1994
US Tour - 1994 (Leg 2)
Second leg of the tour in support of Vs., focused on the Eastern United States.
March 6, 1994 - Paramount Theatre - Denver, CO, USA
opening act: The Frogs
setlist: Indifference, Animal, Even Flow, Dissident, Why Go, Deep, Glorified G, Daughter/(Hunger Strike)/(Satan's Bed), Rats, State Of Love And Trust, Improv, Blood, Go, Black, Alive
encore: Improv, Spin The Black Circle, Rearviewmirror, Elderly Woman..., Rockin' In The Free World
Pearl Jam rescheduled the canceled Boulder, CO show on November 28, 1993 with two shows in Denver. Eddie sings some lyrics from "Hunger Strike" in the "Daughter" jam. "State Of Love And Trust" is stopped (by Eddie) and restarted. "Spin The Black Circle" is premiered in the encore.
March 7, 1994 - Paramount Theatre - Denver, CO, USA
opening act: The Frogs
setlist: Oceans, Go, Animal, Breath, Blood, Garden, Not For You, Rearviewmirror, Why Go, Jeremy, Alive, (Sick O' Pussies), Porch/(W.M.A.)
encore 1: Spin The Black Circle, Glorified G, Daughter/(Rats), Street Fighting Man, Rockin' In The Free World
encore 2: Indifference
During "Blood", Jeff jumps on top of Dave's kickdrum. Eddie gives a short speech before the premier of "Not For You", hinting that he wrote it after receiving mail from a convicted rapist saying how great the band was, and he talks briefly about David Gunn before "Alive". Mike smashes his guitar after "Porch". A mean version of "Rats" follows "Daughter". Stone notes, "We've never played this one in its entirety, but we're gonna try tonight", leading to a 11+ minute cover/jam of "Street Fighting Man" by the Rolling Stones. Eddie picks up some sticks during the end and drums a bit. Reportedly, Stone's baggy shorts fall and remain at his ankles as he's shredding rhythms. Mike is facing Stone, just ripping. Eddie comes from the side and proceeds to wrap Mike in duct tape from his knees down. They continue to jam and Mike decides to lie down on the stage while a roadie pulls Mike's pants down. Mike goes after Jeff, lifting him off the ground via his BVD waistband. Eddie dons a Bill Clinton mask!
March 9, 1994 - Pensacola Civic Center - Pensacola, FL, USA (Rock For Choice Benefit)
attendance: 7 683 (sold out)
opening acts: L7, Follow for Now
setlist: I Won't Back Down (Eddie solo), Go, Animal, Even Flow, Dissident, State Of Love And Trust, Glorified G, Daughter/(W.M.A.), Blood, Improv, Why Go, Jeremy, Black, Alive
encore 1: Rearviewmirror, Elderly Woman..., Porch/(Tearing)
encore 2: Indifference
Pearl Jam headlined the largest Rock For Choice concert in history, which was organized by the opening act L7. The show sold out in 75 minutes. Pearl Jam reportedly received death threats prior to this performance. Eddie starts the show off with a solo cover of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down", commenting "You know why we're here". Eddie discusses pro-choice a bit, ending with, "... all these men trying to control women's bodies are really beginning to piss me off... they're not in touch with what's real. Well, I'm fucking mean and I'm ugly and my name is reality". This benefit occurred one day prior to the one-year anniversary of the day Dr. David Gunn was shot outside a women's clinic. His son spoke: "You all have the voice. We are the majority. We have the power to take our country back (and to defeat those who) want to take our choices away from us".
March 10, 1994 - Chicago Stadium - Chicago, IL, USA
opening acts: The Frogs, Urge Overkill
setlist: Release, Animal, Go, Even Flow, Dissident, Empire Carpet song, State Of Love And Trust, Why Go, Jeremy, Glorified G, Daughter/(The Real Me), Not For You, Rearviewmirror, Blood, Alive, Improv, Porch
encore 1: Garden, Spin The Black Circle, Black, Tremor Christ, Footsteps, Rockin' In The Free World
encore 2: I Won't Back Down (Eddie solo), Leash, Sonic Reducer
encore 3: Indifference
Eddie joins The Frogs in a cover of The Who's "See Me Feel Me" wearing an elaborate silver robe. The Empire Carpet song is an old, local carpet store jingle which Eddie sings as evidence that he's really from Chicago. It's Jeff's birthday and the obligatory cake and food fight are evidenced after Stone leads the crowd in singing "Happy Birthday" (after "Garden"), with pieces of Jeff's birthday cake and candles tossed to the audience. Jeff is wearing Chicago Bulls #23 (Michael Jordan) basketball trunks. A fun night and show. The final concert held at the now demolished Chicago Stadium.
