U2start.com | Pearl Jam

and here I go....

Grand Rapids (2006-05-19)

The bootleg I downloaded from pearljambootlegs.org includes three songs EV played before the opening band comes on. I believe that they are audience recordings ad are not included on the official versions (?). In any case, hearing “Dead Man” reminds me that I need to listen to that 2003 Benaroya Hall show once again in the very near future.

The show opens with “Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town” (yes, I just took the time to spell it out in its entirety!). It’s a great song but I dislike it as an opening. I’ve always felt that it belongs at around position #6 or #7 in the setlist: Start with a “slow burn” song like “Sometimes” or “Release” kick into four or five heavy songs and THEN play speak to the crowd and play “Small Town” – followed by “Given to Fly,” which is the second song performed during tonight’s show. I appreciate that they’ve tried to switch it up a bit but I feel like I walked in later and missed the first part of the show!

The big three from Avocado are next and sound fine – I still like them together – followed by “Sad.” It’s a very good b-side but I think something a little more popular would fit better here, especially since “Marker in the Sand” follows. I’ve been bashing this song for the first six review but you know what? I caught myself tapping my foot while I was listening to the performance. Could I be beginning to like this song? Is it possible??? Stranger things have happened – like the setlist in this night’s show.

“Red Mosquito” is back and it sounds quite good. The band is really testing the patience of the casual fans at this point. “Even Flow” probably puts their minds at ease.

Nice to hear “Love Boat Captain” – for obviously reasons they don’t play it very much anymore but it’s a treat to hear it tonight. It’s the worst TITLE in the PJ catalogue....good old Gavin McLeod keeps coming to mind.

“Corduroy” picks things back up very nicely which is followed by “Daughter” which is okay. I’m not a big fan of the supposed “Blitzkrieg Bop” tag. I like the actual song but throwing in a few “hey, ho’s” isn’t the same thing. We later find out it would have been Joey Ramone’s birthday (or was it Johnny’s?) so you can understand why they used the tag along with a bit of “I Believe in Miracles.”

EV welcomes some of the veteran’s in the crowd and plays a good version of “Army Reserve” but follows it with “Green Disease” – not the greatest transition if you ask me. I’m still glad they are bringing out so many songs from Riot Act but I’m still on the fence about this one.

“Why Go” (back again!!!!) is played NEXT. I like it but it’s been in 6 of 7 shows already. It’s a shame they didn’t rotate it more with, say, “Deep” - which wasn’t played at all in 2006!

They play a great version of “Inside Job” (where at the end EV states that he wrote the song) and a lengthy version of “RVM” (where EV seems to be more vocal than usual during the “jam” section) to end the main set.

On to the “experimental/fuckin’ with the crowd” encores:

A pretty decent version of “Sleight of Hand” of hands begins this set. It’s not that bad in small doses. Oddly enough, I’ve just realized that this song sounds a bit like a Soundgarden one...heavy, slow tempo, some voice distortion...I suppose it might be no coincidence that it’s from the first album with Matt Cameron.

“Around The Bend” and “Parting Ways” follow...to beautiful, underrated album closers that rarely get played – at least at a PJ show (I believe EV performs them once in a while on his solo tours???). They are very nice at the start of the first encore and, once again, remind me that I have to break out the “Benny” discs.

The fun for hardcore fans isn’t over yet as they break out “Hard to Imagine,” a performance I would definitely appreciate now but wouldn’t have two years ago – a nice rendition, indeed.

“Crazy Mary” and “Alive” close the encore. I like “Alive” here – or even to open one of the encores. That said, the concert could have ended here – they did a nice job – but this is Pearl Jam and they often push boundaries during their concerts.

Two heavy hitters “Do the Evolution” (hurray) and “Comatose” (meh) open the second encore – where the “experiment” is suppose to end. If you ask me, playing “Satan’s Bed” and “Leatherman” (not a huge favourite of mine but what the hell) will certainly challenge the crowd at this point. The band then plows into a solid version of “Blood” which could/should (???) end the show. I mean it’s the fifth song of the second encore, right? Wrong. It’s Pete Townsend’s birthday as well so they must play “Baba O’Riley” - I felt they should have played a Ramones song at this point as well as it is here that they mention Joey’s birthday.

They really could have ended it there but nope, “Yellow Ledbetter” ends it instead and after a night like this one, it should.

Highlights: Dead Man, Corduroy, Love Boat Captain, RVM, Around the Bend, Parting Ways, Hard to Imagine, Blood

Rating: 4.5 Stars may be a bit generous but 4 stars seems too low. You gotta appreciate the fact that they veered from the usual path on this night.

EDDMB

12 years

Nice review Matt.....IMO this gig is well deserving of 4.5 stars....

clover68

12 years

this is the kind of concert i love the most so ... hehe

MattG

12 years

Got some possible insider info the other day that Pearl Jam are on Wrigley Field's calendar for the weekend of September 14th & 15th, 2013.

The source also said that Fenway Park had been brought up to be the weekend before, September 6th & 7th, 2013.

Take it with a grain of salt, but there you are.

EDDMB

12 years

Wow...that would be great,but I just dont know if they could sell out stadiums now..but then again,Wrigley and Fenway only hold about 35,000 for a ballgame..so maybe....I would be all over N2 of Fenway.

RUMMY

12 years

^ If you're going all the way up to Boston, you'd might as well go to both shows, no?

EDDMB

12 years

True..but its only 200 miles from Manhattan Matt...4 hr drive,Ive done it many times...I will have to see whats going on,as its 9 months from now,and only a rumor..lol

clover68

12 years

stadiums gigs could mean a few dates run .. again
people of Pacific Northwest would be very happy about those 2 ..

EDDMB

12 years

PJ Facebook page says "stay tuned".......................hmmmmmmm..new festivals ?

clover68

12 years

same from Cubs twitter

Chicago Cubs ‏@Cubs
Ten. #StayTuned pic.twitter.com/eFXYXDGI

n° 10 jersey ..

RUMMY

12 years

Well, it's something to look forward to - and Toronto is (somewhat) between Boston and Chicago.

clover68

12 years

but it will be Eddie singing Take Me Out To the Ball Game at every matches ... hehe

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