May 21, 2024 – KIA Forum, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Pearl Jam Show Notes 5/21/2024:

Three more tour debuts to start, Oceans being no surprise to anyone. Ed starts a call and response after Off He Goes with the lights up, saying after “…well goddamn it’s the Forum…lookin’ fabulous tonight for sure.” Mike owns Why Go, another good crowd tonight too. The Dark Matter first 3 are back tonight, after Wreckage Ed talks about being at a Lakers game as a kid and meeting some people, one of which is at the show tonight. Got Some is the first Backspacer song of the tour, lively and energetic. During the Daughter tag, Ed throws in “politicians leave women’s bodies alone…religions leave women’s bodies alone!” The Pink Floyd tag is no coincidence, as following the song Ed talks about trying to see them in LA in February 1981, telling a story about getting the money to his friend for the tickets, and then his friend forgetting the tickets at home but using Ed’s money to scalp a ticket and get inside to see the show while Ed had to sit in the parking lot. He jokes at the end, “Did I get him tickets for tonight? Forgot ’em at home…” He adds the line “…when I was 15…thought I knew everything” to In My Tree, aided considerably by Josh pounding away on extra drums at the end. Waiting for Stevie has a little different feel tonight, the ending is a little darker. After Even Flow, Ed talks about seeing a sign up front, someone has their 83-year-old father in the GA pit tonight. Ed asks them if he can do anything and they joke “a better place to see the show…” Ed dedicates Faithfull to the friends of Michele Castrellon, who had recently passed after the Vancouver shows, and her picture is shown on the screens. He adds the lyric “…Michele what are we to do?” Andrew Watt joins on stage, playing Ed’s part during RVM. After being used during Porch so far, the rear view mirror visual on the screens finally comes together. Another quick projector message tonight, Ed draws the Kansas City Chiefs logo and then simply writes:

Go Chiefs

He adds a smiley face, no doubt a reference to his comments about Harrison Butker the other night. He comes back out solo, praises the “phenomenal” crowd, and for the first time this tour it’s not a cover, it’s a PJ song, Just Breathe. He then talks about the crew, bringing out “Tommy LBC,” who’s wearing what looks to be a Golden State basketball jersey. Tommy says he lost a bet with Jeff, the Lakers won and that’s why he’s wearing it. Ed jokes that Jeff’s punishment would have been to wear a Lakers jersey in LA, saying “let me handle your bets from now on.” State of Love and Trust finally makes its tour debut and gets the crowd going. Ed sees another sign held by a girl, saying “5th show: 4 were in the womb,” referring to the Spectrum 2009 shows. He talks about how his daughter Olivia and his wife are both there, and makes another dig at Harrison Butker, saying:

“In the future, there will be a woman in the NFL…and she’ll be the kicker…”

After Something Special, he says this is another one about “not being under anyone’s control,” and they tear into Leash. Ed goes down side stage at the end, the 83-year-old from earlier is there watching, and they talk for a moment. Mike goes down front for Alive, and Baba O’Riley is a big singalong before Setting Sun closes out the show once more. 10 more tour debuts tonight, with Vs. finally breaking through, but no Vitalogy.