That is why I love this band.
The honesty in their lyrics pierce any type of armor you might have on. At least from my point of view, we all need a piercing once-in-a-while.
Release - for my dad, being sung to his dad. He never got over my grandfather's death.
Man of the Hour - to my dad - it is just goodbye for now.
Come back - my beloved daughter - Sometimes, I swear that you are next to me and, It's OK.
Thanks boys and thanks for sharing this story. You gave me the chills.
Gets up, lights a cigarette he's grown to hate
Thinking if he can't sleep, how will he ever dream?
I'm with you there. Though i have nothing that tragic that compare i can tell you just how powerful a song that is. Release was the first PJ song i ever heard live and hearing them play it Wednesday night brought me to tears. I cried my eyes out the entire song. What a night.
If God resides in all of us like some people say, I sure hope he likes enchiladas. Cuz man, thats what he's getting.
They said that timing was everything
Made him want to be everywhere
There's a lot to be said for nowhere...
Wow! This is a great example why music can save your soul and help you overcome difficult times in your life.
I'm so happy for you man! That experience had to be incredibly surreal for you. I had a lump in my throat and the chills...both when I read your story and also when I realized it happened for you.
Pearl Jam is MAGICAL!
"Had my eyes peeled both wide open, and I got a glimpse...of my innocense, got back my inner sence, baby got it...still got it"
i have been to roughly 25 pearl jam show in my lifetime. unfortunately, i have NEVER heard release played live, and that is the one song i pray to hear every concert i have attended. I am from the philly area and they have not played it there since somewhere around 98. So for the original poster, take into consideration where other fans are based out of before you state your statistical report. nobody cares about statistics here, we care about the music and lyrics and what the band means to US!!!!!!!!!!!!
i have been to roughly 25 pearl jam show in my lifetime. unfortunately, i have NEVER heard release played live, and that is the one song i pray to hear every concert i have attended. I am from the philly area and they have not played it there since somewhere around 98. So for the original poster, take into consideration where other fans are based out of before you state your statistical report. nobody cares about statistics here, we care about the music and lyrics and what the band means to US!!!!!!!!!!!!
And it has been even longer since they have played Oceans anywhere near Philly! But I have heard Release in Pittsburgh, State College, D.C., and NYC (some multiple times) since 1998. As you can see, a Philly fan could have seen Release many times just by taking a SHORT trip to another Venue.
I find it extrememly hard to imagine that someone could go to so many shows of the same band and not know exactly how many they have been to! Where did you see all these shows then? You didn't see them ~25 times in Philly since 1998!
You refer to my previous post.
If you want to bring statistics on the table, I'm a really lucky guy since I heard Dirty Frank (only played 10 times) and Fatal (only played 3 times) during the same concert. I beat all statistics ... and between us I know that I will hear Release one day ... but you have to understand that some people can't attend as many shows as they wish. When is the next Europe tour ???
I've also heard Dirty Frank at the Gorge. I was at a show that had Undone crossed off the setlist. I've heard more rare covers than I care to list. I've seen them play with Neil Young, Peter Frampton, C.J. Ramone, and Ace Freely. I've been to their longest show ever (state college) and to the Boston 3 experiment. Only counting lost dogs songs that have been played, I have heard every PJ song except:
Your post really moved me. Release is absolutely the most gut-wrenching song I know of. I'm lucky to have my father still with me. All I can say is to be the father to your kids that your father would be proud of. If you do that, there is immeasurable joy to be had in this life. I know you will. It's weird but my initials are also "KK" (Kevin Krause), and people used to call me that as a kid. peace to you, brother
Dear Pearl Jam Family,
I'm going to tell my story which I really do not do that often, and really never to complete strangers, but as these 2 shows are rapidly approaching, I would like to get it out there!
14 PJ shows - Never seen "Release"
Only a true Pearl Jam fan will appreciate and understand what I went through and how a song actually saved me.....
Dec 8 2000
I was 25 years old. My Father "KK" was killed in a tragic train accident on Long Island. The days and months after that one quick moment were the most difficult hours, minutes, seconds of my life.
What I found was the passion, words and music of "Release" to be my savior! Obviously growing up with PJ and listening to Release thousands of times, it was not until now that a whole new meaning has taken place for me!
