I’m not exactly sure how to describe the anticipation for this weekend, so I’ll leave that to you guys because you all know what Pearl Jam means to me. I can tell you that it was more than you think, and not just because of Ed and crew. This was a weekend of reunification, a much needed one at that. After a tumultuous week and a half of school, I needed a distraction of monumental proportions. Enter Pearl Jam. So get ready for a story full of laughter, tears, and rock & roll (no sex and drugs-though I thought Pete was looking to get with this guy next to him at Charlotte-but, can’t have everything). So here it goes...
“Troubled souls unite...we got ourselves tonight!”(part one)
This particular journey began five years ago with a quote(This should ring a bell, mayonesa). By the beginning of 9th grade, Ryan and I became Pearl Jam freaks due to eleven songs that were more magicval thatn anything either of us had ever heard. Five years worth of four albums, singles, (too) many bootlegs (cue HK-”that’s why you never have money.”cue me-”so? It’s Pearl Jam”), many whacked out fantasies of things like the band showing up at the HI auditorium for a special show for Mayo and I-yes we are pathetic. I am just going to leave out the Atlanta show because my bruthas were not there to see it with me (this one was better anyway). So I promise Mayo earlier our Senior year that they will be around before college and we will finally have what we’ve been waiting for. Better late than never. The tour is announced and they are coming to Charlotte and Charleston, but no Atlanta (Lindsey and Leigh-you will see them eventually, just be patient). By chance, I got through on the phone line to get tickets, reserved four, and I am ecstatic of course. However, I can’t see going to Charlotte without my boy. How on Earth will he make it if he is going to be out in Earth muffin country(I can hear you now, James St. James). At this point I would just like to send out a sincere and hearty thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Mayo, for they allowed this dream to come true. Mayo calls me before I leave for school and says that there may be a small chance of him flying in to see the shows. HELL YES, I’m thinking but how is my padna in the garbage toting business going to pull this off? So I wait a couple of weeks, get settled into the college thing, and before I know it, Mayo calls and says, “it’s official!” This prompts a big, extended version of the Brody elevator dance for me, and the “I’ve got five-thousand dollars” dance for Mayo. So it is now set. The next few weeks are spent emailing everyday and not one message goes by without the mention of at least one pearl jam quote (did we miss any mayonesa? probably “Bugs”?) All this time I’m doing my best to tolerate this whole college thing, thinking about the big weekend (or as Mayo called it-”Fuck Yeah” weekend) Petter and I do our best to find someone suitable enough for the 4th ticket (sorry Linds, it was waiting for you) and we come up with our friend Will who is rapidly becoming a big PJ fan. Before I know it, Friday the 4th is upon us...
“And now I rub my eyes, for he has returned..”
I finish up with classes that day, go eat lunch, check e-mail, and race over to my room to wait for my boy. Pett and I and some of the crew we hang with hang for awhile and eventually Mayo graced us with his earring clad presence (I do like it). Pete greets him first (“forgive me if I don’t shake hands”) and I finally get the pleasure of seeing at least one of the people I so dearly miss. Mayo meets the rest of the crew and we head out on the long road to Charlotte. The memory of this road trip is highly vivid in my mind, just knowing where we were headed, we were all pumped and having a great time, picking on the Greek (love ya Petra), listening to Tracy Bonham (I likes, James), S. Crow, Adam Sandler, and Mayo and I did a short, yet memorable reenactment of the “Ironic” video (Yes, we did listen to a few Alanis songs in your honor, HK). Now, it’s a good thingI had on those cheap sunglasses because I got a little tear in my eye due to the memories of New Jersey and all (yeah, you are all thinking I’m a queer now, but hey I miss the guys). Anyhow, only a few minutes pass and we are walking up to Charlotte Memorial Stadium! [mayo’s note - NO THANKS TO PETER’S SENSE OF DIRECTION!!] Mayo lets out a fist pump, and we give a collective “hell yes.” Not three seconds later we spot a familiar looking figure walk up to a fence we were walking by (we walked in the back way) and my heart sinks. I turn to Mayo and say “That’s Eddie over there, bro” in a real silent tone so he doesn’t hear me. Mayo says no, but Pete agrees. I stand there a second, but Mayo drags us away. “If he is wearing a blue-jean type shirt tonite, I’m gonna kill you.” It wasn’t