PEARL JAM :
The Concert Experience
The Cast
Pearl Jam ( of course ! )
Me (Michael)
Kim (my girlfriend at the time)
Ryan
Kate
Miranda
Everyone else !
The Date
October 5th , 1996
The Place
North Charleston Coliseum: Charleston, SC
The Drive up
I don't live in Charleston , much less South Carolina
, me & my girl live in Florida & my parents were going to
Charleston , so we got tickets , with alot of help from the guys at FT&T
. They are the only reason I got to go . I couldn't go to the show
in Ft.Lauderdale , cause my folks were going & no car was to be left
behind . Well , we got the tickets & left . We picked up my friend
, Ryan in Daytona Beach , so he could go also . We slept most of the way
up (with my self snoring ) & in a Chevy Blazer with no AC /
cram packed with luggage & three Teenagers , it was quite cramped .We
toured the town for a few days .
The Wait
A few days later , we arrived at the Coliseum
in Charleston , South Carolina at about 2 or 3 p.m . All of my comrads
were whinning about getting there that early . I assured them that if we
didn't , we'd end up in the rear of the venue . So we arrive & find
the general admission gate & wait with the other 10-20 folks . We all
peer in the doors to see if the band is here yet . No luck .
We are tired & hungry . Lunch arrives
soon enough ,though . Our moms brought it to us just in time for us to
buy some shirts outside the venue & give to them . ( By the way
at that show were those shirts bootlegs ? They looked like what everyone
else had . ) I got a Brick Red shirt with the witchcraft design on it &
the no code thermal . We waited with some of the nicest people . 2 girls
that were together were taking a journal around with them to all the shows
they saw . A nice woman was there with a bulletprooof vest (do you remember
her ? ) . She told us what to expect at a show like this . She recommended
us to get in front , but not in front of Eddie . She said that everyone
on the floor is trying to see Eddie , so it is worse there than anywhere
. That is why she wears a bulletproof jacket . Then a man named Jerry (I
think) came out & talked with some of us . He was pj's tour guy
I guess . He seemed like the Head of security . He was nice .We chatted
for a while soaking in the atmosphere , chowing down on chips & just
disscusing the show .
We sat down & disscused the songs they
might play & I told them what I hoped for . I was
really hoping for Release as an opener & Present Tense . I told them
that they hadn't really played it regularly , & I doubted that
my wish would come true .
Then one girl said ,"SHHHHH!!!!!! , I hear
them ! "
We all leaned our heads up against the glass door
to catch a vibration or to from the band's warmup . Well , the nice lady
at the doors said we could listen with the doors open IF none of
us tried to get in . She opened them & we could hear them playing In
My Tree , Eddies voice soaring with Mike , Jeff , Stone ,& Jacks
beautiful music . Then we heard them play Off He Goes, &
Mankind , which was cool . They
eventually had to shut the doors so that the Fastbacks could warmup too
. Guess they were afriad they'd scare us off . Even though I liked them
.
If it had not been for the folks around us , I think
we would have gone insane . It was nice to chat with strangers , that were
sort of like me. The two girls both had the stickman tatooed on there hipbones
& showed them to us . They also told me about the tickets from
the tour before , how they had a scarab w/ pearl jam intricatly written
inside it . They told us of driving down from one of the previous shows
& sleeping in a van .
The Concert
Well , we did eventually get in , & as I walked up
to the scanner for my ticket , I noticed it wasn't working & alot
of people got in , that were in back of me . Finally after about 10 scans
I got in & walked with my girlfriend to the front . As I walked
, I saw Jeff Ament to my left , jumping over a little blockade between
the entrance to backstage & some seats . I wanted to say hi ,
but I didn't want to bother him . So I sat Down & told my friends & they
were like "so?"
I really wanted to smack them at this point . It was Jeff !
We sat with our backs against the lil metal wall in the front
, right where Mike would be standing . We sat & talked with some guys
& they remarked on how we got our camera past the guard . I said
my girlfriend asked all the guards & they told our guard to give
it back , it was all right to take small cameras in . Then he said our
pix would sux cause of no flash . Everyone told us not to use a flash so
that is what we brought , a lil disposable one . He said he wouldn't use
his if everyone said that .
IFYOU ARE READING THIS , I AM SORRY I FOLLOWED THIER ADVISE .
AND SORRY I TOLD YOU TO FOLLOW IT TOO
.
Needless to say the pictures didnt come out .
So eventually , The Fastbacks came out & played a rip roarin'
show . If I were to compare them to any music group , which I might regret
, I'd say they was a very original yet AC/DC type - thing going on
with the Kurt Bloch . I thought he looked a bit like Mark Hamill !!!! With
long hair . Overall very Ramones-ie . They played for what seemed like
45-60 minutes to me . It was a nice opening act . They rocked !!! Then
they left .
We waited again in anticipation . It took long enough . THE LIGHTS DIMMED .
