*** San Francisco II Fanviews 7/16 Here ***

Sunday night at the Graham was absolutely, unequivocally sick. A definite boot for my collection. The playlist stretch from Insignificance thru RVM, despite the absence of any of my favorite songs in it, may have been the most incredible straighaway run of songs I've ever heard them play. All of the avocado album tunes were solid, too. Leash (my first) was off the charts. The chemistry up there was smooth and the fellas were amped.

And Veddernarian, the dynamite rendition of In My Tree was indeed an Emerson, Lake & Palmer version but with less emphasis on Matt's percussion than the version in Live At The Garden '03.

Eddie did actually start singing 'Somtimes' before he flopped, going silent and noticeably trying his darndest to find the lyrics from deep within before abandoning the song all together with a laugh. He was hilarious when he apologized later on. Other than that, for the 1st set, Eddie seemed like he had possibly been in Sonoma/Napa all day and ignored the spit jars if you know what I mean. His voice was hoarse and raspy for the first few songs and he just seemed exhausted. He was also chain smoking and I even noticed him sort of trip on the top of the stairs on his way back onstage for Set 2. He miraculoulsy got super psyched towards the end of Set 1 until the end of the night . . . maybe attributed to the fine Napa Cabernet he was pounding. Don't mean to knock Eddie as much as pay tribute to his resilience. The dude is remarkable and loved being up there with the Avengers. He also came over to Mike's side and sat indian style on the furthermost left tower amp and just smiled at everyone before bowing in deference to all of his adoring fans. God bless Edward.

I took advantage of the opportunity to watch from the McCready (left) side this time since my tickets almost always find their way to the Stone side or in the back. I was lucky enough to rock a cozy spot about 20 ft from Mike soon after the early 10C admission. For those of you going Tues, I actually got in at 6:30, bought a poster, purchased a tasty pizza and Heineken and still managed to secure this unforgettable spot up close. Crowd was very diverse, balanced, chill and pumped with the exception of 1 wasted roid-raged sh!thead who pushed through and was looking for a fight. Thankfully, he voluntarily barrelled his way back to the dark, stinky outskirts from where he originated. I helped block him from running over these 2 lovely girls and it apparently earned me some points. I'm a sucker for adorable 10C girls. Yeahhh.

Mike was electric and it was truly a joy to watch he and Jeff so close. Mike ran around, occasionally in circles, and interacted with the crowd constantly. Jeff can jump really well. Only thing better than standing right under their noses was meeting them both afterward! Right after the show, I hung out in the back of the Graham with about 50 other dedicated and perhaps psychotic fans to greet the suspected passengers of 4 black 'Virgin Limo' minibuses that were parked there. Sure enough, Matt came out with an entourage of PJ tour staff girls but set aside a very brief period of time to say hi to our huddled group on the barricade and signed a few tickets. Jeff emerged soon after and hung out for what seemed like forever. He signed crap, including my ticket, and talked to EVERYONE waiting there and even talked some Redsox baseball. Mike appeared next with a classic "Well what do ya know, it's the great Jeff Ayyyyy-ment over here!" He too signed everyone's stuff, including my very popular ticket, and rapped with everyone on the railing. They were all class acts and I felt so fortunate to support a band that appreciates and respects its fans as much as its fans dig them. Great PJ experience.

I got a feelin' in my bones that they'll bust out Release, LBC, Lowlight, Down, Baba on Tues night and I can't wait to be there, jaw dropped, when they do.

Big shout outs to my boy Oz from San Jose, whom I provided a ticket, excitable Adam from Denver, his pal Dave from NY/LA and the two gorgeous girls in front of me who I took pictures for with their disposable kodak . . . you all rock!!

BTW, Sonic Youth was en fuego. Just spectacular. Tuesday nighters, make sure you're there in time to see them.

wonder cheese wrote:

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/wonderch33se/idiot2-1.jpg

this photo is proof that frank zappa is indeed still with us (note lower right side of picture).

Drifting!!! Nice!!!!

I am jealous of that as an opener! I LOVE that song!!!!!!!

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What’s a Fanview?

A FanView is an exclusive Message Pit thread for fans that attend a concert and want to share their experience with fans that could not.

Does a FanView need to be certain length?

No, your FanView can be one word “AWESOME,” a few lines or a short story.

What if I’m not a great speller or the best at grammar?

Don’t worry about this, do the best you can.

I have a couple incredibly interesting comments on the show -- but I wasn’t there -- should I go ahead and post them here anyway?

No, this thread is reserved for the lucky fans that attend the concert.

I need to ask a question about the concert -- but I wasn’t there -- Should I ask it here?

No, I’m trying for pure Fanviews from the fans who were there.

