Pearl Jam Concert Chronology

2001

October 20, 2001 - Shoreline Amphitheatre - Mountain View, CA, USA (Bridge School Benefit) (Acoustic)

setlist: Long Road, Of The Girl, Elderly Woman..., Last Soldier, Daughter/(Where Do The Children Play?), Better Man, Drifting, Crazy Mary, Give Me Some Truth, Indifference (with Ben Harper), Last Kiss

Not a drastic departure from previous Bridge appearances, but a few surprises and touches. "Last Soldier" is a new song, penned by Mike, with a somewhat R.E.M.-type sound. The "Daughter" tag is a section from the Cat Stevens song "Where Do The Children Play?" ("I know we've come a long way; we're changing day to day; but tell me, where do the children play?”). Eddie says that "Drifting" was written on the way down from Neil's place and that no one can come out of Neil's, even an insurance salesman, without becoming a songwriter. It includes the full band, with Stone helping out on vocals. "Gimme Some Truth" is a big standout, with the whole band in good form. Ben Harper helps out with "Indifference", giving Eddie a kiss when he walks out on stage. "Last Kiss", like '99, is dedicated to Maricor (a Bridge School student).

October 21, 2001 - Shoreline Amphitheatre - Mountain View, CA, USA (Bridge School Benefit) (Acoustic)

setlist: The Kids Are Alright, Wishlist, I Am Mine, Low Light, Nothing As It Seems, Last Soldier, Black, Gimme Some Truth, Indifference (with Ben Harper), Soldier Of Love

Pearl Jam play considerably earlier tonight, allowing time to travel to the Groundwork 2001 Benefit the following night. Ben Harper had brought his mother out during his performance to sing a song with him. Eddie takes note of this, saying that Ben had created a "difficult situation" as his mother was also in attendance and he knew she'd want to sing. Karen Vedder was indeed in attendance. "Wishlist" lyrics are modified to "I wish I was the neutron bomb, the one that didn't go off". "I Am Mine", another new song debuts tonight, this one is seemingly an Eddie song and with him playing guitar. After "I Am Mine", Eddie says: "There's one thing interesting about this one... we've never played it before live, so try this one", leading to the beautiful premier of Jeff's song "Low Light", from Yield. Eddie gives a long speech before "Last Soldier" about the Bridge kids (particularly noting Alan and Maricor), noting that since their last appearance, Maricor had graduated from the Bridge School and was now a sophomore at Berkeley. Eddie polls the band members as to how many years they attended college, and how difficult it is. "What I'm trying to say is that, Maricor, you're fucking amazing!".

October 22, 2001 - KeyArena - Seattle, WA, USA (Groundwork 2001 Benefit)

soundcheck: I Got Id, Insignificance, Grievance, Gimme Some Truth, Nothing As It Seems
setlist: Gimme Some Truth, Grievance, Insignificance, Given To Fly, Light Years, Nothing As It Seems, I Am Mine, Better Man, Do The Evolution, Long Road (with Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan)

This benefit for hunger was webcast. Opening with John Lennon's "Gimme Some Truth" and then strongly accelerating through "Grievance" and "Insignificance", it appears that Pearl Jam is ready to plug in after the prior two night's acoustic shows! Eddie sets the guitar aside halfway through "Insignificance", grabbing it and taking an ebow to it in the modified midsection breakdown. There's a bit of a false start to "Light Years", but it's "Given To Fly" with "Light Years" following. Eddie holds a high note for a long time during "Better Man" and the whole band picks up during the jam at the end (with the "This is one of those times, you've got to try; won't you please, be mine... don't let me down..." tag). "Do The Evolution" just kicks ass - wow! Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan vocalizes halfway through "Long Road", and he and Eddie share a long embrace while Eddie plays out on guitar to close the song and the set. Very touching moment. During R.E.M.'s set (following Pearl Jam's), they play about one third of "Better Man" (jury is out as to whether it was affectionate or mocking) and then during a fiery "People Have The Power" inserted into the middle of "It's The End Of The World As We Know It", Eddie comes running behind the drumkit from stage right to a microphone set up for him stage left. Eddie sings backing vocals and takes a verse and imitates Michael dancing when they go back into "It's The End Of The World As We Know It", and even sings a few bars, and the two hug for an extended period of time (both wearing little fedoras) at the end. Unexpected and surprisingly intense ending to tonight's show.