2013 Official Bootlegs

[Iholdthepain]

So I finally got the Portland show downloaded, I think there was a problem with the original download. Anyway, the first thing I did was go to Corduroy, because I feel this is a song the band, Ed mostly, have a fair amount of trouble on. I think many would agree, Corduroy live doesn't sound as good as it used to.

Well, I was very pleasantly surprised. This is a kick ass Corduroy performance. First of all, Matt's drums, holy shit, they are sweet. The drums sound like they're tuned really well, and recorded just as well. Also, Matt is just doing a lot of cool stuff, reminds me of 1998 Matt Cameron, almost. Ed sounds pretty good, he seems to get most the lyrics right. Ed doesn't do too much stupid vocal stuff like he does nowadays, he's warbling a decent amount, but the warble doesn't bother me much, and he's been warbling on this song since 2000. Mike, Jeff, and Stone all sound good too, but that's not too surprising. The end jam is cool.

I'm looking forward to the rest of this bootleg.

Man, I'm surprised you think that about Corduroy... of all songs, I think that's one of the VERY few that has stayed most true to form live. After listening to all of the audience recordings, I think I'm happy with my one 2013 boot purchase: Hartford... It is a standout from all the rest. IF I were to get one from leg 2, though, I think it would be BC.

[SpectorHD]

So I finally got the Portland show downloaded, I think there was a problem with the original download. Anyway, the first thing I did was go to Corduroy, because I feel this is a song the band, Ed mostly, have a fair amount of trouble on. I think many would agree, Corduroy live doesn't sound as good as it used to.

Well, I was very pleasantly surprised. This is a kick ass Corduroy performance. First of all, Matt's drums, holy shit, they are sweet. The drums sound like they're tuned really well, and recorded just as well. Also, Matt is just doing a lot of cool stuff, reminds me of 1998 Matt Cameron, almost. Ed sounds pretty good, he seems to get most the lyrics right. Ed doesn't do too much stupid vocal stuff like he does nowadays, he's warbling a decent amount, but the warble doesn't bother me much, and he's been warbling on this song since 2000. Mike, Jeff, and Stone all sound good too, but that's not too surprising. The end jam is cool.

I'm looking forward to the rest of this bootleg.

How is the rest of the bootleg? The first 10 songs sounded really promising on PJ Radio, but I'm not willing to buy a bootleg again and regret it soon after listening.

[Kevin Davis]

I felt that way about dave matthews once.

Haven't seen them since. Haven't bought an album since. Shit, haven't even listened at all in years. Your are in the first step of a separation, my friend

Oh honey, Spenno is well past the first step of separation; read through his posting history and you will find instead that he is stalled perpetually on the last one, just like many other posters whose bad RM habit continually forces them to inhale trace amounts of the second-hand smoke that is modern Pearl Jam. And hey, let me be the first to congratulate you on your divorce from Dave Matthews.

[hlniv]

It was 15 years ago, but thanks for the congrats!

I remember getting baked on the lawn (in more ways than one)in some amphitheater , and thinking "who's playing again? When are we leaving? I'd like to get back to the dorms. I've got free beer and a big bong there"

[ridleybradout]

How is the rest of the bootleg? The first 10 songs sounded really promising on PJ Radio, but I'm not willing to buy a bootleg again and regret it soon after listening.

Portland is a great boot no doubt - the first dozen songs are definitely a highlight of the tour, the band is on fire (Ed included) with some fierce versions - Animal and Deep sound the best they have in years. Some mistakes creep in as the night (i.e. vino) progresses, but it is a solid and enjoyable show.

Btw, this site I stumbled upon is a great resource, does exactly what it says on the packet

http://pjbootlegreviews.blogspot.com.au/

[Birds in Hell]

Portland is a great boot no doubt - the first dozen songs are definitely a highlight of the tour, the band is on fire (Ed included) with some fierce versions - Animal and Deep sound the best they have in years.

Having listened to the first two-thirds or so of the main set of Portland today, I agree.

By some margin the most solid performance I've heard from the tour so far. Even Ed sounds very good.

[matt reeder]

Portland is a great boot no doubt - the first dozen songs are definitely a highlight of the tour, the band is on fire (Ed included) with some fierce versions - Animal and Deep sound the best they have in years.

Having listened to the first two-thirds or so of the main set of Portland today, I agree.

By some margin the most solid performance I've heard from the tour so far. Even Ed sounds very good.

Yes! I guess I need to buy this then - I remember the show being good when I was there but I was wondering how the boot would sound. Glad to see the boot is just as good.

[SpectorHD]

How is the rest of the bootleg? The first 10 songs sounded really promising on PJ Radio, but I'm not willing to buy a bootleg again and regret it soon after listening.

Portland is a great boot no doubt - the first dozen songs are definitely a highlight of the tour, the band is on fire (Ed included) with some fierce versions - Animal and Deep sound the best they have in years. Some mistakes creep in as the night (i.e. vino) progresses, but it is a solid and enjoyable show.

Btw, this site I stumbled upon is a great resource, does exactly what it says on the packet

http://pjbootlegreviews.blogspot.com.au/

Thanks! Maybe I will get this one. I reckon that at least one of the remaining 4 shows will be good as well.

Nonetheless it is kind of alarming that only one quarter of the boots or so are enjoyable to listen too.