March 13, 1994 - New Regal Theater - Chicago, IL, USA
opening acts: The Frogs, Magic Slim & The Teardrops
setlist: Oceans, Go, Last Exit, Once, Even Flow, Rats, State Of Love And Trust, Breath, Glorified G, Daughter/(W.M.A.), Animal, Not For You, Elderly Woman..., Alive, Improv, Spin The Black Circle
encore 1: Hard To Imagine, Yellow Ledbetter, Rearviewmirror, Alone, Black, Improv, Porch/(Tearing)
encore 2: Angel
Eddie joins The Frogs in "I Only Play For Money". Suffering from a cold and clutching a Kleenex box, he advises, "Don't drink when you're sick... and don't get sick when you drink. Advice for the kids". He introduces "Animal" as it being about Jeff "taking on the Chicago Bulls". During "Porch", he climbs up to the balcony (of this ornate old theater and takes a flying leap. The crowd seems to instantly envelop him, then back away a little bit and he's laying on the floor in the aisle completely limp. The is jamming along not even really watching, but when he doesn't immediately get up, Jeff gets a really concerned look on his face and scans the crowd for a sign of Ed. Eventually, two security guys go into the crowd and grab Eddie, who is still limp, and literally drag him back to the stage, depositing him in a pile behind the mic stand. Everyone is going nuts and after about 60 tense seconds of Eddie laying in a heap, he begins to move, swaying to the groove. He gets to his knees grooving; unsteadily to his feet, grooving, hair a pulsating mass. And them wham! "Hear my name, take a good look", and the capacity crowd literally roars in unison. As an encore, he returns on a skateboard with Dave, who accompanies him on guitar on the rarely played "Angel", closing the show.
March 14, 1994 - Fox Theatre - St. Louis, MO, USA
attendance: 4 500 (sold out)
opening acts: The Frogs, Grant Lee Buffalo
setlist: Release, Go, Animal, Dissident, Even Flow, Why Go, Jeremy, Improv, Glorified G, Daughter/(Beginning To See the Light)/(W.M.A.), Blood, Improv, Breath, State Of Love And Trust, Black, Alive
encore: Not For You, Rearviewmirror, Elderly Woman..., Porch
Eddie joins The Frogs during their set for "I Only Play For Money". The improv after "Jeremy" is sung by Eddie with very quiet music being played by the band, and is tagged with lyrics from The Beatles' somewhat obscure single, "You Know My Name". At one point, Eddie's legs become so wrapped up in the mic cord that Jeff and Stone have to rescue him. Eddie introduces "Blood" as, "Spelled backwards, this song is doolb". The improv following "Blood" is instrumental and "Breath" is very different, ending with a cool jam. During "Porch", Eddie marks up the band members' faces with a burnt cork.
March 15, 1994 - Fox Theatre - St. Louis, MO, USA
attendance: 4 500 (sold out)
opening act: The Frogs
setlist: Why Go, Deep, Animal, Once, Rats, Blood, Glorified G, Daughter/(The Real Me), Alive, Go, Even Flow, Spin The Black Circle, Porch/(Beginning To See The Light)
encore 1: Corduroy, Rearviewmirror, Black, Leash, Improv
encore 2: I'm One (Eddie & Dennis Flemion), Baba O'Riley
Eddie joins The Frogs during their set: they start "Jeremy" and Eddie is lowered by a rope or cable onto the stage like he's flying, wearing the gold bat wings. He picks up a microphone and joins in. He also contributes to two more songs, including "I Only Play For Money". Lively, fun performance with Eddie very animated and venturing to the edge of the stage to touch the audience as early as the second song. He does an airplane spin with one of the fans. "Go" is dedicated to Kurt Cobain and "Corduroy" is premiered. After assisting Dave on drums during "Porch", Eddie gives one of the band's tall, white candles to the crowd, saying he wants to see how far back it will make it. To his enjoyment, the candle is passed to the back of the audience successfully while the band plays a snippet of The Velvet Underground's "Beginning To See The Light". Dennis Flemion, from The Frogs, joins Eddie for The Who's "I'm One". Cool show in a beautiful venue, which Eddie acknowledges twice.
March 17, 1994 - Elliott Hall of Music @ Purdue University - West Lafayette, IN, USA
attendance: 6 000 (sold out)
opening act: Grant Lee Buffalo
setlist: Wash, Animal, Go, Why Go, Deep, Jeremy, Glorified G, Black, Blood, Dissident, State Of Love And Trust, Even Flow, Tremor Christ, Daughter, Alive
encore 1: Rearviewmirror, Not For You, Garden, Leash, Porch
encore 2: Once, Rockin' In The Free World, Indifference
Pearl Jam insisted on a large quantity of these tickets going to Purdue University students and Ticketmaster only had approximately 1 000 for sale. With the show beginning late due to a bomb scare, Pearl Jam arrives on stage announcing that everyone is free to leave and get a refund. Eddie is wearing war paint up and down his legs and his eyes are blackened like a raccoon. The "Daughter" tag is the "You're In My Body" improv. Halfway through the show, Eddie says something like, "I don't know if you guys are feeling this, but we certainly are. Musically, this might be the best show we have ever played. Thank you". He also gives a speech about "Dissident" - saying that date rape is terrible and explaining that a woman's word is sacred and the no means no and that's what a "holy no" is. An unbelievable show with great crowd interaction, nearly getting out of control when a huge group of people charge one of the aisles during "Rockin' In The Free World".
