Essential Live Albums

[liebzz]

Frogwings - Croakin’ at Toad’s

On your suggestions, this is a late entry from the supergroup. Given the all star list, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but what I got was a tremendous journey through multiple sub-genres: flecks of jazz, jams, rock, and soul that is really a must hear - thanks for the recommendation. There’s a nice balance between the band playing within a structure and then falling into some massive shredding that seems to share the load between the band members. Each of these is really essential in its own right, and choosing one proves more difficult than expected. I am probably falling back on the song you’d expect from me: Pattern. That was some killer stuff.

The Essential Performance: Pattern

Up Next: Ben Harper - Alone EP

[liebzz]

We are now in the verge of a huge Pearl Jam run here…19 of the next 22 live albums to be precise, but first, the opening band…(even if he didn’t actually open for them on this tour)

[wease]

Frogwings - Croakin’ at Toad’s

On your suggestions, this is a late entry from the supergroup. Given the all star list, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but what I got was a tremendous journey through multiple sub-genres: flecks of jazz, jams, rock, and soul that is really a must hear - thanks for the recommendation. There’s a nice balance between the band playing within a structure and then falling into some massive shredding that seems to share the load between the band members. Each of these is really essential in its own right, and choosing one proves more difficult than expected. I am probably falling back on the song you’d expect from me: Pattern. That was some killer stuff.

The Essential Performance: Pattern

Up Next: Ben Harper - Alone EP

Pattern is prob my second favorite. Among Your Pillows is the one that hit me like a ton of bricks. That chord progression in the chorus combined with Oteil’s bass line just makes my soul soar.

[liebzz]

Frogwings - Croakin’ at Toad’s

On your suggestions, this is a late entry from the supergroup. Given the all star list, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but what I got was a tremendous journey through multiple sub-genres: flecks of jazz, jams, rock, and soul that is really a must hear - thanks for the recommendation. There’s a nice balance between the band playing within a structure and then falling into some massive shredding that seems to share the load between the band members. Each of these is really essential in its own right, and choosing one proves more difficult than expected. I am probably falling back on the song you’d expect from me: Pattern. That was some killer stuff.

The Essential Performance: Pattern

Up Next: Ben Harper - Alone EP

Pattern is prob my second favorite. Among Your Pillows is the one that hit me like a ton of bricks. That chord progression in the chorus combined with Oteil’s bass line just makes my soul soar.

Yes. I loved all of it - the songs had their own unique characters, especially for a side band.

[liebzz]

Ben Harper - Alone: Live EP

Other than Pearl Jam, Ben Harper is the live artist I have seen the most in concert. Between solo, the Innocent Criminals, and Relentless7, I have seen them something like 15 times, including a bunch opening or on the same bill as Pearl Jam. Hence the perfect moment to throw this on before diving into that band for a while.

Sadly, this one is mostly unremarkable and without very high quality in sound. Taken from a handful of shows on his 2000 tour, it’s mostly an EP made up of songs featured from Burn to Shine, plus a version of the blues standard Nobody’s Fault But Mine. This album is largely a rock record with the loud-quiet-loud element that probably ran its course by then, though it is a solid album overall, and with the hit Steal My Kisses, which gets a solid reading here. It for my loud-quiet-loud needs, The Woman in You is the winner.

The Essential Performance: The Woman in You

Up Next: Pearl Jam - Vault #4: Bellingham, WA 5/10/00

[wease]

Frogwings - Croakin’ at Toad’s

On your suggestions, this is a late entry from the supergroup. Given the all star list, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but what I got was a tremendous journey through multiple sub-genres: flecks of jazz, jams, rock, and soul that is really a must hear - thanks for the recommendation. There’s a nice balance between the band playing within a structure and then falling into some massive shredding that seems to share the load between the band members. Each of these is really essential in its own right, and choosing one proves more difficult than expected. I am probably falling back on the song you’d expect from me: Pattern. That was some killer stuff.