him, but now I know what it feels like to be 3 feet near E.V. Shut up, Lindsey. Anyway, we make our way into the stadium and the tension builds with every step. We find our niche about 25 yards from the front of the stage right in the center in front of where Eddie stands. Oh, do you guys want to hear about the show itself...well here goes. The Fastbacks come on around 6:40 and represent Seattle (badly) with their 2 or so minute songs that all sound alike. To put it another way, they were a girly version of the Ramones, but alot worse (Noz, you would not have been proud). Things get tighter in the crowd as Ben Harper comes on and I was very impressed with this Hendrix disciple (he opened with a slamming version of “Voodoo Child”, Noz knows of what I speak). Thier bassist was phat as hell too. So we say bye to them and wait for the main event. We are blessed with hearing the entire new Satchel album while the set changes, and things start to get real tense. We all fight for our position, especially one mayonesa. He had to have his wood. Don’t ask. [mayo’s note: I am 5’8’’, and standing behind 15, 000 6’5’’ people, I stood on the wooden box covering the electric cords from sound board to the stage so I could be as tall as everyone else...hey it worked]
The opening music begins and I look at my compadres and they are all psyched. The lights go out and here we go!!! Mayo and I do the fist knock as to say “we finally made it.” We see them all walk out in the dark lit stage. Ed has his guitar around his torso and I call it immediately, “Long Road”. This was a blessing. I’ve been wanting to see this since I heard it last year. Beautifully played and sung. During the second verse EV gives Stone and Jeff the “sounds good” look and I know we are in for a treat. Off goes Eddie’s guitar he says to the crowd to keep things sane because the fire marshall is busting a nut about crowd safety, “we’re about thirty seconds from kicking in and we just wanted to make sure everyone watches out for their neighbor.” And kick in they did. “Last Exit” rips the place apart, and the song isn’t even that hard but it was fantastic. Stone is marching like a madman, he loves that song. Next comes “Animal” which the crowd digs alot, though I could have done without it. We brace ourselves and I look at Mayo and give an “Oh shit” as the opening chords to “Spin the Black Circle” are played. This sounded better than I’ve ever heard them play it. Eddie belted out every word to this larynx-wrenching song. I knew I would love the next song and I was right...”Hail, Hail” Does anybody not like this song? If not, don’t tell me. As Mayo had written to me earlier via email, “Hail, Hail the lucky ones I refer ro Quinn and Mayo.” Yes, we were the luckiest people on Earth at this moment in time. Jeff was all over the place with his round Charlie Chaplin-esque type hat. Of course, everyone knows he’s got ups. He’s no Opie Taylor. [mayo’s note: Hey, I resent that statement] Next was a special treat for Mayonaise- “In my tree”. This song just soars live. Jack Irons is pretty much the son of god, I’ve concluded. Now, it’s big hat time, and we are given “Corduroy”. I look back at Will and he gives me an “awww yeah” grin, you know like Levon and Barry (Excuse me while I whisper some sweet nothings into this puddin”- BFK). This is his favorite song and I can see why. Now it’s time to brace yourself, as Mayo did when he looked back at me as the opening guitar was played for the next one- “Lukin”. Can hardly remember it, Ed was into it though. Then comes the Yankee’s choice - “Not for You”. Good bass and excellent guitars courtesy of Stone, Mike, and Eddie (Noz, you would have loved it) Then comes that really obscure song..uh..”Jeremy”, played with pleanty of Intensity and Ed does not sing the first chorus, nor does he sing the “whooahh oh, oh, oh oh oh” part, instead he stands infront of the mic and watches as we all do it. cool moment. The lights go dim and Eddie straps on a guitar and thy go into a beautiful version of “Better Man” (during which HK springs to mind b/c she likes this one alot and I can’t help but get a little verclempt). The lights added a lot to this for they used a mirror ball that had a cool effect. Cue E.V. - “This is a song called ‘Red Mosquito’.” Now cue Mike “shreds like nobody’s business” McCready. This guy tore the shit up. Way better than any version previously heard. They clam us down again with “Black” which I had already seen live and it wasn’t anything special in my opinion. Eddie “That song was about love, and this one is also about love...AND trust.” Cue Mayo and Pete freaking out. Highly memorable. Rocked like a magic kiss. Ed speaks again-”This song is for a guy who is 62(?) years old , and thinks like he is 1062.” PJ begins to RIP the stage up with one of the best performances