March 19, 1994 - Masonic Temple - Detroit, MI, USA
opening act: Grant Lee Buffalo
setlist: Rearviewmirror, Whipping, Go, Animal, Why Go, Dissident, Blood, State Of Love And Trust, Glorified G, Daughter, Rats, Spin The Black Circle, Black, Alive, Porch
encore 1: Not For You, Elderly Woman..., Even Flow, Rockin' In the Free World
encore 2: Footsteps, Sonic Reducer, Once, Leash, Baba O'Riley, Improv
encore 3: Indifference
Approximately 300 tickets were released in advance to Ten Club members for this show, the remainder being sold through a lottery mail-in system. Eddie comments, "They had a bomb threat a couple of shows earlier... I'd have thought that would have happened in Detroit, if anywhere". The crowd boos and Eddie laughs it off. Eddie pushes Mike into the crowd during one of his solos. Mike floats around for a minute or two and manages to get back on stage. Eddie climbs on the speakers and then to the balcony during "Porch" (a la the "Even Flow" video). He walks along the balcony slapping hands on both sides of the stage. He jumps onto a rope ladder and swings out into the crowd a few times. "Baba O'Riley" is a huge favorite with the crowd singing along.
March 20, 1994 - Crisler Arena - Ann Arbor, MI, USA
opening act: Grant Lee Buffalo
setlist: Jeremy, Go, Animal, Dissident, Even Flow, Glorified G, Daughter/(W.M.A.), Breath, State Of Love And Trust, Last Exit, Garden, Why Go, Deep, Alive, Porch
encore 1: Nothingman, (Three Little Birds), Yellow Ledbetter, Black, Rearviewmirror, Not For You, Blood
encore 2: Indifference
Pearl Jam required that 2 000 tickets be set aside for students. A fun show, with the band playing "Name That Tune" with the audience. To "keep each show different", Pearl Jam encores with a "few mellow song". This is the first time "Nothingman" has been played live. "Three Little Birds" is a Bob Marley song. Eddie jokes about a bomb threat in Indiana and then, "they tell us that there's escapees from the insane asylum. They can be identified by the yellow wristband". The floor audience holds up their arms, displaying their yellow wristbands. Eddie ends the show by pleasing the crowd with: "Detroit rock city, well come back again".
March 22, 1994 - CSU Convocation Center - Cleveland, OH, USA
attendance: Approx. 13 000 (sold out)
opening act: Grant Lee Buffalo
setlist: Release, Go, Animal, Dissident, Even Flow, Glorified G, Daughter/(I Won't Back Down), Jeremy, Why Go, Alone, Oceans, State Of Love And Trust, Black, Blood, Alive, Porch
encore 1: Rats, Rearviewmirror, Elderly Woman..., Leash, Rockin' In The Free World
encore 2: Sheraton Gibson (Eddie solo), Indifference
"Alone" is started out with Eddie singing, "so lonely, so lonely", like The Police song. Grant Lee Buffalo joins Pearl Jam for "Rockin' In The Free World". Sheraton Gibson" is introduced as a "really cool song" and it was written by Eddie's mentor, Pete Townshend, who had written the song many years before in Cleveland. He asks the audience to be real quiet so they can hear it. "Sheraton Gibson" hasn't resurfaced on a Pearl Jam setlist since this show.
March 24, 1994 - Louisville Gardens - Louisville, KY, USA
attendance: 6 000 (sold out)
opening act: King's X
setlist: Rearviewmirror, Whipping, Go, Animal, Dissident, Improv, State Of Love And Trust, (Angie), Garden, Even Flow, Why Go, Jeremy, Black, Blood, Alive, Rockin' In The Free World
encore 1: Spin The Black Circle, (Kentucky Woman), Glorified G, Improv, Daughter/(I Won't Back Down), Not For You, Elderly Woman..., Porch
encore 2: Indifference
Another chatty, fun night for Eddie after a slow start. After "Dissident", is an improv where Eddie sings the phrase "I'm already in love" a few times during the chorus, but also sings the phrase "This is not for you" a few times on the apparent chorus. The rest of his lyrics were completely improvised. The music of this improv sounds more like "Not For You" than "Satan's Bed", an unusual hybrid. King's X's singer Doug Pinnick joins Pearl Jam for "Rockin' In The Free World". Eddie brings out a giant turntable and asks, "Do you know what this is?" sarcastically, and threatens to play a Mariah Carey song. This is the intro to "Spin The Black Circle". Eddie sings some lyrics from Neil Diamond's "Kentucky Woman" before "Glorified G".
