Your Top 3 Moments of Being a Fan

SVRDhand13

What are they? When did they occur?  Let's spread some positivity to start 2025!

Here's mine: 

1) Meeting Mike multiple times (Colbert 2015, Book Signing 2017, in a park before Philly 2 2024.  He's always so genuinely nice).   
2) Patting Eddie on the chest during a show.  (Tampa 2016 when he went into the crowd during Porch.  Luckily my wife wanted to hang out at the back of GA.)  
3) Seeing the band for the first time.  (Finally had some money as a 20 year old and decided to travel to the Gorge in 2006.  My tix for MSG 2003 were taken...long story...) 

How about you!?!

Love reading everyone’s responses- keep it up! 

I almost did five but didn’t want people scrambling to finish their list, so post however many you want. 

Adding to my list:

PJ20 (felt like a true celebration) 
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction (another huge party) 

PJNB

1. Hearing Release open at my first show Worcester 2013

2. Band playing It’s Ok Quebec City 2016

3. Hearing HTI after 5 cancelled shows in a row for us. Amsterdam 2022.

cincybearcat

1) Seeing the band in GA at St Paul 2 with my 16 year old daughter (at the time) where they played a song I requested (unsure if coincidence or not) for my brother who just passed and then Ed picking out my daughter and throwing her a tambourine during Purple Rain.  Loved that my daughter got into Pearl Jam, was fun to share.

2) Seeing the band for the first time in 1996 in Toledo from the 2nd row of GA with my girlfriend, who would become my wife 3 years later.  Had to back her out of the pit a bit after a few songs, but it was amazing and ignited my current run of 50 shows. 

3) Running into the band in our hotel in Mexico 2005 just by accident.  Wife was working in Mexico so we go ticket to the 2 shows and I flew down to meet up with her.  Was eating breakfast the second day there and saw Jeff and Boom at a table near us.  Then after the second show saw the band minus Ed in the lobby and got a picture with Jeff and Mike (Mike had to coax Jeff to join us) .  Had to go back up to room for something and when I came back down the stairs, came face to face with Eddie Vedder exiting the elevator with his then young daughter Olivia.  I think he was concerned I was going to be a stalker (could see it in his eyes), so I just nodded and smiled and walked on by.  


So many more amazing memories I have related to this band, but those are probably my current top 3.  I am not sure anything will ever beat #1...was just perfect.

rrivers

1. Hearing Release open my first show New Orleans 1993.

2. Of the Girl finishing and Go starting San Francisco 2006.  Maybe my favorite concert moment ever.  The place exploded!

3. Crazy Mary solo Mountain View 2003.  Really blew me away.

There's a ton of others, but those are the ones that come to mind.  (Opening with Whipping Sacramento 2000 "Let's warm it up", Opening with RITFW Oakland 2022 first show (actually that whole show was so much fun), 1995 Vitalogy show at a high school football stadium in New Orleans) Sorry I know you just said 3, but I'm spreading positivity!

ddeschler

1) Seeing my first show, Randall's Island 1996 N1, on no sleep after driving thru the night from NC to NYC.

2) Seeing the No Code show in Moline, 2013

3) Seeing the Amsterdam 2022 show.  After several canceled shows due to Ed losing his voice, they pulled this one out to end the Euro tour.  Didn't think it would happen.  It was an incredible show, with whole band seated to start the show for several songs.

Robbert

1) 25 june 2012 --> Walking into Mike at the merch table during a Jack White concert at The Afas Hall in Amsterdam. Was going to the bathroom during the show, thought 'lets have a quick look at the merch while no one is there. Saw 2 guys coming to the merch and thought 'hey i know these tattoos', and OMG yes it was Mike with a bodyguard.

2) 26 and 27 june 2012 --> Seeing Pearl Jam for there first 2 shows in the (that time) new Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. Night 2 speeks for it self.

