Toronto Fanviews Here

kabob · September 2005

I like the idea that magic has been brought up in relation to these PJ shows but I sit on the other side of the argument thinking that the problem with the Toronto show is that it didn't have any. I was lucky enough to catch the Hamilton show the week before and that concert was pure magic. When they played Harvest Moon for Eddie's friends who were getting married that day it was a genuine heartfelt moment, something they were not able to recreate when they played the same song in Toronto.
The setlist in Hamilton was better but actually 80% of the songs were the same. All the hits were played but it was a vastly different show. The band brought their A-game and Eddie was playful with the crowd. In Hamilton when they played "Alive" I was standing up and pounding my fists in the air. When the song was done I turned to my wife and said "that was the greatest version of Alive I've ever heard!" When they played "Alive" in Toronto I sat down for the whole song and was bored out of my skull.
Bono arriving at the end of the set only made things worse for me. I have nothing against U2 and I've seen them live before but when I think of their concerts I think of choreagraphed "entertainment." Spectacle. Style over substance. These are descriptions I'd never use when talking about a PJ show, until last Monday's. Pearl Jam are musicians, U2 are entertainers. When Bono showed up at the end it just made me think that Pearl Jam were finally making the leap to the other side like most rock bands before them.
I couldn't help but think that after the show Eddie was gonna ask Bono how PJ can land one of those sweet Ipod commercials.

two fish soul · September 2005

Ed and Bono have been good friends from very early on in PJ's career ; when ed said 'i love you' as Bono walked off stage, I believe it to be sincere.

Ladymelonhead · September 2005

I do agree that there were wayyy to many "hits" played at the Toronto show... especially there were so many songs that i wanted to hear....
They played a good few from Riot Act (my favourite album)... but it would have been cool to hear "Green Disease" or "I am mine".... or some Binural tracks as well....

but I am also slightly glad that they played a number of "hits", because I brought my older brother to this show. He is the one that bought me TEN all those years ago, and he hasnt really kept up with PJ"s newer stuff (except for the bootlegs that i constantly sneak in to his car stereo on my way to work). I was glad that he was able to recognize some songs and have a really great time... It was his first concert of that size, and he couldnt beleive the audience excitement/participation...(The lighters were beautiful!!!)
Maybe this was a chance for some passive fans to be reminded of why PJ is so awesome....

kabob · September 2005

I don't doubt the friendship. My response is only to Bono the entity. Bono as a media personality, not Bono as a human being. I'm quite sure that Bono and Ed have a great relationship and there is great love there but when I see the cowboy hat, the shades and hear the voice all I can think of is the guy who holds press conferences at K-Marts, sings in Ipod commercials and does videos for the Tomb Raider movies.
I don't want to seem like a U2 hater, they have some great songs, but for the last two albums they strike me as a band that is going through the motions and their concerts reflect that.
Maybe it's unfair of me but I expect more from Pearl Jam. It's their own fault for spoiling us all these years.

two fish soul · September 2005

we will never know what they totally go thru on the road, in the minds and lives. I never perform my best everyday I go to work. Life has a way of preventing me of giving my all all the time.

kabob · September 2005

two fish soul wrote:

we will never know what they totally go thru on the road, in the minds and lives. I never perform my best everyday I go to work. Life has a way of preventing me of giving my all all the time.

Fair enough. I know I dog it all the time at work. Difference is my job doesn't involve playing my guitar. Oh, how I wish it did.
I really don't want to keep insulting my favourite band. I actually thought the best parts of the show were when Ed kept fucking up. "Habit" was a real highlight. It's a song that really needs that rage to kick it up. I also thought Mike was amazing. If the rest of the band had matched Mike's intensity it would have been one for the books.

screamingstella · September 2005

kabob wrote:

I don't doubt the friendship. My response is only to Bono the entity. Bono as a media personality, not Bono as a human being. I'm quite sure that Bono and Ed have a great relationship and there is great love there but when I see the cowboy hat, the shades and hear the voice all I can think of is the guy who holds press conferences at K-Marts, sings in Ipod commercials and does videos for the Tomb Raider movies.
I don't want to seem like a U2 hater, they have some great songs, but for the last two albums they strike me as a band that is going through the motions and their concerts reflect that.
Maybe it's unfair of me but I expect more from Pearl Jam. It's their own fault for spoiling us all these years.

