On the eve of the Sydney show, a recollection of the 1995 & the impact it had on me
I'm a bit nervous about posting this. Maybe you'll enjoy the read.
I started off with the intention to give a brief recollection of my first live Pearl Jam experience. What I've written has become a bit more than that. If you've taken the time to read this thank you!
Ever since Pearl Jam hit the Australian airwaves there were always rumours of a tour. The grunge scene and Pearl Jam's following was that big that there was a Pearl Jam cover band that would fill a venue like the Metro in Sydney. As you can imagine when it was announced Pearl Jam were coming to Australia back in 1994 it was massive news.
I had heard a rumour that people were camping out to buy tickets. This was up to 5 days before tickets were to go on sale! I took a stroll at the local shopping centre and sure enough there were a few guys sitting around in the parking lot. Sleeping bags, plastic foldout chairs were strewn around outside Grace Bros Ticketek. I had only just turned 15 and I knew I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to see Pearl Jam. I had heard the Live in Atlanta bootleg, seen their video clips from Ten and Vs and played songs from the first three albums every day since I had managed to borrow Ten on cassette from the local library.
The night before tickets went on sale I headed up to the shopping centre with a couple of mates and joined the queue. At this stage there may have only been 15 or so people. As darkness fell the queue became longer. There are some days and nights he never forget in your life and this is one of them. The notion of staying overnight to buy tickets to a concert sounds crazy in today's age. As 9 AM hit, tickets were being purchased and the queue was slowly moving. Three tickets were secured and in no more than 5 to 10 minutes Sydney's Entertainment Centre had sold out. It didn't matter that we were in the last row we were going to see Pearl Jam!
I had heard through a friend someone was selling their Eastern Creek ticket, which had also sold out. For a kid spending 40 bucks on one concert was a lot of money, let alone two gigs. I would have to mow eight lawns just to get enough money to do that. I'm not sure how I got the money together but I'm so thankful that I did.
There was nothing like seeing Pearl Jam that first time. Anticipation throughout the building reached fever pitch. When the lights dimmed and they walked on stage the reception was deafening. Go was the first song they played and the energy from from the stage was being passed on to the whole arena. Hearing those songs live that I had heard countless times on my beloved walkman is something I'll never forget. Eddie balanced the microphone stand on his chin during Blood. It was beyond my expectations. I was anticipating the same the next day at Eastern Creek. Prior to the Internet it was hard to learn anything about the band and their willingness to make each concert unique.
My mates and I had arrived early at Eastern Creek. We were definitely going to get up close. When gates opened people ran down to get front of stage. Before the Cosmic Psychos opened some guy had walked on stage with a guitar and started playing a song I had recognised from the radio. He sounded similar to Eddie I thought but looked different. People were murmuring, pointing but not everyone had made the connection. When the impersonator had removed his wig the surprise has been revealed. Eddie had performed the Hunters and Collectors classic Throw Your Arms Around Me. A song Ed has performed many times since
There was 32,000 that night at Eastern Creek. It was crazy up front for the time I was there. Too crazy for a slim 15-year-old. The show had to be stopped a couple of times due to people needing water. After a few songs I settled for somewhere a bit further back where I could enjoy myself. I recall Mike playing a solo sitting on Ed's shoulders, a guy climbing the rafters and just the raw power and emotion that comes through every Pearl Jam concert. It was fantastic to share that experience with two of my best mates. Two friends I still attend Pearl Jam concerts with to this day.
I'm extremely thankful I got to experience that Eastern Creek concert. Up close, jumping around amongst the chaos they called the 'mosh pit' in those days. Four months later I was to experience a life changing spinal injury that left me wheelchair-bound and hospitalised for a year. 1995 had changed my life in more ways than one. With music, friends and family I was able to confront and accept what had happened. Music and lyrics had new meaning. Hearing the chorus to Alive became life affirming. "You'll never be a Nothingman but soon you'll be a Better man" read a card from a friend.
I've seen my favourite band 15 times throughout the five times they visited our shores. Every concert in Sydney, a couple in Melbourne and one in Newcastle. Pearl Jam's music has become the soundtrack to my life. Of course I love many bands and artists but when lights go down and I hear that familiar strum, beat or unmistakable voice nothing else comes close.
Even though I'm a bit further away from the action at concerts than I would like to be these days the feeling is still there. That indescribable feeling that music gives. The music that Pearl Jam creates that no other band can replicate.
I've been fortunate enough to reiterate some of these feelings to Eddie upon a chance encounter. From the kid that borrowed Ten on cassette as a 13-year-old, to the 34-year-old man that bought Lightning Bolt on cd and vinyl, a lot has changed over the years. 1995 changed my life in more ways than one. Pearl Jam's music is still with me. The memories associated from those two concerts and many more after will last a lifetime.
I started off with the intention to give a brief recollection of my first live Pearl Jam experience. What I've written has become a bit more than that. If you've taken the time to read this thank you!
Ever since Pearl Jam hit the Australian airwaves there were always rumours of a tour. The grunge scene and Pearl Jam's following was that big that there was a Pearl Jam cover band that would fill a venue like the Metro in Sydney. As you can imagine when it was announced Pearl Jam were coming to Australia back in 1994 it was massive news.