3) 25 july 2012 --> Seeing Eddie Vedder solo for the first time at the Royal Carre Theatre in Amsterdam, for like 1300 peepz.

Ryan

I can’t do three, there’s a couple more.

1) Fargo, ND 2003.  First show.  Arc (Ed solo) into Go.
2) First time stepping into The Gorge (did the three shows there in 2005/06)
3) Opening w/Betterman and the two Neil Young covers at the first proper Winnipeg show (excluding Gimli 93).
4) Vic Theater - that first run of 3-4 songs confirmed this wouldn’t be a regular show.  Hard to Imagine, Love Reign O’er Me, Sonic Reducer.  The best Matt Cameron show I’ve ever seen?
5) Breath at Philly 3 in 2009.  Took a long time for me to chase that song down.  That encore was maybe the peak of my fandom with Parting Ways, Jeremy, then Breath
6) Retrograde at Ohana 2021.  I didn’t do Sea Hear Now but did the three Ohana shows so this was my first show/song back from/during the pandemic.  There were times in 2020/21 I wasn’t sure when we’d get to see PJ, or live shows again.  

1fairbanks

1) Seeing my first show, RCKNDY Aug 3, 1991. Ed climbing the walls and hanging from the ceiling. Chris Cornell and Matt Cameron coming out at the end of the show to play Hunger Strike, Pushing Forward Back and Reach Down. It was love at first sight.

2) Taking my soon to be wife to her first show, Moore Theater January 17, 1992. More Ed climbing walls and ceiling hanging. Wife was hooked.

3) Seeing them play Wrigley August 20, 2018. Because it was Wrigley.

JOEJOEJOE

After being a fan for 33 years, I can only generalize my top moments:

• Meeting my (now) wife at a show in 2006
• Being backstage at a hand full of shows

• Meeting some great friends

• Being in the first few rows at many shows based on my 10C number

• Seeing some great opening bands

and of course, the music!

reedrothchild

1. The acoustic preset from Boston III 2003.  I don't think anyone expected it to be as good as it was. The other two Boston shows that year were also incredible but are all but forgotten for the most part.

2. The first 8 songs from Ottawa 2005.  Just absolute heat- still my favorite show attended. Wash>Go>Hail Hail>Animal>Brain of J> Immortality>In Hiding>Don't Gimme No Lip.

3. Great Woods 8/29/00.  First show. Mind blown. Hooked ever since.

4. Alone and I've Got Feeling from 9/29/2004- 10 year gap and really thought neither would ever be played again. 

5. Hartford 2013- prior to this I was losing interest (though still hitting 2-3 shows/year) as the shows from 2008-2012 were mostly subpar imo.  2013 showed me they could still bring it- and Hartford 2013 had it all for me.

Loujoe

Yep on #5. Ain't talking bout love, save you, f..king up. Crowd was LOUD. I was behind the stage and woah!!

reedrothchild

Loujoe said:

Yep on #5. Ain't talking bout love, save you, f..king up. Crowd was LOUD. I was behind the stage and woah!!

Yeah I could not believe how loud that crowd was- love that tiny little dump of an arena haha.

Loujoe

1 catch with Eddie at Fenway!

2 imagining a kapow pick finding me. 2012 Missoula hand off from the stage after off he goes.

3 msg 2 2010. Really started my PJ addiction. Then really all shows and the cool people I've met over the years. Been out of the live game for a while. Now (waste) spend most of my time here

tschav

1. Hot Stove Cool Music 2017 - was front and center (see profile pic). Lots of great moments from that show, but Eddie breaking the 4th wall at a show to give me a beer was something was incredibly surreal.
2. PJ20 weekend - Overall weekend experience from the museum to the posters to side stage appearances earlier in the day to somehow seeing the Strokes/QotSA/Pearl Jam with a little TotD was mind blowing. First time solo traveling for a show that turned into a regular thing.
3. 10C Show, Vic 2007 - EV solo, debut of "All the Way," setlist was built for fans, smallest venue I've seen the full band perform

Honorable mentions - '05 HoB Katrina benefit (with Robert Plant), 2016 Wrigley shows (first GA campout), Ohana 2021 (6 EV/PJ performances in a span of 10 days)

Vitalogensia

1.  Being on the rail for Charlottesville 2013, first time up so close, and roughly eight miles from the bedroom I started listening to Pearl Jam in. An incredible experience.