THE CROWD ROARED . PEARL JAM WAS COMMING SOOOOON!!!!!!
This is where we were :
We were really close . My friends were just off to the left
.
Sometime during the performance (if anyone can help on what
song the were playing , I would appreciate it ) I remember a hat flying
onstage , hitting Eddie's mike . This caused the mike to hit him in the
face , I think . It at least came close to hitting him .
THE SETLIST / WHAT WAS SAID
/
MY THOUGHTS
Sometimes - They
just walk out on stage & started playing , a great opener ( even
though , I was hoping for Release ) & then seared directly into
:
Last Exit -
( " four days , not a fuckin' second longer..."
)
Animal -
Go -
Hail , Hail - awsome
as always ( " I kiss the earth & then I get to thinkin'
" )
( They blasted through these songs with such adrenaline
, yet no one could move enough to even jump )
Dissident -
was great as always then I heard
In My Tree -
for the second time that night . It sounded a little
off at the begining , but I dont know why . I thought it was W.M.A.
when I went back & listened to the tape .
Corduroy -
was wonderful , one of my many faves .
Betterman -
was nice , it was like everyone singing & enjoying
it , even though we have to be smooshed by a hocky rinks worth of people
.
Not For You -
Ed asks us all near the end , " How we doing so far ? ,"
(of course we all cheer)
" You don't seem so bad yourself ." before the , "All
thats sacred " , part .
Jeremy -
I was hoping for the " New Jeremy " , but we got the same ole
same ole that we know .
Black -
State of Love & Trust
- I was hoping to hear this song & got my wish
. Right before it Eddie says , " Heres a little Number called ....
heres a little Number called State .... of Love & Trust ."
Habit -
Before this song , Eddie mutters , " Are you ready ? (
Cheers ) Are you ready , Eddie ?" As grinding as ever , with
the little famouse line switch , " Speaking as an individual in a
band , who has never been in this town before.......never thought you'd
Habit . "
Rearviewmirror - Eddie
starts this off with this little bit of reassuranse that the night will
be the best , "Ok , friends ......my , uh ....... ( I dont get the
next line) theres only 2 nights left on this tour & this is the second
to the last night . I used to think that when I was a kid , &
I'd see bands , if I could see them on their last night of the tour
it would always be the best night ; that the last night of the tour is
the night that the band would stay up all night in the streets , drinking
( cheers ) & that the last night of the tour everyone is so happy to
be done & they'll play as hard as they can & they're never gonna
stop ; it's gonna be like a 4 hour show . And so that last show , that
would be in Florida , in a couple of days , but you know what ? Since ,
since we've been in a band , we've realized that the last show always sucks
, its the second to last one thats the best one & thats the truth .
" It starts with a slow intro & quickly rocks .
Elderly Woman - "
So I was walking around today in a couple of other small towns , a great
place & I thought we'd play this one . " At least thats what I
hear .
Alive -
" Your still alive ! "
Blood - I fell
back in love with this song when I heard it live. It sounds newer . I now
love Blood .Near the middle , Eddie breaks into some weird wsah wah sounds
with his mouth . For some reason it reminds me something the Doors did
, but I'm not sure what . Then he breaks into the grunts ...............
" Thanks alot you guys . " And off they go . Until ........
Encore:
Present Tense - As
they came back out , Ed said the following ," Alright , if you guys
aren't goin nowhere , I guess we'll just play on ...... we know a .. we
know a few more we are are a band , I mean we know a few songs ........
So , you wanna hear the story about this one here ... this ..song ?Ok ,
shhhhh . You ever heard of a guy named Pete Townsend ? ( Eddie plays a
riff to a song , But turns around & looks at Mike as if he played
it wrong & laughs , then Mike corrects him , with the correct riff
) Ok , thats the guy .Well , Ok , settle down . So anyways , Mike had this
great music & he asked if I wanted to put words & I needed
anything , anything to make me think , just anything to make me think of
anything , just a starting point where to begin , so I thought of Pete
Towsend , I took his initials & this one is called Present Tense ."
Definitely one of my top ten songs.
Evenflow -
I can remember looking at Mike , picking away & making a
beautiful solo during evenflow . Most of all , I can remember him looking
towards me ( or at me ) , & closing his eyes like he was in bliss .
I realized that he was having exactly what I was looking for all my
life , whatever it was , I was wishing I could do that . I was in awe of
his playing . So I look over at Eddie & expect him to be milling around
doing something different , & he was doing the same thing I was , staring
in awe of Mike's skill's . I noticed that alot that night .
Daughter -
As they got the instruments for Daughter , the guy next to me turned & shouted
the title ,just as they played the opening notes of it . We all sang backup
vox on this song .
Unknown song (
help! E-mail
me what it was ! ) -
It was just Ed & Stone .
