Athens Fanviews Here 30/09/06

bertan · October 2006

The Cursed wrote:

Bare with me 'cause this is gonna be a long one...

After going to Zagreb and watching my 1st PJ concert ever and getting excited and numb,it was time for the most special time of my life...

I went to the OAKA stadium in Athens and instantly met some beautiful people from all over the world.I took a spare 10c ticket from a guy I'd already met in Zagreb (thanx Daniel from N.Zealand...the flag was yours??) and ended up 1st row a bit more to the left from Mike's side right behind the big iron construction thing where Ed climbed later on!!

About 20:30 still the technicians were on stage,the lights were on and we heard "release".The concert started.Then "Go" light up the fire!Or should I say Mike's fire???Well, he was fucking amazing that guy.I heard songs that I didin't think I would:Go,Animal,Smile,You Are (!!!???THANX FOR THAT!!!).
Wishful thinking:NAIS,Grievance,Gone...Next time ;-)

Eddie's Greek were great.At some point he tried to say this really long greek word and he couldn't,so he made a little pause between the sylabbus and immediately afterwards laughed and said "gamoto!!" which means "fuck" in Greek in such a spontaneous way...he actually knew how to say that in Greek...great laughs!!!

When he came to our side and climbed that thing I tried not to miss anything again...he was so close,but still I can't remember the way his eyes looked that moment...the only thing I can remember is that before he climbed it he was holding on to it and leaning towards us with a smile daring us to catch him if he'd made that fall...and we were encouraging him...but no...I guess it's safer up there than down among the crazy greeks!!!

The security guys...I really don't know why they were there that night...we were starving for water and nobody was giving any..so I asked that security guy and he said it wasn't his job!!!Can u believe that??Very crowdy in the front,got a few bruises...Although the stadium wasn't full.I remember before the show started,we noticed that the arena,and the row of seats next to Mike were full...but Stone's side was practically empty..I hope later on he got all the love he deserves!Jeff was also on fire...he was laughing and playing with Mike...he was wearing a blue T-shirt which had a greek logo on that said: " Hope keeps life in the body" but I don't know if it was of some greek organisation or not...Somebody threw a brown hat on stage and Ed caught it and put it on Stone who actually looked pretty nice in it...

During the whole show Mike was coming to our side and,call me crazy, but I think he pointed at me and looked at me 2-3 times...I don't know...maybe I was dreaming...He kept on throwing picks on our side,the security guys finally had a reason to be there!!! (:-p) He also threw 3 sheets of paper (setlist I guess) right in front of me but he didn't threw them very hard so they fell down in front of my eyes and the security guys gave them elsewhere (lucky fans).

And right where I thought that that was it for me,there he was again, coming towards us and looking straight in the eyes.I looked at him straight back and yelled "I've got NOTHING MAN,NOTHING!!!",opening my arms wide in a gesture of complete despair and after a while he threw some more picks and FINALLY I GOT A MIKE PICK!!!It was raining Mike picks Saturday night... :lol

Eddie gathered very flag that was in the stadium...I hope they liked us...the crowd singing on Betterman and Black and a bit in Smile too (that was a surprise!) did a good job.Eddie thanked us in Greek and in Black he clapped a bit...wow...amazing!!It was a show I'll always remember.Thanx to everybody I met during last week and made both shows really special!!

just a couple of things... the song they played before go was master/slave, not release. i was at the exact same place, right in front of mike. we were the ones with "pearl jam turkey" shirts

i was the one with the dreads, dunno if i talked with anyone from the forum tough... anyway, we were there from the beginning and the security were great, they threw bottles couple of times, and one time this security guy walked all the front line and poured water into every single fan's mouth, including me. he literally helped everyone in the first row. So I adored the greek security, they were great

i did manage to get two picks as well, there really was a pick rain on mike's side. my friend right next to me and the greek guy next to him each got one of eddie's tambourines after he climbed to the stage. mike smiled a lot to us, at the end of the concert i called him multiple times and finally he looked. i told him he was the best and he smiled and waved. these are small things that happen to lots of people but it was my first pj concert ever, so i just need to tell

one thing that i'm sure didn't happen to many people was a different song request. my mobile phone is not an extraordinary model but it has one cool feature: wave messaging. basically you can write couple of words and when you wave the phone in the air, the words can be seen from a good distance. here's more info if i couldn't explain it well: http://www.nokia.co.uk/nokia/0,8764,59259,00.html

