The hand getting a fist bump from Eddie is mine! Got a fist bump, and my wife got some Eddie wine and a Mike guitar pick. Unfortunately, our dog ate the guitar pick when we got home.
Made a relatively
last minute decision to grab tickets to both Vancouver shows a couple of weeks
ago after Vegas tickets were too hard to come by and flights were exorbitant anyhow.
Flew in from Ottawa on Saturday morning and headed straight to a four hour wait
in the merch line 😊 Met a friend who just moved to Vancouver
last week and had a great time at the pre show party at The Pint and met some
great Pearl Jam fans.
Wash set
the tone for both shows imo. Wow. Ed’s voice was amazing, had the crowd singing
so loud right off the bat. Was so happy to get that as an opener, completely
unexpected and never thought I’d get to see Wash. Ed absolutely nailed it and
sounded better than I think I’ve heard him in years. Small Town got the whole
crowd into it again and followed up by Given to Fly, the entire arena was
buzzing.
Then into
the first four songs of Dark Matter. Wow. The new songs all sound great. React
Respond has been growing slowly on me and wow, it really shines live. Has made
me appreciate that song so much more. Dark Matter, while definitely not my
favourite track on the record, was really fun live. The crowd was into it as
the majority of people seemed to know that one. Wreckage was beautiful live. First
four in a row had me super excited that the whole album was coming in order for a
minute!
The tag of
Bobcaygeon onto Daughter was a really special moment. I figured we’d get Leatherman
after seeing MC request it with Zane Lowe, and they came through! It’s been
years since I’ve seen them play that and it was great! Great version of
Corduroy, followed by the hilarious fuck up of Red Mosquito. Re-start and
nailed it.
Upper Hand
is another level. So so good live. I’m in love with this song. Just kills live.
Won’t Tell has been my initial favourite on the record and loved hearing it
live – sang at the top of my lungs. Running had great energy live, even if not
my favourite tune. The gang call outs were cool. Chloe Dancer and Crown of
Thorns floored me. Really did not expect this. I’ve only seen this once live
and it was at MSG. It was a dedication but feel like they save this, especially
the combo with Chloe, for special shows and this was a sign to me that this
entire tour is special. Playing it right out of the gate at the first show. Wow.
They seemed so excited to be on tour and to be playing this new record that
they’re so proud of. It gives me chills now, thinking about it. Porch was great
to close as always and hope Mike is OK!
Won’t Back
Down isn’t my favourite Ed cover but loved the story he told about the guitar Tom
Petty gave him vibrating and wanting to come on tour with him lol. And Ed’s voice
did sound beautiful on it. Black was one of the most beautiful versions I’ve ever
seen. Ed’s voice, the solo, the extended outro, the crowd participation, the We
Belong Together tag, the look on the band’s faces soaking it all in. Just
extremely beautiful. DTE rockin as always and loved the visuals on the screen
for this one. Really cool. Makes the song better, especially since they seem to
be playing this one in every encore lately and it’s become a bit predictable. Something
Special I just don’t feel but that’s OK. I do enjoy the rolling bass line. Alive
is great for the crowd but again, a little too predictable for me in this spot
nowadays. Same with RITFW really got the
crowd going which is awesome but I’m fine if I never hear this one. YL was beautiful
and happy anytime I get to see this. The band seemed so happy with the energy
the crowd brought all night to this first night of the tour. I always love
looking out over the crowd with the house lights up during YL. Chills every time.
I fully
left my seat when they left the stage after YL. Never ever expected that they’d
come back out for another one after that. I was at the top of the stairs and
stopped cold in my tracks when they came back out and the intro to Setting Sun
started. That was so cool. The visuals were beautiful, the lights were low, the
song started slow, soared, and sent us home on such a great, introspective and
hopeful note. Let us not fade. Another moment that gives me chills. This song
is so beautiful and translates live as well as anything on Dark Matter. Just
amazing. I hope they do this every show this tour because it’s an amazing experience
everyone should have a chance to see/hear/feel.
Overall so
happy I made the decision to fly across the country for these shows. Worth
every penny. The band was in top form and had obviously been practicing for a
few weeks. The sound was amazing and they were really tight. I’m not sure if
they’ve changed anything sound-wise for this tour but it seemed like it. Maybe
it was the screen and no sound bleeding to the back? Or Rogers Arena itself? I
don’t know but the sound was top notch. I think Klinghoffer also subtly adds a
lot to the songs and the overall sound and am so happy he’s still touring with
them. Wasn’t sure what to expect with the new production but I absolutely loved
it. The stage looked so gorgeous for the first few songs, bathed in low light, then
silhouettes up on the screen and then the full visuals. Really added to the
experience. Even the flooring of the stage looked new, like a beautiful carpet.
Loved the jut out into the crowd and seeing Ed constantly going down there to
sing directly with the crowd, shake hands, etc.
Honestly,
this is the most excited and joyous time I’ve had in well over 25 years of
Pearl Jam fandom. I want to hold onto everything and enjoy every second. This
band has brought so much to my life and it’s really amazing that I still get to
feel this as a now middle aged man 😊
Yeah I thought Matt Cameron requested "Leatherman" after an interview. Something came out on the PJ news today saying "Bobcaygeon" was a Matt request but when Ed just said yeah we're doing a couple requests tonight and this one's from Matt Cameron, I thought he was in refering to "Leatherman"... The other one may be a request from the guitar?
The night was so mind-blowing. I can see why people chase it.
p.s. I really like the melting iceberg on the mind of BC and the whale jumpy thingy. Thank you. Again
The hand getting a fist bump from Eddie is mine! Got a fist bump, and my wife got some Eddie wine and a Mike guitar pick. Unfortunately, our dog ate the guitar pick when we got home.
BRUTAL
"Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk" -EV 8/14/93
The hand getting a fist bump from Eddie is mine! Got a fist bump, and my wife got some Eddie wine and a Mike guitar pick. Unfortunately, our dog ate the guitar pick when we got home.
What kind of shape was it in when it, um, exited your dog?
The hand getting a fist bump from Eddie is mine! Got a fist bump, and my wife got some Eddie wine and a Mike guitar pick. Unfortunately, our dog ate the guitar pick when we got home.
What kind of shape was it in when it, um, exited your dog?
Not great, definitely not worth trying to save. Dog is a very active chewer. Guitar pick never stood a chance
The hand getting a fist bump from Eddie is mine! Got a fist bump, and my wife got some Eddie wine and a Mike guitar pick. Unfortunately, our dog ate the guitar pick when we got home.
What kind of shape was it in when it, um, exited your dog?
Not great, definitely not worth trying to save. Dog is a very active chewer. Guitar pick never stood a chance
That's a very good thing because you might have had a veterinary emergency on your hands if your dog had swallowed the pick whole.
Comments
The other one may be a request from the guitar?
The night was so mind-blowing. I can see why people chase it.
p.s. I really like the melting iceberg on the mind of BC and the whale jumpy thingy. Thank you. Again
-EV 8/14/93