The Essential Performance: Pattern

Up Next: Ben Harper - Alone EP

Pattern is prob my second favorite. Among Your Pillows is the one that hit me like a ton of bricks. That chord progression in the chorus combined with Oteil’s bass line just makes my soul soar.

Yes. I loved all of it - the songs had their own unique characters, especially for a side band.

I had a feeling you might. Good deal.

[liebzz]

Pearl Jam - Vault #4: Mt. Baker Theatre, Bellingham, WA 5/10/2000

I hope you have your most comfortable clothes curled up in a warm blanket, because we’re gonna get a bit comfortable with Pearl Jam over the next few weeks. We often as a board tend to undersell the impact Pearl Jam has had on the industry over the years, as if their are relatively insignificant (hint: essential track) as compared to either the classic classic bands or the inventive underground and indie stuff, but this band has found places to lead the charge and change the way things are done. One such way was releasing 72 live albums encapsulating nearly all of the 2000 tour on CD nearly at once (the European leg was released before the North American legs). The relative ease by which I can listen to live music from many bands found it’s genesis here, and other bands would soon develop their own way of delivering nearly all their shows to their fans with advances in technology.

The only shows missing from the tour are the tragic show where fans were crushed at what was scheduled to be one of the final shows of the European leg, and two warm up shows, Vancouver and this one in Bellingham WA. Debuting and trying out much of Binaural in this show, it is understandably a bit of a slopfest. The band misses some queues, Eddie Vedder flubs some lyrics, but there’s a charm to these warm up shows in small venues that is irresistible for fans. It feels up close, even in the recordings, which makes these shows essential for the die hards. Given that this is Binaural’s first test drive, it is only fitting to pick the best Binaural performance here.

The Essential Performance: Insignificance

Up Next: Pearl Jam - London, England 5/30/2000

[liebzz]

Pearl Jam - London, England 5/30/2000

Welcome to Europe 2000. This is the first of 6 Ape/Man designated live albums from the 25 shows released from this leg of the tour. 5 shows in, the band here is really hitting their stride, less plowing through the familiar pattern of a Pearl Jam show (the slow opener, then blazing through some high energy rockers before finding their mid tempo groove) than living in the moment. McCready is really firing on this one, particularly on set highlight Nothing As It Seems, which is still in the form where they properly layer Stone’s acoustic against Mike’s electric wails - this would at times be more muddled, but here the distinction is perfect. Thin Air, a song they would come to often mangle live, hits the perfect delivery, the combo of State of Love and Trust, Immortality and Rearviewmirror to close the first set is phenomenal. The encore here delivers largely Light Years plus the hits but it seems right in the moment, and Black is really outstanding here. A really good show here from this tour.

The Essential Performance: Nothing As It Seems

Up Next: Pearl Jam - Cardiff, Wales 6/6/2000

[Happy Trees]

Pearl Jam - London, England 5/30/2000

Welcome to Europe 2000. This is the first of 6 Ape/Man designated live albums from the 25 shows released from this leg of the tour. 5 shows in, the band here is really hitting their stride, less plowing through the familiar pattern of a Pearl Jam show (the slow opener, then blazing through some high energy rockers before finding their mid tempo groove) than living in the moment. McCready is really firing on this one, particularly on set highlight Nothing As It Seems, which is still in the form where they properly layer Stone’s acoustic against Mike’s electric wails - this would at times be more muddled, but here the distinction is perfect. Thin Air, a song they would come to often mangle live, hits the perfect delivery, the combo of State of Love and Trust, Immortality and Rearviewmirror to close the first set is phenomenal. The encore here delivers largely Light Years plus the hits but it seems right in the moment, and Black is really outstanding here. A really good show here from this tour.

This is a perfect example of why I don't understand the Ape/Man designations. I thought the London shows were very weak and didn't feel compelled to use anything for "Alone And Far Away".

