Re-digesting Past Regrets
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PearlJam.com 6/12/2008 Tampa, Florida St. Pete Times Forum
This is the perfect place to share a concert experience, right?
When I was 12 and 13 hearing Pearl Jam for the first time...I didn't like 'em. I didn't like the way Eddie sang and I didn't like flannels. What did I know at 13 anyway? Then it hit me, while I was busy getting hooked on the words of Incubus' S.C.I.E.N.C.E in 1999, I was carpooling with a big big PJ fan and got hooked on their words too. I listened, read all of the lyrics and that was it, I was devoted.
So, last Thursday June 12th, 2008 I was extremely excited to see one of my favorite bands, for the first time. Yep, 1 regret digested, not seeing them the many, many years they've toured...we just slagged it off for next time, over and over. Now...I've forgiven myself.
We headed to the show with close friends, one very passionate Pearl Jam fan (who was brought to tears during the show) and the other an obsessive Dylan fan who owns anything and everything the man ever did, bootlegs galore, side projects, tributes and all things Bob. So it was nice to be with some real music lovers (lucky to have quite a few in my life!). We settled into our 28th row floor seats long enough to hear about 5 songs from Kings of Leon. They were lively, simple and made me groove. Sorry, I haven't followed them, so I really can't elaborate on the songs we did see.
Pearl Jam is on stage and the first melody I hear instantly gave me shivers, then the words… "Large fingers pushing paint"…they opened with Sometimes. Eddie said some hellos and made some cracks about not knowing where they were. He told us, he asked Matt (the drummer). Matt was pretty sure we're in Tampa. He continued with something like, I know we're staying in St. Petersburg tonight... and then that Canadian flag hanging towards the back is throwing us all off. Heads turned to where he pointed, yes indeed we have a Canadian flag, and there's bits of laughter. We love Canadians, why not!
Mr. Vedder was very interactive, full of energy and the crowd was eating it up and getting pumped. I was mesmerized by his every move. He did enthusiastic, well-timed jumps in a few songs and threw his shirt off to the side of the stage to reveal his peace sign tee. Throughout the set he was raising his head and hands as he sang AND at moments where just the crowd sang, as if to open up and let as much of the experience into him as possible.
Jeff Ament (bass guitar), Stone Gossard (rhythm guitar), and Mike McCready (lead guitar) Matt Cameron (drums) added extra interest to the mainstream radio songs with their extended jams and McCready helped us drift off and forget we were listening to Even Flow for the 119,524th time.
There were quite a few highlights. One when Eddie used his guitar to reflect a spotlight into the audience. He raised the guitar over his head, angled the mirror on his guitar to the spotlight above him. Then slowly and systematically highlighted sections of the crowd moving from left of stage to right as if he was looking at each and every face looking back at him. Meanwhile the rest of the band is taking care of our aural curiosities...it was a pretty damn cool trick.
The highest light, literally, was during the 2nd encore. In the middle of the cover "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"...the venue workers apparently wanted to wrap things up and gradually increased the lighting. It was completely bright before the end of the tune which didn't stop PJ from lengthening the song once again, perhaps even more just because. It felt like were we at some high school gymnasium show with all the lights as bright as they were. They went on to play "Alive" and the crowd wasn't too shy to sing along. Somewhere in the meantime Eddie also wanted to point out a fan in front that was holding a young one who he sincerely thanked for staying awake through the entire show. BUT WAIT...there's more! They still weren't moved to close the show by the bright lights and went on to play "Yellow Ledbetter" which Mike McCready dragged out and twisted into a Jimi Hendrix version of The National Anthem. By this time it was obvious they were basically saying "fuck you, we'll play with the lights on". They gathered together, bowed, we departed. As we walked out, my passionate PJ buddy says in a most depressing tone, "I feel like my destiny is being stripped from my loins..."
Thanks to a local for loading up the video, you can get the idea of the lights and the "Yellow Ledbetter/National Anthem" here...
I thought the set was great. One song I could go without hearing was Better Man but hey...the mellow tunes are mostly my favorites and the set was filled with 'em, so I was more than happy (especially hearing the inspiring "Present Tense").
Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
Encore 1
Encore 2
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
Yellow LedBetter
And as a bonus! Charley informed us here -> "Pearl Jam's releasing burn-to-order CDs of each live show of their 2008 summer run":http://mog.com/Charley_Rogulewski/blog_post/166879
And that's one for my memory bank!