March 25, 1994 - Mid-South Coliseum - Memphis, TN, USA
attendance: Approx. 10 000 (sold out)
opening act: King's X
setlist: Release, Go, Animal, Deep, Jeremy, Glorified G, Daughter/(Suspicious Minds)(W.M.A.), Even Flow, Dissident, State Of Love And Trust, Last Exit, Black, Alive, Leash
encore 1: Rearviewmirror, Not For You, Elderly Woman..., Blood
encore 2: Baba O'Riley, (Street Fighting Man), Porch/(Tearing)
"Deep" lyrics are altered to "young virgin from Memphis", Similarly, the "Suspicious Minds" lead out from "Daughter" is undoubtedly a tribute to playing in "Elvis territory". Eddie becomes annoyed with all of the "Eddie" chants: "The only fucking reason you guys chant my name is cuz I'm the only guy in the band whose name has two syllables. We call Stone 'Stoney'. You could chant that..." and leads the audience to chant "Stoney, Stoney". After "State Of Love And Trust", Eddie asks if anyone is in love and then asks, "It's OK to be gay in Memphis, isn't it? All right, let's take a vote... yes? no? Anyone who said "no", you're a fucking asshole. Grow up, get a life!". Some really long haired kid from the crowd gets to share the mic with Eddie on "Leash", after which he does a glorious dive off the stage. At the start of the second encore, Eddie comes out and says, "Thank you, thank you so much", in his best Elvis voice. Then, "Mike McCready starts this song. If he doesn't start it in the next 15 seconds, I'm gonna kick his ass". Then Stone joins in: "The question is, can he play it with that stupid mask on?" and Mike starts off "Baba O'Riley". At one point, Eddie makes gestures like he will jump into the crowd and, instead, tosses Mike into the swarm. In the brief "Street Fighting Man" jam, Eddie changes the lyrics from "In sleepy London town..." to "In sleepy Memphis town...".
March 26, 1994 - Charles M. Murphy Athletic Center - Murfreesboro, TN, USA
attendance: Approx. 12 000 (sold out)
opening act: King's X
setlist: Rearviewmirror, Whipping, Go, Even Flow, Dissident, Deep, Jeremy, Animal, Glorified G, Daughter/(W.M.A.), Blood, Not For You, Elderly Woman..., Alive, Porch/(Monkey Gone To Heaven)
encore: Dock Of The Bay, Rockin' In The Free World, Indifference
This show sold out in 22 minutes. Eddie tirades: "If you ever come to Seattle, look me up. I'm in the phone book. No big deal. Come on over. Yeah, fuckin' right (laughs). I have to take that back. If you come over to my house, I'm gonna have to shoot ya. I need my privacy (audience boos). Yeah, yeah, you need your privacy, too. Don't you? You need your privacy? We all need our fuckin' privacy. Do you ever wonder why your mom and dad don't let you have a lock on your door? I still suffer from that. I need a lock on my fuckin' door. What the fuck is a door for if you can't have a lock on it? Tell your mom and dad I said 'Hi'... then fight for your rights as kids". There's another Mike guitar fatality during "Porch", which inclues a bit of "Monkey Gone To Heaven" by the Pixies. Legendary Booker T. & The M.G.'s guitarist Steve Cropper joins Pearl Jam for a lovely "(Sittin' On) Dock Of The Bay" and "Rockin' In The Free World", which Eddie described as "the highlight of our lives".