i used this feature to request songs of course, i wrote "state" and starting waving. stone recognized it and laughed, then showed it to mike and he laughed as well. so there you go, i did my best for state of love and trust

one sad thing was when roadies came on stage before the second encore and clearly crossed over two songs. i knew the setlist can be changed and stuff but witnessing that moment was just painful

setlist was great in my opinion. it was the first show for greeks and third or fourth for the balkans in the past 15 years. so it was quite normal for them to play the hit songs. but i didn't expect to hear the "famous five" of ten! (alive,evenflow, porch, jeremy, black)

about the soundcheck: i think little wing was played once, undone was played 2.5 or 3 times, and don't gimme no lip was played one and a half times. it ended about 17:30/17:45

i think those are all the stupid details i remember for now. can't wait for the boot!

mongoose · October 2006

i was one of the 13000 at the oaka stadium in athens!
i just want to say a great thanx to the band for the greater live i've ever seen and for the most beautiful 3 hours (about) of concert!
i always like to hear ''wishlist'' and among other things i wish pearl jam to come in greece every year!!
i still hear in my mind the show all over again and again!
THANX!!!
i originally posted elsewhere ....sorry!!!

V V · October 2006

merkin wrote:

"TO THE RAMONES GUY!!!!"

..yelled Eddie after 'I believe in miracles' holding a G.W.Bush mask andpointing at me..During the song i almost tore my Ramones t-shirt apartand apparently Ed noticed it. So when the song ends he grabs a mask bends over and yells "To the Ramones guy!!" and throws it to my side but another guy catched the mask. While i was trying to get it back Ed (what a kind guy) he insists and throws another (!!!) yelling again to the security guy "TO THE RAMONES GUY!!!!" but until the second
mask lands in the crowd i had already taken the first one back.. After a couple of songs when Ed sits down for while he looks at me and then i put my hand where my heart is and then pointing at him saying "Thank you!" and he responds at me kindly smiling "you're welcome!"..

What a great night really... Greek people were waiting for this night for 15 years. 15 years of intensity and anticipation gathered in a full 2,5-hour show. The band was great the people were great..The setlist was great.....
Not unique but it was a really good summary of 15 years and well played..

During Corduroy at the part where Ed sings "the waiting drove me mad,you're finally here and i'm a mess" we were in awe. Almost crying and some of us crying our souls out.The first encore started with the band playing acoustic and seated 'Footsteps' and 'I am mine'....what a moment!!!

Black was really intense as also Small town and Better man where the crowd participated in a really surprising way..i can't wait to listen to the bootleg specifically for these parts. And during the unbelievably played 'Porch' Ed climbed about 5 meters above the crowd and singing up there. Better to jump than hesitate Ed..
They played Smile and everybody was smiling waving and singing "We miss you already". A lot of great moments for one show... A lot of tears of joy.. The last two encores were the high-peak . . Everybody was going up and down . . The show ended with Yellow ledbetter followed by a full band Little wing!!!

The guys seemed really happy to play here and enjoying it.. Ed joked and said in Greek "We always wanted to play here.Now that we have, we can retire.."

I'm still in denial that this is over..maybe after a couple of days i will be in a better place to describe the last night.. Maybe i'll be back in more details when i'll listen the bootleg.. I was natural high. Can't recall a lot of stuff from waht exactly was going on in there.. Forgive me and i hope other guys that attended the show will inform you in a better way!!

bye for now...
take care each other
peace

that was very moving , brought tears to my eyes

black_geo · October 2006

Yes,fuck yes!We saw Pearl Jam live,at last!we were sweaty from the very first song!What an opening...GO!I couldn't believe i was in there!To tell the truth,I didn't wait PJ to be so punctual!The time was 20.10 and the concert begins!That's right...Fuck divas that appear on stage 1+ hour from what is scheduled!Love Pearl Jam forever!It was one of the best nights!
Cheers!

manicpearl · October 2006

Another review (in Greek) for the live in Athens here...

I will upload some live photos, too... quite soon

vanessakri · October 2006

I still wisper tourouroutou tourourouuu, from when he was singing black. my teenage dream came true.. PLEASE COME BACK TO GREECE!!! I miss u already..

i love u always...

