June 18, 2022 – Pinkpop Festival, Landgraaf, NED

Pearl Jam Show Notes 6/18/2022:

Pearl Jam returns to the stage as a complete unit to kick off the European leg of the tour, Matt and Jeff having both recovered from the COVID diagnosis that forced the cancellation of the final two dates of the west coast leg. Even Flow opens a show for the first time since 2000, the 14th different opener in the last 14 shows! Ed mentions that it’s the 30 year (and 10 day) anniversary of their iconic 1992 performance there, and Why Go follows, just like it did back then. Josh and Boom join for Low Light, the piano taking a prominent role during the quiet part. Ed fumbles the lyrics to Wishlist, adding “…I wish I was in Amsterdam and was able to find a rhyme…” and then adds a little of “Waiting On A Friend” at the end. Given To Fly soars in all the right places. Ed plays a little bit of Crowded House’s hit “Don’t Dream It’s Over” as an intro to Better Man, they had played earlier in the day. He mentions that they had to leave their families at home this time because of “the bubble,” keeping COVID risk to a minimum. He then tells the story of the camera operator, Rob, from 1992 and his stagedive while footage of it plays on the screens behind him. Rob is brought out on stage and speaks to the crowd, saying “Eddie Vedder is the nicest artist I know.” Porch is slower than usual, the bridge has a spacey, effects-heavy feel to it. Comfortably Numb is the 2nd Pink Floyd reference of the night, fitting for the festival. Ed explains that they had been practicing at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam when the Rolling Stones had to cancel their dates due to Mick Jagger getting COVID, and “Street Fighting Man” is dusted off for the first time since Memphis 1994, a whopping 737 show absence! Seven O’Clock and Not For You are on the setlist but not played.