The big 3 open up.Severed Hand,WWS and LW.Solid way to showcase the new release.Ed's voice cracks more than once on WWS,other than that,they sound very good.
They push it too far,and Marker drops the feel.Below average new tune = bathroom break,and another round of beers.
Hail Hail picks things up.A solid rocker.The set would have flowed so much better without Marker.
Animal (a personal fav of mine) is up.Its sounds good,but it doesnt have the fire of Lisbon,05.23.00.Dissident (another oldie that should be played more) sounds spot on.Mike doesnt flub the start,sounds very good.This could have been a really epic run.But it isnt.
“Unemployable” is introduced as “an uplifting American number”. As you guys know,the hypocritical nature behind this song infuriates me.I have no problem with what the band are saying here.In 2006,the unemployment rate was crap.Hence this song.My problem here is simple.The unemployment rate since Obama took office has been at record lows,therefore,Ed (the hypocrite) stopped playing THIS SONG.Not because the song sucks (which it does),but because it isnt politically correct, to bash a liberal President.I hate that.Say what you want,and keep saying it.I would repect that.Pearl Jam actions are not consistent with their "claimed beliefs".That is weak and hypocritical.
Corduroy picks this back up.The song gets a big cheer,and I would have been running back to my seat,beers in hand.
Ed introduces “Better Man” saying “this is where you give Uncle Eddie a break”, and the crowd sings the entire first verse.It sounds good,but it just ends.No tag,no jam.Sounded rushed to me.
Why Go is a great live tune.I love it,and this keeps the crowd well involved.Garden is next up,this is another favorite song of mine.This is a very short version.At 3.30,the songs ends before it can take off.Listen to Stockholm 06.28.00,then this version.There is no comparison.
I Got Id keeps this great run going.Ed introduces the song by its real name “I Got Shit”, but says tonight it can be called “I Got Shit Tickets”. Interesting.
Even Flow is played towards the end of the set.I like it here.The band jam it out.Mike goes ballistic on the solo as usual.
Ed introduces “Inside Job” with “There will be some lasers on this song, so if you have something besides a cigarette to light, now would be the time.” This is one of the better songs off PJ.Really solid version *****
The immortal Black follows Inside Job.They blend well together.Not much to say about Black.Its PJ best song IMO,and this is a great version We Belong Together tag,band are spot on.
The fans are still singing the "do do do, do do do do " from Black,when RVM starts in.Its always a crowd pleaser.But as I have said in the past,its just too long.This version clock in at 10 full minuets.It should be moved earlier in the set as well.
Good way to end the set though.This set was really very good.If you skip Unemployable,its an almost epic run from Hail Hail on.
Encore 1
Ed attempts to start playing “I’m Open” and stops, saying “I was gonna play something but I can’t remember how to play it”.He continues,and its a decent verion.The rare Sleight Of Hand makes an appearance.I really like this song,but it does not being in the encore.The band flub the start,and it sounds rusty.(If you want to hear a great version,listen to it from Oslo,Norway 06.29.00.)
The loud,going nowhere fast Comatose is played.A below average new tune being forced on the crowd DURING THE ENCORE ?Terrible placement.Jeremy anyone ?
The classic Evolution quickly picks things up.Solid version.But this is a short uninspired encore.
Encore 2
Great version of Go starts off the 2nd round of encores.Always love this one.They can open with it,close the main set,or put it in the encores.I love it.Mike riffing all over the place.Going off.Matt slamming the drums.
Alive is next.Its classic Pearl Jam.No question,but its predictabliity in the encore has hurt this one over the years.Everyone knows it comming.How about closing a few sets with it ? Or playing it mid set,as they did in Europe 2000.
RITFW is good.But Im sick of it.It bores me now,and is of course predictable.
Ed thanks the crowd,thanking “right field, center field, left field, third base, short-stop, second base, first base. I guess we’re the catcher, so here’s the pitcher” and leads Mike to start “Yellow Ledbetter”.Yellow Ledbetter is of course a great tune,it just needs to be moved.This encore was lacking something,more classics I,d say.
4 stars
A solid main set,with both encores being a letdown.
Highlights: BLACK, I Got Shit,Inside Job,Sleight Of Hand and Go
Nice review, Ed. One thing that you and Ron have (that I don't) is the ability to recollect prior performances. It should improve for me with time but I still need more...experience.
Also, it's a tricky thing but I think you and I are on the same page about certain songs NOT being played during the encores. However, should they be limited to just playing stuff from the 1990's during these portions of the show? Tough to say.
In time Matt,you will hear a show,and you go "nope,that's missing something."
As far as the encores,that depends.I have no problem with a new song being played during the encore,just as long as its worthy.Example being Just Breathe or The End off Backspacer.Two new tunes,but they are classics.Thats fine.
Now,if they played Got Some or Ole during the encore,I would be like come on man !!! So it depends.
The Hartford show had Sleight Of Hand (a song I like alot).But,IMO,there is no way that tune should be played during the encore.Play it before Inside Job, during the main set, thats fine.
DMB face similar dilemma's with their sets.The older hardcore fans (me) "just want the old stuff".If a newer tune is played in the wrong spot,forget it.The DMB forums go nuts.I actually like their last 2 albums,and have no problem hearing their new songs.They have been playing a new tune called Drunken Soldier during the encore..thats fine by me,since its such a great song.
So Im saying if a song is great,its great..whether or not its old or new...
I think many bands who stay around long enough have that issue. Let's face it even thought PJ, Oasis, and U2 have released some great stuff during the second half of their existence, it'll never compare to the earlier work. It's just how it goes. In my mind, only Radiohead seem to be an exception - but I'll still take The Bends, OKC, and Kid A over their newer stuff.
Another example (and much more severe) is The Smashing Pumpkins. I went to see them back in October and they opening the show with their ENTIRE new album - and most of the crowd had little or no interest in hearing it. However, when they played all their hits from the 1990's during the second half of the concert, the crowd went nuts. I'm not being sarcastic when I say that must be difficult (or at least frustrating) for those musicians when this happens.
It'll be interesting to see what happens at the Soundgarden shows over the next little while. Will there be a lot of fans who just want the old stuff (but not too old) or will they embrace King Animal? Fortunately they are playing smaller venues so it should be the latter.
hard to say what an encore should be for me. old stuff? new stuff?
the best way is going through a mix (mostly oldies though) adding some surprises/rarities; PJ have the lucky, or better saying, the will to go through a wide range of choices .. if nothing for the lenght of their encores. similar for Bruce and his long ride through classics during the encores (sometimes just opening with a new song).
i don't mind new songs in the encore if i think for best example of Ultra Violet, Lemon, Love Is Blindness during ZooTV/Zooropa (or Moment staying nowadays) .. definetely not the same if new songs are like All Because of You, Yahweh, Vertigo to close a show and a show and a show and on.. hehe
