Sep 19th 98
set: I Am a Patriot (before Hovercraft); Long Road, Act of Love, Hail Hail,
Dissident, Given to Fly, Corduroy, Wishlist, Not for You, All Those Yesterdays,
Daughter/(Rockin in the Free World)/(WMA), Whipping, Immortality, Push Me
Pull Me, Faithfull, Present Tense, Rearviewmirror, Black, Do the Evolution
enc 1: I Got Shit, Better Man, Alive, Soldier of Love
enc 2: Yellow Ledbetter
notes: Ed says, "Hi, it feels like we're in the White House ... we haven't played a place with carpet in a while; I think this place is the last bastion of sanity in town.
Music is the choice; we're here tonight, you're gonna hear words and
entertainment, not in any particular order; Hovercraft's gonna come out (applause
... someone shouts 'Ed for President') ... It's not gonna happen, unless you agree
to release the tapes that say, 'Ed was sitting in his hotel room smoking pot out of
a bong (applause)" and he goes into 'I Am a Patriot.' Several speakers follow
from Voters For Choice, and then Gloria Steinem speaks: "I pledge to you that I
will go to jail before I tell Ken Starr anything that goes on here tonight ... These
guys live their beliefs; they're smart and good-hearted; they use their heads and
their minds, they started out, they had tough times, but they weren't broken by
them, and it's rare that any other group that they've remained themselves with
their success ... they look after their true selves and your true selves" and then she
introduces the band, making mistakes on Stone and Mike's names. =) The band
comes out and Ed says, "You know why we're here; we'll talk later." During 'Not
for You,' Ed comments: "We want to dedicate this next set of lines to the CC"
before the "all that's sacred line" (referring to the Christian Coalition, who are
meeting in DC this week). Ed's delivery during 'All Those Yesterdays' is
particularly notable and distinct. 'Push Me Pull Me' is a little rough, and Ed shrugs
at the end, and then says, "This one we'll do better ..." leading to 'Faithfull.'
Somebody passes up a big sign, and he reads it: "Dear PJ: word up, dogs ... you
guys fucking kick it. Look us up when you're back in DC, we're in the book; Bill,
Hillary and Chelsea." (That was not what the sign really said =)). And then in a
Clinton voice, Ed says, "He just needs to go on TV and say, 'Shoot, it's no big
deal'...but I guess he already did that a couple of weeks ago." Someone shouts "I
love you Eddie," and he replies, "Watch it, keep it consensual ... this isn't about
issues." Then someone yells, "I love PJ" and Ed says, "Well, so do I ... this just is
bipartisan politics in motion, that's what's ruining the country, ruining the office of
the President ... people are playing king of the hill while there's people with lives,
families, debts and injury who really need help," before starting 'Present Tense.'
Mike's solo during 'Black' is right on, and Ed applauds him, and notes him when
the song is over. "The last time we played here was with L7 and Young Neil ... he
gave me a song writing lesson at a half-price rate; this is what I came up with ...
on my final, he gave me a B+ I think" leading to 'I Got Shit.' Mike sings with Ed
during 'Better Man' during the "she dreams in color" line! Ed has a bunch of VFC
condoms inside his tambourine and starts handing them out toward the end of
'Alive.' Ed thanks the VFC people, "They're not up there to lead any one astray;
don't let the funny business down the street think that voting isn't worth it. Vote
for what you believe." 'Soldier of Love' is dedicated to "people on the other side
of the issue." Gloria comes out with roses before 'YL,' and says, "There's history
here tonight; this is the first time Hovercraft has played Voters for Choice; Pearl
Jam's third; Sadie 7 is really Beth Liebling, Ed Vedder is Ed Vedder; these are
two artists, married to each other, here tonight, both for this cause, and dedicating
their time. I want to thank Stone and Mike for not getting pissed at me for
messing up their names. I don't know if I can get Beth out here .. (the audience
chants 'Beth, Beth') ... this is the crew's bread and butter, I want to thank them
for donating their time tonight." Then Beth comes out, takes a rose, she and Ed
do a little dance; Beth leaves, and Gloria says, "Democracy comes to those who
vote," and the band goes into 'YL.'