16 years ago today...

I WISH I had been there...I was 13 at the time, I probably could have gone if I'd asked my parents, but I didn't know about it until it was too late. Judging from the bootleg, I'll bet it was an amazing show.

iamica wrote:

I WISH I had been there...I was 13 at the time, I probably could have gone if I'd asked my parents, but I didn't know about it until it was too late. Judging from the bootleg, I'll bet it was an amazing show.

Same with me...I was 12 at the time and my obsession with PJ was still a few years away...

demetrios wrote:

Soldier Field, ah ... , a place where I wanted PJ20 to happen. Where the band(s) could of played in the middle of the field. Oh well.

That would have been pretty nice huh?

That just happened to be my second PJ show - the first one was 2 days earlier at Summerfest - when Ed came out dressed in that ridiculous sequin suit during the Frogs set...

I was actually just reminiscing about all of this with my fiance - as we attended Summerfest 2011 last weekend.

Memories...

I was there!! Ahhh....

It was my first time seeing PJ. I had no frame of reference going in so far as the quality of a given show. I had been to a handful of concerts, and always had a good time.

But Pearl Jam obliterated my sense of "good," and set the bar for what I then new was possible for a band to pull off on stage. I was ruined for shit bands for life!

My god, the energy!! It was astounding. My friend and I (and our moms 8-) ) were in the seats beyond the end zone. I remember we rented binoculars, and ripped them from each others' hands all night.

It was heaven.

Cue the boot!

I was there and just connected tonight with my best friend who I shared it with after I sent him a text about it being 16 years ago. I bring it up to him every year on the date. I was 20 and it was my second PJ show ever. (My first was a few months earlier at the Voters For Choice show in DC with Uncle Neil and L7). We drove up from my school Miami U. in Oxford, Ohio. We partied super hard in the lot and it was the most gorgeous classic summertime sunshine day in Chicago. We were able to score tickets in the lot. We drank a ton, smoked a ton, ate some good boomers and were overjoyed to flow out onto the field. I remember they had rubber interlocking grid pieces down to protect the field. After a great set by Bad Religion, I remember standing off to the side on Stone's side about thirty yards from the stage. As the epic Release began, I remember turning around to my friend and saying our goodbye as we both drifted into the center of the swelling pit to begin our shared yet separate journeys. It was the most fun I've ever had at a show and is still my most favorite day of my life. It was a really active pit and had some super rough swells during a lot of intense moments, esp. in the beginning with Go, Last Exit and SpinTBC. I remember working my way up to dead center but still 15 yards or so from the rail and being behind a bigger guy that offered great pit protection, ha. The funniest moment was during Everyday People when I noticed the all big security guards behind the rail had locked up arms on shoulders and were swinging back and forth to the song. Ed's speech about it being a great day and wishing he had a bazooka to take down a plane (or helicopter?) that was tuggin an ad banner and "fuckin up the view." I remember getting to smoke 3 Js during and loving the slow song opportunity of Black to hit one near the end to take it all in. I remember turning around to look over my right shoulder and there was the biggest bright full Moon hovering just over the last rows. I think Ed made mention of it too. Then Ed went beserk Townshend style on his axe during the end of Blood. It was awesome to watch but then got really scary as he began tossing the remnants into the pit which just sent everyone into a frenzy for a chance to grab a souvenir. I had long hair then and I had taken my fave Beastie Boys hat off and had it in front of me in my hands. Something that Ed threw landed right near me and a fan had reached over and grabbed my hat. They were pulling at it hard to pry from my hands and I was screaming, "it's my hat, it's my hat!" haha. Classic Ledbetter sent us on our way. Reunited on the side with my friend and we were both completely in dumbstruck awe and were left speechless by it. There were plenty of Deadheads to party with pre and post show with their nitrous balloons. Of course most know that those were the last Dead shows ever that past weekend with Jerry passing in August. Little did I know as I was able to sneak in through the fence at Deer Creek the week before. (Which led to the canceling of the second night at Deer Creek). I wasn't able to get a place to stay despite having family in Chicago. So we drove back and eventually found a hotel in Michigan off the highway heading east back to drop my friend off the next day in Toledo. I remember being approached by a Deadhead couple at a gas station the next morning. They begged to bum a ride and we threw them in the back. I popped in a live Dead show on tape and on we rolled to Toledo with them snoozing in the back. I still am of the opinion that it was PJ's best show ever due to it being early in their career when they were hard to get in to see, having a pit, being in Ed's hometown in such a huge classic venue on a beautiful day and night.

Peace to All Jammers!

given2fly23 wrote:

Soldier Field. Such amazing memories of the first concert I ever went to (of any band). It's been an amazing 16 years since.

Were you there?

One of my favorite boots ever!!!!