Red Mosquito

I suppose I can see how if a person's first exposure to it was with the 2003 or later versions then their impression of it would be totally different. But yeah, Crazy Mary was a little gem that had an almost reverential aura to it in the 90's (or so it seemed). When they started playing it in 2000, I don't know a single Pearl Jam fan who wasn't stunned and through the roof that it was finally being played with some regularity. When it turned out they were able to transfer all of the mystique of the studio version into a live version, well, there was no other song that I heard more fans say was the highlight of one of those 2000 US shows than Crazy Mary. So yeah, when it became a big classic rock duel in 2003, it was like finding out someone had remade Freaks & Geeks as a Disney Teen Series. They have no shortage of songs to turn into big stadium jams; it was a shame that they had to do it with this one.

harmless wrote:Basically, I have a hierarchy with PJ complaints at the moment, and Boom's inclusion is right at the bottom. If I was to prioritise, I'd say less Brendan, more Boom. At this point I really don't think he justifies any real noise.

I like boom for the most part, just not him and mike dueling on Crazy Mary

Can I have a link to an early live version you'd recommend? Given that these versions I've posted were my first exposure to the song, I really like them for what they are. But now I've heard the studio version I'm interested in hearing how you'd want it.

Dr. Van Nostrand wrote:

harmless wrote:Basically, I have a hierarchy with PJ complaints at the moment, and Boom's inclusion is right at the bottom. If I was to prioritise, I'd say less Brendan, more Boom. At this point I really don't think he justifies any real noise.

I like boom for the most part, just not him and mike dueling on Crazy Mary

Isn't that just the most annoying wankfest this band has ever produced? I can't stand it.

HardTI wrote:

Dr. Van Nostrand wrote:

harmless wrote:Basically, I have a hierarchy with PJ complaints at the moment, and Boom's inclusion is right at the bottom. If I was to prioritise, I'd say less Brendan, more Boom. At this point I really don't think he justifies any real noise.

I like boom for the most part, just not him and mike dueling on Crazy Mary

Isn't that just the most annoying wankfest this band has ever produced? I can't stand it.

No, RVM live (complete with a 15-minute drum solo in the middle) is the most annoying wankfest this band has ever produced.

But I don't get it, I thought everyone liked PJ wankfests? Every time Mike goes off on one, it's a PJ wankfest. I was under the impression the fanbase lapped that shit up.

HardTI wrote:

Dr. Van Nostrand wrote:

harmless wrote:Basically, I have a hierarchy with PJ complaints at the moment, and Boom's inclusion is right at the bottom. If I was to prioritise, I'd say less Brendan, more Boom. At this point I really don't think he justifies any real noise.

I like boom for the most part, just not him and mike dueling on Crazy Mary

Isn't that just the most annoying wankfest this band has ever produced? I can't stand it.

For me it really does drag down a great song

To be fair, Mike was on it during this show though. This is great.



My favourite PJ song and one of the few songs I think Matt plays better than Dave A.

harmless wrote:But I don't get it, I thought everyone liked PJ wankfests? Every time Mike goes off on one, it's a PJ wankfest. I was under the impression the fanbase lapped that shit up.

haha ya. I'm at the point where I am flat out bored when I listen to Mike play live. I think he's insanely overrated. What I do love is the jams where he and Stone do some nice interplay like the Porch solo from Soldiers Field 95. That's one of my favorite jams of theirs.
Actually, I really dig Mike's solo on MYM.

I'll take RVM's noise jams over Boom's organ riffing over two chords any day.

theplatypus wrote:I'll take RVM's noise jams over Boom's organ riffing over two chords any day.

I think we'll be 'Parting Ways' over this, maybe.

I was hoping to find the Indianapolis version, but it doesn't seem to be on Youtube, but this one seems to be a decent quality recording. I'd love it if this Crazy Mary came back. The one that still feels like it's a song about a misunderstood outsider in town all the way through the end...



Mike gets a little fancier at the end of this one than he does in some other versions from that tour, but it still stays very tasteful.

HardTI wrote:

harmless wrote:But I don't get it, I thought everyone liked PJ wankfests? Every time Mike goes off on one, it's a PJ wankfest. I was under the impression the fanbase lapped that shit up.

haha ya. I'm at the point where I am flat out bored when I listen to Mike play live. I think he's insanely overrated. What I do love is the jams where he and Stone do some nice interplay like the Porch solo from Soldiers Field 95. That's one of my favorite jams of theirs.
Actually, I really dig Mike's solo on MYM.

I'm not anti-solos or jamming, but it was never my favourite aspect of what PJ did. They never really did fully live up to the 'Jam' in their name, and I was OK with that.

harmless wrote:But I don't get it, I thought everyone liked PJ wankfests? Every time Mike goes off on one, it's a PJ wankfest. I was under the impression the fanbase lapped that shit up.

No, I think you're right. I think the general Pearl Jam concert goer thinks Mike going off is the greatest thing in the world.

Lament wrote:I was hoping to find the Indianapolis version, but it doesn't seem to be on Youtube, but this one seems to be a decent quality recording. I'd love it if this Crazy Mary came back. The one that still feels like it's a song about a misunderstood outsider in town all the way through the end...



Mike gets a little fancier at the end of this one than he does in some other versions from that tour, but it still stays very tasteful.

Yeah, this one's more evocative and reflective. The latter version is more of an enthusiastic pub drinking song. I'm fine with either approach, but it's much to do with Ed's vocal style I think. He's really quite hushed in this one.

Lament wrote:

harmless wrote:But I don't get it, I thought everyone liked PJ wankfests? Every time Mike goes off on one, it's a PJ wankfest. I was under the impression the fanbase lapped that shit up.

No, I think you're right. I think the general Pearl Jam concert goer thinks Mike going off is the greatest thing in the world.

I guess after Backspacer I wouldn't mind some of that back. No more 'patterns'. At least the guitar wankery reminds you that these are rock musicians.

Lament wrote:I was hoping to find the Indianapolis version, but it doesn't seem to be on Youtube, but this one seems to be a decent quality recording. I'd love it if this Crazy Mary came back. The one that still feels like it's a song about a misunderstood outsider in town all the way through the end...



Mike gets a little fancier at the end of this one than he does in some other versions from that tour, but it still stays very tasteful.

That is a great one, and i don't even mind the ones where mike threw in some stairway to heaven, but it doesn't need to go near or past 6 minutes

The worsts Crazy Mary were from the 2008 tour. Those were really bad.

What's the best 2000 "Crazy Mary"?

Lament wrote:I suppose I can see how if a person's first exposure to it was with the 2003 or later versions then their impression of it would be totally different. But yeah, Crazy Mary was a little gem that had an almost reverential aura to it in the 90's (or so it seemed). When they started playing it in 2000, I don't know a single Pearl Jam fan who wasn't stunned and through the roof that it was finally being played with some regularity. When it turned out they were able to transfer all of the mystique of the studio version into a live version, well, there was no other song that I heard more fans say was the highlight of one of those 2000 US shows than Crazy Mary. So yeah, when it became a big classic rock duel in 2003, it was like finding out someone had remade Freaks & Geeks as a Disney Teen Series. They have no shortage of songs to turn into big stadium jams; it was a shame that they had to do it with this one.

This guy gets it.