A Pearl Jam fan never forgets

     The biggest reason for our trip to NYC last week was to attend to rock concerts. The same band, twice! This band is so good, has so many songs, followers, and buzz that they can pull this off. Pearl Jam first started back in 1990 in wet 'n rainy Seattle, the five man band grew to it's peak with songs such as "Ten," "Alive," and "Even Flow." Interestingly, lead singer and famous rocker Eddie Vedder who heads up the lyric writing and performances is from San Diego, CA (wooot!). The group writes political songs (i.e. World Wide Suicide), and supports activism in the community and world. They have done benefits for Hurricane Katrina, Haiti, the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, among others. 
      Their awesome array of schwag artwork (on apparel, posters, etc.) is done constantly surprising fans and never the same--check out artists Jeff Soto's creation for NYC here. Picking up some of this gear was our first priority at the shows in NYC's Madison Square Gardens. We popped into the Gardens just as the booths opened up, got our gear dropped it back off at our hotel. We had a perfect set up--our hotel was literally a block away which allowed us to drop our goods of, have a drink at the bar downstairs then head back over to the venue for a kick ass show each night. 
    

The shows themselves were indescribable. The first show on Thursday May 20 was stellar--the crowd enjoying it, Pearl jam playing some great old songs, and an air of rockability (yes I just created that word). The Friday show (May 21) however was unprecedented. My boyfriend confirms that it is hands-down the best PJ show as well as the best show he has ever seen. The entire 20,000 seated arena was full of people moving and singing in unison. People rocking out, people leaning on each other, and vibrating with excitement, enjoyment, and lust as the entire Gardens swelled with Pearl Jam's tunes. They pulled out stops never heard before such as a slow version of Lukin, and to my man's pleasure they did an awesome performance of 'Rats'. It was a show us fans will never forget and one like we will never experience again. Thanks PJ.


Discography, links, and photos after the jump...

Hunger Strike YouTube
Lukin Slow Version ("Another way to skin a cat")
Full array of videos from MSG here

Discography throughout the years:

• Ten (1991)
• Vs. (1993)
• Vitalogy (1994)
• No Code (1996)
• Yield (1998)
• Binaural (2000)
• Riot Act (2002)
• Pearl Jam (2006)
• Backspacer (2009)