2018-08-20: Chicago, Illinois

[E.H. Ruddock]

I had a mild worry/regret that I didn't do the Chicago shows after Missoula, but I feel like those setlists were decent but nothing spectacular, so I feel a little better.

Same. I tried and failed to get tickets to these, and the rain delay and relatively unexciting setlists make me feel glad I didn't cave and pay something ridiculous on Stubhub.

Dump the covers, go back indoors.

Night One was a great setlist save the two slow songs to start the encore.

I got Fatal

[stompbox]

Speaking of multiple stadium shows. In Missoula Ed was talking about politics and mentioned about supporting people that believe in science and global warming..... At first thought, I was thinking that their huge crew with a bunch of trucks and buses would use less emissions by doing multiple shows.

But the more I thought of it, playing 2 night stands to 50,000 encourages people, like me to travel. Lots of people, like me, flew from the east coast to Seattle then I flew to Missoula. Multiply this by how many people did the same and I am not sure there was a net reduction.

Looking at all those trucks idling and the cooled container trucks that ran a/c compressors that store ice, beer, etc. it got me thinking of how much wasted fuel was burned due to the shows and how we/they could do better.

they offset their carbon footprint on every tour though

That is probably as good as they can do to mitigate, but I am a skeptic those remediation work is effective.

I did NOT know they try to calculate the fans emissions. Interesting.

[swan]

Speaking of multiple stadium shows. In Missoula Ed was talking about politics and mentioned about supporting people that believe in science and global warming..... At first thought, I was thinking that their huge crew with a bunch of trucks and buses would use less emissions by doing multiple shows.

But the more I thought of it, playing 2 night stands to 50,000 encourages people, like me to travel. Lots of people, like me, flew from the east coast to Seattle then I flew to Missoula. Multiply this by how many people did the same and I am not sure there was a net reduction.

Looking at all those trucks idling and the cooled container trucks that ran a/c compressors that store ice, beer, etc. it got me thinking of how much wasted fuel was burned due to the shows and how we/they could do better.

A lot of bands won't play the Gorge anymore because of the carbon footprint

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[evenslow]

Throw Your Hatred Down is really good.

[CopperTom]

I had a mild worry/regret that I didn't do the Chicago shows after Missoula, but I feel like those setlists were decent but nothing spectacular, so I feel a little better.

Same. I tried and failed to get tickets to these, and the rain delay and relatively unexciting setlists make me feel glad I didn't cave and pay something ridiculous on Stubhub.

Dump the covers, go back indoors.

Night One was a great setlist save the two slow songs to start the encore.

I got Fatal

I thought all stadium sets were pretty good except for Seattle 1. I would have been happy with any of the other 4. We'll see what Boston brings. CopperTom prediction: a version of No Way where "Fenway" replaces "No Way" throughout the song. It'll be bad, oh so bad.

[daft twat]

I had a mild worry/regret that I didn't do the Chicago shows after Missoula, but I feel like those setlists were decent but nothing spectacular, so I feel a little better.

Same. I tried and failed to get tickets to these, and the rain delay and relatively unexciting setlists make me feel glad I didn't cave and pay something ridiculous on Stubhub.

Dump the covers, go back indoors.

Night One was a great setlist save the two slow songs to start the encore.

I got Fatal

It sounded awesome, too. I’m envious, but I’m glad the RM contingent got to enjoy it.

[Bi_3]

I had a mild worry/regret that I didn't do the Chicago shows after Missoula, but I feel like those setlists were decent but nothing spectacular, so I feel a little better.

Same. I tried and failed to get tickets to these, and the rain delay and relatively unexciting setlists make me feel glad I didn't cave and pay something ridiculous on Stubhub.

Dump the covers, go back indoors.

Night One was a great setlist save the two slow songs to start the encore.

I got Fatal

I thought all stadium sets were pretty good except for Seattle 1. I would have been happy with any of the other 4. We'll see what Boston brings. CopperTom prediction: a version of No Way where "Fenway" replaces "No Way" throughout the song. It'll be bad, oh so bad.

