If you've followed our concept of a Pearl Jam Drought, you know that citizens of West Virginia, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Alaska have waited in excess of 8,450 days to see Pearl Jam. By that measure, the 1,536 days (count by Travis Hay) they've made Seattle wait for a show doesn't seem so bad. Still, that's quite along enough to make a hometown crowd feel a little slighted, especially in a year when Pearl Jam played Wrigley Field and not Safeco.
Maybe that's part of the reason Pearl Jam not only played at Key Arena in Seattle this tour, but also three other cities (Portland, Spokane, and Vancouver) that are a mere stone's throw from Puget Sound. Although everyone will always claim a favorite show, ... a best crowd, .... a greatest setlist, it is safe to say that the whole tour built up to these shows and every fan and band member was in fine form every night.
What were some of the rarities and highlights? How about a Top Ten List within your Top Ten List?
10. Soon Forget (Vancouver)
9. Van Halen's Eruption (Spokane/Seattle)
8. Rats (Portland)
7. Homer Simpson's Mr. Plow (Calgary)
6. Velvet Underground's After Hours (Portland/Spokane/Vancouver/Seattle)
5. Brain of J (Spokane)
4. Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns/Breath/State of Love and Trust (Seattle)
3. Let Me Sleep (Seattle)
2. Kick Out the Jams (with Mark Arm, Steve Turner, and Kim Thayil in Seattle)
1. Neil Young's Rockin' In The Free World (with Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, and Sleater-Kinney in Portland)
You can always count on Pearl Jam to throw in a lot of fun when they're close to home.
... and before we leave you hanging over the weekend for #1, what's a blog post without some video evidence?
ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD (WITH R.E.M. AND SLEATER-KINNEY) - PORTLAND
BRAIN OF J (WITH FAN HAIRCUT) - SPOKANE
... and before we leave you hanging over the weekend for #1, what's a blog post without some video evidence?
ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD (WITH R.E.M. AND SLEATER-KINNEY) - PORTLAND
BRAIN OF J (WITH FAN HAIRCUT) - SPOKANE
SOON FORGET - VANCOUVER
AFTER HOURS - SEATTLE
KICK OUT THE JAMS (WITH MUDHONEY AND KIM THAYIL) - SEATTLE