2016-08-07: Boston, Massachusetts

[spike]

was angel any better?

[numbers]

Yeah, I agree about the crowd, there was a great vibe all night. The setlist doesn't look like anything special on paper, but they sounded really good and it was one of the tighter performances of theirs that I've seen. Footsteps was probably my biggest "want to hear" that I hadn't checked off the list, so that was great.

[numbers]

Also, I was totally wrong about what that crowd was going to be like. It wasn't the douchefest I thought it would be, in fact, it was the most normal PJ crowd I've been in.

[Bi_3]

was angel any better?

It was different than the Ride version. During the show it sounded like everyone was playing there own thing and Ed was just singing the lyrics over the jam, but listening again on YouTube, I kinda dig it.

[spike]

matt needs to start taking five during that one.

[CopperTom]

This Angel was better.

[numbers]

I was able to get the shirt I wanted so that was a pleasant suprise.

[numbers]

Also, being on the field at Fenway and experiencing the show from that vantage point was really something for me. I found myself just looking around a bunch of times. I wasn't crazy about the shows being there, but I'm really glad I had that experience now.

[MattA75]

Also, being on the field at Fenway and experiencing the show from that vantage point was really something for me. I found myself just looking around a bunch of times. I wasn't crazy about the shows being there, but I'm really glad I had that experience now.

I found myself doing the same thing Friday night...I took my stepson to the Sox game on Father's Day and got to run the bases with him, but that was over with so quick you didn't even really have time to take it all in

The only reason I'd want more Fenway shows is selfish 10C seniority ticket reasons...

[Will]

Incredibly fun shows. Night two had better songs, stories, and more singalongs. Night one had an amazing Black and Strangest Tribe, and solid covers. Overall great sets. Never been in Fenway before. Amazing place. Found myself watching the crowd a lot, getting goosebumps each night when things really caught fire. Hats off to Boston. Nicely done.

[numbers]

My one complaint was how if you were on the field, you had to have your ticket checked 5 goddamned times between the gate and your seat.

[Simple Torture]

On board with the looking around comments. I was especially impressed with how the people way up top were rocking out at the end of the show.

[Norah]

Also, I was totally wrong about what that crowd was going to be like. It wasn't the douchefest I thought it would be, in fact, it was the most normal PJ crowd I've been in.

I'm not surprised, considering the anecdotal evidence of my facebook and twitter feeds. It seems that a lot of people went to this show that weren't your typical pearl jam fan.

[Bi_3]

Last night was a showcase of exactly why modern PJ is still amazing. After an awkward start that lasted for 6 songs, somehow they recovered during Animal and it just never stopped. Song after song was great all around. Two particularly cool things were showcasing just how great No Code and Vitalogy are, and performing so many of their longer songs. The short punky numbers were noticibly absent and it really let everyone in the band open up and enjoy the moment. Even the more obscure Yellow Moon and Angel (my personal Cinderella) had big sing-a-longs. What was even more amazing about this one was just how good the second encore was. Could not have scripted a better show and this one might be my first buy boot in 5 years.

[wease]

Did Ed reference Dave A before or after Angel this time?

[MattA75]

My one complaint was how if you were on the field, you had to have your ticket checked 5 goddamned times between the gate and your seat.

I can only hope if you were down near the front on the field that you didn't have to deal with the same dimwitted blonde usher my wife and I dealt with all of Friday night...

[numbers]

The ushers were friendly and not a problem at all, it was just the annoyance of basically having to carry that ticket in your hand the entire time.

[numbers]

I forget when exactly but at one point during the encore they teased Wooden Jesus for a second and my heart stopped.

[Simple Torture]

Someone has to stage an intervention with the band regarding the new breakdown in Corduroy. Almost my entire section and most of the sections around me continued with the song, screaming, "Everything has chains..." for about 6-7 seconds after the slow down happened, and it caused more than a few people to look around quizzically and try to figure out what was going on. That's what happens when you change one of the best parts of one of your most iconic songs, guys; it sucks, too, because the rest of Corduroy was melting faces last night.

My only other quibble is that I don't think Lightning Bolt (the song) is as popular as the band thinks. Most people around me took it as a chance to take a breather. You slide another song in there (I dunno, Gods' Dice, Breakerfall, Brain of J or something) and it would've just added to the electricity. I'll stop fantasy booking now (although, I'll PS just long enough to say: if you swapped some Night 1 songs into Night 2, I think we'd be having the G.O.A.T. conversation this morning).

[Norah]

It violates all known laws of the universe to have a GOAT discussion for a Pearl Jam show that took place in 2016.