The Toronto show on Monday was my fifth Pearl Jam show and frankly, they blew the roof off the place. If you didn't pickup on that, then you're freakin' deaf. As for Bono ... nice of you to remember the stupid things he's done (ie. K-Mart) and forget the plethoria of amazing things he's accomplished while many of his colleagues sip margaritas on their own private islands. Obviously, you weren't at any one of the U2 shows in town this week - I've seen them many times as well and I think they perform better in concert now than they ever have before. I missed Eddie's appearance at their show on Saturday but was quite thrilled that Bono returned the favour on Monday. It's nice to see people in the same biz support each other, even if their musical styles differ.

I get a little touchy when I hear people say that they like a band's "old stuff" - it really grates my nerves. I hear this about both Pearl Jam and U2. Good bands don't sound the same album after album. There are so many people that know Pearl Jam only for Ten and Vs. and we all know it's their loss. But the same goes for U2. I would happily retire songs like Alive and Sunday Bloody Sunday from concert set lists - they're great songs, but enough already. The bands have evolved and so should the fans. The last two U2 albums have some amazing material. You just have to get past some of the hype and forgive some of the dumb decisions people make when they're in the thick of things. Don't obsess over the negative - you'll miss the good stuff.

Take this mouth
So quick to criticize
Take this mouth
Give it a kiss

screamingstella · September 2005

I've never been a fan of concert bootlegs (so many of the ones I got were such sh~t quality that I just gave up for a while) but I'm dying to get one of Monday's Toronto show. Any suggestions from anyone on where to search?

Many thanks!

screamingstella · September 2005

Nevermind ... as soon as I posted, the answer stared me in the face: bootlegs.pearljam.com. Sometimes, I am such a dumb ass. I search the site like crazy and didn't notice the obvious.

kabob · September 2005

screamingstella wrote:

The Toronto show on Monday was my fifth Pearl Jam show and frankly, they blew the roof off the place. If you didn't pickup on that, then you're freakin' deaf. As for Bono ... nice of you to remember the stupid things he's done (ie. K-Mart) and forget the plethoria of amazing things he's accomplished while many of his colleagues sip margaritas on their own private islands. Obviously, you weren't at any one of the U2 shows in town this week - I've seen them many times as well and I think they perform better in concert now than they ever have before. I missed Eddie's appearance at their show on Saturday but was quite thrilled that Bono returned the favour on Monday. It's nice to see people in the same biz support each other, even if their musical styles differ.

I get a little touchy when I hear people say that they like a band's "old stuff" - it really grates my nerves. I hear this about both Pearl Jam and U2. Good bands don't sound the same album after album. There are so many people that know Pearl Jam only for Ten and Vs. and we all know it's their loss. But the same goes for U2. I would happily retire songs like Alive and Sunday Bloody Sunday from concert set lists - they're great songs, but enough already. The bands have evolved and so should the fans. The last two U2 albums have some amazing material. You just have to get past some of the hype and forgive some of the dumb decisions people make when they're in the thick of things. Don't obsess over the negative - you'll miss the good stuff.

Take this mouth
So quick to criticize
Take this mouth
Give it a kiss

In theory I agree with everything you say. It was pretty cheap of me to bring up K-mart to knock a guy who does so much for world poverty. What the hell have I done to feed Africa's poor? But in the context of a rock show (or rawk show) it's only the k-mart guy I saw on stage. I think it's the hat.

I would never use the phrase "old stuff" with U2. I'm actually one of the wacky fans who thinks Pop was a great album. Sure U2 going techno might not appeal to everyone but at least it seemed earnest. I just find the last two albums were too safe and were steps backwards musically (with a few exceptions. Some of the new songs hold up). Pearl Jam's last two albums on the other hand...
Everything you say about old music is why I didn't like Monday's show. The band has evolved but the show almost completely ignored the last decade of the band's existance and centred on the first five years.
As to the roof blowing off. The fans did that, not the band. Loudest crowd I've ever seen but not too picky. The crowd was going nuts when the roadies were tuning the guitars. Not the hardest bunch to please.

screamingstella · September 2005

kabob wrote:

I think it's the hat ... I'm actually one of the wacky fans who thinks Pop was a great album. Sure U2 going techno might not appeal to everyone but at least it seemed earnest. I just find the last two albums were too safe and were steps backwards musically (with a few exceptions. Some of the new songs hold up). Pearl Jam's last two albums on the other hand ... Everything you say about old music is why I didn't like Monday's show. The band has evolved but the show almost completely ignored the last decade of the band's existance and centred on the first five years.
As to the roof blowing off. The fans did that, not the band.