Locating MOG account...
Comments (27)
I'm glad you finally got to see them. It sounds like a lot of fun with all the right energy and a great set list for you. As an aside, I didn't know you liked Incubus, I was big into them for a while but haven't heard their albums after "Morning View."
I love you and promise I will read this - just not tonight - I have loved PJ since Ten & have never seen them cuz I can never get my hands on tix they sell out so quick round here. It hurts me just seeing those killer pics - hurts me - but thrills me for you !!!
They have their final show tonight & all I wanna do is go see them - but not on my own - not for PJ - that's a show I need to experience with friends.
Maybe next time - that, or I am coming to visit you next time they're in your neck of the woods ;)
When Ten came out it literally did not leave my cd player for six months. Couldn't get enough of them, saw them on the Lollapalooza tour that year . . . it was insane and awesome. After that album, I don't know what happened, but I've barely been able to stand them since then. However, sounds like you had an awesome time! It's always great to FINALLY see a band you've been jonesin' for forever.
Excellent review. Sounds like you have excorcised that regret! Thanks for the post.
I've enjoyed PJ in the past but not gotten into them that much. I've heard they are phenomenal live & Pearlheads swear by them. If they were at a festival that I attended I'd more than likely watch their set(if no one else I liked better was playing opposite them, of course).
Now if it was the real PJ, Harvey that is, I'd see her in a heart beat since I've been a longtime fan & still haven't seen her!
BIG WOOOOOO! TO YOU!
I'm sort of in the same boat as Groon - listened the hell out of TEN but unlike Groon, I was able to make my way through Vitalogy listening to them faithfully. Then, when Yield came out, I just stopped caring. I suppose it was the same for Nirvana - Nevermind and In Utero were both so influential to my listening habits then and now but I never listen to Nirvana anymore. I never saw PJ live and I know their live shows are incredible but it is something that I would like to experience some day. I heard the tickets for this tour were pricey. MSG tix were in the $75 range. Was that the same for Tampa's show? I remember just a few years ago their spat with ticketmaster in trying to keep their ticket prices low. I wonder what happened. Vedder does such an incredible cover of "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away." I've listen to that version more often than the Beatles original. That "I Am Sam" sndtrck is chalk full of great version of Beatles songs. I also remember buying the Jeremey import single for the "Yellow Ledbetter" track which was always in rotation for me.
Hey Brittany - Thanks! It feels like a little piece of my life is complete now, and it was perfect in my mind. As for Incubus, I rotated them constantly up to and through Morning View. Listened to the last couple and it's just not hitting me the same. Like I said in a comment on one my posts with them, might just miss the bass player Dirk, he left and it's just not the same.
Lizzie...Awww. So sorry to hear you haven't seen em, God I know how you feel! And their tickets go SO fast. I was on the dot this time and it was only a few seconds before I got 28th row. You'll see them soon!!! You gotta do the fan club pre-sale deal till you get em. Definitely an experience better shared with friends, here, there, ANY where...you've got music loving friends WORLD wide, I'd love to see them with YOU (or any band for that matter)! MUCH love to you my dear!!! (I really feel the need to emphasize caps with you on this one...hehe)
Groon, it was an awesome time! It's so hard for me to believe after Ten, people stopped listening. I guess it's just "Evolution Baby"! You connect or you don't, tho I recommend giving it another go! Vs., No code and Vitology were phenomenal, inspiring and comforting for me and all others I quickly fell for. Thanks for stopping by!
August! That's so nice to hear coming from you, thanks! It's difficult for me to capture all the feelings to writing. I can tell you this...I dig my PJ Harvey but you're about to get tackled by all Pearl Jam fans reading your comment about her being the "REAL PJ"!!? I'd take that back if I were you!!! haha! : P
"WOOOOOO" to me! Thanks R&R!
Hi Eric - When all taxes and fees were done ripping us off, we paid $82.45 per ticket! But I'd gladly do it again! Nirvana and I faded away after In Utero too and rarely get the urge to listen to em these days as well. The Beatles cover was a real treat and the crowd was so pumped by that time...it was fantastic! I still need to get "I Am Sam", thanks for the reminder.
It just doesn't feel right without "Present Tense".
