I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: August 18, 2018] Pearl Jam

After four days of touring Chicago, we were beat.  Even though we were both looking forward to tonight’s show, we were a little wiped out by the thought of staying out, catching the EL, etc.  Especially because of the weather.

The weather was not promising: rain all day and then thunderstorms right around showtime.  The Chicago weather seems to change a lot, but that forecast never wavered all week.

Our friend Kaylo and her family (who live in Minnesota but whom we met in Boston–they were staying at the same hotel for Pearl Jam) could only make this one show.  They had gotten general admission spots (again).  And so it was part of her family hazing ritual to make her kids wait outside in the rain all day to get as close as possible the front of the stadium.

Meanwhile we were in a museum across town, learning stuff and staying dry.

The weather let up a bit as we got off of the El and headed to Wrigley.  There were a lot fewer people milling about and we even got on line for merch (and got two of the notoriously hard to get posters–but not the awesome ones that immediately sell out).

And then Sarah pointed to the monitors which had a green sign which read:

When I saw Phish at BB&T Pavilion, there was lightning right overhead but nothing happened. However, back in 2013, Pearl Jam played Wrigley and there was a storm which delayed the show for hours.

It wasn’t quite show time yet, so we weren’t worried although everyone around us was checking weather apps.  We were in more Ten Club seats.  These were a little better.  Closer to the stage, still in the 200s, but no foul ball net.  However, the key aspect was that we were under the level above us.  Which was important because before we knew it, there was pouring rain and a new sign:

Within five minutes they had cleared everyone off of the field (See below it looks like trump’s inauguration).

So all of the folks who waited outside all day (like Kaylo and her family) were summarily moved into a holding area for 90 minutes and then released.  Amazingly when they returned, they wound up pretty close to where they were.  I gather Pearl Jam floor fans are cool and kind (whereas the 200s fans are vulgar meatheads).

But yes, here’s the field filled in (more like Obama’s inauguration).

So we were sprinkled on lightly, but we (and the posters) stayed mostly dry for the 90 minute deluge.  Here’s proof that the storm was real.  After a 90 minute delay they told us the show would go on.  The crew was amazing at getting everything set up and ready to go.  And so the 7:30 start time turned into 9PM.

Despite my exhaustion I was really looking forward to this second show.  I knew they’d play a different set list (Pearl Jam is definitely a band worth seeing both nights), and I imagined it would be epically long.  Last night in Chicago for a while, Eddie loves Wrigley Field.  Who knew how much they would cram into this show.

But now we’d lost 90 minutes!

Well, the band made up for it in power, energy and brevity.  They roared opened with an amazing “Given to Fly.”  The previous show built slowly but this one just roared out of the gate.  It was followed by a storming “Why Go” and the riff-heavy, blistering “Go.”  They also played “Last Exit,” a song I’d been waiting to hear for four shows now.

Eddie didn’t talk as much as usual.  It was like they wanted to get as much music in as they could.  And some of us were really clock-watching.  Would the show be only two hours?

Sarah was telling me how much she wanted to hear “Mind Your Manners” again.  It’s such an intense live song and the crowd really digs it, so I wonder why they don’t play it more.  Well, we got it tonight–all power and lights.

Then Eddie talked to the crowd briefly saying that in Hawaii rain is considered a blessing, so we all should count our blessings.

And then they surprised me (and I suppose everyone) by playing “Do the Evolution” again.  It’s unlike them to play the same one two nights in a row (with some exceptions).  But of all the songs they could have doubled up, “Evolution” was a great one.  Especially as I imagine Kaylo’s daughter singing “Hallelujah” down in the pit.  Later Kaylo showed a video of her family singing along with a little portion where Eddie either forgot the words or got lost in getting the crowd to sing a long.  There’s was a lengthy “oh ho ho” call and response section.

It was six songs of intense rocking–an amazing way to start the show.

Then it was time for the band to acknowledge the circumstances of the show.  They played a cover of The Beatles’ “Rain” (a song I didn’t recognize, but which made Sarah very happy).  They followed it with a song I recognized but didn’t realize it was a Neil Young “Throw Your Hatred Down.”  These were a couple of mellower songs to slow the pace down.  But then came the opening notes of “Even Flow.”  I could see that the rain was still coming down pretty heavy, so when Mike started his guitar solo (behind his head again) he definitely did not spend as much time down by the crowd.

Eddie joked with us about the weather, but in an unexpected way:

“This is the last time the band’s ever going to tour from April to October,” he announced. “Not because of the weather or anything, but because of the owner of the Cubs last night offered me a job working in the scoreboard and I just can’t turn that down. I mean… that’s living the dream.”

They busted out the trifling song “U.”  Not a great song by any means, but a fun bust out, and a song to cross of my list.  And then it was time for two epic chill out songs.  When they started “In My Tree” the guy behind me said “I can’t believe it.”  I didn’t have the heart to tell him I’d seen it in Philly.  It was followed by a terrific “Immortality.”

Eddie took a few minutes to talk about empowering women.  It was inspiring and wonderful and I can only hope it comes to pass.  Vote the bastards out!

Then the acoustic chords of “Daughter” began.  This was a song that Sarah and I both wanted to see live.  We had seen it a the Boston Night 1 screening, but we weren’t actually there for it, so this was great.  Hearing everyone sing “rise above!” was awesome.

