September 2, 2012 – Made In America Festival, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Pearl Jam Show Notes 9/2/2012:

This is the first time back in Philadelphia for the band since the legendary Spectrum shows in 2009, and Go gets things off to an electric start. Corduroy keeps the energy high. Save You in the third spot sends an early signal to the Philly faithful that this will not just be a greatest hits set. Ed welcomes everyone, saying “Cheers! Good to be in Philadelphia. We’d like to thank Jay-Z for giving us wings…giving all these fans wings. Anybody for levitation?” Of course, Given to Fly is next, with the lyric change “…made it to the City of Brotherly Love…” Ed before Unemployable:

“This is a story about a man who had a job, who worked hard, who went to church, who raised his kids. He was an honest, good American. He paid his bills. He did everything he was taught and told to do and this is the sad part of the story…the sad part is that it’s true. This man gets let go of his job along with hundreds of coworkers and colleagues. So we just want you to remember when they are talking about tax breaks for the job creators…it oftentimes happens that they are creating jobs in other countries. We would like to see a few more things made in America.”

“He’s made in America…that’s Mr. Mike McCready,” shouts Ed during Even Flow. As the rain falls, Unthought Known is prefaced with:

“…we are really happy to be sharing the stage with all these people…this song is best played under an open sky. I wish you could see the moon. Maybe it will come out on this one…” 

Following a loud Nothingman, Ed says “…it’s about politics, it’s about childbirth, it’s about music, it’s about art, it’s about love, it’s about me, it’s about you, it’s about us, it’s about them, it’s everything because it’s evolution, baby!” and Do the Evolution gets the Philly crowd going again. Before a fiery Know Your Rights, reappearing in a PJ set for the first time since Mansfield 2003, Ed makes a plea:

“Thanks for singing and using your voice. We would like to talk about rights for a second. The rights that have been acquired and earned and fought for all of these years…there is something interesting that happened, where one of the parties, of which there are only two…and we won’t say which one…it’s the party that shall not be named…they have gone to some great efforts to put things into place where it made it harder for people to vote…one side doesn’t want you to vote. These are rights that have been fought for…only recently by women and minorities have been earned. Due to the amount of effort that they have put into it, it still means something to vote. I hope that their actions actually empower you to make a difference, use your voice and vote.”

To open the encore, Ed says, “He’s also made in America, but from the far end. The last state added to the United States. From the Hawaiian islands, our brother, Mr. Boom Gaspar…” and Boom is featured on the opening notes of Love, Reign O’er Me. As the song builds, a light rain, a little mist, begins to fall again. Big singalong on Better Man. After Alive, Matt’s drum beat teases a little W.M.A. Ed introduces and thanks the band, then starts into W.M.A. and the crowd is both intrigued and fired up. The FULL version of the song is underway…a truly surprise performance at a festival and this late in the set as well. As the song concludes, the surprises aren’t finished as out comes Jay-Z, who bursts into “99 Problems” with PJ as his backing band, Jeff holding it down with the W.M.A. bassline. Ed signs off after Rockin’ with “…have a great rest of the summer. Thanks for letting us be a part of it…keep the love flowing. Philly…love you, goodnight.”