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It's Evolution Baby!
Pearl Jam's Binaural 2K tour rocks
by: cece kegg

Seattle -- Unless you live inside a time capsule, you have probably noticed that Pearl Jam has released 123 live discs this year. It is really (at least to my knowledge) something completely unprecedented. The fact that all but one date of their 2000 tour has been release for public consumption is really mind buggling. The only show omitted from the collection is of course the one in Denmark where 9 fans were killed.

For a casual music listener this is really a "so what" news item. If you are one of these people, stop reading right now and click somewhere else on the page. Ok, with that disclaimer, I can now speak freely about perhaps the most interesting piece of news in music since Napster.

For the last 13 days, I have been carefully listening to every single track out of every single disc from this collection. May I remind you, this is 123 cd's of live music. Pearl Jam played from a catalog of about 70 songs on this tour.

	Eddie and Stone

It is truly a formidable way to see, and really more listen, on how one of the premier bands in the world plays, when they are not playing your town. Every disc is filled with local charm. Singer Eddie Vedder shows to be the charismatic leader of this legendary quintet.

Arguably, Seattle's best band played each show with high energy and enthusiasm. The band also showed their endurance as most of the shows run over 20 songs and well over 2 hours. From their first show in Portugal on May 23, 2000 to their homecoming Seattle show on November 6, 2000, they covered 18 country's including several festivals in Europe.

They gave and received a lot of happiness during the tour, but also they faced great tragedy. Perhaps it was the aforementioned event at the Roskilde Festival, at which nine concert goers were crushed to death during the band's performance that fuel them to share with the world the Pearl Jam concert experience. After all, they even considered breaking up.

"I think the thought crossed all of our minds, but it wouldn't have been a good way to end it all," guitarist Mike McCready said. "We realized we're making viable music. We can't stop. We can't end on a down note. It's about the worst thing that can happen to a rock band. People shouldn't have to die at rock concerts," concluded McCready.

Which concert should I get?

PJ's Eddie Vedder

This question is a real one, especially when it comes to so many viable choices. Even though there are over 20 songs all together and individually, this are not greatest hits albums. The definite answer should come after careful consideration.

To my judgement there is no absolute best or worst show. It's really all a matter of what do you want to listen to. Is it the most popular? (ie: Black, Betterman, Daughter, Alive), the hard to find gems not released with the albums? (ie: Yellow Ledbetter, State of Love and Trust, Fuckin' Up, I Got Shit), the great covers? (ie: Last Kiss, Rockin' in the Free World, Baba O'Reiley, Crazy Mary, Timeless Melody) or those lesser known titles that seem to complete our concert experience? (ei: Nothingman, Off He Goes, Garden, Do The Evolution, Rearview Mirror). The beauty is that there is something here for everyone. Plenty of surprises as well.

Other criteria may include whether you have gone to the actual show (a credible souvenir of it), or visited the venue itself. Some places are more appealing than others. For example the show at Wembly sounds to be a lot cooler to have been in, than say the Naval Museum in Stockholm.

Each of the shows possesses their own charm and personality. For instance, the show at the "Point" in Ireland has a great story just before "Go". During the show in New Orleans, singer Eddie Vedder speaks about the Democratic National Convention. In Manchester he sings "Wishlist" under protest. Elvis fans will enjoy or hate the Memphis and Vegas shows.

The songs by the most part have stayed pretty much true to their original versions. There are a few that have actually gotten better, especially now that Matt Cameron is playing drums. He brings a different type of energy to the fold. The songs in general have more of a punk attitude while keeping things tight. Guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament compliment each other very nicely while Mike McCready's pyrotechnics keep up with Vedder's tones. "Rearview mirror", "Evenflow", and "Do the Evolution" are among the songs that now re-worked sound better.

	PJ doing YMCA?

The recordings are very good, aside from the mild crowd noise, you might not even notice these were live albums. Unfortunately that's their only real downside, as well. The energy is left for the band to carry it.

Regardless, whether you think of Pearl Jam as self indulgent or pompous, this is a true testimony of who they are and what they sounded like in the year 2000. They exposed themselves to the masses. A band characterized for being a bit introverted, at times, opened up for everyone to hear. No errors have been fixed or overdubbed, no one in crowd have been censored.

As if it wasn't enough, the band has just released a killer set of vhs and dvd to make this collection complete for all the senses. Pearl Jam - Touring Band 2000 as it was named, captures the band in action. Those of you who wish to get even more from the band must buy the dvd.

Pearl Jam's music really attacks while arousing a wide variety of moods and emotions. It is really no wonder so many can personally relate to these incredible sounds. Grunge's only surviving outfit can and do it all -- and we're not left wanting anything but more... Now let's Jam.

"The bottom line is that when we all plug in, Eddie can make us dance and play like little molecules bouncing off the wall. And, for whatever reason, we can make him feel like singing." -- Stone Gossard