memorabilia

i've been to quite a few concerts over the years.. for the last couple of them i had decided i wouldn't try to take pictures or record snippets of the shows. it was a conscious decision. for most bands that i want to go watch, i'd like to absolutely immerse myself in the music and focus on the music and the music alone. the distraction of "hey, this might make for a great photo op" or "wow, this is the part he goes into that guitar solo, must record!" has gotten to me in the past.

this was rammed home pretty brutally for me after the Maiden show when listening to the recording i had of "Wasted Years" on my cellphone. the recording sounded like crap, and i didn't remember really enjoying the moment at the show itself! so the new motto is that i am going to totally enjoy any shows that i go to, and focus on relishing the music which i can always relive in my head where it will always be better than any version i can reproduce on a dig-cam or cellphone.

of course, Pearl Jam are smart.. they sell live bootlegs of shows that you've been to so that the 'Jamily' (as PJ fans are called) don't bother trying to smuggle recording equipment into the concerts anyways!

PJ PJ PJ!!

went to not one but two Pearl Jam concerts over the span of one weekend.. not the craziest thing we've ever done but definitely one of the most fun ones!

this wasn't the first time i'd watched PJ live.. and that previous time i'd said that was one of the best shows i'd been to. well, the first show on the 28th was the best concert i've ever been at. great seats, great weather, great company, great band, great set, great show.. what else can i say?! we'd gone early, tailgated and barbecued for a few hours.. it's been a while since we'd last done that for a show. it was a hot sweltering night and if the rain that the flashes of lightning portended had actually poured down during the show, then PJ's cover of The Who's classic "Love Reign O'er Me" would have been fulfilled..


June 28th, 2008 - Mansfield, MA
Pre-Opener:
Throw Your Arms Around Me
Set 1:
Hard To Imagine, Why Go, Hail Hail, Comatose, Low Light, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Corduroy, Faithfull, Off He Goes, Given To Fly, Down, I'm Open, I Got Id, Even Flow, Do The Evolution, Once, Rearviewmirror
Encore 1:
Love Reign O'er Me, Come Back, Insignificance, Black, Better Man(Save it for Later)
Encore 2:
No More, State Of Love And Trust, Alive

the second show was on a Monday, so between the pain of getting out of work and making that damned commute all the way down to Mansfield and being at a show where it seemed the entire cast of High School Musical had accidentally landed up at.. the show wasn't as awesome as the previous one. i wasn't too sure of the set list either, but the band still sounded great so it was all good


June 30th, 2008 - Mansfield, MA
Set 1:
Wash, Last Exit, Save You, Severed Hand, Animal, MFC, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, 1/2 Full, Corduroy, Given To Fly, Even Flow, Education, Satan's Bed, Whipping, Glorified G, Do The Evolution
Encore 1:
Bee Girl, Who You Are, Better Man(Save it for Later), Garden, Why Go
Encore 2:
No More, Once, Footsteps, Alive, Rockin' In The Free World

links to pictures here

playing ketch-up

i know i haven't written in ages, basically i have a bunch of incomplete posts saved as drafts only cos things have been hectic and i haven't had a chance to finish them. lots to talk about though.. two Pearl Jam concerts, structural changes at work, the annual trip to New Orleans.. see you back here soonish!!