummer change, although Ed’s also stated that Matt was the only possible replacement or the band was done. Just sort of trying times..... and maybe the album reminds them of that.
i always sorta suspected they released all those 2000 bootlegs because they figured they were done after that. Just my hunch, not ever said by a band member.

Gern Blansten

Milestone said:

I also can't see the "Dark times for them" argument.  Many of their songs are from tough/dark times.  

I don’t know if it’s an argument.  It’s fairly well documented in interviews. Mike’s sobriety, Ed’s end of marriage, Stone comments about not feeling relevant anymore, Denmark, ect. Another drummer change, although Ed’s also stated that Matt was the only possible replacement or the band was done. Just sort of trying times..... and maybe the album reminds them of that.
i always sorta suspected they released all those 2000 bootlegs because they figured they were done after that. Just my hunch, not ever said by a band member.

Yet they still play lbc occasionally 

mcgruff10

Gern Blansten said:

Milestone said:

I also can't see the "Dark times for them" argument.  Many of their songs are from tough/dark times.  

I don’t know if it’s an argument.  It’s fairly well documented in interviews. Mike’s sobriety, Ed’s end of marriage, Stone comments about not feeling relevant anymore, Denmark, ect. Another drummer change, although Ed’s also stated that Matt was the only possible replacement or the band was done. Just sort of trying times..... and maybe the album reminds them of that.
i always sorta suspected they released all those 2000 bootlegs because they figured they were done after that. Just my hunch, not ever said by a band member.

Yet they still play lbc occasionally 

Big difference, that song seems therapeutic to me. 

rummy

mcgruff10 said:

bootlegger10 said:

Did not intend to imply that you haven’t been a fan that long.  The best part of shows for me is hearing something that I have to think about what is for a few seconds.   

Agreed! My wife is amazed how I can usually call out 15 songs before they are played based on the guitar tune/effect or the chord ed is playing.  He usually holds the chord a few seconds before playing it. 
That s why I agree with you. Man I was actually pumped when I thought they were playing who you are but it turned out to be in my tree. (If that makes sense at all lol)

I was able to pick out Release at Seattle one with one guitar pluck a few moments before the song began. I said to the guy beside me (who bought my spare), "Is it Release? Is it? I think it is....." - and it was! I was so excited that I asked him - poor guy I just met - for a (man) hug. Made the night - both the song and the hug! ;-)

100 Pacer

Loving the intelligent back and forth in addition to all the statistics 

#PJnerding

eeriepadave

In my "professional" opinion, it's their most underrated album.  Was hoping to get a few at Fenway, but alas got none.  Still need to hear one of my favorite songs live, "Of the Girl".  Hopefully next time I see them...

Milestone

Gern Blansten said:

Yet they still play lbc occasionally 

Ok? And they still play Binaural songs occasionally. Just not much and nothing in regular rotation.

Milestone

rummy said:

mcgruff10 said:

bootlegger10 said:

Did not intend to imply that you haven’t been a fan that long.  The best part of shows for me is hearing something that I have to think about what is for a few seconds.   

Agreed! My wife is amazed how I can usually call out 15 songs before they are played based on the guitar tune/effect or the chord ed is playing.  He usually holds the chord a few seconds before playing it. 
That s why I agree with you. Man I was actually pumped when I thought they were playing who you are but it turned out to be in my tree. (If that makes sense at all lol)

I was able to pick out Release at Seattle one with one guitar pluck a few moments before the song began. I said to the guy beside me (who bought my spare), "Is it Release? Is it? I think it is....." - and it was! I was so excited that I asked him - poor guy I just met - for a (man) hug. Made the night - both the song and the hug! ;-)

I am usually good at this game. First few notes of a song during Seattle 2 and I yelled out, “It’s Dirty Frank”! It turned out to be “Rats”. People around me laughed. 

Gern Blansten

Milestone said:

Gern Blansten said:

Yet they still play lbc occasionally 

Ok? And they still play Binaural songs occasionally. Just not much and nothing in regular rotation.

Right, so it is unlikely that they don't play much from binaural due to pain 

mcgruff10

Gern Blansten said:

Milestone said:

Gern Blansten said:

Yet they still play lbc occasionally 

Ok? And they still play Binaural songs occasionally. Just not much and nothing in regular rotation.

Right, so it is unlikely that they don't play much from binaural due to pain 

I refuse to listen to any pj show my ex wife was at with me so I can see why they don’t want to play certain songs since this was a very painful time for the band on many different levels. 

bootlegger10

Eddie wrote a lot of songs about tough times in his life and they are played quite regularly (Alive, Better Man).  I just think Binaural doesn't get played much because there has to be songs in a catalog that get the least amount of play, and playing a song like Hail Hail once or twice makes more sense than playing Grievance once or twice. 

gems_n_rhinestones

Milestone said:

I also can't see the "Dark times for them" argument.  Many of their songs are from tough/dark times.  

I don’t know if it’s an argument.  It’s fairly well documented in interviews. Mike’s sobriety, Ed’s end of marriage, Stone comments about not feeling relevant anymore, Denmark, ect. Another drummer change, although Ed’s also stated that Matt was the only possible replacement or the band was done. Just sort of trying times..... and maybe the album reminds them of that.
i always sorta suspected they released all those 2000 bootlegs because they figured they were done after that. Just my hunch, not ever said by a band member.

gems_n_rhinestones

gems_n_rhinestones said:

Milestone said:

I also can't see the "Dark times for them" argument.  Many of their songs are from tough/dark times.  

I don’t know if it’s an argument.  It’s fairly well documented in interviews. Mike’s sobriety, Ed’s end of marriage, Stone comments about not feeling relevant anymore, Denmark, ect. Another drummer change, although Ed’s also stated that Matt was the only possible replacement or the band was done. Just sort of trying times..... and maybe the album reminds them of that.
i always sorta suspected they released all those 2000 bootlegs because they figured they were done after that. Just my hunch, not ever said by a band member.

Oh shit I quote and then don’t realize I hit enter. Anyway I agree with all this. I also think music was changing a lot then. The internet was taking off and we were getting our music from different sources. Didn’t even think that maybe the band didn’t want to promote. Binaural and a riot Act (and Avacodo) didn’t get out. 

Abe Froman

PJ has created and somewhat perfected live shows.  Play a lot of familiar songs (hits & covers) for the casual fans, sprinkle in some favorites from the rest of the catalogue, throw in a couple super rare gems to appease the die hards.  This makes for an amazing live experience pretty much every show.  With that being said....I do wish they would play more Binaural (and other rarely played songs/albums) more often.  But thats just me.  A lot of my favorite Pearl Jam is stuff many in the audience would not probably be there to see and probably not enjoy it.  As others have mentioned the only way to do this would be some 10c shows which is never gonna happen.  Oh well.  Its fun to think about and its still a blast every show i get to attend.  Wrigley this year was AMAZING!  And even though I never need to hear Betterman again my wife loves it and so do a whole bunch of other people.  I do wish they would throw in a few more of the other albums every show though.