June 25, 2022 – Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, IT

Show Notes:

This is a Mike McCready show from the jump as Corduroy, Even Flow and Why Go all have mind blowing solos, but Mike shreds with his teeth during Even Flow. Ed addresses the crowd in his broken Italian dialect, and…

Show Notes: 

This is a Mike McCready show from the jump as Corduroy, Even Flow and Why Go all have mind blowing solos, but Mike shreds with his teeth during Even Flow. Ed addresses the crowd in his broken Italian dialect, and has a little fun with them by changing up his accent. Dance of the Clairvoyants is an infectious groove, Stone’s bass is loud and prominent in the beginning. MFC is played back in the country where its origin story began. Crowd is active during Jeremy as Ed has them take the outro for themselves. Come Back is a dedication to Luca, who wrote a letter to Ed sharing that he had recently lost his hero, his brother. It’s the first appearance of a song from the Pearl Jam record in 2022. Another album that makes its debut on this tour is Riot Act as Save You is a welcome surprise. Ed addresses the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade prior to Wishlist, and the theme will get brought up again shortly after. Ed notices some trouble in the crowd prior to Seven O’Clock, and has a young girl pulled out and brought to safety. The song needs to be paused early on due to a commotion in the crowd. When the song breaks back in, Ed channels some anger and animosity while delivering the ‘sitting bullshit’ line, perhaps channeling his frustration with the Roe v. Wade decision. He mentioned it again before Daughter, stating that there are 55 countries that allow women to control their own bodies, today the United States is not one of them. Having a child is wonderful, but it needs to be loved and wanted. In 100% of unwanted pregnancies, the man is responsible. Think about that. Daughter includes a haunting W.M.A. tag where the lyrics are changed to fit the current situation:

She won the lottery… when she was born… 

politicians got my daughter again…

Following the W.M.A. tag, we get a quick snippet of People Have The Power. After the chilling performance, Ed lightens the mood and talks about driving a Ferrari back in San Diego when he was working as a security guard. Mike ends off the main set in a big way pulling out another insane performance during Porch. When they return for the encore break, Ed spots another situation in the crowd and holds off until it gets resolved. Black is a powerful performance where the spotlight once again shines on Mike. Towards the end of the song, he attempts to get one of his guitar pedals to work. After a few tries, he starts smashing the body of his guitar into his pedal board creating a remarkably artful sound. He walks away visibly frustrated, dragging his guitar by his side. Better Man is followed by a trio of tags, beginning with Tom Petty’s American Girl which had never been used at a Pearl Jam show before. Ed recites a few lyrics of Beast of Burden which hadn’t been tagged since 2006. Save It For Later caps off the trio. Excluding pre-sets, this is the first show in 2022 without a cover since Phoenix.

Special thanks to Luke Dalley for relaying this setlist!


June 26, 2018 – Stadio Olimpico, Rome, ITA

Show Notes:

For the first time in nearly 22 years the band plays the city of Rome, unveiling an epic return at Stadio Olimpico. As they were over two decades earlier, the crowd is treated to the opening string plucks of Release. …

Show Notes: 