Yeah the white stripes cover last night was similarly mutilated

[Chris_H_2]

the good:

- Ed's voice
- them finally slowing some songs down
- In My Tree
- jeff being on fire all night (he owned the show)
- the variety of the setlists with virtually no rhyme or reason

the bad:

- the number of covers
- sports figures with whom ed is friends coming on stage
- b_i blowing me off again
- the guy next to me that felt compelled to share the setlist with me while the show was going on
- the call and responses

the ugly:

- Come Back

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[dad]

the good:

- Ed's voice
- them finally slowing some songs down
- In My Tree
- jeff being on fire all night (he owned the show)
- the variety of the setlists with virtually no rhyme or reason

the bad:

- the number of covers
- sports figures with whom ed is friends coming on stage
- b_i blowing me off again
- the guy next to me that felt compelled to share the setlist with me while the show was going on
- the call and responses

the ugly:

- Come Back

I followed last night on livefootsteps, and I have to say it's disappointing knowing they've played Mind Your Manners more times in their career than they've played In My Tree.

[shakescky]

- sports figures with whom ed is friends coming on stage

this plus the hard curfew at 11pm makes me ready to endure the possibility of short sets at fenway.

[wease]

Up here in my tree
Ruddo won’t sing along with me...

[Captain Termite]

- the guy next to me that felt compelled to share the setlist with me while the show was going on

If a guy kept showing me a pic of the setlist on his phone during the show, I'd have the urge to pour my beer on his head and throw his phone into the bleachers.

[RAG319]

Hi guys! First time poster here. Well...sort of...I posted here A LOT back in like 2000-2004. Then I stopped, and fuck if I know what my old login info was.

Anyway, I wanted to give my impressions of last night's Wrigley show seeing how I am what one might consider a "lapsed" Pearl Jam fan. Basically between 2000-2008 I was a 10C member and saw them 12 times including traveling to see the band on multiple occasions, was essentially a Pearl Jam fanatic, still have an unopened Benorya Hall vinyl in my closet. But around 2009, my interest in the band just completely fell off. I didn't care for their new music, I let my 10C membership lapse, and I found more (often local - I'm in Chicago) modern music that I enjoyed more, and life went on.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, I got a text from an old concert buddy asking if I was going to see them at Wrigley this year. In 2016, he came to Chicago for Wrigley and he went to the show and I just met him for a few beers at the Cubby bear before heading home. Just wasn't interested. But maybe it's cause I'm more keen for a nostalgia trip these days or just interest seeing how I missed the Chicago Smashing Pumpkins shows because of work, but I said fuck it, and bought a ticket to last nights show. Solo, even.

I saw the Saturday set, and was very impressed. They played a lot of stuff I'd been very happy to see. So, I started digging into some old PJ boots, watching Let's Play Two!, rewatched Pearl Jam 20, and got myself psyched for the show.

So, what are my impressions of my first real Pearl Jam show in 10 years?

It was very solid. Ed's voice sounds amazing. Like really, no idea how he manages that at his age. They were quite sloppy at times, though. Sloppier than they appeared on the videos I saw of Saturday's show. Maybe it was the rain. Eddie came out with the wine, so he, like I did, probably took the weather delay to drink up. Like many have said, he stumbled over a lot of lyrics, sang lyrics at the wrong time, or missed a few cues. I think the whole band fucked up In My Tree. The first chord hit after the intro was REALLY fucked. I saw Ed jolt over in Stone's direction and give a look like, "What the fuck happens now?" They recovered nicely, though. The opening five songs were fucking fire, though. I wish they kept that pace through the entire show. I'm honestly not familiar with much post-Avocado, but MYM and Lightening Bolt were both pretty good live. Still too many covers, though. And I get this was a sort of special show, but my favorite record of theirs is Binaural, so I would have loved to hear at least one from that record.

