My moment with Ed at Mansfield II
BlackCorduroy
Posts: 1,374
Well this probably won’t seem nearly as cool to other people as some of the other amazing stories on here, but I thought I’d share anyway and hopefully I can convey how special it was to me.
Last night was my 5th show this tour and 11th total (nothing compared to most people but I think it's pretty good for being 18) and I was luckily enough to be in about the 12th row in section 2. It was even closer than most row 12’s because of the venue and the way it was curved.
During Alive, Eddie walked over to the edge of the stage right in front of me and kind of squatted down. He put his hands over his eyes and gazed into the crowd. I was going absolutely nuts during that song (and the whole show) and all of a sudden Eddie and I made eye contact. My first reaction was to wave, and right away Eddie smiled and waved back. As soon as he did that my heart started racing and my legs felt like jello. I was smiling so wide and even though I knew he was waving at me I couldn’t believe what was happening. So I waved back again even more enthusiastically and he started laughing and mimicking my wave and made a face like “Yes, I’m waving at you.” I’m not sure why I did this, but I was still just so shocked and couldn’t believe that Eddie Vedder, the singer of the band who changed my life in countless ways, and I were interacting. I pointed at myself and made a dorky motion like- ME!?!?! Eddie laughed even harder and shook his head to signal “yes!” He gave me one more wave and walked back toward the other side of the stage.
What I remember most about it was how genuine Eddie’s smile was the entire time and how even through 10 or so rows of people, we made such deep eye contact. He seemed like he really wanted me to know that he was waving at me. Even though we didn’t actually talk and the entire encounter was maybe 10 seconds, I will never forget any of it. I NEVER sit down at PJ shows but after it happened I had to for a few seconds just to digest it.
Anyway, It was just the best way to end an amazing month. I just graduated high school, went on vacation for a bit, and followed pearl jam for 5 dates. The whole week I had the time of my life and met a bunch of really cool people and saw some old friends. Cannot fucking wait until next tour
Last night was my 5th show this tour and 11th total (nothing compared to most people but I think it's pretty good for being 18) and I was luckily enough to be in about the 12th row in section 2. It was even closer than most row 12’s because of the venue and the way it was curved.
During Alive, Eddie walked over to the edge of the stage right in front of me and kind of squatted down. He put his hands over his eyes and gazed into the crowd. I was going absolutely nuts during that song (and the whole show) and all of a sudden Eddie and I made eye contact. My first reaction was to wave, and right away Eddie smiled and waved back. As soon as he did that my heart started racing and my legs felt like jello. I was smiling so wide and even though I knew he was waving at me I couldn’t believe what was happening. So I waved back again even more enthusiastically and he started laughing and mimicking my wave and made a face like “Yes, I’m waving at you.” I’m not sure why I did this, but I was still just so shocked and couldn’t believe that Eddie Vedder, the singer of the band who changed my life in countless ways, and I were interacting. I pointed at myself and made a dorky motion like- ME!?!?! Eddie laughed even harder and shook his head to signal “yes!” He gave me one more wave and walked back toward the other side of the stage.
What I remember most about it was how genuine Eddie’s smile was the entire time and how even through 10 or so rows of people, we made such deep eye contact. He seemed like he really wanted me to know that he was waving at me. Even though we didn’t actually talk and the entire encounter was maybe 10 seconds, I will never forget any of it. I NEVER sit down at PJ shows but after it happened I had to for a few seconds just to digest it.
Anyway, It was just the best way to end an amazing month. I just graduated high school, went on vacation for a bit, and followed pearl jam for 5 dates. The whole week I had the time of my life and met a bunch of really cool people and saw some old friends. Cannot fucking wait until next tour
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congrats on graduating :-)
Whatever you are, be a good one --Lincoln
"To question your government is not unpatriotic --
to not question your government is unpatriotic."
-- Sen. Chuck Hagel
Dude, that was totally special and I'm so happy for you! That would be one of my life's highlights if it ever happened to me! Stories like yours make me really happy about the band (and Eddie in particular!)
I'm a girl:p but thanks so much for the kind words. This will definitely be a major highlight for me:D
I'm much much older than you and back in the day when ED and the boys were NOT so friendly and happy on stage (early 90's) I took a chance and waved at Eddie from a very close seat. He waved back which totally shocked me because at the time, he was hating his fame. I looked at my then husband and he confirmed that ED had just waved back at me. Wow, the insanity.
I'm so happy for you
The best expression of Love is Time.
The best time to Love is Now.
I'm never as good as when you're there.........
You got to spend it all
i didn't get a wave but a smile.
i'll never forget it for the rest of my life.
oh lindsay, wasn't it great? .........that feeling.
here's a part of my front row review.
'I think it was during Alive when Ed walked over and was right in front of me. Oh, he had a Who shirt on….kickass…ties in with my Magic Bus plate frame on my van. His mic wouldn’t reach so he dropped it. He walked passed me. People were rushing the stage. Scary but I didn’t notice. I was leaning over far because damn Brian was in the way. Ha! The exact moment where I looked around Brian is when Ed smiled at me. On top of that I was so stoked I didn’t go all CP-ish. I was smiling pretty, I could feel it. Brian wouldn’t lie to me, so a few minutes later I asked him if Ed looked at me. He confirmed it.