For the first time in nearly 22 years the band plays the city of Rome, unveiling an epic return at Stadio Olimpico. As they were over two decades earlier, the crowd is treated to the opening string plucks of Release.  Ed sounds surprisingly strong given his vocal injury just days prior in London. A very energetic crowd helps out with Release and Elderly Woman, with Ed providing a lyrical nod of “so glad we saw this place.” Despite some technical issues, Mike fires off a soulful and very sparse solo in Corduroy, allowing a lot of space on top of the band’s pocket groove. Given to Fly is a bit uptempo, and includes a further nod to the city,, “…made it to Roma…” Mike literally flexes his muscles on Even Flow, tossing his dress jacket to reveal a button down sleeveless vest. Ed walks the length of the stage during Mike’s solo, again sparse and thoughtful with each note, and as he implores the crowd to assist on the closing chorus he ends up catching a baseball tossed to him. Untitled begins with the story of how MFC was written in Rome. Immortality is incredibly strong, with the jam hooked by Jeff and Matt.  A passionate Unthought Known fits the clear night summer sky with Matt continuing to add inflection from the kit. Stone signals his approval with a thumbs up after Mankind. Ed playfully swings his telecaster over his head during the Porch jam, looking like he has some inclination to smash it, but can’t quite bring himself to it, using it as a mirror to reflect the stage light into the crowd. Ed takes on Just Breathe solo, and addresses the crowd in Italian again, imploring them to light up the night as the band plays a truly inspired version of Imagine, with Stone and Boom both shining, perhaps inspired by the shooting star that flew by overhead during the song. Daughter features a playful call and response during the outro. Black Diamond is introduced as “something special for you, not the first time, maybe the 2nd” (actually the 3rd).  Mike delivers the intro verse and Matt takes over vocals. An at once serene and cascading take on Comfortably Numb opens encore 2. Black is cathartic, with the stage awash in blood red light, Mike falling to his hands and knees during a searing solo as he engineers his way through the soundscape, with Ed tagging “home is where the heart is, home is where, home is where I feel at home.” After Rockin’ in the Free World (the same way the 1996 show ended here), Ed remarks “I’ll remember this night and the full moon…maybe we’ll see you next year.” An impressive show on their return to Rome.

Written by: Patrick Boegel


June 24, 2018 – Stadio Euganeo, Padova, ITA

Show Notes:

The Pendulum/Low Light opening combo serves as a barometer for Ed’s voice (night 2 in London having been postponed 5 days prior due to vocal issues), and his voice clips on “Easy left me a long time ago.” Ed welcomes…

Show Notes: 

The Pendulum/Low Light opening combo serves as a barometer for Ed’s voice (night 2 in London having been postponed 5 days prior due to vocal issues), and his voice clips on “Easy left me a long time ago.” Ed welcomes the crowd in their native tongue, proclaiming in Italian that this marks the 12th Italian show in 8 years, but he never said, “Good evening Padova!” Evolution tests Ed’s voice, as the feral howls are absent. Addressing the crowd again in Italian, Ed recalls the June 15, 2007 show that was canceled due to weather and shares his gratitude to be back, then plays a sweet improv about feeling at home in Padova. Corduroy seems to mark the end of Ed’s vocal concerns, as he stretches his voice in a series of chants with the crowd. More call and response during Daughter, along with some denouncement of Trump’s ideals, accompanied by some very suave dancing from Ed. Trump is again invoked as Ed proclaims that the devil comes in “all different colors, not just orange,” before Red Mosquito. Spin the Black Circle is dedicated to Jack White, “a great maker of records.” Many of the small neighboring towns in Italy are called out before Small Town. Ed sings part of People Have the Power, and then improvs, on a gorgeous eleven-minute Black. Crazy Mary follows, with Boom’s organ solo riffing off “Paint it Black” before it erupts back for a blazing finish. Before Smile, Ed introduces his friend Dylan, who just moved to Italy, and then mentions he had met someone the year prior who had written a book about “our group, it looked to be a great book, it was thick, I haven’t read it because it was in Italian, but it had some great Italian words in it,” and mentions Daria and Luca and their 3 day old daughter Eleonara. Ed holds up her baby picture and dedicates Smile to her. Leading into Alive, he shares an almost-too-crazy-to-be-true story about a night out in Italy, involving limoncello, walking the streets at 4 am, drugs, and a quick escape:

[…There was] screaming and yelling, Italian swear words, and I asked my friend ‘ Who the fuck is he talking to?’ My friend says, ‘Oh, he is talking to his wife. She is at home. Oh Eddie, this woman…she is like a dog made of Satan’s sperm. She is evil and she will hate us for walking into her house at 4:30 in the morning.’ I said ‘Well we can’t do it then,’ and he said, ‘Oh no it will be fine’…so we play a little music and I climb through a small window because I did not want to be in the same room as this hellhound. I mean, she had every right to be barking, I just didn’t want it to be at me. So we sat on the roof a little longer, waiting for the sun to come up. And when it did, I was the first person in line to take the boat back. And I was so happy to touch ground and the only reason I am telling you this story is because I don’t want that to ever happen again. And I am glad to be alive.

