And what a great addition Matt Cameron was. Definitely one of the most underrated guitarists ever. There were a few times I thought I was actually listening to Hendrix. Every time I hear Mike Mcready play live he sounds better and better. I wish they jammed like that on their studio albums. The band extends many of the songs to six or seven minutes with some top notch jams. What I love about this album is the jamming. Great live release from one of the greatest bands ever. Out of a collection of roughly 20 Pearl Jam bootlegs, this one's easily top 5. "Betterman" is also extended, with the "Save it for Later" tag. The performance of "Black" is particularly mindblowing, with the best Mike McCready solo I've ever heard. If you're a casual fan, you get practically all the hits on this one too. You get some things you don't get on other bootlegs on this one, such as a memorable, supposedly improvised, intro to Rearviewmirror. Maybe it's that they've learned to 'pace themselves' properly, maybe it's a renewed love for the music- whatever it is, you get 36 songs over 3 discs, and they plow through each of them with the passion and energy that they deserve. The best live band of this generation, playing the last show of the first leg of their tour, and they just don't want to leave. That said, this is a study in stamina and dedication, as well as professionalism. From that perspective, I've heard most of their songs performed a number of times, and State College does not provide a whole lot of 'definitive' live performances. Starting with their landmark Soldier Field show in 1995, I've been collecting live recordings from Pearl Jam. This is a must have for Pearl Jam fans, not to mention any fan of meaningful, powerful music. What else can I say? This was one of those nights where everything came together and something special happened. There is so much material on these three discs it's hard to digest, and it would be impossible for me to recap every song, so instead I'm going to try to lend some context to the show by breaking out the songs played by studio album, in the order in which they are played, and touch on my favorites in the process. At the same time, the fans deserve some credit for the success of this show as they displayed a tremendous energy and a passion for Pearl Jam.
BEST PEARL JAM BOOTLEGS 2003 FULL
But with State College 2003, they may have put that argument to rest in a marathon show featuring 36 songs that cover the full spectrum of their catalog, while offering nods to numerous musical influences. From the early Lollapalooza shows, through Red Rocks, Madison Square Garden, etc., they have provided ample fodder for argument as to what is their best show ever. Known for giving fans their money's worth both in time on stage and effort expended while they're up there, Pearl Jam has established itself as one of the great live acts in rock history. The members of Pearl Jam have earned their money and their credentials in the studio, but it is on the road that they have cemented their place in history.