September 30, 2012 – Adams Event Center, Missoula, MT, USA

Pearl Jam Show Notes 9/30/2012:

Billed as Pearl Jam’s “one and only non-festival US show for 2012,” this benefit for Sen. Jon Tester’s re-election campaign at the Adams Event Center seats only 5500 patrons, leading Ed to say early in the set “this is about as cozy a place we’ve played for as long as I can remember.” Got Some is the first of many Jeff songs in the set in his home state, after which Ed greets the raucous crowd with “…it’s nice to be literally surrounded by family, friends, Senators, and Mudhoney!” He adds “we are asked to do many benefits…the difficult part is finding a candidate you believe in,” before dedicating Given to Fly to Tester, with the amended lyric “…made it underneath a Big Sky tree…” Jeremy gives Jeff the spotlight again and has the crowd pumping. Ghost appears for only the second time since 2003, Ed says it’s “not one that’s played that often. This is another one that Jeff wrote.” Daughter follows, with an alternate take on “Blitzkrieg Bop”: “hey ho, let’s vote,” before The Clash’s “Know Your Rights” is played for the 3rd time out of 4 shows this month. Last Kiss” opens the first encore with the band playing to the back. Ed dedicates Off He Goes to Jeff and his friends, which is followed by yet another Ament-penned track, Low Light. Man of the Hour is brought back for the first time since 2009 and starts a three-song, alternate “Man” trilogy to close out the first encore, with Nothingman and Better Man. Prior to the second encore, Jeff addresses the crowd, stating “…it doesn’t really get any better than this for me.” CCR’s “Fortunate Son” returns for the first time since 2006 and the last time to date. The crowd goes crazy when Stone plays the opening chords of Alive, which is complete with “Montana look at us…we’re all still alive!” in the final chorus. Mark Arm and Steve Turner from Mudhoney join for a very loud “Kick out the Jams” before RITFW sends the crowd into raptures. Before closing with a slow-burn Indifference, Ed acknowledges the crowd, saying “this is the best American crowd we have played for in I can’t remember how long…”