“Welcome to Pearl Jam’s 50th show in New York City,” Ed Vedder said to a roaring applause from the Crowd at Madison Square Garden! Pearl Jam MSG Night 2 Shows have historically been unique and special and this Night 2 did not disappoint, especially with the buzz of their 50 NYC show milestone. I really liked the choice of “Garden” as the opener tonight, usually they save Release for The Garden Night 1/Night 2, but this was nice metaphorical choice for them. Ed was acting out the lyrics during the song holding his hands and wrists together over his head while singing… “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.”
Corduroy was next early in the set and got The Garden shaking a little, it’s wild to feel the concrete building bounce a little with everyone’s energy moving! Then up next one of my favorite songs off No Code – Hail, Hail. A song not played as often as it should be. I was curious how Pearl Jam would make the set lists for these back to back shows, given then play hard for 2 ½ + hours and Ed had to sing his heart out back to back nights. I was VERY impressed with Ed’s voice at both these New York City shows, he sounds better than ever and arranged the set lists to even be able to sing Leash later in the set last, a song they had avoided in the past because it can be straining on Ed’s voice on tour… it even was in Brackets (Leash) on the setlist as an option… Ed must have been feeling good because they played it last night at the end of the set!
It was six songs in to the show when they went into a 3 song run of songs of their recent record release Dark Matter. They played Dark Matter, React, Respond, and Won’t Tell – which was a fun run of new songs, it would have been really cool last night if they played the full Dark Matter Record like they did for TEN a few years ago in Philly. The new songs sound really great live, better than I expected and so much so I want to hear more of them! Hoping they will play Running and Waiting For Stevie again in Philly!
The bands vibe and performance throughout the evening showed how much they were enjoying their 50 show milestone. Ed once again shared the story of the first time he ever came to New York City “As a Chicago kid, and then on the West Coast, I had never been East of Chicago before” and how he saw a window reflection of himself with the NYC Skyline behind him and that moment was truly was inspiring and moving for him, as they then played Elderly Woman Behind the Counter In a Small Town, a song that got The Garden singing all together again!
Ed mentioned he had a few special requests and one of those requests was to play a song that he doesn’t really play much anymore because it is about guns…. actually it’s an anti-gun song with lyrics mocking gun enthusiasts, but with all the gun violence in the world currently he wasn’t a fan of playing it. He obliged this request after a poignant and thoughtful speech about protecting our kids and kids in school from gun violence… in the shadow of yet another school shooting in Georgia this week.
To close the first set Pearl Jam invited out a special guest, Andrew Watt, guitarist and producer of their recent record Dark Matter, to play with them. The band went into an amazing version of Waiting For Stevie with Andrew and Mike trading off guitar solos with great showmanship. Then transitioned into the opening riff of Rearviewmirror and The Garden began to shake again as they closed out the first set!
After a short break EV returned to the stage and his tech Simon handed him his electric guitar, Ed cracked a joke about the band arguing over what songs to play and then went into a solo version of Little Steven’s song I Am A Patriot. This was the slower version with just Ed and his sparkle telecaster, I really love this version reminded of when i saw him play it back in 2000 at the Ralph Nader rally, also here at Madison Square Garden.
2000 MSG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87payRaxCjE
One of the highlights of this night was Ed bringing out Glen Hansard (who opened the show with his full band) to sing a duet of Glen’s song, Song Of Good Hope. This was a really nice change up from Falling Slowly that they have previously played together on this tour. Ed’s voice was like a fine wine on this one with Glen singing the most amazing harmonies while playing his well worn and traveled Takamine Guitar.
The band returned to the stage and Josh Klinghoffer came out front to play guitar as they went into a full band version of Gimme Some Truth a John Lennon Cover that they used to play often back in the early 2000’s that they have now played 2 times this tour!
Sonic Reducer was also a really awesome encore play that’s one of Ed’s favorites to throw in late in the set, followed by Leash that sounded AMAZING! This is a song all us 10 Club members always hope for and rarely get, hell of a way to close out Night 2 at The Garden!
The house lights came on at the end of Alive and then the band went it a stellar version of Neil Young’s Rockin’ In The Free World bringing out E Street Band Member Little Steven (Steven Van Zant) to join them playing guitar and singing. They also invite Glen Hansard and his band out on the stage to join them. During this jam Jeff gave his bass to Joe from Glen’s Band and The Frames to play as did Matt Cameron give up his throne to Glen’s Drummer. The vibes on stage were magical and was a beautiful way to bring everyone out to jam and end the evening and bring on Yellow Ledbetter.
The evening closed with the most perfect version of Yellow Ledbetter – All I can say is never miss a Night 2 at MSG, it’s always something very very special!
Pearl Jam’s Dark Matter tour rolls into Philadelphia on Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center! Thank you to Pearl Jam & Their Crew Along With Live Nation for their kind hospitality!
SETLIST MSG Night 1
- Garden
- Corduroy
- Hail, Hail
- Even Flow
- Daughter/Another Brick In The Wall Part II (Pink Floyd cover)
- Dark Matter
- React, Respond
- Won’t Tell
- Not for You/Modern Girl (Sleater-Kinney)
- Wreckage
- I Am Mine
- Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
- Glorified G (tour debut)
- Do the Evolution
- Jeremy
- Waiting for Stevie (with Andrew Watt)
- Rearviewmirror (with Andrew Watt)
Encore:
- I Am a Patriot (Little Steven cover / Ed Solo)
- Just Breathe (Ed & Josh)
- Song of Good Hope (Glen Hansard cover / with Glen Hansard)
- Gimme Some Truth (John Lennon cover)
- Setting Sun
- Sonic Reducer (Dead Boys cover)
- Leash
- Alive
- Rockin’ in the Free World (Neil Young Cover / with Little Steven, Glen Hansard & His Band, and Andrew Watt)
- Yellow Ledbetter
Notes:
Red Mosquito was on the setlist but was replaced with Glorified G
Leash was also a maybe on the setlist and They played it and it was EPIC!
Michael’s first offical photo pass was given to him by Team Chris Cornell in 2011. Shortly after that (in honor of his dad who had recently passed away) Michael launched WATERMRK Studios (2012), his freelance design & photography company based in Monmouth County, NJ. Since his first offical gig in 2011 Michael has had the pleasure of working with Blind Melon, Chris Cornell, Pearl Jam, G. Love, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Ohana Music Festival and the Sea Hear Now Festival, and many more.
Michael’s photographs have been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, Variety, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Daily News, Time Out NY, The Asbury Park Press, Artists Websites, Artists Newsletters & National Marketing Campaigns.