Concert 1: Amsterdam, Netherlands: 24-6-12

Opening show was a blast, so many old favorites and crowd pumping moments. Will get set list to you soon.

Being on the floor for the first time was a smooth. Missed out on our early-entrance wristbands, but that's ok since we were still pretty close. One downside was the fact that Dutch men can be quite tall! Our necks hurt from being cricked the whole time and I definitely got a calf workout from being on my tiptoes.

Overall, it was a fantastic, familiar and tame show. Can't wait to see what they come up with tomorrow and for 6 more European shows after that. :)

Pearl Jam European Tour, 2012

Well, we're back at it again. 8 out of the 12 official shows, but we're still calling it a European Tour. This is OUR tour, a trip of a lifetime, before we start popping out the chill'uns (I am the Modern Wife, after all)...

Arrived in Amsterdam this morning...er, afternoon (damn jetlag). First set of shows start tomorrow, the 26th and Wednesday the 27th.

Next, we're off to Prague to catch the July 2nd set and then another train ride to Berlin to watch the back to back July 4th and 5th

Flying to Scandinavia from Berlin to see the July 7th show in Stockholm. Oslo will be our shortest stay, with our train arriving just moments before the July 9th show. Lastly, Copenhagen, Denmark will be our farewell show... that is unless we see PJ back in Canada in the fall...

Stay posted as I blog about the journey, adventure, experience to never forget.

Pearl Jam: Hamilton, 15-7- 2011, Copps Coliseum

SIGH. The last show. Would be more sad if I wasn't SO DAMN EXCITED that we have SICK SEATS!!!!!!!! ROW 7, STAGE LEFT BABY!!!

Almost Montreal... But better.

Before I continue, I would like to thank the fellow Ten Club member that allowed us to see such an awesome show. He posted the tickets on the site and Hubby was at the right place at the right time. We gave our other tickets to my lil college aged sister-in-law, and so we ALL got to see the BEST show out of the four I saw.

Set One

• Given To Fly
• The Fixer
• Severed Hand
• Corduroy
• Hail, Hail
• U
• Immortality
• Setting Forth
• Not For You
• Olé
• Even Flow
• Cropduster
• Daughter / Blitzkrieg Bop
• Habit
• Push Me, Pull Me
• Just Breathe
• Jeremy
• Why Go

Side Notes: Given to Fly is always a fab opener but my favs from this block is definitely the Severed Hand/Corduroy combo: Vedder opening solos at their best!! Went wild during Cropduster and Push Me, Pull Me was an amazing surprise... I felt like we were at a poetry reading! I was impressed Ed remembered all the words!!

Encore One

• Nothingman
• I Remember You
• Better Man / I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
• Black
• State Of Love And Trust
• Porch

Side Notes: Nothingman to open the first Encore is almost tear inducing. Before rare cover 'I Remember You', Ed told shared the personal story about being in the room as Johnny Ramone passed onto the next life. He recalled looking over at his sleeping daughter and seeing Johnny and letting God know that he 'get's it'. This Encore was one to remember, ending with one of my Top Tens, Porch.

Encore Two

• Brain Of J.
• Unthought Known
• Crazy Mary
• Search and Destroy
• Alive
• Yellow Ledbetter

Side Notes: Brain of J played as a special request to fans holding a bed sheet to the right of us. Eddie commented that it was one of the only signs he could read, (although I could see "Smile", "Better Man" and "Eddie join us for drinks at the Pink Flamingo"). What a treat! Hearing Crazy Mary was fun although not as special as the first time around. Alive and Ledbetter to close, what a classic night.

Eddie was really feeling the crowd tonight and kept telling us so. At one point he stepped forward, off the stage and -- with the help of the security guards -- onto the front row barrier. Not a crowd surfing/set climbing antic from his early days, but certainly very cool to see the fans that got to reach out!!

I told my husband that I likened this show to a sexual experience: All senses satisfied.

Then I said I was gonna book us a couple flights to Brazil...

Neither comment amused him.

** I do not own these photos. A shame tho, they're AWESOME.

Pearl Jam: Toronto, 11/12-7- 2011, Air Canada Centre

The moral of this story, even before you read the rest of my review, is this: Pearl Jam does not disappoint.

Like seasoned lovers, Pearl Jam teased the audience into glory during their 2 show stop in Toronto at the ACC. Filling the seats with people of many walks of life, the audience never fails to go wild when the 6 piece band enters stage left. Arms flailing, lungs bursting, Toronto fans show Pearl Jam just how they've managed to put on hundreds of shows over twenty years.

Show One: Sunday, September 11, 2011

While Long Road may not have been a popular choice for an opener, coming in with Do the Evolution followed closely by Once was certainly a hit. I personally am happy to hear anything off of Ten (my favourite album) while being part of the 'hallelujah' chorus during Do the Evolution is a feeling unmatched by other songs.
For lack of time to review each song, please view Set One below.