March 28, 1994 - AT&T Amphitheather - Miami, FL, USA
attendance: 25 000 (sold out) (capacity 8 314)
opening act: King's X
soundcheck: Improv, Not For You, Improv, Animal, Daughter
setlist: Release, Go, Animal, Dissident, Even Flow, State Of Love And Trust, Glorified G, Daughter/(Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2)/(W.M.A.), Jeremy, Deep, Rats, Blood, Black, Alive, Porch/(The Real Me)/(Monkey Gone To Heaven)
encore 1: Rearviewmirror, Not For You, Elderly Woman..., Garden, Rockin' In The Free World
encore 2: Indifference
This show at an outdoor park in downtown Miami sold out (8 314 tickets) in 11 minutes. Pearl Jam wanted to maintain its no-corporate-sponsorship policy and at the 11th hour refused to play unless the AT&T logos around the amphitheather were covered up. That unexpected demand delayed opening the gates for an hour and allowed an anxious crowd to swell. More than 25 000 fans showed up and attempted to barrel their way in, according to Miami Police estimates. Ticketless fans distracted guards by starting fights, then rushed the stage when the security forces attended to the brawls. The show went on and tempers and emotions cooled, but it was still a chaotic, mismanaged and dangerous affair. Beneath a full moon, Eddie practices crowd control: "We're all in one big boat tonight... don't let it go down". He dedicates "Even Flow" to some homeless people under a bridge nearby. Pearl Jam includes a bit of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall, Part2" in "Daughter". Later, Dave pulls a troublemaker from the crowd when prompted by Eddie saying, "One of you guys up front is hitting people. This guy right here... get him out. Pull him out. We don't wanna see him anymore. How can we accomplish a lot by showing these people who think we're all a bunch of fucking losers and we don't have a life, that we can get along? Scare the shit out of them and make them think this generation might actually accomplish something". "Not For You" is dedicated to "all those fuckers who were charging more than $18 for your fucking ticket". "Elderly Woman..." is stopped and restarted by Eddie. A rain storm breaks out at the start of "Garden". King's X join Pearl Jam for "Rockin' In The Free World".
March 29, 1994 - Bayfront Arena - St. Petersburg, FL, USA
opening act: King's X
setlist: Rearviewmirror, Whipping, Go, Animal, Dissident, Even Flow, Why Go, Jeremy, Glorified G, Daughter/(Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2)/(W.M.A.), Blood, Last Exit, Black, Alive, Porch/(Dirty Frank)
encore 1: Sonic Reducer, Not For You, Elderly Woman..., Rockin' In The Free World
encore 2: Indifference
encore 3: Throw Your Arms Around Me (Eddie solo)
Eddie jokes, "There is a fake in Florida, but this is the real Jeff Ament. If someone comes up to you and says he is Jeff Ament and wants to take your pot or wants to take you to a stripclub, it is probably not him". In a very rare third encore, "Throw Your Arms Around Me" is introduced as follows: "See, we live in a place where it ain't so sunny. Have you ever been in Seattle? It's just... this song has a lot to do with summer and I just want to play it here cause it always feels like summer here". This is a wonderful show!
April 2, 1994 - Fox Theatre - Atlanta, GA, USA
opening act: King's X
soundcheck: Rearviewmirror, Corduroy
setlist: Release, Go, Animal, Dissident, Even Flow, Why Go, Deep, Jeremy, Glorified G, Daughter/(W.M.A.), Blood, Footsteps, Once, Alive, Black, State Of Love And Trust, Leash
encore 1: The Kids Are Alright (Eddie solo), Rearviewmirror, Not For You, Elderly Woman..., Out Of My Mind, Alone, Porch
encore 2: Indifference
When Eddie dons a straw cowboy hat passed up from the audience, Stone plays a few notes from "Sweet Home Alabama". Eddie weaves a couple of lines from R.E.M.'s "Talk About The Passion" into the "Daughter" outro. After "Black", chants of "Eddie, Eddie" cause Eddie to stop talking and he says, "Hey, I know my name, and if I knew yours, I'd tell you to shut the fuck up!". The "Mamasan trilogy" is played in reverse order. This first-heard version of "Out Of My Mind" is later released as a single on the flip side of "Not For You".
April 3, 1994 - Fox Theatre - Atlanta, GA, USA
opening act: King's X
soundcheck: Go, Better Man, W.M.A. (x2), Manic Depression (Jeff & Stone with King's X Doug Pinnick & Jerry Gaskill)
setlist: Release, Rearviewmirror, Whipping, Even Flow, Dissident, Why Go, Deep, Jeremy, Glorified G, Daughter/(Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2), Go, Animal, Garden, State Of Love And Trust, Black, Alive, Blood/(Not For You)
encore 1: W.M.A., Better Man, Elderly Woman..., Rats/(Satan's Bed), Satan's Bed, Once, Improv, Sonic Reducer, (Detroit Rock City), Porch/(Androgynous Mind)
encore 2: Indifference
Jeff joins Kings X, playing bass on the Jimi Hendrix cover, "Manic Depression". "Go" is again dedicated to Kurt Cobain, with Eddie saying "This song's for Kurt". Some lyrics from "Not For You" are thrown in at the end of "Blood". King's X vocalist Doug Pinnick and drummer Jerry Gaskill help out during "W.M.A.". Prior to a super "Sonic Reducer", Eddie starts playing drums and Dave announces, "Ladies and gentlemen, Dave Abbruzzese!". Jeff chimes in, "Otherwise known as 'Four Feet'". Dave then mocks the crowd's earlier chants of "Eddie, Eddie!" by mumbling "Ed" several times into the mic, before returning to the drum set. A bit of "Satan's Bed" ("torture follows reward") is mixed into "Rats". Before "Porch", Eddie says, "I think you won, but I enjoyed the fight", referring to a large banner handed to him, which reads, "Eddie vs. Atlanta". Meanwhile, the band is jamming to the Kiss song, "Detroit Rock City". During the long jam during the middle of this incredible version of "Porch", Eddie throws his mic stand at a huge replica of the "boy on the cross" figurine (depicted in the Vs. book) hanging in the background. Eddie dons a Cincinnati Bengals helmet and the gold bat wings and climbs the lighting rig above the stage. Staying there through most of the jam, he throws down a dummy wearing a similar outfit. The crowd screams, thinking that Eddie has fallen, but he reappears, and starts singing again. Jeff kicks the dummy into the crowd where it is ripped to pieces. Eddie returns to the stage using only his hands on the rope ladder with his feet dangling. A snippet of Sonic Youth's "Androgynous Mind" is intermingled in "Porch" (and the original played during Eddie's DJ show later). The lights are turned up after "Porch" and at least half of the crowd leaves, missing "Indifference". This show was broadcast on radio, as well as Eddie's 45-minute DJ session from a van after the show, called "Monkeywrench Radio".