[Leatherhead]

Portland is a great boot no doubt - the first dozen songs are definitely a highlight of the tour, the band is on fire (Ed included) with some fierce versions - Animal and Deep sound the best they have in years.

Having listened to the first two-thirds or so of the main set of Portland today, I agree.

By some margin the most solid performance I've heard from the tour so far. Even Ed sounds very good.

Yes! I guess I need to buy this then - I remember the show being good when I was there but I was wondering how the boot would sound. Glad to see the boot is just as good.

For me, it's maybe even better as a bootleg. I don't have to listen to the two dudebros next to me complain about any songs past VS and boo everything Ed blabbered about.

[Birds in Hell]

The whole main set of Portland is pretty good.

The Yellow Moon > Just Breathe > Mother trio in the first encore was seriously snooze-inducing but I had to finally bail when Ed started incoherently rambling about the Iraq war and Dick Cheney at the beginning of Wasted Reprise.

[hlniv]

Oakland is not very good at all.

Faithfull and MFC totally botched and butchered

Big Wave falls apart. New World is terrible

Most of the 1st encore is just unlistenable and/or completely boring and passionless.

[VinylGuy]

Dallas is a great one...the guitars sound good...specially in Pendulum, Cant keep, MYM...and Daughter final moments are nice...

[Strat]

The only reason I seek the boots out now is to watch the Train wreck that was once the most incredible band :\

[guitar_davey]

The only reason I seek the boots out now is to watch the Train wreck that was once the most incredible band :\

I'm shocked people actually feel this way. I think they probably suffer a little bit from Ed's voice aging and from playing way too infrequently, but kudos to them for still mixing up the set lists and refusing to rein in the energy. They're all 50ish years old--I feel like it's insulting to call them a train wreck at this point. If they weren't releasing every show as a bootleg, this conversation wouldn't be happening.

I dunno--the show experience itself hasn't changed much in my opinion. I'll concede that the age probably shows a little more on the bootlegs, but those aren't even the point of the show. They're souvenirs.

[Birds in Hell]

kudos to them for still mixing up the set lists and refusing to rein in the energy

Honestly, I think these are two of their biggest problems as a live band.

I dunno--the show experience itself hasn't changed much in my opinion. I'll concede that the age probably shows a little more on the bootlegs, but those aren't even the point of the show. They're souvenirs.

I wouldn't imagine anyone would argue that the live experience exists only to facilitate the bootleg - of course they're not "the point" of the show but they do present a rather stark contrast between the band they are now and the band they were as recently as 8 or 9 years ago (let alone 2003, 2000, 1998 etc.)

What you hear on the recording is what the band actually played on the night for better or worse. Even if not every audience member picks up on the less obvious mistakes and botched transitions on the night, the recordings show they were undeniably there (and that they seem to occur a great deal more frequently now than they ever used to).

[Norah]

kudos to them for still mixing up the set lists and refusing to rein in the energy

Honestly, I think these are two of their biggest problems as a live band.

So much this.

[guitar_davey]

kudos to them for still mixing up the set lists and refusing to rein in the energy

Honestly, I think these are two of their biggest problems as a live band.

I dunno--the show experience itself hasn't changed much in my opinion. I'll concede that the age probably shows a little more on the bootlegs, but those aren't even the point of the show. They're souvenirs.

I wouldn't imagine anyone would argue that the live experience exists only to facilitate the bootleg - of course they're not "the point" of the show but they do present a rather stark contrast between the band they are now and the band they were as recently as 8 or 9 years ago (let alone 2003, 2000, 1998 etc.)

What you hear on the recording is what the band actually played on the night for better or worse. Even if not every audience member picks up on the less obvious mistakes and botched transitions on the night, the recordings show they were undeniably there (and that they seem to occur a great deal more frequently now than they ever used to).

Fair points. I saw them in October with a fellow die hard, as well as a couple of extremely casual fans--none of us four thought the show was anything other than fantastic. Certainly not a train wreck. I've heard the bootleg since--I guess given their ages, the harder style of a bulk of their catalogue, and the length of the sets, I'm pretty impressed. I'd have expected a decline way before this. I think the band is still pretty amazing.

[CopperTom]

kudos to them for still mixing up the set lists and refusing to rein in the energy

Honestly, I think these are two of their biggest problems as a live band.

So much this.

You're certainly in the minority, Birds.

[Norah]

kudos to them for still mixing up the set lists and refusing to rein in the energy

Honestly, I think these are two of their biggest problems as a live band.

So much this.

You're certainly in the minority, Birds.

Being the band that consistently changes up their setlists has allowed them (and the fans) to believe in this falsehood that every show is different and anything can happen on any given night. While in practice, it's probably stopped them from growing as a band. They think they're constantly doing things different, so they don't feel the burning to desire to actually move forward creatively.

It's that attitude that breeds songs like Unthought Known and Lightning Bolt on every album.

[ridleybradout]

The quality of compilations that will be culled from this tour (and the first half of the Portland and probably last 4 US boots) will show that the band can definitely still sound amazing - they are just way too inconsistent these days and it is undeniable that there are 3 things behind this:

1. A lack of rehearsal/concentration - as some have suggested, the setlists are perhaps too varied these days.
2. A lack of care - how many times does Ed have to butcher the words to Swallowed Whole, MFS, Life Wasted etc before he cares enough to simply look them up before the show?
3. Ed's drinking on stage - might add to the 'fun factor' for some but greatly impacts on the quality of his performance.