• Long Road
• Do The Evolution
• Once
• Got Some
• Faithfull
• Nothing As it Seems
• Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
• Setting Forth
• Not For You / Modern Girl
• Given To Fly
• Just Breathe
• Off He Goes
• Daughter / It's Ok
• Grievance
• Down
• Unthought Known
• The Fixer
• Porch

Side Notes: Elderly Woman will always hold a spot in my heart, while the anthem Not For You clears the mind of worldly pettiness. While they played Given To Fly in Montreal, Eddie did NOT replace "ocean" with the city name -- but in fact did say "Made it to TORONTO, had a smoke in a tree" tonight... Just Breathe, off their newest album Backspacer, admittedly brought a tear to my eye while audience participation in Daughter was thrilling. Grievance was a surprise to my husband, who had never heard it before in his 7+ show career. Ending set one with Porch, (loooove Ten), was ideal. I've heard Porch live 3 times now, and it never fails!!!!!!!!!!

Encore One

• Nothingman
• Better Man / Save it for Later
• Leatherman
• Black
• Rearviewmirror

Side Notes: TOTALLY PLEASED to hear Nothingman!! Was a first for both hubby and I. Better Man is definitely a favourite with the crowds, as is Black. REARVIEWMIRROR, for me, stole the show tonight (maybe -- will get to that later). Please add this song to your list of 'Must Hears'... you can thank me later. Although, tonight's version was definitely one of their best!! (Hear a taste on their Live on Ten Legs CD).

Second Encore

• Chloe Dancer
• Crown Of Thorns
• Alive
• Rockin' In The Free World

Side Notes: Opening Second Encore with 2 rare Mother Love Bone songs may have confused some while true "grungers" (please excuse term, used for lack of a better word) were in heaven. Alive brought any waning fans out of their funk. Now, if you were quick to Eddie's allusions, you may have guessed that we would be paid a visit by Uncle Neil. Sure enough, halfway through the Canadian tradition of Rockin' In The Free World, Neil Young saunters onstage, strumming along and showing McCready how it's done. Crowd goes wild, see picture inset.

WHEW!!! Can I handle day 2!? Can they top this show!?

Why, yes. A resounding yes, in fact.

Show Two: Monday, September 12, 2011

Now I will say this straight off the bat: Monday's show was my favourite set list by far. Song after song had me pumped up beyond belief. That isn't to say that my 300's section didn't SUCK (why the FUCK are you sitting down during a PJ show), but I just blocked them out and focused on what I was there to see.

PEARL JAMMMMMMMM.

Hubby and I quickly heard the early chords of Go, which prompted my husband to assume that Animal would follow. How my husband knows this band. We both have to agree that this opener was PHENOMENAL and definitely pleased us hardcore fans (dare I call myself that!?). Second time playing new single Olé, which had some people excited but left others unmoved. Hail, Hail was the second time for me, but still makes me wild. In My Tree, off of my second fav album No Code, was a pleasant treat. Hubby and I probably would have given it a 10% probability of being played, so we were in high spirits, to say the least. SAD was on my MUST HEAR list, and I was SO CONTENTED to cross that baby off. The live rendition does NOT disappoint, and Lost Dogs is one of my favourite albums because of this song!! Now before I get too carried away, do view the complete Set One.

• Go
• Animal
• Olé
• Hail, Hail
• In My Tree
• Sad
• Dissident
• Setting Forth
• Corduroy
• Gods' Dice
• Deep
• Garden
• Wishlist
• Even Flow
• Present Tense
• Rats
• State Of Love And Trust
• The Fixer
• Porch

Side Notes: Dissident is fantastic to sing to, while Corduroy is an old favourite (and the story of my life). Deep could have been the biggest shock of the night to my husband, while I was ecstatic to hear Garden (and THE BEST rendition ever!!!). Wishlist was a first for me while Even Flow is probably one of the first songs I ever fell in love with. Present Tense was one of those vocal moments where Eddie just tantalizingly took his time with, and had the crowd begging by the chorus. RATS was a huge one on my husband's Must Hear list, while State of Love and Trust was on mine!! (Having recently watched "Singles" for the first time, I fell in love all over again!) The Fixer has quickly become a crowd pump-up, and as previously mentioned, Porch is on my top ten list of all time, and always a good listen.

Encore One:

• Last Kiss
• Just Breathe
• I Got Id / Cinnamon Girl
• Light Years
• Jeremy
• Why Go

Side Notes: WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT TO PUT LAST KISS ON THEIR MUST HEAR LIST!?!? Not even me, and I aim high! Dedicating this performance to upstage (those behind the set), Last Kiss really got the crowd going after the band returned from cigarro etc. Just Breathe was welcomed again, while the middle three songs were rare and cherished by true fans. Jeremy, of course, had everyone back on their feet (WHY THE FUCKING ARE YOU SITTING, ANYWAY!?) and I realized that Jeremy is probably one of my favourite songs to sing, one octave above Eddie, of course. Why Go is a Must Hear in a live show, as Eddie relies on the audience to pull it through to the end.

