What a punishing day - 44 degrees (111 F) and humid as hell. Must have sweat out the many litres of water I drank as I didn't need an "even-flow break" once all day - which was just as well as I wasn't moving from the spot I managed to bag 1 metre back from the rail, right in front of Mike

I was praying for a WASH opener (a la Gorge 1) but instead they kicked into Why Go which of course brought the yobs pushing forward (yobbo = Australian for 'hick' or 'chav'). It settled down by Small Town and just became a tight squeeze of sweaty bodies. Props to security though who were on the ball with handing out water before and during the show.

The band was in the same rare form I've been hearing on the recent US boots but Eddie was sick as a dog. He said he had met many wonderful people in Melbourne who gave him wine and gifts and flowers etc, but "some fucker" also gave him the flu.

Respect where it's due - Eddie really did his best tonight, pushing through when others would have given up. He was very apologetic and disappointed with himself, saying next time he should learn to lipsync (reference to Britney Spears who is also touring here at prez) or knock 20 bucks off the ticket price.

I actually didn't notice he was struggling to begin with, which probably says more about the volume of singing coming from surrounding tenclubbers and the slightly disappointing mix (at least from where I was). About half way through Eddie started coughing and spluttering off to the side whenever he wasn't singing. By Crazy Mary he was lying face down on the side of the stage, while Mike and Boom did their trademark solo duel - especially good tonight.

Mike was energetic as ever - many laps of the stage and a killer Even Flow solo on his knees right in front of me . He seemed to be the only one not visably suffering under the heat and humidity.

Stone gave Eddie a rest with Mankind, which was a nice treat, and I really enjoyed Down - very strong sing-along for a b-side. I had never seen Untitled/MFC or Garden, so I was stoked to see those - really tight versions even with Eddie struggling.

Surprisingly only 3 songs off Backspacer - would have loved to hear Amongst the Waves or Force of Nature. Unthought Known sounded sensational and Got Some rocked as I knew it would - Ed doing these cool air-traffic-controller-style dance moves during the chorus

Liam Finn (who was crazy as ever during his set) helped Eddie out on "Throw Your Arms Around Me", always a hit with the crowd here. Eddie picked up a guitar after Crazy Mary and started the RITFW riff himself, signalling that he couldn't stands no more. Someone on the pit posted a pic of the setlists (below) - looks like we missed out on what could've been a marathon crowd-pleasing show .

This was my first show in Sydney since moving up from Melbourne and the crowd was better than I expected (given reports of the first two shows in 2006). Apparently the attendence was close to 40,000 and they were really into it, even in the stands (multiple Mexican waves) which must have felt quite removed from the stage and the atmosphere of the GA.

I held off looking at other Aussie setlists until after the show and I'm glad I did - Melbourne looked killer and I'm sure I would have felt a bit disappointed there tonight if I had seen it beforehand . But it was an awesome show even if a little short (if you call a 27 song set short!) and it was pleasure to see the band on this tour while at the top of their game.

I've gotta mention how amazing Ben Harper was. As well as doing his bit on Red Mosquito and Indifference, his real highlight was singing a cover of "Never Tear Us Apart" by INXS as a tribute to Michael Hutchence (it was the 12 year anniversary of his death). It was powerful, moving and respectful rendition and certainly kept the crowd going after Eddie made his appearance for "Under Pressure" (another highlight). I'm sure there will be better quality versions pop up soon but for the moment check this out:




Setlist:

Why Go
Hail, Hail
Interstellar Overdrive / Corduroy
Severed Hand (dedicated to Nick Cave)
Small Town
The Fixer
Given To Fly
Dissident (dedicated to a guy at the front with a "Hard to Imagine" sign - "this isn't the song you're asking for but it's the song that took it's place")
Even Flow
Untitled
MFC
Unthought Known
Down
Garden
Whipping
Mankind
Got Some
Do The Evolution

Happy Birthday Joanie Lee (an Aussie fan brought out on stage - Eddie said she had flown to Hawaii for Eddie's solo shows but missed them after a serious car accident)
Red Mosquito (w/ Ben Harper)
Indifference (w/ Ben Harper)
State Of Love And Trust
Light Years (dedicated to "a young light named Sebastian" - recently deceased child of someone on the pit I'm told)
Last Exit
Porch

Throw Your Arms Around Me (w/ Liam Finn)
Crazy Mary
Rockin’ In The Free World



Poster:



Photos:

http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/gallery/13185/1/Pearl-Jam.htm

dissident wasnt for the guy with the HTI sign, it was for the guy with the Immortality sign on mikes side.

Show was decent.

Thanks - great review.

Bummer about Ed being sick - hope he rests up before Brisvegas.

The setlists these guys are putting up are insane - great great stuff.

Oh. He must have been right next to the guy with the HTI sign, right in front of where I was (unless he had two signs ).

man they left off so many good songs!

his voice must of been truly screwed

the original setlist shown above is just soooo much better than what they played....

Don't mean to step on toes but here's a better video of "never tear us apart"



Relentless7!!!!

That was pretty good. Best thing that dude's done in ages...

:ducks:

yeah better than the Powdahfingah guy that's for sure

Cheers for that! Was one of those surreal unexpected goosebump moments (though I did hear them soundcheck it beforehand ). The crowd participation is what made it for me, riding high on a rip-snorting Under Pressure with Ed.

Hope you boys in Brisvegas enjoyed it too

nice write up

that poster is fantabulous