A FanView can include but is not limited to such things as your description of Pearl Jams set, the opening bands set, what it took or how you got to the show, how was the pre-party, what did you do after the show, how did you feel?

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Corduroyboy wrote:

The front row was awesome on Mike's side Sat. night. Of course you had the asshole bum rushers, but overall it was awesome. Tight and sweaty, but awesome. Tonight, right between Eddie and Stone. I have a new appreciation for the word COMPRESSION! Physics in college didn't teach me shit compared to what I learned tonight. Stone's side was NUTS! My body is paying for it right now. But by far, one of the top nights of my life. The setlist was so great. The band is so cohesive. You just see that they too are loving it. 1 more show to go and I'm so sad to see Leg 2 over with. I bought extra Kleenex for the Gorge.

My wife and I tried Mike's side on Saturday night. We were about 5 rows back and we only made it through WWS. Half way through Save You some idiots tried to push there way up front. We just decided it was better to get out then before it really got ugly. It looked like things calmed down though as the show went on. That was the only bummer on a great weekend. I think Sunday had the much better crowd. Looking forward to Tuesday when we'll get Black, Porch, Jeremy, Immortaility and hopefully some more Yield.

Wow, amazing setlist. I think I"m going to have to download that one

All I can say is wow. Absolutely incredible. The first night I was about 6 rows back (if there were seats) and didn't think I'd get any closer than that. Even though I caught a pick from Mike that night. Thanks Mike!!!

Last night, about 4 rows back, same side, right in front of Jeff. When Ed came out to sing Last Kiss it just blew my mind. He was right there, less than 10 feet away. That to go along with In My Tree, Lukin, Garden, Leash, Blood. Just unbelievable. Now I'm back at work on 3 hours of sleep after this crazy weekend, just waiting til Tuesday to go back and do it all over again. But this time I'm hitting the balcony, my body has taken a beating these past 2 days.

has anyone had luck meeting the band in SF so far? what time did you see them if you were hanging around by the tour buses? I saw a long line of buses on the side of the venue, and then one lone bus behind the venue.. but the security guard wouldn't say if they would be coming out either exit (of course) and i didn't feel like waiting around all night.. strangely, i saw no fans waiting either.

After seeing both shows in the LA Forum and now seeing them in the Bill Graham Civic center I can honestly say that my experience with PJ this tour has been nothing short of memorable. This show SF 2 was special to me for more than one reason, I was on the floor in about the 3rd row in front of Mike to the right side near Ed. I met some real neat people down in the trenches. Sure we had our share of bum rushers from behind but like true vets we just held our ground and protected the ones around us. It was like family down there. Smelly, sweaty, and bumpy, just like we like it! The show was great with some real hidden jems on the menu, blood! wow! RVM was great too. Who can deny the Alive!?! Ed really feels the crowd and he sure looks ALIVE. I think we give him more than he gives us! A true exchange.
I remember his mike cut out a few times and we just sang along and he was cool with it. I remember looking at Mike and he was laughing at Ed cause his mike was out when he was on the speakers on the left side. But as is the case we just rocked it out for him. Ed seemed very real, missing that opening song was classic and I'll never forget it. He said it was the first time in the history of PJ that he has forgotten the opening song, and that they never just stopped. Hey....Hard core fans, buy this bootleg for the comments, you'll love it.
Mike was throwing his picks out as he always does, I had one hit my chest and bounce off my hand and then off my shades which were hanging on my neck collar. The pick hit the floor and Matthew bent over and grabbed it. He said he had my back! I was waiting to grab another pick but alas, to no avail. After the show Matthew asked me if I got a pick, I said, "no I didn't get one, I'm bummed." Matthew gave me the one that hit me and fell to the floor! I want to say Matthew, you ROCK!!! I had a great time! I'd go into the pit and any other PJ show with you anytime!!! You have the content of what every PJ fan should hope to have, Character counts and you brother have it. MUCH RESPECT!!! When the band tours next time, let's hang and rock out!
The LA shows were huge 17,000 plus and the shows were full of energy. I can say the the SF show was more intimate and it just felt like family. I wish I were going to the Gorge.
I'd like to leave the people with this note, thanks to you all of you who were down in my section row 3 floor just to the right of Mike, you all made this show special to me. To the dude who was taking pictures with his new Cannon, with the girlfriend, you were fun to hang with with....did your girlfriend get Ed's tamberine? To the couple behind me, wasn't that dude in front of and to your right wierd, with his shaking. You all made me feel as part of your circle of friends. I was solo with my friend up in the balcony and I was worried that I wouldn't have anyone to hang with. You all fixxed that. I will never forget you all. This was a great experience for me!

See you all next show....where ever it is!
Until then,
Tony