Pearl Jam on stage at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC
I went to see Pearl Jam – my 4th time seeing them live since 1995. It had been over 10 years since I last them at Austin City Limits in October 2014. And in that time, I feel they are so much better than they were in 2014. And they were great then. After 34 years together, they just keep going and getting better live.
Ticket
My commemorative physical ticket – I also had a digital ticket to get into the show
The photo of the physical ticket was part of the ticket I bought through the Pearl Jam Ten Club. I used the digital ticket on my phone to get into the concert as this physical ticket was mailed to me after the actual concert date.
Setlist
- Release
- Present Tense
- Given to Fly
- Mind Your Manners
- Scared of Fear
- Corduroy
- Dark Matter
- Daughter
- Even Flow
- Light Years
- Wreckage
- Jeremy
- Hold On (tour debut; first time since 2018)
- Do the Evolution
- Upper Hand
- Severed Hand
- Porch
- Just Breathe (Eddie, Josh Klinghoffer & Boom Gaspar)
- Smile
- Satan’s Bed
- Unthought Known
- Alive
- Baba O’Riley (The Who cover)
- Indifference
ENCORE
First 6 Songs from Raleigh NC Night 1
This was the night I went to – Sunday May 11th – Mother’s Day. They did two nights in each city on this 5th leg of the Dark Matter tour – with the exception of the New Orleans Jazz Festival. The set lists were different each night, with songs like “Even Flow” and “Alive” being played both nights.
I have clips of songs that I recorded on my iPhone that I’ve not uploaded anywhere.
One Of The Best Concerts I’ve Been To – Ever
Most of you know that I go to a lot of concerts. I did 19 in 2022, 21 in 2023 and 25 in 2024. As of this blog post, I have been to 9 this year.
Pearl Jam was one of the best I have been to in the last 10 years. Easily in the top 5 of concerts since I started going in 1982. It was the setting, the set list and how well the band played. Eddie is amazing live and interacts with the crowd. Mike shreds on guitar and has been one of my all time favorite guitarists. And the rest of the band: Stone, Matt and Jeff along with touring keyboardist Boom Gaspar and touring guitarist Josh Klinghoffer keep up the pace and play so well together. It was a magical experience and one that I am glad I made happen.
I’ve mentioned in a previous post that I tried to make a show happen in 2024, but both time and money prevented that. So when they announced this 5th leg in 2025, I was all “I have to go to a show”. And I picked Raleigh NC for several reasons. One, I had never been to that city before. Two, I figured once I got my name in the lottery for tickets on the Ten Club and was only getting one ticket, that I would have a good chance. And I did. My seat was first row upper bowl on the right side of the venue.
location of my seat
If you want to see other footage of the 2025 shows, there is a lot on YouTube. Worth your while to see some fan footage.
Until they tour again – most likely in 2027 – this was a show to remember.