Eddie's DJ set: "Cigarettes" (King's X), "I Only Play for Money" (The Frogs), "A Little Story" (Daniel Johnson), "Joy Without Pleasure" (Daniel Johnson), "Androgynous Mind" (Sonic Youth), "In The Blood" (Mudhoney), "Disconnect" (Rollins Band), "Baby Drop" (Shudder To Think), "Let Down Left Out Laughed At" (Eleven), "Dock Of The Bay" (Pearl Jam with Steve Cropper, live from Murfreesboro '94). At the end of the broadcast, Ed says, "... umm, Pete Townshend and uh (laughs)... Kurt Cobain. Hope he's all right, please be all right. Thanks for letting us come into your houses and your cars and your ears (laughs) and uh, sorry about the mess. Sorry we left a mess. I'll see you guys later take care... bye".
April 6, 1994 - Springfield Civic Center - Springfield, MA, USA
attendance: 6 850 (sold out)
opening act: Mudhoney
setlist: Rearviewmirror, Whipping, Go, Animal, Dissident, Even Flow, Glorified G, Daughter/(Hate The Police)/(W.M.A.)/(Androgynous Mind), Why Go, Deep, Rats, Last Exit, State Of Love And Trust, Black, Alive, Porch/(Hey Hey, My My)
encore 1: Not For You, Blood, Yellow Ledbetter, Once, Out Of My Mind, Improv, My Generation, Elderly Woman..., Rockin' In The Free World
encore 2: Spin The Black Circle
Another happy, upbeat show with Pearl Jam clearly enjoying themselves. The "Hate The Police" tag is a song by The Dicks that Mudhoney covers frequently. Again, the "Eddie" chants prompt, "That's my name... don't fuckin' wear it out". Stone yells a "happy birthday" to Brett. Excellent version of "Porch". Taking requests, Pearl Jam elects to play "Yellow Ledbetter" after "Blood".
April 7, 1994 - Rochester Community War Memorial - Rochester, NY, USA
attendance: 11 200 (sold out)
opening act: Mudhoney
setlist: Wash, Animal, Go, Dissident, Even Flow, Why Go, Jeremy, Glorified G, Daughter/(Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2)/(Across The Universe), Breath, State Of Love And Trust, Rats, Once, Black, Alive
encore 1: Rearviewmirror, Corduroy, Elderly Woman..., Improv, Porch
encore 2: Indifference
Eddie comments, "Living is the best revenge" after "Jeremy". Stone sings lovely vocals with Eddie on "Breath". A great performance.
April 8, 1994 - Patriot Center - Fairfax, VA, USA
opening act: Mudhoney
setlist: Release, Go, Animal, Dissident, Why Go, Deep, Jeremy, Daughter/(Hey Hey, My My)/(American Pie), Even Flow, Breath, State Of Love And Trust, Footsteps, Black, Alive, Porch/(Tearing)
encore 1: Rearviewmirror, Corduroy, Not For You, Elderly Woman..., Blood
encore 2: Indifference, Rockin' In The Free World
This performance was very difficult for Pearl Jam and many in the crowd due to the discovery of Kurt Cobain's death that day. A very tense and emotional show. Before "Porch" Eddie remarked, "We are elevated a little more than usual, either that or I've gotten taller. I don't think it's a very good thing to elevate yourself. I think it would be very dangerous. Sometimes, whether you like it or not, people elevate you... whether you like it or not, and it's very easy to fall. So... uh... I don't want to be the messenger, somebody who delivers bad news, you know. Kill the messenger, but I don't think any of us would be in this room here tonight if it weren't for Kurt Cobain... 1,2,3,4...". Incredible version of "Even Flow". Despite the sadness and misery hanging over this show, the songs were powerful and intense. By the end of the night the mood changed with the music bringing everyone together and creating strength. People started leaving after "Indifference" as the lights went down, and started running back in when they closed powerfully with "Rockin' In The Free World", playing like they couldn't stop.
