Was your first pearl jam show an infamous one?

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  • PureandEasy
    PureandEasy Posts: 5,818

    I believe every first show for people on this board was certainly memorable.  It had to have been or they would no longer be here.

    For me it was August 28, 1998, Camden, NJ.  It was disgustingly hot and muggy.  I left there drenched in sweat, my long hair soaking wet.  I was on a high I never felt before, not drug or alcohol induced.

    As we left the show into the parking lot, people were selling bootleg t-shirts.  I remember trying to haggle with the bootleggers and just as I bought a t-shirt, the cops came up and stopped the illegal sale. 

    We ran away as the cops approached and it was exhilarating.  I felt like a teenager again. 

    And my life has never been the same. 

    Oh and they opened with Release.  Does that qualify as infamous???


    Don't come closer or I'll have to go
  • ST66483
    ST66483 Posts: 926
    Not infamous, but memorable as others have said. Barrie 98 was my first show. Had tried to get tickets on earlier tours and struck out, and wasn’t 10c then. Given the wait, the opening lines of Corduroy seemed particularly fitting. Great show with a surprisingly large pit.
  • YAKIMATSU
    YAKIMATSU Santa Fe Posts: 1,157
    Soldier Field!  Scored the tye dye T outside after the show.  Got tickets from the classifieds because some kid apparently used her aunts credit card without their knowledge to purchase.  Thank you Stephanie Kagy, the name on my tickets, wherever you are.
    Soldier Field 7-11-95, Alpine Valley 6-26-98, United Center 6-29-98, Riverport Amphitheater (St. Louis)7-2-98, MGM Grand Arena 10-22-00, Sprint Center (Kansas City)5-3-10, Adams Event Center (Missoula)9-30-12, Wrigley Field 7-19-13, Jobing.com Arena (Phoenix)11-19-13, Moda Center (Portland)11-29-13, Spokane Arena 11-30-13, Pepsi Center (Denver)10-22-14, Gila River Arena (Phoenix)5-9-22, Moody Center (Austin)9-18-23, Moody Center 9-19-23, Rogers Arena (Vancouver)5-4-24, Rogers Arena 5-6-24, MGM Grand 5-16-24, MGM Grand 5-18-24, Wrigley Field 8-29-24, Wrigley Field 8-31-24, Nashville 5-6-25, Nashville 5-8-25
  • CarryTheZero
    CarryTheZero Posts: 3,607
    edited April 2024
    hadfiiw said:
    Charlotte 96. Drove up from Atlanta using Mapquest directions.

    Ben Harper to open, HUGE crowd on the floor with everybody moving back, in sequence, when Ed asked (still one of the coolest things I have seen as were were far up in the stands when it happened). "Jesse Helm's going away party" with a speech by Gloria Steinem.

    Opened up with "Long Road". One of the greatest posters by Emek
    Nice memory! My buddy and I managed to walk onto the field and into the smaller GA section. Not sure if we were supposed to be there or not. The Fastbacks opened followed by Harper and the IC. Had no idea who they were, but that show made me an immediate fan!

    I remember turning around to watch the main crowd behind us move back when Ed asked.

    Oh how I wished I was into the merch and had bought a poster. 
  • BALLBOY
    BALLBOY Australia Posts: 1,037
    Yamrider said:
    Eastern Creek Raceway, Australia 1995, often talked as legendary show. (I wish I had a time machine).
    I was from UK backpacking. Went with a fellow backpacker who was staying at the same backpackers hostel.
    He was called Co (Nick). When we first met briefly he had a pearl jam t-shirt, I said 'Noooo....a pearl jam t shirt'!!!... (meaning amazing to meet someone else as mad as me about Pearl Jam).

    Anyway about a week later I said you've not worn your pearl jam t shirt again, and he said when you said nooo a pearl jam t shirt I thought you didn't like them so I've not worn it.
    I explained and we had a good laugh about it over a few beers and were from then on constantly talking anything pearl jam. He had a guitar and could play a few songs too.
    Special times.
    My first show as well & it was memorable beyond belief & infamous for rough it was when The Meanies came on. I picked up this girl who was getting crushed & got her the hell out of there 
    Eastern Creek 95,Syd 1 98,Bris 2 98, Syd 1&2 03, Reading Fest 06, Bris 1 06, London 09, Hyde Park 10, Gold Coast BDO 14 Budapest 22 Krakow 22 Amsterdam 22 St Paul 1&2 23 Chicago 1&2 23 Chicago 1&2 24 New York 1 24 Philly 1&2 24 Boston 1&2 24 Gold Coast 24 Melbourne 1 24 Sydney 1&2 24
  • KK257911
    KK257911 Indiana Posts: 30
    Virginia Beach, 2000
    I do not think we will ever know how close Pearl Jam was to never taking the stage again after Roskilde.  
    So, for well-documented reasons - I believe it was one of the most important shows in the history of the band.  
    Personally, it was a long time coming having been a fan since '91.
    '00 - Virginia Beach, '08 - West Seattle 1 (EV), '11 - Chicago 2 (EV), '12 - Missoula, '13 - Wrigley, '14 - Cincinnati, '16 - Lexington, '16 - Wrigley 1 & 2, '18 - Seattle 1 & 2, '18 - Missoula, '18 - Wrigley 2, '24 - Wrigley 1 & 2
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 51,021
    edited April 2024
    KN219077 said:
    Loujoe said:
    KN219077 said:
    Not infamous but Missoula 2012 had its moments!
    Sure did. Waited all night for rail. Scored a kapow pick. Plus tiny venue. Ev was sick...nice Jeff speech...ev talk about being in the sauna with a couple guys...funny. Great time.
    Plus, you know, just being in MT. My first time in missoula. 
    I was way up in the back where it was qbout 90 degrees but enjoyed every minute of it. The acoustic set was amazing and I still listen to that fortunate son often. Best version.

