Following their release of their newest album “Lighting Bolt” Pearl Jam set out on a nation wide tour and made a stop in Baltimore for the first time in over a decade. This is a band I have been waiting to see for the longest time, I have so much love and respect for these guys. As soon as they hit the stage they went right into the intro for one of their newest singles off their new album, “Pendulum.” This song has so much power behind it, but very soft in the same respect, they immediately commanded your attention and set the tone for the show. As the show progressed the energy in 1st Mariner Arena was through the roof. Everyone in the crowd was one their feet and bouncing around, it felt like so much more than just a concert, it was a celebration.
Pearl Jam played a three hour set with three short breaks, it was absolutely incredible, these guys have more stamina on stage than most bands I have ever seen. Eddie Vedder loves to run around the stage, at one point he even jumped on a of their many hanging lanterns and swung around the stage and into the crowd. Something that was evident throughout the show was how much Pearl Jam genuinely loves and appreciates their fans. They made a point to come down from the stage and interact with their fans, whether it be pouring them a cup of wine, handing out memorabilia or simply waving at various people. Within the first couple songs Eddie points out a man in a yellow shirt in the very last row in the venue and told him he was making a hell of an impression. As the set progressed the jumbotrons viewed the man jumping and dancing around throughout the entire show. Just before their last song, Eddie made a proposition to the man, if he could make it up to the stage within the last song, he could join them on stage and help them close out the night. The man sprinted through the venue and onto the stage just in time to grab a tambourine and close out their rendition of Neil Young’s “Rockin in the Free World.” The energy in this venue that night was unmatched. I hope to see more of these guys within the next year, but If you haven’t seen them before you are REALLY missing out.
SETLIST:
1.PENDULUM
2.HARD TO IMAGINE
3.SMALL TOWN
4.LIGHTING BOLT
5.LUKIN
6.CORDUROY (THAT SOUNDED LIKE NOT FOR YOU) LOL
7.MIND YOUR MANNERS
8.GIVEN TO FLY
9.MFC
10.SIRENS
11.HABIT
12.DAUGHTER/TAG – WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
13.WISHLIST
14.PRESENT TENSE
15.SPIN THE BLACK CIRCLE
16.LET THE RECORDS PLAY
17.SETTING FORTH
18.UNTHOUGHT KNOWN
19.REARVIEWMIRROR
ENCORE 1
20.YELLOW MOON
21.MAN OF THE HOUR
22.NOTHINGMAN
23.WAITING FOR MY MAN(LOU REED)
24.BETTER MAN
25.DO THE EVOLUTION
26.BLOOD
27.PORCH
ENCORE 2
28.ONCE
29.LOVE REIGN
30.BLACK
31.ALIVE
32.KEEP ON ROCKIN
Pearl Jam
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