What was the best show of the Dark Matter Tour?

Ryan · May 23

mcgruff10 said:

Merkin Baller said:

Philly 1 wasn't just the best of the DM tour for me, but easily the single best show I've seen them put on at least since 2016, probably 2013.

Honorable mentions:
Dublin (crowd energy was off the charts)
Manchester (Ed's voice was rough, but a great & memorable night all the same)
Fenway 1
Nashville 1

100% agree with this. It was my favorite show since toronto 9/11/11.

I think this thread proves that msg is overrated and small venues don't necessarily equate to historic shows (florida).

I was thinking something similar - this is a good reminder to cool off and not spend $1000 on tickets. Pick a different city where tickets are easier if you’re able to travel.

I think the 2025 leg was such a mess with a short itinerary and no other shows booked. Whereas in 2024 most shows could be had for around face value with a bit of work on fan to fan.

FL was brutal to get tickets for and Pittsburgh might have been the tightest arena show for tickets I can remember.

cincybearcat · May 23

mcgruff10 said:

Merkin Baller said:

Philly 1 wasn't just the best of the DM tour for me, but easily the single best show I've seen them put on at least since 2016, probably 2013.

Honorable mentions:
Dublin (crowd energy was off the charts)
Manchester (Ed's voice was rough, but a great & memorable night all the same)
Fenway 1
Nashville 1

100% agree with this. It was my favorite show since toronto 9/11/11.

I think this thread proves that msg is overrated and small venues don't necessarily equate to historic shows (florida).

Well - if we are going to include all that comes with traveling to a place to see PJ and the concerts NYC/MSG & Nashville are tied for 1st for me though. So, the location can really add to the overall experience.

I would like to travel and see a PJ show in Philly (I have seen TOTD). Great place. But lots of other just as, if not greater places to go

truckin24 · May 23

Merkin Baller said:

Philly 1 wasn't just the best of the DM tour for me, but easily the single best show I've seen them put on at least since 2016, probably 2013.

Honorable mentions:
Dublin (crowd energy was off the charts)
Manchester (Ed's voice was rough, but a great & memorable night all the same)
Fenway 1
Nashville 1

I am so glad people agree with how I felt about Philly 1… that show was so incredible it seemed unreal…. I try to explain to non PJ fans how great they were that night

Johnny Abruzzo · May 23

It's pretty damn hard to pick between Vegas 1 & Phila 1. Vegas I was in GA right in front of Mike - god damn he was awesome and he was clocking me in the pit. Phila 1 had the double rainbow, Red Mosquito singalong, etc.

Phila 2 was also phenomenal - I didn't notice any letdown. The Pitt shows were incredible.

One thing for sure - I'm one lucky SOB.

PJ5a1 · May 23

Went to 4...

Vegas - 1
Fenway - 1
MSG - 1
MSG - 2

inmyrvm · May 23

Pittsburgh (PGH, or Pit. They did not play at Pitt) night one ran laps around night two, and that's all I can attest to. It felt like they could have played for hours more on night one.

Johnny Abruzzo · May 23

Pitt it is

inmyrvm · May 23

Johnny Abruzzo said:

Pitt it is

Someone gets it lol

jwhjr17 · May 23

Only went to 3.

1)Vegas 1

2)Vegas 2

3)Wrigley 2

CROJAM95 · May 23

IM glad Vegas 1 getting lots of love....just felt different. The Star is born cover was great/ also Pitt 1 encore Ruins/ Man of the Hour really made that night great. Felt MSG2 was one too many slow covers, and not the right songs

PB11041 · May 23

It would be hard to dispute that the Philly show had a different energy to it. But it is laughable to say that there is unequivocal consensus about where shows are good and where they are not. Particularly if anyone is going to seriously put up shows they have listened to with Fenway 1 of last year, it was a mediocre show, had some nice moments but it was the worst of all the dark matter shows I went to by far.

CantKeepmedown · May 23

mcgruff10 said:

Merkin Baller said:

Philly 1 wasn't just the best of the DM tour for me, but easily the single best show I've seen them put on at least since 2016, probably 2013.

Honorable mentions:
Dublin (crowd energy was off the charts)
Manchester (Ed's voice was rough, but a great & memorable night all the same)
Fenway 1
Nashville 1

100% agree with this. It was my favorite show since toronto 9/11/11.

I think this thread proves that msg is overrated and small venues don't necessarily equate to historic shows (florida).

I think Hollywood was also hampered by being the first 2 shows of the tour. Seems the band works out the kinks and is much less willing to take some chances early on as far as song selection. Seemed like each stop, on this most recent leg at least, got better and better. And they played deeper cuts as time went on (well, at least deeper cuts as it pertains to 2025 lol).