VforVEDDER · October 2006

I finally heard porch live!!! WHAT A SHOW!!!

Wonderful set, excellent job by the guys and crowd was AWESOME!!!
Me and my sis may have been left battered and bruised but it was worth it

My highlights... PORCH, SAD, ALIVE (hadnt heard it live yet), BLACK, HAIL HAIL, AND RVM, SMILE AND GO!!!

Thanks so much for a brilliant show and and unforgetable night!

Ricsard · October 2006

Pegasus wrote:

I've just seen recently the setlist for Katowice 2000...and Marseille (considered by pretty much everyone, me included, as the best setlist of Europe 2006...as much as I don't want to think about it having missed it!!) doesn't even come close!!

so no, setlist-wise, I found it a bit dissapointing in the lack of variety...feel like I came to the game too late and the glory days of really varied setlists are gone ..as much as I enjoyed the tour

Pegasus wrote:

3 out of a whole set is not varied (and they've all been payed before in this leg) .. You Are, Wishlist, Insignificance and IBIM were also less played but all the rest was heavily played in previous shows.

haven't got the exact stats (and can't be bothered making them) but I'd venture over 3/4 of every set was a heavy rotation of the same songs..

that's great if it's your first show...but even then it lacks that 'special' feeling...

I loved the tour but what made each individual show different was rarely the setlist but rather the crowd/atmosphere.

I don't think they (should) want/need to fit Y-O-U-R(!) taste/needs 'cos you might not be part of the majority who just manage to see them once or twice a tour!

C'mon man, have you ever thought about the fact they last played in Europe 6 years ago??? They played in not few cities and venues where had never before...so don't be surprised most people want them to play songs like Even Flow and as many classics as possible from TEN and VS. and all the other biggest hits and the band also know it...If songs like Betterman, Given To Fly, Rearviewmirror, Black, Life Wasted or Do The Evolution hadn't been played one night almost everybody felt their absence!!! And come on they played more than 100 different songs this year...eh?!
AND C'MON, which other great old band does so different setlists like Pearl Jam??! or does 2 1/2 hour long shows??? Try to name one!
People should stop complaining about setlists in this forum! Each show was special for most fans who was THERE - or at least this is what most reviews say. (It does not matter that actually I do feel the same...and by the way out of 3 shows I was they played 52 (!):D different songs with at least 8-9 different tags:D)

but here come the most important thoughts:
I am glad Greek people finally got the show they hdeserved and did not forget about a really important but untrendy band! Wish you a next show as soon as possible!

GyöngyLekvár · October 2006

Ricsard wrote:

they last played in Europe 6 years ago??? They played in not few cities and venues where had never before...so don't be surprised most people want them to play songs like Even Flow and as many classics as possible from TEN and VS. and all the other biggest hits and the band also know it

EXACTLY.

Ricsard wrote:

I and by the way out of 3 shows I was they played 52 (!):D different songs with at least 8-9 different tags:D)

LOL ive done the same counting for myself, and the figures are more or less the same ... a bit more than 50 songs (cant remeber exactly) in 3 shows for me, i think its awesome!!!!!! which other band is doing that???

when ive done a private mini tour a couple of years back for another band i really love, i believe they "delivered" like 25 different songs in 6 shows... =/ and everybody was happy if they suddenly played an unexpected encore or cover song in a show... and you know what, that was still fantastic, so i dont have words to describe the grandeur of pearl jam...

melbourneflower · October 2006

An awesome show and a great way to finish the tour!

A few of us flew into Athens at about 4.30am on Sat morning, had a shower at the hotel, got changed and headed straight out to the venue - it's funny how you can survive on Red Bull and a very short kip on the grass/cement if you have to!

The 10C line was very organised (despite us moving about 5 times to different gates!) and the fabulous Gitta (aka Tambo Girl) did a great job of sorting everyone out.

Big hi to all the Israeli fans who showed up - it was great to meet you all. Kudos to the girls who managed to meet Ed before the show - your excitment was certainly contagious!

We were all very happy when the soundcheck started - Undone and Gimme No Lip especially got people going (although it did completely rip my undies when Gimme No Lip ended up on the setlist but unplayed - oh well there is another excuse to go again!).