I'm so happy that you got to see them, Helen...and that they didn't disappoint you! Must be such a thrill...thank you for sharing it with us! You deserve each and every amazing vibe you got from that show :)
Anna! Thank you for reading about the night! It WAS positively amazing! Something I can scratch off the long list of things I must do sooner than later. There's plenty more live shows on that list too! Thanks for all the nice vibes you bring! : )
this is great. One of my "closest-to-heart" bands since "Ten" was realeased......glad you got to see a great band put on such a great show.
Thanks brainofj, it was so fantastic to finally seem them.
"One of my "closest-to-heart" bands since "Ten" was realeased".
They have that effect to reach in and touch your heart, don't they...some of the songs are just so beautifully put together.
"One song I could go without hearing was Better Man"
heh...yeah that one and Daughter always drove me nut
so glad to hear you got to see a band so important to you...and a beatles cover to boot
it's funny, as others have mentioned....i couldn't make it past Vitalogy with these guys either....but i still enjoy the random track here and there these days...might throw Ten in the player from time to time
that is one of those albums that can transport back in time for just a moment
Helen, your coverage is a total pleasure and i'm sure your exposure is just as pleasurable. (wink!)
a Pearl Jam concert i saw in the mid-'90s was also memorable because (A) i broke a thumb, and (B) i sat right next to this woman who turned out to be a famous rock journalist (i honestly didn't know), and when her article came out the next day, she used me as a handle in storytelling, referring to me as a nameless "sweet girl". what the...okay, i'll take it.
"It was completely bright before the end of the tune which didn't stop PJ from lengthening the song once again, perhaps even more just because." - i just love it when you know the band is enjoying the show as much as the audience, and often you can tell when they're faking it!
I'm the opposite, a fan at 13/14, who hasn't followed them since Ten (which I've listened to a lot recently - stands up incredibly well). What struck me from your excellent review was the devotion that they inspire in their fans, particularly your friend who was brought to tears. That's great. I was brought to tears at the recent Radiohead gig but only because my beer had been watered down. ;)
Oh, and "added extra interest to the mainstream radio songs"
Spoken like a true PJ music snob!
Hi Will...Yep, Daughter bugs me too! And keep enjoying those random tracks, they still have the potential to get under your skin!
Ilay! Of course my exposure is always pleasurable!! ; )
(now look what you made say...why'd you have to put it that way?)
Broke your thumb? My "sweet girl" moshing...?! I can picture it! The band was definitely having a good time with us, the crowd was so enthusiastic, I don't see how they couldn't be feeling it! So glad you found pleasure in my coverage, unlike the pervs out there! : *
Colin - It really makes sense they have such a large following still. The songwriting is full of inspiration, confusion and comfort, it's all relative, they're sincere and loyal and so they get what they give. And did you say "excellent review"...? I'm not worthy mr. mentor, but thanks!
It's so endearing to hear about a man crying, even if it is over beer. Aww.
; )
featured post status! holla!
nothing like getting a show that is long overdue. sounds like it was killer too! awesome PJ review
MariG - Is that all you care about...achieved social status...?! I had you wrong all this time! : P
Thanks MSS. Although I prefer the smaller venues and crowds these days, it feels really good to say I've seen PJ live!
Congrats on getting to see the show *and* the "achieved social status"
;-)
Thank you Mr. Cromwell, This isn't at all comparable to the visual and aural imagery of your posts. Thanks for stopping by. : )
Oh I'm so sad that I've still never seen them and I just missed my chance this past Sunday. Wah wah. Thankfully I can live vicariously through you and this magnificent post! Hopefully one day I will be free of my PJ regret!
Owww, Kat...too bad you and Lizzie couldn't hook up for that show! : ( This might be one of only a few situations I would recommend living vicariously through me. hehe ; ) Thanks for the "magnificent" comment dear!
People whine that P.J. is overrated and Eddie is overwrought, but I have never seen a concert of theirs that wasn't impassioned and exhilerating. Make fun if you must, but (like U2) they give a damn.
I'm happy to hear that you give a damn about PJ Mike!
"impassioned and exhilerating" is just how I like my concerts, bands, friends, government.....I could go on. : )
D'accord! I just wish I had used my 2 AM spell-check on the comment. That would be "exhilarating."
Mr. Mike the Knife, with all due respect...
PAAlease! If you go around correcting spelling errors, how do think that makes everyone else feel. ; ) Ha!
Really though, firefox used to highlight it for us, but I notice with the new fancy comment box, it doesn't pick up. Just know that you can mispell on my posts and I won't think any less of you. : )