I’d complained a bit that they don’t play very much from their more recent albums.  The Avocado album is hardly ever acknowledged.  And even Backspacer gets a nod here and there (they play so much from Ten).  But they did play a track from Backspacer, “Unthought Known,” a great song but, ironically that was the third time I’d see that particular Backspacer track.

Then Jeff Ament played the opening 12-string bass riff of “Jeremy.”  This song definitely got overplayed back in the day but it sounds so good live. The whole crowd sings along and I love this video of Eddie standing in front of the screen of fans.

I don’t know if, as the band is planning setlists, if they consider song count at all. But a great way to add a song without taking up too much time is a full-throttle run though of “Lukin.”  I have no idea what he words are or if he;s even singing any actual words, but I love this 90 second punk rager.  They headed into the encore break with Porch (second day in a row for that one as well).

The encore break was pretty short.  Eddie came right out with his acoustic guitar and did a wonderful version of White Stripes’ “We Are Going to Be Friends.”  I actually think of it as a Jack Johnson song because we used to play his version for our kids all the time.  I loved hearing it.  And I rather enjoyed the he added a verse of Wrigley-specific lyrics.

Then Eddie hung a Chris Chelios Chicago Blackhawks’ sweater on the stand in front of him.  And moments later Chelios (the team ambassador) came out.  But he wasn’t there to celebrate himself, he was there to remember Blackhawks’ legend Stan Mikita, who died earlier this month.  Eddie said that the following song, an emotional rendition of “Come Back” would be dedicated to her.  He asked everyone to light up their phones, which, as I’ve said, I’ve seen before, but which never ceases to look very cool.

Once again, the sound tonight was really great.  Although I have to admit that I didn’t hear all that much from Boom Gaspar on keys–sometimes they play songs that prominently features keys, but I didn’t hear too much on these nights.  It was good to see a picture of him to make sure he was still there.

The band came out for yet another song that they’d played the night before (somewhat unprecedented), but who can complain when it’s another great rendition of “Corduroy.”

Then they played “Black.”  I mentioned earlier that they play a lot from Ten, which is understandable.  But this was the first time that I’d seen “Black,” and it was great–long, jammed out with a perfect singing along from everyone.  A memorable moment to be sure.

At some point Eddie explained that they had gotten the curfew extended.  Back in 2013, when they were delayed for ages, they had the curfew extended to 2AM.  That didn’t sit well with locals, so this time the curfew was extended to 11:30.  This meant a pretty standard 2 and half hour show, but certainly no epics.  And as you can see from the setlist below, they crossed out a bunch of stuff (but they often do).

I was genuinely surprised that they hadn’t played “Lightning Bolt” earlier in the set.  You could actually still see lightning during the first third of the show, but not when they eventually a rocking “Lightning Bolt” late in the show (maybe they didn’t want to tempt fate).

Then they played “Rearviewmirror” again.  I don’t know if this is one of the songs that gets played all the time–I’ve seen it at every show I’ve been at–but it’s a great one.  Big, building, rocking, awesome.  A song that feels like a show-ender.  And it sort of was.  Except that rather than leaving for an encore break, Eddie encouraged the band to come back out and finish the show–they didn’t have a ton of time.  So they dispensed with the encore break, and apparently the setlist.

Eddie said they would take a request.  There was someone holding a “Smile” sign so they played that.  This is a rarity which, ironically, we had seen in Boston two years earlier.  But I love the song and I loved that Stone plays bass and Jeff plays guitar (and even gets a guitar solo).

Then they made everybody freak out by playing a song that had been on the Sunday setlist but was then crossed off.  They debuted a Ten-era outtake “Evil Little Goat.”  It’s a minute of utter nonsense, but a lot of fun.  And we were there.

But that wasn’t it for surprises, because next came a bust-out that I never expected–a raging version of “Leash.”  Kaylo said she had been waiting years to hear that one.  It was spectacular.

Then came the sign that the end was nigh–the opening of “Alive” (the song they are supposed to play at every show).  They lit up the crowd, we all sang along and it was fantastic.

Normally there’d be a bunch of stuff after “Alive” but they didn’t want to break curfew, so all that came (like I’m complaining) was their version of “Baba O’Riley.”  Often times when they play in a city, they have a special guest come on.  Sometimes that means that they will cover one of the guests’ songs.  This isn’t my favorite thing to see (such a curmudgeon, but I wanna hear your songs, not someone else’s).  But I did like that photographer and band friend Danny Cinch came up to play a fantastic harmonica solo during “Baba O Riley.”

The show ended with Eddie slamming his guitar on the stage (I thought I was videoing, but apparently not).  I managed to get the last moments of the show as he threw his guitar into the air and let it crash to the ground.

I have now convinced Sarah that seeing some bands two times in three days is worth it.  These two shows worked perfectly together, meshing like a rocking zipper (even if each individual show was great in itself, it was better to see them both).  We even got to see 12 songs on the second night that we hadn’t seen before.

It was a great vacation and a great couple of shows.  But next time, we have to do GA… and we’ll hang out with Kaylo’s family who have the best concert mojo ever (even with a 90 minute rain delay).