Gig Review: Pearl Jam – 17th August 2009

Venue: Manchester Evening News Arena
Reviewed by: LizSara
Reviewers website: http://ifmusicbe.co.uk

This was the first time I had seen Pearl Jam live, having been a fan for nearly 16 years and I was almost expecting to be disappointed. Fortunately that disappointment never materialised and while there were a number of technical issues (4 mic changes for a start) this was a proper arena rock gig and it was fabulous.

The most important thing to be said right off the bat is that Eddie Vedder did not drop a single note all night. Some of these songs are getting on for 20 years old and he sang every single one like it was the first time.

There was nothing fancy about this gig, nothing spectacular and for me; that was one of the highlights. The backdrop didn’t change, nothing was flown about the stage there wasn’t a laser light show there were just 5 guys on stage having a ball and playing their stuff. Vedder even commented half way through that it was the first time they had ever been filmed while playing for the giant screens each side of the stage enabling us at the back to see better…and I think he only mentioned that because (as he said) he was having a bad hair day. My only unhappy moment was not getting to hear Yellow Leadbetter but really with a set list and catalogue as strong as this, who cares?

Parking for the venue was easy, 5 minutes walk away from the doors and well signposted. The queues for beer weren’t hideous and only one person managed to get themselves thrown out in our sightlines. Now that gigs are non-smoking (yeah someone should have mentioned that to Eddie) the atmosphere was clean and relaxed.

Definitely the best arena gig I have seen, probably level with Foo Fighters for the best big gig I have seen and next time they come and play in England my ticket will be snapped up just as fast as it was this time.

Set List:
•    Long Road
•    Last Exit
•    Why Go
•    All Night
•    The Fixer
•    Low Light
•    In Hiding
•    World Wide Suicide
•    Not For You(Modern Girl)
•    Even Flow
•    Present Tense
•    Save You
•    Grievance
•    Sleight Of Hand
•    Got Some
•    Given To Fly
•    Rearviewmirror

Encore 1
•    Go
•    Daughter
•    Do The Evolution
•    Alive

Encore 2
•    Smile
•    Black
•    Leash
•    The Real Me
•    Indifference

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