Out of Pearl Jam's entire career, what are some of your personal most favorite single defining single song performances? If they were to only be remembered by one single live song performance, what would it be?

Personally, for me, it just doesn't get any better than Porch from MTV Unplugged. Any time I put this song on, no matter if somebody just casually likes Pearl Jam or even hates them, they are put completely in a trance by this performance.

That's a pretty good choice.

It'd probably have to be one of their classic songs...so maybe something like Alive from the Immagine In Cornice dvd, or Alive from the '98 MSG show.

Porch from Pinkpop '92.

This is definitely something to win over the indie crowd. Yes.

If I wanted to show someone why I'm into this band, I'd pick Porch from Pinkpop '92 or Alive from the Italy '06 DVD: both great performances, with nearly 15 years between them.

My personal favorite one is Porch from Melbourne #3 '98 (JJJ broadcast): one of the first with the solw intro, and an awesome solo by Mike...

SNL '94.

All of it.

- Porch @ Pinkpop 92
- Not For You @ april 94 (pick your show)
- Alive @ Seattle II '00

Some good ones so far. I'd add Black from Unplugged 1992.

porch and black from unplugged are both great choices and the first ones i thought of.

ill add daughter/its ok from tb2k

Jeremy from the MTV Awards and Porch from Unplugged.

Not For You and RVM from SNL.

I was thinking about that one. We definitely need to split up PJ.

1990-1993 : I dont think Unplugged is a defining moment of PJ. Defining is the energy on stage. I definitely stand by Porch @ Pinkpop. Jeremy at the MTV Awards is a good suggestion as well. or RITFW with Neil Young?

1994-1999 : I'd say this could go 2 ways. A very angry something (I stand by almost any 94 version of Not For You) or an experimental something (Jeremy new version)

2000-2005 : the band & the fans, in it together. i like my pick of Alive @ Seattle II. But the It's OK tag is definitely up there.

2006-2009 : I'll let others decide on this.

Porch and Black from the MTV unplugged and Man of the Hour in Sao Paulo/2005.

nice to see all the love for porch.

i'd try picking a live rvm, but i have a hard time coming up with THE definitive version of rvm. probably one from 98

atlanta 94

How did no one pick Release? This almost seemed to easy to me.

1992-03-04 Live in Utrecht, Holland - Release.

Eddie Vedder is a man.

Porch - Atlanta 94 love the raw energy and aggresiveness in that one

But I could list so many (as im sure alot of who have way too many PJ boots could)

Black Unplugged would definetly be up there too...
but I personally like RITFW from Unplugged more than Porch... but thats just me

Porch from unplugged is pretty amazing. I personally thought the RITFW from Pinkpop was better than Porch, just the raw aggression of his vocals.

None of them top Release.

My personal favorite rvm is the Kansas City '00 version. I don't know if anyone else has ever mentioned it. Rearview has never been one of my top songs but that one in particular stands out.
My favorite Porch is fairly recent actually; MSG 2 '03.
Isn't there a "definitive version of" thread that covers various songs? If not there should be.
But back to the main topic, I'm surprised no one has mentioned MSG 2 '98 and not just for Breath.

Sounds like the makings of a Green Habit 2.0