[Kevin Davis]

According to Wiki: "Eighteen shows from the tour were chosen by the band as 'Ape/Man' shows, which, according to bassist Jeff Ament, were shows the band found 'really exciting.'" I have to imagine the band did not relisten to all 72 shows from the tour in order to make these distinctions, and that "really exciting" likely refers to their memories of the shows, the response from the audience, the venue, the "vibe," etc., the kind of stuff that routinely trumps performance quality in live PJ world. IMO, performance-wise, there is no consistent, meaningful difference between the Ape/Man shows and the other ones. I don't think I've ever heard London, but I remember thinking Paris and Cardiff (the next two Ape/Mans) had their share of clunky song performances alongside the great ones.

Personally I think the best Europe shows come from the last third or so of the tour, with everything before that having at least some element of "still finding their footing," even though many great individual performances abound.

[liebzz]

Probably right, but I needed a way to winnow it down at least a little.

[liebzz]

Pearl Jam - Cardiff, Wales 6/6/2000

Just from the prior comments, I have a bit of a disagreement here. This one, which I probably haven’t heard in 20 years or so, is a legit banger of a show. As in way up there for me. The setlist, which I chose to set aside so I could get a sense of the moment, is phenomenal. The performances are largely spot on, as in save for a couple of the usual flubs (Immortality would have been an all timer if Eddie didn’t mix up the verses), they nailed this one. Nothing As It Seems is even better than the week before, Insignificance and Corduroy are killer, Alive in the Even Flow spot was awesome, Leatherman > Light Years > Pilot…dayum! And I’ll never complain getting Smile. Loved this show! The first in which I can just stare in awe at the setlist alone, let alone the very strong performances on just about everything:

Nothing As It Seems, Breakerfall, Gods’ Dice, Animal, Red Mosquito, Insignificance, Corduroy, I Got Id, Alive, Given to Fly, Better Man, Leatherman, Light Years, Pilate, Daughter/WMA, Do the Evolution, Once

Encore 1: Go, MFC, Small Town, Black, Immortality, Spin the Black Circle

Encore 2: Even Flow, Smile, Yellow Ledbetter

I mean, c’mon, I might mortally injure someone to get this setlist at one of my shows.

The Essential Performance: Smile

Up Next: Pearl Jam - Paris, France 6/8/2000

[Kevin Davis]

Probably right, but I needed a way to winnow it down at least a little.

Totally understandable, and my comments are likewise from memory, not recent listens to any of the shows. Almost all 2000 PJ is very good at worst. I just don’t think the shows singled out by the band were any less prone to technical mistakes, lyric flubs, etc., than the other shows, and that stuff is really a lot of what separates one PJ performance from the next for me, especially in periods like this where the baseline performance quality is extremely high.

[wease]

Pearl Jam - Cardiff, Wales 6/6/2000

Just from the prior comments, I have a bit of a disagreement here. This one, which I probably haven’t heard in 20 years or so, is a legit banger of a show. As in way up there for me. The setlist, which I chose to set aside so I could get a sense of the moment, is phenomenal. The performances are largely spot on, as in save for a couple of the usual flubs (Immortality would have been an all timer if Eddie didn’t mix up the verses), they nailed this one. Nothing As It Seems is even better than the week before, Insignificance and Corduroy are killer, Alive in the Even Flow spot was awesome, Leatherman > Light Years > Pilot…dayum! And I’ll never complain getting Smile. Loved this show! The first in which I can just stare in awe at the setlist alone, let alone the very strong performances on just about everything:

Nothing As It Seems, Breakerfall, Gods’ Dice, Animal, Red Mosquito, Insignificance, Corduroy, I Got Id, Alive, Given to Fly, Better Man, Leatherman, Light Years, Pilate, Daughter/WMA, Do the Evolution, Once

Encore 1: Go, MFC, Small Town, Black, Immortality, Spin the Black Circle

Encore 2: Even Flow, Smile, Yellow Ledbetter

I mean, c’mon, I might mortally injure someone to get this setlist at one of my shows.

The Essential Performance: Smile

Up Next: Pearl Jam - Paris, France 6/8/2000

Other than that NaiS opener that’s a helluva set list. Alive in the middle of the main set? Fuck yeah!