But your overall point is correct. I saw them at the HOB in 2003 and the show was just sort of OK for that tour. Several other shows I saw were much better.

Groda03 · May 23

For me, it was Pittsburgh N2. We got nose bleed seats a few days before and drove from Cleveland on Sunday. The "Worst" seats we've had but it did not matter. We loved a different perspective of the whole atmosphere. The energy was amazing all night and I miss it. This show would be followed closely by Missoula, Vegas 1, and Florida 1 for this tour. Honestly, I loved them all and hope we are fortunate to get many more.

on2legs · May 23

I put Philly 1 as the best of the six I saw and then the other 5 in a tie for second place.

BSully · May 23

For me, it's still a toss up between Pitt 1 and Pitt 2 at the moment.

TJ80 · May 23

This is an enjoyable thread to read through. We are lucky to catch these moments!

GS4566 · May 24

I only went to Raleigh 1. It was my 45th overall but first show in 9 years, last time i saw them was all 4 FL 2016 dates. Raleigh 1was fantastic. I’m jonesin for more ! I don’t know where it ranks in the DM tour, but I’d put that show in the top 10 or so I’ve seen. Maybe top 5.

I live in FL, an hour away from the Hard Rock and didn’t get 10club tickets and couldn’t justify 2k for a pair.

I kinda freaked out when I struck out with 10club. My wife and I got Raleigh during the presale and flew up instead. So happy it all worked out.

I like the shorter show also. There’s a renewed intensity to them.

demetrios · May 24

I've been to 5 shows, and I would say ..

Philly 1
Seattle 1
Philly 2
Seattle 2
Baltimore

jsilsby · May 24

Atlanta N2 (pit)
Raleigh N2 (pit)
Boston N1 (pit)
Pittsburgh N1 (pit)
Nashville N2 (pit)
Boston N2 (pit)
Atlanta N1 (seats)
Raleigh N1 (pit)
New York N1 (seats)

KN219077 · May 25

Can’t speak for best show (boot is for sure Philly 1) but only saw them in Missoula and the band sounded as good as ever and put on a great show.

ekwipt · May 25

No setlist analysis. Just purely based on how much fun I had at my 6 shows:
-Tie- Vancouver 1/Atlanta 2
-Atlanta 1
-Vancouver 2
-Chicago 1
-Seattle 2

pashapasaman · May 25

Melb 2

Sydney 2

100 Pacer · May 25

My 16 show run on the ‘24 & ‘25 DM tour felt like a chapter in PJ history: from the opening shows in Vancouver to the closing shows in Pittsburgh and all the ones I saw in between. From the best I’ve heard the band sound at the Hollywood shows to the loudest crowd at the Philadelphia 1 show. From the DM listening party in April last year to now recognizing how different Setting Sun hits. From completing the album live early on to my first Hunger Strike at the end. Thankful for each and every experience with numerous friends sharing the journey alongside.

GlowGirl · May 25

These past two years of the Dark Matter tour was so much fun. Hard to choose my favorites. Thank you Pearl Jam. It was quite a ride.

dc07cf · May 25

Only made it to Philly1 and Pitt2. Reading through the comments, it appears I made out pretty well.

For me I’d put the Pitt2 over Philly1, just slightly, I preferred the setlist in Philly but the over all experience goes to the Burgh.

DL236795 · May 25

So lucky to go to 4!

1. Sydney 2
2. Gold Coast
3. Sydney 1
4. Melbourne 1

And Melbourne 1 was sensational! That's how amazing these shows were!

MKSNYC · May 25

GlowGirl said:

These past two years of the Dark Matter tour was so much fun. Hard to choose my favorites. Thank you Pearl Jam. It was quite a ride.

Wowza! I got 2 on my ‘24 and one on my ‘25. Very happy to have/seen those :-)

curmudgeoness · May 26

Fifteen shows, Philly 1 easily the best, with Fenway 2 not far behind. I'd say both of those were top-tier shows, crazy crowd energy in Philly.

There were a lot of special moments along the way in the other shows, including: Stone dancing during Gremmie, Matt opening in Portland, first times hearing "Waiting for Stevie" and "Got to Give," every time they played Immortality, It's Okay and Hunger Strike in Pittsburgh. There wasn't a "bad" or even a "meh" show in the bunch. I was especially grateful to be able to find the time in between husband's job, my run-in with cancer, and all of the other crap that the past 18 months have thrown at us to get to so many shows. We tend to postpone fun, so it was a big freaking deal that we got to so many concerts despite everything else happening in our lives.

demetrios · May 26

GlowGirl said:

These past two years of the Dark Matter tour was so much fun. Hard to choose my favorites. Thank you Pearl Jam. It was quite a ride.

THAT, is sweet! 😎

What was the best show of the Dark Matter Tour?

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