I had heard a rumour that people were camping out to buy tickets. This was up to 5 days before tickets were to go on sale! I took a stroll at the local shopping centre and sure enough there were a few guys sitting around in the parking lot. Sleeping bags, plastic foldout chairs were strewn around outside Grace Bros Ticketek. I had only just turned 15 and I knew I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to see Pearl Jam. I had heard the Live in Atlanta bootleg, seen their video clips from Ten and Vs and played songs from the first three albums every day since I had managed to borrow Ten on cassette from the local library.
The night before tickets went on sale I headed up to the shopping centre with a couple of mates and joined the queue. At this stage there may have only been 15 or so people. As darkness fell the queue became longer. There are some days and nights he never forget in your life and this is one of them. The notion of staying overnight to buy tickets to a concert sounds crazy in today's age. As 9 AM hit, tickets were being purchased and the queue was slowly moving. Three tickets were secured and in no more than 5 to 10 minutes Sydney's Entertainment Centre had sold out. It didn't matter that we were in the last row we were going to see Pearl Jam!
I had heard through a friend someone was selling their Eastern Creek ticket, which had also sold out. For a kid spending 40 bucks on one concert was a lot of money, let alone two gigs. I would have to mow eight lawns just to get enough money to do that. I'm not sure how I got the money together but I'm so thankful that I did.
There was nothing like seeing Pearl Jam that first time. Anticipation throughout the building reached fever pitch. When the lights dimmed and they walked on stage the reception was deafening. Go was the first song they played and the energy from from the stage was being passed on to the whole arena. Hearing those songs live that I had heard countless times on my beloved walkman is something I'll never forget. Eddie balanced the microphone stand on his chin during Blood. It was beyond my expectations. I was anticipating the same the next day at Eastern Creek. Prior to the Internet it was hard to learn anything about the band and their willingness to make each concert unique.
My mates and I had arrived early at Eastern Creek. We were definitely going to get up close. When gates opened people ran down to get front of stage. Before the Cosmic Psychos opened some guy had walked on stage with a guitar and started playing a song I had recognised from the radio. He sounded similar to Eddie I thought but looked different. People were murmuring, pointing but not everyone had made the connection. When the impersonator had removed his wig the surprise has been revealed. Eddie had performed the Hunters and Collectors classic Throw Your Arms Around Me. A song Ed has performed many times since
There was 32,000 that night at Eastern Creek. It was crazy up front for the time I was there. Too crazy for a slim 15-year-old. The show had to be stopped a couple of times due to people needing water. After a few songs I settled for somewhere a bit further back where I could enjoy myself. I recall Mike playing a solo sitting on Ed's shoulders, a guy climbing the rafters and just the raw power and emotion that comes through every Pearl Jam concert. It was fantastic to share that experience with two of my best mates. Two friends I still attend Pearl Jam concerts with to this day.
I'm extremely thankful I got to experience that Eastern Creek concert. Up close, jumping around amongst the chaos they called the 'mosh pit' in those days. Four months later I was to experience a life changing spinal injury that left me wheelchair-bound and hospitalised for a year. 1995 had changed my life in more ways than one. With music, friends and family I was able to confront and accept what had happened. Music and lyrics had new meaning. Hearing the chorus to Alive became life affirming. "You'll never be a Nothingman but soon you'll be a Better man" read a card from a friend.
I've seen my favourite band 15 times throughout the five times they visited our shores. Every concert in Sydney, a couple in Melbourne and one in Newcastle. Pearl Jam's music has become the soundtrack to my life. Of course I love many bands and artists but when lights go down and I hear that familiar strum, beat or unmistakable voice nothing else comes close.
Even though I'm a bit further away from the action at concerts than I would like to be these days the feeling is still there. That indescribable feeling that music gives. The music that Pearl Jam creates that no other band can replicate.
I've been fortunate enough to reiterate some of these feelings to Eddie upon a chance encounter. From the kid that borrowed Ten on cassette as a 13-year-old, to the 34-year-old man that bought Lightning Bolt on cd and vinyl, a lot has changed over the years. 1995 changed my life in more ways than one. Pearl Jam's music is still with me. The memories associated from those two concerts and many more after will last a lifetime.
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I hope you enjoy tomorrow night, I can't wait for it
Eddie Vedder Tribute Videos - Playlist
The EDvolution of Dance: youtu.be/-HtF3gRYHnE
eddievedderhallpass.tumblr.com
I remember camping out in the Grace Brothers carpark to buy tickets for the Entertainment Center too. That was the best PJ concert I have been too. I still remember Flea being up on stage & everyone singing Happy Birthday to Jeff and then the cake fight. It was the best night ever.
I hope you have an awesome time today. I will be there too, I can't wait.
I fucking love this band
Glasgow S.E.C.C. 2000
Shepherds Bush 2009 - M.E.N 2009 - London O2 2009
Boston 2010 - Newark 2010 - MSG1+2 2010 - Dublin 2010 - Belfast 2010
London 2010
Manchester 1+2 2012 EV Manchester 2012 EV London 31/7/2012
Philly 1+2 2013 - Hartford 2013
Berlin 2014 Leeds 2014
Fenway 2 2016
EV London 1+2 2017
London 1+2 - Berlin 2018
Manchester 2024 - Boston 1+2
I am going to 2 Eddie shows, one at the State & the other at the Opera House. I can't wait, when are you going?