Pearl Jam at Lollapalooza 2007

August 5th, 2007

Setlist:
Why Go, Corduroy, Save You, Do The Evolution, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Severed Hand, Education, Even Flow, Given To Fly, World Wide Suicide, Lukin, Not For You, Daughter/Another Brick In The Wall, State Of Love And Trust, Wasted Reprise, AliveEncore 1 Better Man/Save it for Later, Crazy Mary, Life Wasted, RearviewmirrorEncore 2 No More, Rockin' In The Free World

The energy before the show was high everyone waiting in a crowded mess of people for Pearl Jam to take the Main stage on the last night of Lollapalooza. If you stood still waiting you felt more like a stone in a river or oasis in the desert as a constant stream of people pressed past you trying to get just a few more feet closer to the stage. It all seemed futile, and I stopped moving once I made it to the left hand side of the sound board tent. Not my best seat ever but close enough to know the band would really be there and not just broadcasted on two large screens to either side of the stage.

The band was a few minutes late starting and the crowd began to grow restless, but once they took the stage Pearl Jam held it for the remainder of the night. They opened hard and stayed that way until they played Elderly Woman which Ed mentioned being for a young boy who use to ride the 'L' into Chicago to go to the record store. Later he would also mention the joy he has every time he plays in Chicago and the memories it brings. The set was basically a hits set with little in rarities but the highlights for me where, 'Education', 'No More'w/Ben Harper, and 'Rockin' in the Free World' w/Ben Harper on chorus as these were the only songs I haven't already heard live before. They also did a great little improv about BP oil that was fast and short (don't expect it on the next album).

All in all it was a fun show, but doesn't give the best representation of their regular tours. The crowd wasn't as willing to sing with the band as die-hard fans, but still it was a great show. The only thing that I didn't like about the show was the people constantly moving in and out and in front of you. I have to say I don't miss the old mosh pits of the 90's. I enjoy the current system of chairs on the floor and how they create a nice breaker between you and the other fans.

End note. See Pearl Jam on their own tour and not at a festival. They play longer have more rarities and the crowds are fun to be with. If you've only seen them at a festival go see them on their next tour you won't regret it.

Lollapalooza Recap site

Pearl Jam setlist site