2. Europe 2018 trip, Prague-Krakow-Berlin.  First time I ever left North America, and besides being great shows, the experience of meeting diehard fans from different walks of life while seeing other cities and cultures was such an inspiring joy.

3.  A little less direct, but the hours of listening to Pearl Jam in the aforementioned bedroom, from 1993 to 2000, for all the years before I got to see them live.  Every new album, every CD single, the $50 bootlegs I scored at music stores, and cracking them all up louder than my parents and siblings would've preferred.  That is where I fell in love with the music, where the band became part of me.  Seeing the boys live is a thrill of course, but the magic for me was when the closest I could get to Pearl Jam was through the linear notes and speakers.  I miss those moments at times.  

100 Pacer

In chronological order:

1. 2003 Benaroya Hall
2. 2006 Grand Rapids
3. 2007 Vic Theatre

ST66483

Also in chronological order. 

1. Barrie 1998 - first show. The opener was Corduroy, which opened up a massive pit. The opening line of the”The waiting drove me mad” seemed perfect, as I’d been waiting a number of years to see them. Great first show.
2. PJ 20 concerts and film premieres in Toronto 2011. Neil Young sat a few seats away from us at the 2nd screening, and his appearance at Toronto 1 for RITFW was amazing. I’d been a Neil fan since before my PJ fandom so getting to see them both on stage together was great.
3. Lincoln 2014 - great show full of some fun personal memories for me.

SVRDhand13

Love reading everyone’s responses- keep it up! 

I almost did five but didn’t want people scrambling to finish their list, so post however many you want. 

Adding to my list:

PJ20 (felt like a true celebration) 
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction (another huge party) 

seanwon

Hearing Release finally for the 1st time at my 13th show, Worcester I 2013

MSG 2 2010

Hartford 2013

tusevun

1. 1st show rvm stoned as fuck.
2. Toledo 04
3. Probably the VS show

RS151862

1. The countless hours in my bedroom with headphones on listening to Ten, Vs., Vitalogy, a mix tape of b-sides, Atlanta show on tape, Soldier Field show on tape, 95 Milwaukee show on tape with Little Wing. 

2. Pittsburgh 98 finally seeing them live

3. Philly 10 show, Seattle 2013, Apollo Theatre

Hurls15

1- Toronto CNE 1993- along with Neil, Soundgarden and others.  First PJ concert. Intense energy with new tracks Go and Animal right off the top.  Learned the power of the live experience. 

2- Atlanta Fox Theatre 1994- I was not there (I wish), but it is still a great memory that sticks out in my mind to this day. Close friends gathered around a nice stereo, hanging on every note playing.  Going to school the next day and everyone talking about what they heard the night before. It was a remember where you were event. Sadly I don't think that kids today have as many of those communal music experiences.

3- so many great concerts over the years with old friends and new.  Tough choice. 2005 Canadian tour shows, up front in GA in Hamilton 2022 and Austin 2023 shows get honourable mentions. The Toronto 9/11/11 show alongside the PJ20 film release at Toronto film festival gets the nod.  Amazing show. 

maverick

The five shows in Italia 2006 backpacking around a beautiful country I knew I would want to return to again and again.  Release in Verona in the rain. Go in Milano (my favorite version). Avocado front to back in Torino.  Black in Torino and Pistoia. On the rail in Bologna for #50.  So so hot in there.  