The lyrics rip through me every time I now hear that song. But because of it's power, it gave me the strength to live strong and move forward.
In June 2008 i became a father of a beautiful daughter named after my father "KK"......As life moves forward I can only pray that he sees me being the best father I can possibly be to my little angel.
I bought a ticket to Bonnaroo hoping and pretty much knowing that "Release" would be played being Fathers Day weekend and all, and finally stopping my search of hearing "Release" live. But as father day approached, I couldn't bear the fact to be away from her and my family on that day. I kept thinking what would my father do in this situation? I made a decision to sell the tickets and spend fathers day at home.
Then of course finding out that the greatest most emotional "Release" was played after midnight as Eddie poured his soul into it, made me think twice. But I stand by my decision and wouldn't change it for the world.
So here we are 4 nights away from the first of two at the Garden. I can not wait, it will be so great to see them jam again. But now is the time for me to finally see and hear "Release" so I can stop chasing the dream I have for me and my father.
I also have a "Release" tattoo on my right shoulder with my fathers initials "KK" floating over water. If you would like to see it, send me an email as I can not figure out how to attach anything to this.
Thank you for taking some time to read this, reply if you would like, if not - See you at the GARDEN!!!!
Oh Dear Dad,
Can you see me Now
I am Myself,
Like you Somehow
BK
YOU WILL BE A GREAT FATHER MY FRIEND
"...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
“..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
This is also something I usually never talk about but the stories so far have inspired me to tell mine. I was introduced to Pearl Jam by my father when I was 5 years old. I am now 23. It was the only "New" music he'd really liked. Since then PJ had always been a big connection we had together.
For the past 5 or so years following his fathers death and a divorce from my mother he'd really had a lot of trouble battling depression. My brother and I attended Bonnaroo last yeah and it was the first time I'd heard "Release" live. Eddie dedicated it to a friend named Luke who had recently lost his father and I thought that was very special of him to do so. My father was absolutely estactic we got to atended that show.
About 2 weeks after Bonnaroo I got a call from my brother saying that our father had committed suicide. The news was a shock, nonetheless, and it has been something i've had to live with since. Like others of you have mentioned, so many songs have taken new meaning to me, especially "release". I now feel "Nothingman" tells his story perfectly and songs like "Long Road" and "Release" offer much comfort. The power of music is incredible and my love for PJ has only deepened onto new meaning since the tragedy .
It is great to hear these stories of what each song means to each of us and also knowing there's a place where you can share with strangers and feel they understand. I now have a new love for life and desire to live it to the fullest and I will remain a Pearl Jam for my entire life. I can't wait to introduce it to my children someday.
Well my story's not as good but whatever. I've been going to PJ shows since 94. I always regretted not going to every show but I was young and stupid and made a lot of excuses then. Now I go to every conceivable PJ show. So anyways me and a guy that used to be my best friend have always loved Release, it is definitely his favorite PJ song. I have many. So he's one of those guys who fell off the bandwagon so to speak, doesn't really pick up the albums anymore, etc. And as years went by and we didn't hang out as much BUT every time Pearl Jam was coming to Jersey or NYC I'd get an excited call "Did ya get us tickets?!" and the answer is always yes
Now to a certain extent this kinda got annoying because EVERY PJ show we attended together (which was about 15) all he could talk about is "God I hope the play Release!". We went to PJ shows every tour since 94 but they never would play Release "for us". It got a bit frustrating but I'm the kinda person that's just happy as shit to be in the same building with PJ ya know. So it slowly became a "thing" for me too. Just a little WTF why can't I hear Release live? It is still one of my favorites, but for 14 years and 15 shows nothin :(
So last year me and my girl decided to go to Bonnaroo. Aside from PJ there were several bands in the lineup we both love so we were stoked. But really I was excited to see PJ at a crazy hippyfest ya know. And Bonnaroo was crazy and sooo much fun and amazing. I asked my buddy to go but he's married with 2 kids and just couldn't do it. So you guys know what happened. I had to see PJ 18 times and drive from NJ to Tennessee to finally hear Release live and it was perfect. Plus they tricked me! They almost always play it 1st or not at all. And when Eddie says towards the end we don't normally play this song at this point but it was for a friend, I'm like no way, no way. Even once they started playing the song, which I've heard hundreds of times it was like I was in shock! I couldn't tell, is this Release? My girl grabbed me and we got closer and as she dragged me I was totally in shock, I was crying man. It was just the greatest thing, finally they played Release for ME!