But at least they seemed to still be having fun. I'll probably check them out again if they come back, but please play United Center. Summer Chicago weather is such a shitshow. Still, I think Saturday would have been a better time for me from a set perspective, but it's all fine.

Last night probably wouldn't be anywhere in my top shows, though. My top two are Borgata I in 2005 and Vic in 2006. Nothing beats seeing PJ in a small venue. I was extremely lucky to be able to attend those.

[bodysnatcher]

I followed last night on livefootsteps, and I have to say it's disappointing knowing they've played Mind Your Manners more times in their career than they've played In My Tree.

FFS. WTF? F!

[numbers]

I followed last night on livefootsteps, and I have to say it's disappointing knowing they've played Mind Your Manners more times in their career than they've played In My Tree.

FFS. WTF? F!

Yeah, that sucks.

[Strat]

I followed last night on livefootsteps, and I have to say it's disappointing knowing they've played Mind Your Manners more times in their career than they've played In My Tree.

FFS. WTF? F!

Its true. In my tree has been played 92 times whereas MYM has been played 110

[bodysnatcher]

maybe they're applying the "too much of a good thing is a bad thing" philosophy for In My Tree

and they're testing the idea of "too much of a bad thing is a good thing" for Mind Your Manners?

[evenslow]

Hi guys! First time poster here. Well...sort of...I posted here A LOT back in like 2000-2004. Then I stopped, and fuck if I know what my old login info was.

Anyway, I wanted to give my impressions of last night's Wrigley show seeing how I am what one might consider a "lapsed" Pearl Jam fan. Basically between 2000-2008 I was a 10C member and saw them 12 times including traveling to see the band on multiple occasions, was essentially a Pearl Jam fanatic, still have an unopened Benorya Hall vinyl in my closet. But around 2009, my interest in the band just completely fell off. I didn't care for their new music, I let my 10C membership lapse, and I found more (often local - I'm in Chicago) modern music that I enjoyed more, and life went on.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, I got a text from an old concert buddy asking if I was going to see them at Wrigley this year. In 2016, he came to Chicago for Wrigley and he went to the show and I just met him for a few beers at the Cubby bear before heading home. Just wasn't interested. But maybe it's cause I'm more keen for a nostalgia trip these days or just interest seeing how I missed the Chicago Smashing Pumpkins shows because of work, but I said fuck it, and bought a ticket to last nights show. Solo, even.

I saw the Saturday set, and was very impressed. They played a lot of stuff I'd been very happy to see. So, I started digging into some old PJ boots, watching Let's Play Two!, rewatched Pearl Jam 20, and got myself psyched for the show.

So, what are my impressions of my first real Pearl Jam show in 10 years?

It was very solid. Ed's voice sounds amazing. Like really, no idea how he manages that at his age. They were quite sloppy at times, though. Sloppier than they appeared on the videos I saw of Saturday's show. Maybe it was the rain. Eddie came out with the wine, so he, like I did, probably took the weather delay to drink up. Like many have said, he stumbled over a lot of lyrics, sang lyrics at the wrong time, or missed a few cues. I think the whole band fucked up In My Tree. The first chord hit after the intro was REALLY fucked. I saw Ed jolt over in Stone's direction and give a look like, "What the fuck happens now?" They recovered nicely, though. The opening five songs were fucking fire, though. I wish they kept that pace through the entire show. I'm honestly not familiar with much post-Avocado, but MYM and Lightening Bolt were both pretty good live. Still too many covers, though. And I get this was a sort of special show, but my favorite record of theirs is Binaural, so I would have loved to hear at least one from that record.

But at least they seemed to still be having fun. I'll probably check them out again if they come back, but please play United Center. Summer Chicago weather is such a shitshow. Still, I think Saturday would have been a better time for me from a set perspective, but it's all fine.

Last night probably wouldn't be anywhere in my top shows, though. My top two are Borgata I in 2005 and Vic in 2006. Nothing beats seeing PJ in a small venue. I was extremely lucky to be able to attend those.