Randall’s Island night 2, 1996.  First PJ concert.  Didn’t realize at the time how it would affect my life. Decades and 100+ shows later, having met and maintained meaningful friendships with people from anll around the world.  Have been to so many cool places.  Lifelong memories. 

The crowds at Philly 3, 2009 and MSG 2, 2010.  My hearing is not what it once was, but those were the two most memorable loud crowds / incredible shows I’ve been fortunate to attend.  Nothingman MSG and In Hiding Philly Spectrum stand out in my memory.  

London 2018. Ed handing me his guitar pick after playing a song he wrote about his divorce (Parting Ways) when I was in the midst of mine, on my then wife’s birthday. You can’t make that shit up. 

The 3 shows at the Gorge and hearing Hard To Imagine (favorite song) for the first time at the 2005 show. The Gorge and Arena di Verona are my two favorite venues.  

Hampton 2016. Had my stepson on rail in front of Mike (per his request) and Mike handing me his guitar pick at the end of RVM. Mike was on the little block between the stage and rail just in front of me.  When the jam at the end of RVM started, I just closed my eyes and got lost in the music while he was a foot or two in front of me.  When the song ended I opened my eyes and he put it into my hand I think saying this is for you.  

BrainofBGA

1. Light Years - Melbourne Night 2 2024
Took a chance and made a request via the forum for the band to play Light Years for a great friend’s Mum who had recently passed. The request was for night one (they were at the show) but they played it a show late as mentioned by Ed at the show. Anyway, they played the request and my mate and his family still to this day can’t believe they actually played it. Immortalised on the boot. 

The set was great and for a Monday night the crowd was huge! The second of two memorable nights. I didn’t think night one (after 10 years) could be topped but it was. 

2. Listening to Melbourne (show 3) 1998 Triple J radio broadcast. 

Back when they broadcast shows on the radio. This will go down as one of their best and often bootlegged. I recorded it to cassette and played it in the car until I wore out the tape. My favourite Immortality was played at this show along with great versions of In My Tree, Faithful, I Got ID, DTE, StBC, Even Flow…amongst many others. 

3. Melbourne (show 1) 1998
My first ever show. Had a pretty good seat up on Stone’s side. A great set, a great crowd. I’ll never forget the pit bouncing up and down during DTE and Animal after a beautiful Long Road to open. 

Frogmen invade Melbourne Park! I was sold and have never looked back. 

Thank you! 

RatherStarved

I am sure there are more than three but here are three:

Miami 2016 - Corduroy opener - instantly transforms the arena into a ball of energy 
 
Wrigley Two 2018 - Immortality into Daughter/It’s OK into Unthought Known into Jeremy

Asbury Park 2021 - DOTC opener - first show in 3 years as well as first show post Covid (or during Covid as the case may be!) - was surreal to be at a PJ show after all the shutdowns made it seem like we may never get another show

lastexitlondon

There are way too many.
Thanks o p , got me off in dream world of reminiscing. A place I welcome more than ever.

HailHailVitalogy

I think my favorite moments of being a fan are the moments that transcend my admiration of the band. I’ve had moments where they’ve disappointed me. But every single time they come back and blow me away. The other moments are the verbal interactions, hand gestures, and eye contact with the band members especially Ed. I had a few moments this past tour that mean the world to me. 

But the clear defining moment as a fan for me was….

MSG 2 2010 - Shows #21 and #22 for me and my first shows going solo. I was 21 years old and had friends making fun of me for liking PJ so much in HS and college. I always thought, they didn’t get it. The spectrum shows in 2009 were out of control, but I was coming off Bristow 2010 and skipping Boston for a college final (biggest regret). I was starting to lose interest in the band. Last time they played MSG wasn’t so great. Am I forcing myself to like Backspacer? Why was I going by myself to sit in the 300s? After the first night I thought to myself, this is the band I remember! 