So back in Jersey I had tix for the 2 MSG shows coming up and 1 night my girl was going and the other my buddy. My girl wanted the 2nd night I believe so that's how it went down. They played Release again but my buddy missed it cause he went to the other show. He asked if at Bonnaroo and the MSG show he didn't attend if they played Release :( I lied and said they didn't play it. I just didn't have the heart to tell the guy he missed it by one night... and I didn't want him to be mad at my girl! I always say to him if you really want to hear it you need to go to as many PJ shows as possible, he rarely listens to me though So I got Release twice, I think it's Karma quite frankly
Oh and congrats BK17, patience pays off
Oh, if I knew where it was, I would take you there, but there's much more than this.
Ooooh. Whoooa, much more than this. Woooh see the world. Much more than... Oooh, much more than.. Why?
"Release" is a song that has meant so much to me over the years, for many personal reasons. Love lost, the passing of a loved one...the applicability of Ed's writing seems so open -- so that the listener can find a connection, no matter what the reason for the connection may be. I was a "late comer" the the PJ bandwagon, for a reason even I cannot explain. I had heard them on the radio, but they never "grabbed" me. Until I saw them live for the first time in 1998 (WPB Florida) and they opened up with "Release." I was a casual fan at best at the time. By the time they finished the song, I was hooked forever. I immediately began to get my hands on any and all PJ I could...and damn near memorizing every note, every word I could get into my eardrums. The song itself, at first was just a hauntingly beautiful song to me. Then events in my life caused the song to mean so much more to me. I don't wanna bore anyone with the details...but suffice to say the song played while I made love to someone, who later ended up being the biggest heartbreak in my life. And after she was gone from my life - the song that had such wonderful memories tied to it -- became achingly painful to hear...as therapeutic as it was to listen to it. It became so I couldn't listen to a lot of PJ for a while...it was too painful. As time passed, I was finally able to listen without breaking down and crying into my hands. I was able to come full circle - and now the song is uplifting again, albeit with a hint of sorrow.
I consider myself lucky - I was able to hear it live the first time I saw them live...and lucky to have discovered the wealth of incredible music created by Pearl Jam. Their music, probably more than any other - has literally improved my life - for helping me to cope with anything and everything. I'm glad you finally got to hear "Release" live...I feel spoiled having lucked out to see it my first time (and knowing nothing about it beforehand either) and I'm glad you finally got your wish!
09/23/1998 - West Palm Beach, FL - Coral Sky Ampitheater
08/09/2000 - West Palm Beach, FL - Mars Music Ampitheater
04/11/2003 - West Palm Beach, FL - Sound Advice Ampitheater
10/08/2004 - Orlando, FL - Silver Spurs Arena (A.C.T. Tour)
06/11/2008 - West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Ampitheater
Comments
The honesty in their lyrics pierce any type of armor you might have on. At least from my point of view, we all need a piercing once-in-a-while.
Release - for my dad, being sung to his dad. He never got over my grandfather's death.
Man of the Hour - to my dad - it is just goodbye for now.
Come back - my beloved daughter - Sometimes, I swear that you are next to me and, It's OK.
Thanks boys and thanks for sharing this story. You gave me the chills.
Thinking if he can't sleep, how will he ever dream?
But his heart don't seem to roam......
They said that timing was everything
Made him want to be everywhere
There's a lot to be said for nowhere...
I'm so happy for you man! That experience had to be incredibly surreal for you. I had a lump in my throat and the chills...both when I read your story and also when I realized it happened for you.
Pearl Jam is MAGICAL!
And it has been even longer since they have played Oceans anywhere near Philly! But I have heard Release in Pittsburgh, State College, D.C., and NYC (some multiple times) since 1998. As you can see, a Philly fan could have seen Release many times just by taking a SHORT trip to another Venue.
I find it extrememly hard to imagine that someone could go to so many shows of the same band and not know exactly how many they have been to! Where did you see all these shows then? You didn't see them ~25 times in Philly since 1998!