    I got the flu literally on my way to the airport for that show, and was down on the GA floor. I remember Mudhoney was so loud that people started leaving the building, and it made me want to puke, lol. I don't know wtf that was about, but I was glad PJ didn't have the same problem. Once they came on I forget all about my flu... I feel bad though. I  learned later that I was patient zero at that show. Sorry.
    Post edited by PJ_Soul on
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • Who I Am
    Who I Am Posts: 661
    State College '03 = SOLD
    02MAY2003 - State College, PA
    08JUL2003 - New York, NY (L@TG)
    14JUL2003 - Holmdel, NJ
    01OCT2004 - Reading, PA
    01OCT2005 - Atlantic City, NJ
    03OCT2005 - Philadelphia, PA
    27MAY2006 - Camden, NJ
    01JUN2006 - East Rutherford, NJ
    03JUN2006 - East Rutherford, NJ
    30SEP2009 - Universal City, CA
    09OCT2009 - San Diego, CA
    06JUL2011 - Long Beach, CA (EV)
    19JUL2013 - Wrigley Field, IL
    21OCT2013 - Philadelphia, PA
    22OCT2013 - Philadelphia, PA
    27OCT2013 - Baltimore, MD
    29APR2016 - Philadelphia, PA (TEN)
    05AUG2016 - Fenway Park, MA
    07AUG2016 - Fenway Park, MA
    27AUG2016 - Dana Point, CA (Ohana)
    18AUG2018 - Wrigley Field, IL
    20AUG2018 - Wrigley Field, IL
    18SEP2021 - Asbury Park, NJ
    14SEP2022 - Camden, NJ
    09SEP2024 - Philadelphia, PA
    12SEP2024 - Baltimore, MD

  • nstokes
    nstokes Posts: 17
    mine was the show at Golden Gate Park in SF where EV was sick and had to step out after just a few songs... then Uncle Neil joined and they ripped through Mirror Ball.
  • Vikkivale
    Vikkivale Los Angeles, CA Posts: 236
    I think my first show qualifies as legendary! Boston Garden 4/11/1994...The Eddie smashing a hole through the stage show. I was blown away at the time and 26 PJ shows later, it's still my favorite.
  • AA295481
    AA295481 Posts: 111
    edited April 2024
    The 2nd time I saw them live was in Miwaukee (summerfest) when they played "Jeremy" they experimented with changing the music of it. The 3rd time was at Soldier Field in Chicago, at the time it was set during a record heat wave in Chicago ( broken in 2011) the 5th time, at  Alpine Valley in Octrober 2000, it was 20 degrees at concert time, the next day was 70 degess outside 
  • Pap
    Pap Serres, Greece Posts: 30,333
    Athens 2006 :smile: The first and only time they've ever played in my country! That was the last show of the European leg of the world tour, and all the band members were in cheerful mood:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_ITVy1JJQI
    Athens 2006 / Milton Keynes 2014 / London 1&2 2022 / Seattle 1&2 2024 / Dublin 2024 / Manchester 2024 / New Orleans 2025
  • KN219077
    KN219077 Montana Posts: 1,204
    PJ_Soul said:
    KN219077 said:
    Loujoe said:
    KN219077 said:
    Not infamous but Missoula 2012 had its moments!
    Sure did. Waited all night for rail. Scored a kapow pick. Plus tiny venue. Ev was sick...nice Jeff speech...ev talk about being in the sauna with a couple guys...funny. Great time.
    Plus, you know, just being in MT. My first time in missoula. 
    I was way up in the back where it was qbout 90 degrees but enjoyed every minute of it. The acoustic set was amazing and I still listen to that fortunate son often. Best version.