I was staying at a friend’s house on the Island. We had plans for weeks to go party the next night. Broke the news to him that I had a ticket for the next night. I wasn’t sure if I was going to go, but the first night made me want to go. Man, the rest of that night and the morning after everyone was just giving me shit for going to see PJ again.

Night 2 happens. Out of body experience for me and everyone in that building. Only a few shows have given me that feeling. Some shows have had those moments, but this was from start to finish. As a huge Rangers fan, I never felt the building move like that. I agreed with Ed, who’s skinning cats? Forget how loud the crowd was, and the atmosphere from another galaxy….the performance by the band was incredible. I felt so bad for anyone who didn’t have this in their lives. This wasn’t the band I remembered. This was the best band to ever fucking do it. 

My resume is pretty good…but THAT was the moment that got me to where I am today 😆 

PS:
Top 5(6) shows - MSG 2 2010, Gorge 2005, Krakow 2018, Philly 3 2009, MSG 1&2 2003

Zod

1) Missoula '98. My first headlining real Pearl Jam show (I had seen them once before at Lolla in Vancouver '92).  That was the old days without cell phones and mosh pits.   If you went with a buddy you had to make a meeting point to reconnect as pits were a bit chaotic.   Anyways some how I ended up crowd surfing at the very end to yellow ledbetter, then spotted my buddy doing same thing, and we surfed up to the rail together.  Lol.   I so wish that show got released on soundboard.

2) Gorge 2005.  My all time favourite PJ show of all the PJ shows I've attended.   So fucking good.

3) The Binaural Tour.  It's the only time I've really followed the band around for a few dates.  Usually it's Vancouver and/or Seattle.    This time we had added on portlant to both seattle shows, it got cancelled, we moved our fan club tickets to Boise, then Portland was reannounced so we bought those too, and followed the band for the last 4 shows of the tour.   Boise was my absolutely most favourite PJ show until 2005.

Honourable Mentions:  

Seattle 2018:  For some reason when they kicked into Nothingman, I knew we were in for a special evening. I had this feeling come over me, like holy shit their bringing their AAA game tonight.  Not sure why a song not entirely uncommon gave me that feeling, but I knew we were in for a ride.  What a fucking show.

Commodore 2000:  This was the only time I saw them play in a bar.  Won tickets of the radio after excessively trying.   The commodore's floor, it was specially made with some kind of layer underneath which was rumoured to be tennis balls, that gives the floor extra bounce.   Damn, that was a good time.

lastexitlondon

Going solo to shows in g.a is something I wish I did earlier. 
It gave me so many friends and so much excitement without having to worry about who I was meant to be with .
 A freedom I recommend 

Spunkie

1. Getting lostexitlondon into the London pre-album release listening party to smuggle out Dark Matter lyrics. -"Holy shitballs spunkie! It is king of diamonds!"

2. Glowgirl getting a harp. Did you hum us all a new tune, yet?

3. Befriending the ever gracious and geniusly humourous Hedo; meeting 10C friends Down Under and feeling part of this unique community; when 100Pacer got me GA for Jeff's showcase last year (even tho I couldn't go); and when Chadwick stuck up for me threatening manslaughter

4. Getting in the ring for a catfight back in the day when this new board forum changed around '04. Shave my eyebrows when I sleep, you say? I'm going to pull out your pussy hairs one by one!

5. Ohana 21: RITFW lyrical amendment by Corin Tucker to promote women's freedom of reproductive rights. Plus my kid felt pretty damn special rocking along with the tambo. Plus the Vedders charity for EB released that footage. Plus after the lockdown rocking in a free world had a whole new meaning.

Honourable mention: When Ed passed me his pick after his first ever live Dark Matter set, there was a little more than magic in that touch.

It's already been sung but it can't be said enough: All you need is love.

Robbert

lastexitlondon said:

Going solo to shows in g.a is something I wish I did earlier. 
It gave me so many friends and so much excitement without having to worry about who I was meant to be with .
 A freedom I recommend 

Exactly