2023-09-19: Austin, TX

[Strat]

which song could better absorb a full on boom gasper keyboard solo?

Speaking of boom. LOL, just came to post this

Video of Chloe/Crown from this show. Shot side stage.

They dont even let boom play the piano on chloe! Is this a pre recorded track?? This is wild

https://www.facebook.com/1123681142/vid ... 1347409418

[Farmer John]

I think Josh plays it now.

[tommy]

Did they ever teach Boom how to play the piano part on In Hiding?

[Jorge]

I will now listen to both songs and pick the winner

"Red Mosquito" - my least-favorite non-spoken-word track in my favorite Pearl Jam album. I like how it goes back and forth from a roaring blues into a vaguely Celtic folk sounding thing with bright acoustic guitars. Little touches like that connecting ascending lick between "he was just paying me" and "a little visit" make it sound like something that should be played on a lute. I like this version of Ed, too, when he sings this high but not Avocado-screechy. There's a clarity to his vocals that has completely disappeared with age. The lyrics are nothing to write home about but I like that there's some mystery to them, some cool imagery. The band sounds great. God, I still love the sound of No Code so much.

Immediately upon playing "Half Full" it's striking how much swampier it is. Ed's melody is also much bluesier, so there's less of a mix of styles. Throughout the jam sections one of the guitars plays this recurring A note that provides a cool buzzy droney feeling. There's stops and starts to this song, unlike in "Red Mosquito." Matt has a lot more to do here than Jack did in the previous track, and his playing is great. There's a really dark, foreboding feeling to the music that only gets graver and more ominous as the song progresses. It really does sound spooky and heavy, providing a real sense of weight to some very clunky lyrics.

There's a lot more color and variety to "Red Mosquito" but the apocalyptic doom-and-gloom of "Half Full" is hard to resist. They're both good but "Half Full" takes it for me.

[dad]

well okay.

[Farmer John]

I'm glad this was settled.

[AndySlash]

definitely enjoyed the texas run and more than happy with the shows we got. fort worth 1 is memorable because of josh filling in and the mostly 1991-98 setlist that resulted. josh really should be commended for what he has been able to bring to the band these last couple years.

i commented elsewhere that the biggest takeaway from these shows has been that the whole band actually seems like they are having fun and enjoying playing together. i can't really say that for shows i've seen from the better part of the last 15 years. at one point in fort worth ed and jeff were over by mike jamming out a little bit and ed looked over at stone and nodded for him to join them, which he did, and with a smile on his face and they all just put out a sense of camrederie that has been missing. they also clearly rehearsed - even the rarely played tunes - and while they weren't perfect, they seemed to be pretty well oiled. perhaps the bootleg recordings will expose other flaws not heard in the shows, but they really sounded better than they have in a long time.

every show this run had something for everyone, and with the days of 35-song marathons in the rear view, i think this set construction could suit them and us for a long time to come yet. that said, there was a real sense of appreciation and gratitude being shared by ed and i feel like they played these shows as if they could have been their last. ed mentioned a new album in 2024, and how well they sounded together, so i expect there will be a tour, but they could also go the r.e.m. route and put out a final album and quietly call it a day and i don't think i'd be surprised based off what i saw this last week.

[spike]

1/2 Full has never sounded like a fully formed composition to me.

[Birds in Hell]

I like Half Full but it’s not even close to Red Mosquito.

[Bi_3]

These two are correct

[spike]

1/2 Full does contain the Pearl Jam catalog’s greatest BROWN NOTE, however.

[Bi_3]

And the Coke vs New Coke debate rages on

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[Bi_3]

I will now listen to both songs and pick the winner

"Red Mosquito" - my least-favorite non-spoken-word track in my favorite Pearl Jam album. I like how it goes back and forth from a roaring blues into a vaguely Celtic folk sounding thing with bright acoustic guitars. Little touches like that connecting ascending lick between "he was just paying me" and "a little visit" make it sound like something that should be played on a lute. I like this version of Ed, too, when he sings this high but not Avocado-screechy. There's a clarity to his vocals that has completely disappeared with age. The lyrics are nothing to write home about but I like that there's some mystery to them, some cool imagery. The band sounds great. God, I still love the sound of No Code so much.

Immediately upon playing "Half Full" it's striking how much swampier it is. Ed's melody is also much bluesier, so there's less of a mix of styles. Throughout the jam sections one of the guitars plays this recurring A note that provides a cool buzzy droney feeling. There's stops and starts to this song, unlike in "Red Mosquito." Matt has a lot more to do here than Jack did in the previous track, and his playing is great. There's a really dark, foreboding feeling to the music that only gets graver and more ominous as the song progresses. It really does sound spooky and heavy, providing a real sense of weight to some very clunky lyrics.

There's a lot more color and variety to "Red Mosquito" but the apocalyptic doom-and-gloom of "Half Full" is hard to resist. They're both good but "Half Full" takes it for me.

[VinylGuy]

This place ain’t called the 1/2 Full Forum.

[96583UP]

great review Jorge

soy gay

[Farmer John]

For me, Red Mosquito wins the studio version battle, but I would rather hear 1/2 Full live.

[Monkey_Driven]

For me, Red Mosquito wins the studio version battle, but I would rather hear 1/2 Full live.

That's fair

[VinylGuy]

Red Mosquito aaaaalwayssss

ACL 09 with Ben Harper in steel guitar was wild AF

[Monkey_Driven]

Red Mosquito aaaaalwayssss

ACL 09 with Ben Harper in steel guitar was wild AF

We're not here to re-live 14 years ago, VG!