of the night with “Habit”. Yeah I can hear you now Clay, “That song sucks.” No my friend, you need to see it/hear it live. Instead of “speaking as a child of the 90’s” he says “speaking as my own bad self.” Speaking of his own bad self, Eddie was in great form. Voice was ON, he was having FUN, and he’s got ups too-no lie. He was loving every second of the show. Next is another Noz specialty - “Rearviewmirror.” Cool jam in the middle of the song with trippy lights, sounded like something out of “Won’t get fooled again.” Great performance. Then comes the one I was hoping for in “Immortality.” Thought they would bring out Linds for guitar, but no avail. Song was highlighted by great lead work by McCready and the drumming of Jesus Irons. The always incredible “alive” follows. I look around and pete is having a blast, singing along with Ed, just jamming all out. Mayo was nowhere in sight, but I’m sure he dug it [mayo’s note: hmmm, let’s think about this one?! ‘Where was I again?] Will was even singing along on this one (way to go WIlliam!) This was the song that made everybody in the place go absolutely crazy. May have been the best all night....”You know I’ve got alot to say right now...alot to say” I know exactly what is next “but I guess I am just going to say 1-2-3-4 What the fuck is this world...” “Porch!!” intense as ever, long jam in the middle in which Eddie describes the perfect place that we are all invited to and that he and the band will be there and it will be so beautiful and on and on and he says, “you know where this place is? I do. you wanna know? It’s the future.” OK, Ed lay off the crack, bud. My favorite song done excellently, loved it.
They exit the stage, Mayo rejoins us with a huge smile on his face, and he, petter, and I start predicting the encore. Mayo really wants “Smile” and I agree, but I say doubtful and wish for “Off He Goes” and maybe “Leash” or “Hard to Imagine” (yeah right). We nailed the rest of the encore. Eddie comes out with some lady [Gloria Steinem] and she preaches about voting, etc, and we say “see ya” and Ed straps on the guitar and Jack begins the beat to “Who You Are”. Sfterwards, Mayo would say that that is the best version he had ever heard of that. It really sounded well live. Great singing by Eddie and company. Following this came the best version of “Evenflow” that I have ever heard. Mike was going nuts, bro. Still one of their best, except that it was hard to enjoy thatnks to those damn crows surfers catching Pete and I off guard and nailing us. I still think I have a bruise on the back of my head. The next song would have been a let down, but for some reason “Whipping” just whipped ass. Much better live. Big surprise followed that, a familiar face came on stage that I didn’t see at first, but the guys pointed it out - Brendan O’Brien! My old buddy of course (yeah, I met him-envy me) [mayo’s note- yeah that chicago show was really hot-liar!] They lauch into “I got Id” which was awesome, I had forgotten about that song. Brendan played bass for Jeff and did fine. Then I gave a shout out to Leigh b/c Ed started up “Leaving here”, tremendous as always. Sorry you missed it L.S. Jeff brings out the standup bass and we get “Daughter”. This song is also much better live, howeve some fool turned on the house lights , and the stadium lit up, making a soft, mellowish song seem otherwise. This prompted Eddie, during a verse to say “Jesus, look at you” as he finally got to see all of us who had been in the dark. At the end, he sang a few lines of “The Real Me” by the Who (Noz) and the band looked a little disoriented after this was over so they decided to end the show (probably) sooner than anticipated. Stone leaves. Jeff goes behind the amp next to Jack, and Mike starts “Yellow Ledbetter”. Clearly a crowd favorite. I was pleased because they didn’t play this in Atl, and I’ve always wanted to see it live. Mike, again, was fabulous. After Ed finished singing he took a seat on an amp; Stone came out; Jeff and Jack stood in the back in awe, all as Mike ripped the last part of the song. Unforgettable. They leave us.
I look at the bruthas and they are in kind of Pearl Jam denial. Neither wanted the show to end, and I could sympathize (The Fox). They could have played every song they had ever written, but it still wouldn’t have mattered had Mayo not been with us. Him finally getting to see the band was enough for me. Pete states that this is the best show he has ever seen, and I just smile. Like that needs to be said (Shut Up Clay and Noz). The trip home was spent with minimal talking, just looking back on it all. We jam to “No Code”, put in S. McLachlan and all but Pete pass out. The next morning Mayo departs (too soon) and we say our good-byes. Until Spring, my brother, PJ at Red Rocks!
©1996 Quinn Brown for Phantom Pain