Why are certain songs played live?

pjpitt89

I guess what I'm really asking is: Do you think the guys feel obligated to play certain songs at shows? I know they switch up the setlists night after night (which i wish every band would do) but for the most part they will always play a majority of the following: even flow, evolution, corduroy, alive, daughter, betterman.

Now, do you think they feel like they HAVE to play them? Or do they really just enjoying playing them night after night? I think specifically of the last Seattle show in 2000 when eddie said something like "one year and ill never have to play this fucking song again" during even flow. what do you think?

Stephen Flow

I think that there's an understanding there that the majority of the people who are in attendance are probably going to see one show and are there to see them play some hits... so in wanting to please everyone in the audience they play some hits each night.

red mos

Well I think that bands that organize their set like pearl jam generally have a core set of songs each tour that get played every show. In PJ's case (Corduroy, Eflow,) are the most obvious, but I remember Smalltown being on the majority of 2003 setlist. I know there are many more in pj's catalog. I think the band may just like the energy they get from the crowd and the intensity of playing those certain songs live. Most of the every tour songs are staples and it just seems like they fit within the norm to be played most of the time.

Even though Pearl jam switch the order of the set each night to make it feel like a different et, there are often many repeats nightly in the sets, but it still feels different than say a Petty show or Tool show or Who show. Pj does an excellent job of adding B sides improvs and really cool covers here and there as well.