2025-05-13: Raleigh, NC

[E.H. Ruddock]

Our section last night was pretty active. I also was in the aisle though and it was annoying how many people are walking back and forth.

I thought this show had more energy and intensity from the band. They were really firing. Although there were no rarities, there were some crazy good songs played and played well. Last Exit, Immortality, Untitled/MFC, Life Wasted, IMT, Lukin, Leaving Here all sounded like they have been playing them all tour. Loved the opener of Setting Sun.

I am sad that between two shows we didn’t get any Riot Act or Gigaton songs. Never Destination would have fit in nicely last night.

Really great run of two shows. I’ve seen some good ones from them in the Carolinas, and these two are at the top of the list. Got to meet up with b, stip, wease, bi_3, Green Habit, doc, and chloe. And met b and Wease’s lovely wives. Good times, Pearl Jam.

[VinylGuy]

wow thats awesome guys

very happy for all of you

[dad]

Finding out B saw The Hard Quartet was not something I was ready for.

[E.H. Ruddock]

[wease]

OK, so I hope Ruddo and stip will weigh in b/c Ruddo was GA with me on Sunday and in seats last night, and stip was in seats at roughly the same spot both nights.

GA vs. Seats

I have seen Pearl Jam from the 3rd, 6th, 15th rows, from the lawn, from the Pit, from a crowd at a festival, and from the nosebleeds. I figured it was all just different flavors of enjoying the show, but this week I had GA and seats back to back, so I really compared experiences.

There is no measure for how much more exciting a concert is from the floor. Sunday night, we strolled onto the floor, so we weren't even very close, but we were pretty close, 10 or so people from Ed's little platform, and even though I looked around the room several times, you could have easily convinced me I was in a tiny club full of only the most excited fans. Hell, I was closer to Pearl Jam than I was to Hard Quartet when I saw them last month in the actual Cat's Cradle. The energy was over the top with people who never stopped singing, jumping and pumping their fists in the air. I'm sure someone will tell you the sound is shit down there, and my friend said he when everyone is singing (which never stops down there), but the energy, the connection with the band is absolutely palpable.

Last night, I was in the stands, and get the fuck out! Most people stood for most of the main set, no one jumped ever, hands rarely went in the air. I felt every inch of that room. It was massive, and despite having good seats, I felt like I was in the nosebleeds. It probably didn't help that I was on the aisle which was an absolute highway. I'd be shocked if there was one person in those two sections closest to the stage that didn't take a piss break during the show. Every single person bumping into me, walking in front of me, trying to find their row, and drunkenly falling onto the handrail took me out of the show. I mean, you have 3rd row seats next to the god damn stage, McCready is absolutely shredding with the guitar behind his head on Evenflow, and now, NOW you're gonna turn around, walk up the aisle to refill you're $20 beer? Did you people not pay to see this fucking show? I was in 10C seats, most of the people around me had to have been to.

From now on, if you see me in seats, it's because Santos fucked me, because I never want to be in the seats again. It is the difference between looking Ed in the eyes during Alive and watching The Fixer's Target commercial on YouTube. I'd rather save my money and buy the bootleg than ever sit in an arena seat, because, for me, despite knowing last night was a tighter, more energetic show with a cooler setlist, I came out of there knowing that Night #1 blew it the fuck away.

Didn’t you also have your kid with you in the pit? That probably had a lot to do with your enjoyment, as well.

[wease]

Our section last night was pretty active. I also was in the aisle though and it was annoying how many people are walking back and forth.

I thought this show had more energy and intensity from the band. They were really firing. Although there were no rarities, there were some crazy good songs played and played well. Last Exit, Immortality, Untitled/MFC, Life Wasted, IMT, Lukin, Leaving Here all sounded like they have been playing them all tour. Loved the opener of Setting Sun.

I am sad that between two shows we didn’t get any Riot Act or Gigaton songs. Never Destination would have fit in nicely last night.

Really great run of two shows. I’ve seen some good ones from them in the Carolinas, and these two are at the top of the list. Got to meet up with b, stip, wease, bi_3, Green Habit, doc, and chloe. And met b and Wease’s lovely wives. Good times, Pearl Jam.

Glad you guys had another great show last night.

Wish we could’ve hung around a little longer. Meeting you, bi_3 and b was a lot of fun. Didn’t get to meet stip or Green Habit, but hopefully next time.

[stip]

the audience seemed more engaged Sunday night regardless. Maybe I noticed this more because I was aisle on Tuesday but there were definitely more beer/bathroom breaks and less response in the area

The screens are a slight value add. They've never been immersive from the stands in the now 5 shows I've had with them. It is nice to have the closeup of the band though

[CCKaraoke]

Life has taught me that there are no conincidences.
Either by their own choice, or by act of god (or both), PJ played Untitled as the 13th song, on May 13th, in the Carolinas.

[CCKaraoke]

amazing night. one of the tightest/best sounding show Ive been at in a while, and its been a great run

setting sun is an incredible opener

If you live in the Carolinas, maybe we could grab a drink some day

[dad]

18. BEE GIRL
19. LIFE WASTED
20. BLACK
21. BETTERMAN
22. ALIVE
23. LEAVING HERE
24. RITFW

Normalize more encores like this, please. While I’m kinda tired of RitFW, they at least played more of their own songs, and I would take the ones they chose in a heartbeat over five covers.

[Chris_H_2]

i could really go without ever hearing bee girl live again. it's a pretty gimmicky song that's not very good.

[Bi_3]

Two great shows and really enjoyed meeting up with b, wease, ruddo, Green Habit, doc, and chloe.

[B]

Didn’t you also have your kid with you in the pit? That probably had a lot to do with your enjoyment, as well.

True. My kid was with me on night #1. My wife was with me on night #2. Neither had ever been to a show. Neither is a fan.

I can't completely disregard this as a reason for my opinion, but I think, in general, it evens out.

[B]

According to livefootsteps.org, Dark Matter is starting to eclipse Gigaton. Some of those songs have been played more than any Gigaton songs.

The most played Gigaton song was Dance (35), and React, Respond (36), Wreckage (45), and Dark Matter (41) all beat that. They either hate or can't play that album.

[Monkey_Driven]

According to livefootsteps.org, Dark Matter is starting to eclipse Gigaton. Some of those songs have been played more than any Gigaton songs.

The most played Gigaton song was Dance (35), and React, Respond (36), Wreckage (45), and Dark Matter (41) all beat that. They either hate or can't play that album.

If only we had some rehearsal recordings to prove they can indeed play all of Gigaton (minus CTG).

[stip]

amazing night. one of the tightest/best sounding show Ive been at in a while, and its been a great run

setting sun is an incredible opener

If you live in the Carolinas, maybe we could grab a drink some day

i am in maryland. but i go where the tickets take me

[stip]

i could really go without ever hearing bee girl live again. it's a pretty gimmicky song that's not very good.

i agree, and yet it sounded great and was really cool

[wease]

According to livefootsteps.org, Dark Matter is starting to eclipse Gigaton. Some of those songs have been played more than any Gigaton songs.

The most played Gigaton song was Dance (35), and React, Respond (36), Wreckage (45), and Dark Matter (41) all beat that. They either hate or can't play that album.

Probably hate

[stip]

it's a shame. All the stuff I heard (Who Ever Said, Dance, Quick Escape, Never Destination, Retrograde) sounded great

[wease]

I didn’t get Quick Escape. That would’ve been nice