Listening to the tape , I would say the lyrics were as follows :
I'll walk the streets , I'll drive alone
I'll pass by people , They're happy in
their homes
I'll dream I was one of them , I'll dream
in my car
I'll hold in the pain , That my life gave
to me
I'll wake my friend , I'll take him up
I'll sail as take a drive , to South Carolina
And I'll feel the day get brighter , I'll
feel the ocean spray
I'll feel so much stronger , Up with my
best friend , Oh with my best friend
This was one of the most beautiful songs I ever have heard . & a
great segue to :
Off He Goes - I'm
glad they played this song , it is another one in my top ten .
Mankind -
Stone did his new signature song , & said , " You guys
ready to hear one by me ? (cheers) Yeah ! This song goes out to the Fastbacks
, really beautiful people , Great band . " Then Eddie said , "
If you didn't hear him this song goes out to the Fastbacks , who played
first Lets give them a big hand , from Seattle , Thank you very much there
you go . " & everyone cheered . "Hit it Stoney . "
Whipping -
" Well , everyone looks pretty good , everyone looks pretty happy
, everyone looks pretty healthy , but I just have to say though , the people
up here look pretty......crazy . Ok , this song is dedicated to you guys
(front row), its called Whipping . " Then a little lower youcan
hear. "This is for you too , your taking a whipping tonight , I would
say . "
Footsteps -
Ed then started to ask us what we would like to hear next ,
" Ok . We might as well ask , since we don't get to , we don't get
to , this far in the count.....we don't really get anywhere very often
. So since we're here , we're all here , & you're all here.....Um .
One question & you've got to be clearly focused on this ,
& vote as a group . This is an experiment in voting to prepare you
for November & may I remind you that the debates are tomorrow &
I hope you watch & make an intelligent choice . Ok , lets see if you
can vote , what would you like to hear ? Ok , Ok , we're gonna , just like
the Presidential campain , we're gonna narrow it down....to 3 . So you've
got the , uh , Ok , shhh , we're taking a poll here , you must vote orderly
, we've got the song , " Leash ". Thats kinda the Bob Dole of
the group . We have the song , "Leaving Here " . Thats kinda
the Ross Perot , I think I know ...... "Footsteps"
(massive cheering) . That would be the Bill Clinton . Well , you got it
. "
Yellow Ledbetter - with
Stoney on an organ (right ?) . At the begining , Ed says , " South
Carolina , thanks again from all of us , for everyone who put on the show
, everyone who came , whatever you had to do to , tie up quickly in 3 minutes
(?) , thanks very much , I don't know if its easy to like this band , but
we sure appreciate the fact that you do , cheers , thanks alot , were gonna
play you another one ." The opening riff , came out & the crowd
freaked . The words were different & even more indecipherable than
I have ever heard . here is what I think they were :
Unsealed On a wasted letter says "
I dont have to come back here again "
On a porchside on a front side letter says
, " I don't have to really see him again "
On a porchside wanna wish it all away
Then I try & I won't & I
know that I'm never gonna see him again
On a porchside on a burnt side letter said
,
" I don't I don't know I wear was
a box or the bag "
Ah-yeah. Can you see them out on the porch?
Ah, but they don't wave
I see them Round the front way, yeah And
i know and i know I don't wanna stay
(solo)
Unsealed wanna wish it all away
I try & I said & I know that
I'm never gonna see him again
On a porchside on a front side letter says
,
" I don't I don't know I wear was
a box or the bag "
Ah-yeah. Can you see them out on the porch?
Ah, but they don't wave
I see them Round the front way, yeah And
I know and I know I don't wanna stay
at all
I don't wanna stay , I don't wanna stay
I don't wanna stay. no ... Yeah Ohh ...
Ohh ...
" See ya next time , Thanks alot . "
It was an excellent version . Great ender to an awesome show .
Only one word can explain it , WONERFULL !! They played for about 2
& 1/2 hours , I beleive . I also heard that the attendance was
about 10,000 people .
I really wanted to sit outside & talk until morning .
It was nice & cool outside & maybe , just maybe we'd
see the guys . But , that wouldn't happen . So we returned home & slept
.We were going through withdrawl the next day . PEARL JAM WITHDRAWL !!!!
We wanted our guys to listen to , we needed it .
Some Highlights
& Lowlights
(you figure them out
) include :
making eye contact with most of the band
members
Seeing Jeff up close
Smelling some rancid armpit
(which was conveniently
up on my head the whole show almost)
Ending up with one of Mikes picks
Hearing some guy behind me proclaim that he was , still
alive
Looking at the same guy & realizing
how pissed he'll be to relize he sung directly into his tape recorder the
whole length of the show !
The second half !
Metting those great people outside
Getting invited to a post-show party
Not going to the post show party = (
The mirrorball was really cool !!
IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE TO SEE THEM ,
THAT CHANCE , IT MAY BE THE ONLY ONE YOU'LL EVER GET !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also , you can Get a free web page here
!
GEOCITIES
!!!!
E-mail
me Here !!!
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