Funny about the hat. It's hard to pick a fight with you when I agree with everything you said. Your observations are really bang on. So you're that guy that liked the Pop album? I've heard rumours that I wasn't the only one, but now you've confirmed it. You are right - the new material is very safe. I had never thought of it that way.

And I totally totally totally agree about the Pearl Jam setlist. There was so much emphasis on the early material that it was a bit Q107-ish. And you were right about the fans blowing the roof off the place, not the band. I used to always complain that Toronto concert go-ers were too lathargic and unimpressed by everything. I've totally seen that change over the last couple of years and it's a great to see (or should I say hear). It's about time we got a little less snobby around here. Just because we are centre of the universe doesn't mean that we have to gloat about it

neenerbean · September 2005

Kaddikat wrote:

MATT! OK THE LADY THAT HAD THE MATT IS A STALLION SIGN YOU CRACKED ME THE FUCK UP! I LOVED THAT SHIT!! I hope he saw it!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAAH classic..

that was me

haha glad you liked it. Matt did see it and blushed!! Stone & Ed agreed with the poster and smiled as well. RAWK!!

ames

JaneNY · September 2005

emperor penguin wrote:

If I can just get the Eddie/Mick duet next week in Pittsburgh, I can die happy.

oh my god, i didn't even think of that happening! and I'm going!

share · September 2005

neenerbean wrote:

that was me

haha glad you liked it. Matt did see it and blushed!! Stone & Ed agreed with the poster and smiled as well. RAWK!!

ames

i stood beside you and didn't even know it!!

you really cracked stone up - he gave you a huge smile and a laugh and then gave me the "what the fuck are you looking at" face

haha

i wish I knew that was you!! - I was just so glad they chucked out the boobie girl who was in that spot first - she snuck in and was having a hell of a time flopping them over the rail

sorry if I gave you hair whip - I'm still stuck in that head banger mode

evolution10 · September 2005

yup, that was me!! too funny

don't worry about yer hair - didn't even notice it.

now clean out yer PM's cause they're full! not half full - but ALL THE WAY FULL!

ames

share wrote:

i stood beside you and didn't even know it!!

you really cracked stone up - he gave you a huge smile and a laugh and then gave me the "what the fuck are you looking at" face

haha

i wish I knew that was you!! - I was just so glad they chucked out the boobie girl who was in that spot first - she snuck in and was having a hell of a time flopping them over the rail

sorry if I gave you hair whip - I'm still stuck in that head banger mode

MrMerkinball · September 2005

Sept 19 was my Daughter's first birthday. At about 5pm, during our birthday party I mentioned to my wife that PJ probably won't come on till 9 or and the kid will be asleep by 7. She says....fine go, just stop bugging me. She's not a fan.

Called TM and they had a single ticket, eighth row that was released about 20 minutes prior to me calling.

By 8:05 I was in my seat with a 7 dollar beer, taking in Sleater Kinney.

Never Missed PJ in Toronto, so my record is still intact. Highlights (other than Bono) were the Pause in the middle of Betterman, and Eddie proclaiming before the second encore, that "we're not through with you yet", before tearing into Blood.

Solid setlist, but I think Eddi'e voice was bugging him. He was hesitant to hit some key notes. For those who bought the Bootleg, listen to LBC, and you'll hear it.

Anyhow, worth the money, and the fight with my wife. Just a great night.

scottnar · September 2005

I was at the Hamilton show and spoke to a number of ten club fan members who went to kitchner and other shows. THis was not one or their finest shows.Great opening with release but after that they played the hits. betterman, etc. the band seemed to have no energy. they like many of us who had been to a number of shows, were out of gas. They did sound very tight though.

Strangest Tribesman · September 2005

This was the first time I'd ever seen PJ live

wow

I can die happy now

Manstis1604 · September 2005

frogwater wrote:

If some of you die-hards actually had lives aside from following pj's every move, it would have been a great show for you as well.

I have a life, I'm not sure if I'm a die-hard or not, and I haven't followed Pearl Jam's every move in years. But still, I didn't think it was a great show. In fact, not even a good one. What a difference 2 years makes, we'll just leave it at that.

MANTIS · September 2005

it wasnt the best setlist of the tour, but was definately an awsome performance. Out of 5 shows i thought i might hear breath live for the first time...but no, they saved it for halifax??? Toronto deserved a better set with more rare tunes...setlists should have been swapped with halifax i think!!

Toronto Fanviews Here

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