    I got the flu literally on my way to the airport for that show, and was down on the GA floor. I remember Mudhoney was so loud that people started leaving the building, and it made me want to puke, lol. I don't know wtf that was about, but I was glad PJ didn't have the same problem. Once they came on I forget all about my flu... I feel bad though. I  learned later that I was patient zero at that show. Sorry.
    Mudhoney sounded horrible, too loud and too distorted. PJ sounded good though.
  • aspoonfulweighsaton
    aspoonfulweighsaton Posts: 2,067
    My first show was the second night (1/15/95) of the Rock for Choice shows in Washington DC at Constitution Hall with Neil Young and Crazy Horse and L7.  While not infamous for anything that happened, if you are aware of the timetable you know these were the first proper shows the band had played since April 1994 (they did play the Bridge School benefit in October).  This was at the peak of their anti-Ticketmaster crusade and so the hype and anticipation for these shows was off the charts.  You had to send in postcards for the chance to get picked via lottery to buy a pair of tickets.  I was literally offered a thousand dollars outside the venue for my tickets.  People were there from all over the place.  It's hard to explain this to younger generations but in a pre-internet world these shows were as hot as anything.  I still can't believe that one of the nineteen postcards (that's all my post office had on the rack) I mailed in got selected.
  • axeljohan
    axeljohan Posts: 483
    edited April 2024
    Leezestarr313 said:
    Nov 3rd 1996, Berlin. I think it was pretty iconic :sunglasses: Then I didn't see them again until 2009.
    Nov 4th 1996, Hamburg. According to Ed, the concert felt more real than the day before
  • Vitalogensia
    Vitalogensia Posts: 2,261
    KK257911 said:
    Virginia Beach, 2000
    I do not think we will ever know how close Pearl Jam was to never taking the stage again after Roskilde.  
    So, for well-documented reasons - I believe it was one of the most important shows in the history of the band.  
    Personally, it was a long time coming having been a fan since '91.
    That was my first show too.  Definitely not infamous, but special and I agree with your statement on the importance of it.  Besides the birth of "I Am Mine" and them playing "It's Okay" for the first time (as it has come to be known, I think they tagged it once prior), "Rearviewmirror" into "Porch" was really fucking fantastic.  Great show.  
  • GlowGirl
    GlowGirl New York, NY Posts: 12,361
    edited April 2024
    aspoonfulweighsaton said:
    My first show was the second night (1/15/95) of the Rock for Choice shows in Washington DC at Constitution Hall with Neil Young and Crazy Horse and L7.  While not infamous for anything that happened, if you are aware of the timetable you know these were the first proper shows the band had played since April 1994 (they did play the Bridge School benefit in October).  This was at the peak of their anti-Ticketmaster crusade and so the hype and anticipation for these shows was off the charts.  You had to send in postcards for the chance to get picked via lottery to buy a pair of tickets.  I was literally offered a thousand dollars outside the venue for my tickets.  People were there from all over the place.  It's hard to explain this to younger generations but in a pre-internet world these shows were as hot as anything.  I still can't believe that one of the nineteen postcards (that's all my post office had on the rack) I mailed in got selected.
    I was at that show. I remember going to the post office during my lunch break at work with a big stack of postcards my friend and I filled out. I couldn’t believe I got picked. I was so excited. That was my second show. I bought a tshirt but haven’t been able to find it for years. 
  • Loujoe
    Loujoe Posts: 12,362
    edited April 2024
    Great stories. From my perspective, crazy how much changed in a 'short' time. Odd to think how things will be in 30 more years. 
    PJ will be touring as holograms and won't take requests. I know that this happens already. ,an illusion of KISS on the road doing it soon? Maybe order a show to play on your rooftop? No autographs or picks.

    Cool evolution. Just seems to be happening too fast for this old guy who never will grow up.
    ❤️ 
  • Lsk6453
    Lsk6453 Ponte Vedra, FL Posts: 568
    Dallas '98 with Rodman
    Shows attended: 39

    7/5/98 Dallas, 10/17/00 Dallas, 4/30/03 Uniondale, 7/8/03 MSG 1, 7/9/03 MSG 2, 9/28/04 Boston 1, 9/29/04 Boston 2, 10/03/05 Philly, 4/15/06 SNL, 5/5/06 Irving Plaza, 5/13/06 Hartford, 6/1/06 NJ 1, 6/3/06 NJ 2, 6/20/08 Camden, 6/27/08 Hartford, 7/1/08 The Beacon, 10/27/09 Philly, 10/28/09 Philly, 10/30/09 Philly, 10/31/09 Philly, 5/20/10 MSG, 5/21/10 MSG, 10/18/13 Brooklyn, 10/19/13, Brooklyn, 10/25/13 Hartford, 11/15/13 Dallas, 10/12/14 Austin 2, 5/1/16 MSG 1, 5/2/16 MSG 2, 8/5/15 Fenway 1, 4/7/17 RRHOF Induction, 8/8/18 Seattle 1, 8/10/18 Seattle  2, 9/2/18 Fenway 1, 9/13/23 Ft. Worth 1, 9/15/23 Ft. Worth 2, 5/16/24 Vegas 1, 5/18/24 Vegas 2, 9/17/24 Fenway 2, 4/29/25 ATL 1, 5/1/2025 ATL 2
  • JOEJOEJOE
    JOEJOEJOE Posts: 10,862
    My first show was in December 1991 when PJ played with RHCP and Nirvana.  My 2nd show was Lolla 1992 on the final day of the tour....they did TOTD!

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