Although it was not the 3 hour show we were hoping for the set was well recieved and everyone had a great time. Stone in particular looked to be fine form and he dished out plenty of duck dancing and smiles throughout the night.

Hail, Hail, Footsteps and I Believe in Miracles were my personal favs from the setlist but it all got a bit emotional when Jeff walked on with the guitar and the boys went into Smile - hope the crowd yelling "We miss you already" comes out on the boot - it certainly sounded loud to me.

Somewhere in the encores Ed asked that all the flags in the audience be handed up to them so they could be put up in their practice space at home - up went my Aussie flag together with a whole heap of others from all over Europe and the world. Ed also particularly thanked the people who had followed them throughout the Europe tour.

There were a lot of tears when Mike started up YL as everyone knew that this was really the end of the tour. I am really stoked that the Europeans have had such an amazing tour - you guys have been waiting a long time and you didn't disappoint with your enthusiasm. I hope the boys come back to the UK and Europe in the next couple of years so I can meet up with you all again.

notforconsumption · October 2006

Ohh ..Smile &Footsteps!

Nelson · October 2006

It's a funny feeling the one you have when a dream comes true... At first you feel kinda lost, disorientated, excitement and a strange sense of fear mixed in a most peculiar way. Then it starts, it's happening, you're caught up in it and there's no time to think, to rationalise and classify, you let go of all thought and you allow your feelings to dissolve in the brute force of the present taking place. Soon it's over, time has grinded yet another event, yet another dire expectation, all that's left is a memory, a memory of a dream. That magic dust that remains is the seed for other dreams to come... And thus turns the all powerfull Wheel of Life, offering a smile in exchange for a frown.

Thank you Eddie, Matt, Jeff, Stone and Mike

manicpearl · October 2006

manicpearl wrote:

Another review (in Greek) for the live in Athens here...

I will upload some live photos, too... quite soon

Live Photos online

http://www.lostechoes.net/component/option,com_zoom/Itemid,33/catid,95/

Ricsard · October 2006

Nelson wrote:

[...]At first you feel kinda lost, disorientated, excitement and a strange sense of fear mixed in a most peculiar way. Then it starts, it's happening, you're caught up in it and there's no time to think, to rationalise and classify, you let go of all thought and you allow your feelings to dissolve in the brute force of the present taking place. Soon it's over, time has grinded yet another event, yet another dire expectation, all that's left is a memory, a memory of a dream. That magic dust that remains is the seed for other dreams to come... And thus turns the all powerfull Wheel of Life, offering a smile in exchange for a frown.

Thank you Eddie, Matt, Jeff, Stone and Mike

WOW, it's almost poetry!!!:) And so true...!

pjgr · October 2006

My next dream is to make a good fammily.My other one was fulfilled at 30/09/2006 at OAKA stadium,Athens,Greece.
I hope i see them again sometime soon.
Pearl Jam, THANK YOU !!!

nalex · October 2006

Indeed, its a strange feeling. I was 15 when i first heard them and for sure i never believed that i would ever see them in Greece. We all like bootlegs, dvds e.t.c. but singing Black along with ED was something special.Many thanks to the ones who brought them, they deserve it.
All your reviews were great, nothing to add. Something that surprised me is that there were many teens in the gig. And this is the REAL power of the band.
Also, i felt that the accoustic was exceptional. They all proved that they are great musicians and that Mike is at top 5.

We miss you already.....Thank you.

pjgr · October 2006

They appeared to be happy and healthy.God bless them to live and exist long enough to see them live with my kids one day.18-20 years from now are enough i guess!

einatshaul · October 2006

bertan wrote:

just wanna add, the feeling you get when mike mccready looks directly at your eyes and smiles is, one of the best feelings in the world

Loved it, making it my signature!

einatshaul · October 2006

Ricsard wrote:

WOW, it's almost poetry!!!:) And so true...!

Yeah! ... and sex!... really good sex! actually I haven't had such good sex...

einatshaul · October 2006

bertan wrote:

could everyone please post every link possible for photos. doesn't matter if you took them or found the link from a website. (i would even like to see the one or two photos that local papers used). i would post a link for the photos my friend took as soon as i recieve them.

Well, my quoted poet - here are mine!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/einatshaul/

Athens Fanviews Here 30/09/06

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***Athens Fanviews Here 30/09/06***

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Athens Fanviews Here 30/09/06