[Happy Trees]

Pearl Jam - Cardiff, Wales 6/6/2000

Just from the prior comments, I have a bit of a disagreement here. This one, which I probably haven’t heard in 20 years or so, is a legit banger of a show. As in way up there for me.

What do you disagree with? Cardiff is a really good one.

Paris has technical problems though - part of the main set is a mono soundboard tape. I guess the multi-track recording failed. Is that an Ape/Man show too? Jeez Louise.

[liebzz]

It is. I am in the midst of it, and coming right off Cardiff, it’s a bit of a let down.

I think there was a post that Cardiff was sloppy but I think they were pretty on. Paris comes off a bit more sloppy, and the repeats from Cardiff (the show prior) don’t hit their mark the same at least so far.

It’s been a while since I really revisited this leg of the tour, but I remember Berlin, Zurich, Hamburg, and the Ljubljana shows being memorable even though they did not get the designation. Paris seems like a weird choice.

Also, my memory has served that London 1 was better than London 2, but this is a long time ago now.

[liebzz]

Pearl Jam - Paris, France 6/8/2000

Amazingly, we’re already halfway through the European leg of the Ape/Man designated shows. This was us the first to really seem to fall a bit flat. The sound is not great on this bootleg, which doesn’t help. And even if the performances are perfectly good, this lacks that sense of excitement around every corner that Cardiff had. As if in a little bit of a hangover the next show, they play alright but don’t seem to hit that mark quite the same. The perfect examples of this are reprising Alive in the middle of the set and playing Pilate again. All good and well but neither have the spirit and excitement that was present in Cardiff. With the sound issues throughout, second encore’s Fuckin’ Up is maybe somewhat more emblematic of this show. That said, we do have a blazing Grievance here.

The Essential Performance: Fuckin’ Up

Up Next: Pearl Jam - Katowice, Poland 6/16/00

[dad]

Pearl Jam - Cardiff, Wales 6/6/2000

Just from the prior comments, I have a bit of a disagreement here. This one, which I probably haven’t heard in 20 years or so, is a legit banger of a show. As in way up there for me. The setlist, which I chose to set aside so I could get a sense of the moment, is phenomenal. The performances are largely spot on, as in save for a couple of the usual flubs (Immortality would have been an all timer if Eddie didn’t mix up the verses), they nailed this one. Nothing As It Seems is even better than the week before, Insignificance and Corduroy are killer, Alive in the Even Flow spot was awesome, Leatherman > Light Years > Pilot…dayum! And I’ll never complain getting Smile. Loved this show! The first in which I can just stare in awe at the setlist alone, let alone the very strong performances on just about everything:

Nothing As It Seems, Breakerfall, Gods’ Dice, Animal, Red Mosquito, Insignificance, Corduroy, I Got Id, Alive, Given to Fly, Better Man, Leatherman, Light Years, Pilate, Daughter/WMA, Do the Evolution, Once

Encore 1: Go, MFC, Small Town, Black, Immortality, Spin the Black Circle

Encore 2: Even Flow, Smile, Yellow Ledbetter

I mean, c’mon, I might mortally injure someone to get this setlist at one of my shows.

The Essential Performance: Smile

Up Next: Pearl Jam - Paris, France 6/8/2000

Other than that NaiS opener that’s a helluva set list. Alive in the middle of the main set? Fuck yeah!

Of all the Europe shows, the one I’ve returned to most is that Cardiff show.

[Kevin Davis]

What do you disagree with? Cardiff is a really good one.

I think he was responding to my comment that I remembered both Cardiff and Paris having some technical errors/flubs as well, just like many of the non Ape/Man shows. I could be misremembering, of course.

The Europe 2K shows that I've returned to the most are Katowice 2, Salzburg, and Verona, though they have all been more or less displaced by Alone and Far Away.

[liebzz]

Katowice 2 is next. I have heard this show more than any of the others from Europe 2000, but I am excited because it will be in a new context of this thread and having powered through 4 Pearl Jam live recordings this week.