Spur of the moment free concert tickets! Really screws up my schedule, but you only live once!

Pearl Jam.

OK, I've put videos of Pearl Jam on here before, and I know you all don't really care, but I went to the show on Tuesday -- and Frank and Frankie went to the show on Wednesday, also -- and you all have NO IDEA what kind of an experience.

The video doesn't do it much justice, either. I searched the you tube site, and this was one of several good clips. But you just can't get the full effect. The camera has an eye that's too small. The microphone isn't big enough. You can't feel the vibrations.

I'm telling you, it's like a religion. More than a little.

No one around here, of my friends, have any interest in Pearl Jam. No one of the kids friends do either. It almost feels like no one likes them. And yet the concert was sold out within 7 minutes. I know of people who came from Greece and Portugal and Texas to be at this show. When you start to really get into it, you are willing to spend the money to travel purely for the concert.

Every seat was full, and every person in the stadium seemed to know every word to every song. People were singing and dancing. The concrete stadium was actually bouncing, literally. It doesn't usually.

I hated Pearl Jam when I first heard them. They were too hard, and all the words blurred together, I had no idea what they were saying. But after years, I'm converted.



Garden (live)
Time: 6:52
Gossard, Ament, Vedder
From the single "Dissident"
She don't wander in here don't wander in here she
She don't wander in here don't wander in here
The direction of the eye so misleading
The defection of the soul yea nauseously clear
I don't question our existence
I just question our modern needs don't wander in here she
She don't wander in here
I will walk with my hands bound
I will walk with my face blood
I will walk with my shadow flag
A-into your garden garden of stone yeah
After all is done and we're still alone yea
I won't be taken yet I'll go with my hands bound
I will walk with my face blood
I will walk with my shadow flag
Into your garden garden of stone-ah yeah
I don't show I don't share
I don't need yeah What you have to give yeah ah
Oooh I will walk with my hands bound
I will walk with my face blood
I will walk with my shadow flag
Into your garden garden oh
I will walk with my hands bound
I will walk into your garden garden of stone yea
I don't show I don't care
I don't need yeah no need to live me to live me to live Ha
---------------------
I still don't know exactly what he's saying, but the feeling comes through.

RED CARPET PREMIERE!!!

 

The other day, we got a call out of the blue from Tim Donnelly, who let us know that the recent Pearl Jam DVD -- which he had helped collaborate on -- was being released (which we already knew, of course) -- at a Super Cool premiere in Manhattan at the Ziegfield Theater. He wanted to know if we wanted to go. (Look at these pictures again, and Take a guess.)

The first consideration -- work/school. I'm waking up at such an ungodly hour now (5:30) that I've been going to bed super early. OK, I was fine with that, I can sleep on the train.

Then, Frank's work -- he was definitely interested. He figured he could get out of work on time to make it home and then to the train and then to the theater.

Then, school. It was "back to school night." I wouldn't get to meet the teachers. Not a problem, now that I work there. I can talk to them any time I want to.

Nick had no problem with being out late. He has very light classes this semester. At least, that's what he tells me so far. We'll see how the report card comes in.

The minor sticking point was Frankie. He had a lab report due for physics, and a test in history. But, of course, this was a PEARL JAM movie. So he was in.


We called Tim when we got into the city, and finally had the opportunity to meet him. He was very nice and even gave us the DVD (which we had already ordered, but now Frankie can have his own copy.) Afterwards, we thought to ourselves -- we are such idiots! We should have had him autograph it!

Actually, now that I'm sitting here thinking about it, the director, Danny Clinch, was there as well. We could have had him autograph it too. Oh well.

The theater was GORGEOUS. And we sat down in front, which was great from a concert movie perspective, although I would have liked to see how the audience was reacting, but I couldn't bring myself to turn around.

The movie was beautifully done, great music, beautiful cinematography -- is that how you spell that? Definitely worth it.

Tim mentioned that it was a big day for him, because not only was this project coming out, but on the same day the other disc he was working on -- "Goin' Home, a tribute to Fats Domino" -- was being released. We've ordered that disc too.

We felt like hot shot rock and roll type people, rubbing elbows with the rich and famous. Funny enough, when I got home I checked my email. We had a note from Make-a-Wish, inviting us to go on a Yacht tonight. They would even provide transportation.

We had to turn THAT offer down. I can't take too much of this jet set lifestyle!

The crowd at Lolla -- many, many stages

 
Frank said that everyone was in a great mood. No one was pushy or nasty or anything, everyone was just thrilled to be there -- kinda like the summer of love or something. Lots of people, though, huh? See the Sears tower in the background?

The boys at the show

 

Pearl Jam Rocks...

 

... here is the view from the cheap seats. Ok, there really were no seats. They enjoyed it, though. But I may have enjoyed it more, because I was watching the video download on line, and I was MUCH closer to the screen than they were to the stage.