I've also heard Dirty Frank at the Gorge. I was at a show that had Undone crossed off the setlist. I've heard more rare covers than I care to list. I've seen them play with Neil Young, Peter Frampton, C.J. Ramone, and Ace Freely. I've been to their longest show ever (state college) and to the Boston 3 experiment. Only counting lost dogs songs that have been played, I have heard every PJ song except:
Oceans, No Way, Pilate, Push me, Pull me, Black-Red-Yellow, Fatal, Bee girl, Undone, Education
04/25/03 05/02/03 5/3/03 6/24/03 6/28/03 7/5/03 7/6/03 7/11/03 7/12/03 7/14/03
09/28/04 09/29/04 10/01/04 10/02/04
09/28/05 09/30/05 10/03/05
5/24/06 5/25/06 5/27/06 5/28/06 5/30/06 6/01/06 6/03/06 6/23/06 6/24/06 7/22/06 7/23/06
6/20/08 6/22/08 6/24/08 6/25/08
"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
“..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
For the past 5 or so years following his fathers death and a divorce from my mother he'd really had a lot of trouble battling depression. My brother and I attended Bonnaroo last yeah and it was the first time I'd heard "Release" live. Eddie dedicated it to a friend named Luke who had recently lost his father and I thought that was very special of him to do so. My father was absolutely estactic we got to atended that show.
About 2 weeks after Bonnaroo I got a call from my brother saying that our father had committed suicide. The news was a shock, nonetheless, and it has been something i've had to live with since. Like others of you have mentioned, so many songs have taken new meaning to me, especially "release". I now feel "Nothingman" tells his story perfectly and songs like "Long Road" and "Release" offer much comfort. The power of music is incredible and my love for PJ has only deepened onto new meaning since the tragedy .
It is great to hear these stories of what each song means to each of us and also knowing there's a place where you can share with strangers and feel they understand. I now have a new love for life and desire to live it to the fullest and I will remain a Pearl Jam for my entire life. I can't wait to introduce it to my children someday.
Now to a certain extent this kinda got annoying because EVERY PJ show we attended together (which was about 15) all he could talk about is "God I hope the play Release!". We went to PJ shows every tour since 94 but they never would play Release "for us". It got a bit frustrating but I'm the kinda person that's just happy as shit to be in the same building with PJ ya know. So it slowly became a "thing" for me too. Just a little WTF why can't I hear Release live? It is still one of my favorites, but for 14 years and 15 shows nothin :(
So last year me and my girl decided to go to Bonnaroo. Aside from PJ there were several bands in the lineup we both love so we were stoked. But really I was excited to see PJ at a crazy hippyfest ya know. And Bonnaroo was crazy and sooo much fun and amazing. I asked my buddy to go but he's married with 2 kids and just couldn't do it. So you guys know what happened. I had to see PJ 18 times and drive from NJ to Tennessee to finally hear Release live and it was perfect. Plus they tricked me!
So back in Jersey I had tix for the 2 MSG shows coming up and 1 night my girl was going and the other my buddy. My girl wanted the 2nd night I believe so that's how it went down. They played Release again but my buddy missed it cause he went to the other show. He asked if at Bonnaroo and the MSG show he didn't attend if they played Release :( I lied and said they didn't play it. I just didn't have the heart to tell the guy he missed it by one night... and I didn't want him to be mad at my girl!
Oh and congrats BK17, patience pays off
Ooooh. Whoooa, much more than this. Woooh see the world. Much more than... Oooh, much more than.. Why?
I consider myself lucky - I was able to hear it live the first time I saw them live...and lucky to have discovered the wealth of incredible music created by Pearl Jam. Their music, probably more than any other - has literally improved my life - for helping me to cope with anything and everything. I'm glad you finally got to hear "Release" live...I feel spoiled having lucked out to see it my first time (and knowing nothing about it beforehand either) and I'm glad you finally got your wish!
08/09/2000 - West Palm Beach, FL - Mars Music Ampitheater
04/11/2003 - West Palm Beach, FL - Sound Advice Ampitheater
10/08/2004 - Orlando, FL - Silver Spurs Arena (A.C.T. Tour)
06/11/2008 - West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Ampitheater