Encore Two:

• Do The Evolution
• Alive
• Kick Out The Jams
• Baba O'Riley
• Yellow Ledbetter

Side Notes: No Uncle Neil at this Encore, but it did not dissatisfy. Do the Evolution is a necessary song to give fans that special feeling, while Alive is another where most people know the words. (But why are you STILL sitting!?!???). Eddie brought out MudHoney to do Kick Out The Jams, a song they wrote together back in the day. Baba O'Reilly (isn't that how it's actually spelled?) is one cover the crowd doesn't mind hearing, while closing off with Yellow Ledbetter sure made us all sorry to see them go.

Why does it have to end!? (WHY GO HOME!?)

At least Eddie told us on Sunday that they were gonna be around for another twenty years! PHEW! I was worried, I still have 12 songs on my Must Hear list!!

Hopefully some will get crossed off during Thursday's show in Hamilton...

Why does it have to end!?!? (WHY GO HOME!?)

Hubby... can't we travel Canada!? MB next up!!

** I do not own the rights to these photos

Go where the music is playing and people are laughing

Preparing to see PJ show 2 of 4, the first Toronto show of two. Expectations? High, of course. Will they be met? Exceeded, I presume. But after watching YouTube footage of the Mtl show, I can't help but feel spoiled by our fantastic seats!!

Show 2 review coming soon...

** I do not own the rights to the photo

Pearl Jam, Montreal, QC: 7-9-2011

The best trip of my life occurred this past week when my husband and I traveled to Montreal, to see Pearl Jam live, at Centre Bell on Wednesday, September 7th, 2011.

Now, Pearl Jam is, (pun intended) one of the 'jams' that keeps my husband and I sticking together. We listen to their albums day in and day out, on car trips, home sound system and iPods. We sing, hum, drum and air guitar to every song, every day. We have, more than once, been criticized for not having a more expansive taste of music.

You can appreciate then, knowing this fact, that this was my first Pearl Jam show.

The energy of the crowds when the band first came on felt like experiencing love at first sight. The heart starts racing, ears ringing; you don't know whether to shout for joy, throw up or kiss somebody.

We were sitting in the 100s, stage left. Corner of the stage. Eye level WITH EDDIE and the gang.

We saw every guitar change, every drink they swigged (Vitamin Water, Corona), and every butt they hacked.

Pearl Jam opened with Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town.

This song means the world to my husband and I.

A single tear rolled down my cheek as I realized that this concert was just what we needed to escape the stresses of living a middle class life. It felt like our soul energies were recharging throughout the whole show.

One of the things that struck me most about this 20 year old band was the connection Pearl Jam has with their fans. Several times, the house lights would rise so that Eddie, Mike, Matt, Stone, Jeff and even Boom could take a look around and into the faces of the people cheering, clapping and shouting their lyrics.

During each of these times, when Eddie would scan the crowd to stage left, I would make some noise and give him a thumbs up. I was positive that he was looking our way, but Hubby wasn't so sure...

That was, until the band came for their first encore... to even louder praise than before.

("My god it's been so long... never dreamed you'd return".)

Eddie gazed around, taking in the fans, the people that have allowed him this job for twenty years.

He stared straight at me, straight at my up-thumbed hand...

("But now here you are... and here I am".)

... And matched my thumb with his own, returning the smile plastered giddily across my face.

(I know you don't believe me, but that's ok. My husband witnessed this moment and was just as awed as I.)

Now I could end the story there, but there are a few other instances of fan appreciation I would like to note.

- The tossing of tambourines, perhaps. The fact that Eddie aimed the instrument right at a hardcore, long haired bearded man a few rows down from me. That man, with his collection of PJ shirts, posters and a new tambourine, can now die a happy human.

- The sharing of wine, specifically to the most intensely passionate fans in the front row. These people got to drink wine, with Vedder, at a PJ concert! This also equals dying happily.

- The display of both a 'Lukin' license plate and a Canadian flag, (albeit a 'fake' pirate one'). Eddie held these fan items up to the crowd and acknowledged their existence to thousands of people.

- Countless thrown guitar picks

- Mike allowing people to touch his guitar whilst maintaining fingering/strumming tempo

- Pointing out at specific fans

And, oh yeah, A THUMBS UP (to me)

("I just want to scream: HELLO!!!!!!".)






Later on, my husband says, "Well babe, he wasn't expecting to see a thumbs up at a concert."

To which I replied, "Well I wanted to let him know that it was ok that he forgot the lyrics to Sleight of Hand!"

** I do not own the rights to this photo

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me.