April 10, 1994 - Boston Garden - Boston, MA, USA
opening act: Mudhoney
setlist: Release, Go, Animal, Dissident, Why Go, Deep, Jeremy, Glorified G, (Sweet Emotion), Daughter/(Hey Hey, My My)/(W.M.A.), State Of Love And Trust, Garden, Blood, Black, Alive, Porch
encore 1: Once, Rearviewmirror, Not For You
encore 2: Elderly Woman..., Leash, Yellow Ledbetter
Tickets are absolutely impossible to get to this show, particularly with the speculation that Pearl Jam will cancel to return to Seattle for a memorial for Kurt Cobain. "Release" opens again, in total darkness. Eddie brings up the lights to personally thanks two girls in the audience for standing up and dancing during Mudhoney's set. "Glorified G" is dedicated to James Brady. Members of Aerosmith are in attendance, thus the tribute snippet of "Sweet Emotion". Eddie comments on Pearl Jam's continued sadness about Cobain: "Hey,... I gotta admit, we got a lot on our minds. It is tough to play. I personally felt we shouldn't play at all. It is really very odd, it's just like that empty feeling. It is all right to fade away and not to burn out". "Blood" is dedicated to Cobain. As an intro to "Black" Eddie sings a few lines from "Stuff And Nonsense", by Split Enz. Eddie starts off the encore by saying, "... you guys are actually almost making me happy tonight", and brings his brother, Brian out later to have the audience say hello.
April 11, 1994 - Boston Garden - Boston, MA, USA
opening act: Mudhoney
setlist: Release, Rearviewmirror, Whipping, Go, Animal, Dissident, State Of Love And Trust, Breath, Blood, Daughter/(Hey Hey, My My), Why Go, Improv, Jeremy, Even Flow, Black, Alive, Porch/(Tearing)
encore 1: Rats, Immortality, Corduroy, Garden, Leash
encore 2: Rockin' In The Free World, (Happy Trails), Indifference
"Breath" virtually disappeared from setlists for years after this show. "Immortality" premieres here, featuring very different early lyrics. Eddie smashes a hole in the stage with the mic stand and exits through it ending "Blood". Matt Lukin of Mudhoney joins Pearl Jam for "Rockin' In The Free World" and returns for a very drunk, a capella "Happy Trails" by Roy Rogers & Dale Evans, intro'ed as a "... song for John Candy, 'cause we all know he was a big, fat bastard. But we love him".
April 12, 1994 - Orpheum Theatre - Boston, MA, USA
opening act: Mudhoney
setlist: Oceans, Even Flow, Sonic Reducer, State Of Love And Trust, Hard To Imagine, Immortality/(Hey Hey, My My), Go, Animal, Glorified G, Daughter/(Suck You Dry), Alone, Not For You, Better Man, Rats, Blood
encore 1: Release, Tremor Christ, Once, Fuckin' Up, Dirty Frank, Yellow Ledbetter, Improv, Rearviewmirror, Elderly Woman...
encore 2: I've Got A Feeling
The crew created this setlist, full of new songs and b-sides. Mudhoney's Mark Arm joins Pearl Jam for "Sonic Reducer". Standout version of "Immortality". Eddie comments: "This is the second to the last night of this fucking tour. Play New York and we are going home. We would like to thank our crew, speaking of "Rats". You should also thank the one who made the setlist tonight, cause somebody else made it. This is a fucking awesome place you live in. Lots of history. It is definitely one of the places I want to live". Mike pretends to hide during the appropriate "Dirty Frank" lyrics. Having a rather cheerful night, Eddie quips, "I really shouldn't let you all see me this happy... people might expect it all the time". During the extended "I've Got A Feeling" jam, Eddie lifts a young female attendee from the crowd and puts her on his shoulders, dances a bit and returns her to her seat, giving her some roses.
April 16, 1994 - NBC Studios - New York City, NY, USA (Saturday Night Live)
setlist: Not For You, Rearviewmirror, Daughter/(Hey Hey, My My)
Typically, musical guests on Saturday Night Live only perform two songs. Pearl Jam performs three, including the previously unreleased "Not For You". "Daughter" is ended with ramblings including a quote from Neil Young's "Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)", which is the song inspiring the reference in Kurt Cobain's suicide note, "it's better to burn out than to fade away". This performance contrasts darkly with the previous Saturday Night Live appearance in '92.