Ok, I won’t deny it, Ed is old, but I swear when he smiles the age disappears and it is the cutest thing ever! He’s so intense. He may not climb the rafters anymore, but that same energy is still there.
At one point Brian was trying to call attention to me by pointing at me for Ed to toss me a tambourine. I thought that was sweet of Brian.'
oh what the hell........
here's the Mike part too.
'I wasn’t on Mike’s side, which bummed me out. Just an enie weenie bit. I did catch Stone doing his neck bob. I think it’s call the Stony Pony by the fans. He did have a beard but it couldn’t hide his smile he beamed a couple times through the show. It seemed real fast after Ed smiled at me that Mike cross to my side and threw one of his picks at me. Did Ed mention to Mike to do that? I’m delusional, I know. As he threw his pick this guy reached right in front of my face to try to catch it. He hit my nose. Then I felt somebody’s elbow go right into the top of my head. Ok, bouncers poor job! None of those things hurt though because I was so pumped. Brian was down on his hands and knees trying to find the pick. I was doing my nonstop nervous anxiety giggling thing. There was no way we were going to end up with the pick. But lo and behold this guy found it and handed it to us. I think I remember looking back at the guy that had hit my nose and he told me he was sorry. That pick look like it was headed straight down my shirt if he hadn’t blocked it. heehehe! Mike got in my shirt. Ha! The Pick is yellow. A different dog on each side, with Mike’s name. Maybe his pets? I want to thank that guy for finding it for me. Mike, your fans are the best........I got the pick!'
does the excitement ever end? hehehe
I also made hand contact at Jones Beach '00. And being usually 2nd or 3rd row, eye conatct numerous times.
Highlights of my life, the loser that I am.
i'm glad you shared your story too.
199xxx
I think you're in the right place- I dare anyone to say they couldn't give a crap if Ed acknowledges them! Heck- I was halfway back on the side in DC and Ed did the shading his eyes thing and it felt like he was looking right at me. Well, me and the other 200 people in front of me, but....
But seriously, I have been close enough to get eye contact and there is something very special about it. Congrats!
You are U, who you are.
yes:D its incredible
EV
Boston 1
guess what?
i found it on you tube!
wish it was bigger thou.....
starts around 2:55
YOU CAN SEE MIKES ARM GO UP AS HE TOSSES IT TO ME! if you zoom in.
3:31 here's a screen cap http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/blondieblue227/concert/pj08/throw.jpg
he must be a pro at tossing picks. hehehe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stQRpPT3DrY
I would die if I had a video of my moment haha. I found a video I thought might have it but I think it started just after it happened.
That's an awesome story though! I don't mean to come in and ruin your story or anything, but something crazy happened with me and Ed in the DC show as well. I won the 10c lottery and got front row seats, sec 2 right in front of Ed. Of course I was going nuts the whole time. It was my brother's first show, and he's not a huge fan so he was just enjoying the show. At one point Eddie is looking around to see who to give his guitar pick to. He usually throws it out to people, but my brother pointed at me.
So Eddie looks at me, then gets down on his knees and starts reaching over the stage to try to personally hand it to me. I freak out and I'm like hanging over the bar trying to reach his hand. Ed's about to fall over and he's too far, so the security guard just takes the pick and gives it to me. Then Ed just gets up and smiles.
Was probably the best moment in my life, lol...
i freaking can't believe i found that.
youtube is da shit. lol
sweet!
my guy was point at me to get a tambourine, but gotta a mike pick instead.
.
That's such a cool story too. I wonder if Ed realizes how the littlest interaction can be something we will never forget:)
So did you just graduate high school too?
i saw that!!! i saw him doing exactly that during that show and i didnt know why he was doing that, and now i know why! i was sitting sec 1, 8th row so i was close enough to see it happen. just so you know, it wasn't a dream and really did happen
eV: 8/4/08, 8/5/08, 6/21/11
SG: 10/4/08<-- MET STONE!!!
Ah! that makes me so happy to hear someone else confirm it:p Thanks so much:D
"Ok, I won’t deny it, Ed is old, but I swear when he smiles the age disappears and it is the cutest thing ever! He’s so intense. He may not climb the rafters anymore, but that same energy is still there."
Did somebody just call Eddie Vedder old?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!!?
Bonnaroo 2008, MSG June 24, The Beacon July 1, 2008 (Robin Hood Rocks)
United Palace Theatre August 5, 2008, NJPAC August 7, 2008 (EV Solo)
Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA June 11, 2009 (My Birthday!), June 12
The Spectrum Oct 27, 30, 31, 2009
The Rock, May 18,(Front Row Center), MSG May 20, 21 2010
The best expression of Love is Time.
The best time to Love is Now.
I'm never as good as when you're there.........