April 17, 1994 - Paramount Theatre - New York City, NY, USA
opening act: Mudhoney
setlist: Rearviewmirror, Whipping, Go, Animal, Dissident, Even Flow, Glorified G, Daughter/(Tonight's The Night), Why Go, Jeremy, Alone, Garden
encore 1: Footsteps, State Of Love And Trust, Satan's Bed, Blood
encore 2: Not For You, Elderly Woman..., Sonic Reducer
This show at the Paramount Theatre (located inside Madison Square Garden) turned out to be the last show of the '94 tour, and also Dave Abbruzzese's last show with Pearl Jam, with him getting fired by the band in the following August. Ten Club members had preference for tickets. Remaining tickets were distributed to New York radio stations and were given away starting the Friday before (the show was on a Sunday) until late Saturday night. Winners then went to a separate location to pick up the tix before the show. Eddie leads the crowd in a "fuck" chant before "Alone". A female fan, screaming "I love you, Eddie" is dealt with. "Aww, that's sweet. I love you too", Eddie responds sarcastically. "You don't love me. You love who you think I am and the image you have created in your mind. You can't love me cause I'm already in love. Did you know my ten year anniversary with my girlfriend, Beth, is next month? That is the longest relationship of anyone in the band, unless you count Stone and Jeff". The lyrics in "Dissident" are changed to a spoken, "Escape is never the safest plan". Mark Arm joins Pearl Jam for "Sonic Reducer". A very spiritual, intense, cathartic show with an entire night of pummeling beats and guitar solos, Eddie howling and pulsating hair. It is unclear what direction Pearl Jam will take from this point. Eddie references this and suggests going off and living in a cave with Beth.
North American Tour - 1994 (Leg 3) (Canceled)
On May 6, Pearl Jam issued a formal complaint against Ticketmaster with the U.S. Department of Justice, citing the company's anti-competitive and monopolistic business practices. The group wanted to charge no more than $18 for tickets, with service fees of no more than $1.80. Ticketmaster balked, saying that they needed at least $2 in fees simply to cover costs. Before the hearings in court Pearl Jam were forced to cancel their summer tour due to the difficulty of organizing concerts with venues not affiliated with Ticketmaster. On June 30, Stone and Jeff offered testimony before a congressional subcommittee in Washington, D.C. Eventually, on July 5, 1995, the Justice Department declared the case was dropped and the investigation was over. Pearl Jam had lost, but their ongoing battle with Ticketmaster weren't over.
October 1, 1994 - Shoreline Amphitheatre - Mountain View, CA, USA (Bridge School Benefit) (Acoustic)
attendance: 21 000 (sold out)
setlist: Walking The Cow, Elderly Woman..., Corduroy, Daughter/(American Pie), Black, Footsteps, Yellow Ledbetter
encore: Let Me Sleep (Eddie & Mike)
Pearl Jam's second appearance at the benefit for the Bridge School. Other artists performing is Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Indigo Girls, Mazzy Star, Al Jourgensen & Paul Barker of Ministry and Pete Droge. Jack Irons, prior drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Eleven, and longtime friend of Eddie's, appears on percussion for Pearl Jam. "Walking The Cow" is a Daniel Johnson cover. Benmont Tench (of the Heartbreakers) joins Pearl Jam during "Footsteps", playing piano. "Let Me Sleep" is played live for the "people in the back". (A studio version was released as the '91 fan club single). Pearl Jam join Neil Young in his encore, "Piece Of Crap", having a great time of it.
October 2, 1994 - Shoreline Amphitheatre - Mountain View, CA, USA (Bridge School Benefit) (Acoustic)
attendance: 21 000 (sold out)
setlist: Wash, Not For You, Immortality, Elderly Woman..., Daughter/(Tonight's The Night), Black
encore: Bee Girl (Eddie & Jeff)
Eddie joins Ministry's Al Jourgenson, Paul Barker and their friends for "Lay Lady Lay" and Mike joins Pete Droge for a song during his set. Benmont Tench joins Pearl Jam during "Black", playing piano. Eddie and Jeff perform "Bee Girl" for the first time since the Rockline radio interview, commenting about Blind Melon's video's "bee girl" and how they "saw really bad things for her future". Pearl Jam join Neil Young for "Piece Of Crap". More than $70 000 was raised for the Bridge School as a result of these two shows.
November 22, 1994 - Vitalogy
tracklist: Last Exit, Spin The Black Circle, Not For You, Tremor Christ, Nothingman, Whipping, Pry, To, Corduroy, Bugs, Satan's Bed, Better Man, Aye Davanita, Immortality, Hey Foxymophandlemama, That's Me (*)
Pearl Jam release their third studio album, Vitalogy, through Epic Records. Produced by Pearl Jam & Brendan O'Brien. Mixed by Brendan O'Brien & Brett Eliason (*).
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