Following Alive, the band roars straight into Baba O’Riley and then closes the night out with Indifference, Ed allowing the crowd to finish out the night by singing “I will scream my lungs out till it fills this room…”

Written by: Matthew Sellers


June 22, 2018 – I-Days Festival, Area Expo, Milan, ITA

Show Notes:

The first show since the London show where Ed lost his voice. Release opens, and Ed clearly does not have full strength or confidence in his normal range yet, as he holds back from going all out. He leans on…

Show Notes: 

The first show since the London show where Ed lost his voice. Release opens, and Ed clearly does not have full strength or confidence in his normal range yet, as he holds back from going all out. He leans on the crowd to pick up the slack, and they do not disappoint. Mike takes over the show starting with Given to Fly, and doesn’t let up through a blistering Even Flow, followed shortly thereafter with Eruption. Of course, his Van Halen T-shirt should have tipped off everyone what was coming. He saves his best work for the end of the night, where he goes down to the crowd and plays his solo on Black behind his head, in front of the front row fans. Stone also steps up with great guitar work in Do the Evolution while taking his turn on the mic for Mankind. A sweet moment before Porch, as Ed brings Jill out on stage and expresses his love for her in Italian, as they are celebrating their wedding anniversary. He tells the crowd the two first met in Milan, to loud cheers. A bottle of champagne is opened by Ed, spraying over the stage, then a drink with Jill, followed by a few cups tossed on the crowd. Jill comes out with a green coat with the words “Yes we all care. Y don’t u?” as a response to Melania Trump’s “I really don’t care. Do u?” stunt from the day before. A short festival set with no encore, but plenty of great moments and Ed on the road to recovery.

Written by: Sean Rashkis


June 22, 2014 – Nereo Rocco Stadium, Trieste, ITA

Show Notes:

Another long, slow beginning section, with another early Black, eases the crowd into the festivities. “You ready?! You ready?!” Ed shouts before a torrid Why Go, and as Matt Cameron starts pounding the drum intro, the crowd is in an…

Show Notes: 

Another long, slow beginning section, with another early Black, eases the crowd into the festivities. “You ready?! You ready?!” Ed shouts before a torrid Why Go, and as Matt Cameron starts pounding the drum intro, the crowd is in an absolute frenzy, indicating their readiness. The crowd seems confused by Leatherman, even though Ed says it’s being played as a request. Mind Your Manners gets a HUGE crowd reaction. Mike reaches into his bag of tricks on a raucous Even Flow, and even after Infallible seems to sink the energy of the show, the set closing trio of Whipping, Do the Evolution, and Rearviewmirror is killer, each one building off the last. Let Me Sleep is played for the first time ever in Europe (and only the third time ever) to open the encore, right before a stunning version of Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns. Ed introduces the band before Wasted Reprise, highlighting that it’s Boom Gaspar’s second-ever trip to Italy. Porch packs a frantic punch to end the encore. Ed leads the crowd through a long, complex call and response during the Better Man jam, before an impassioned Save It For Later tag, stretching the song past the 10-minute mark. Once precedes Alive, but no Footsteps to complete the trilogy. Alive and Rockin’ in the Free World are straight-forward and powerful. Ed thanks the crowd before a somewhat somber Yellow Ledbetter closes the show – even McCready’s closing solo just seems to fade to black. The band sounds in good spirits, but the song selection and pacing of the set is totally hit or miss and seems to confuse the crowd into silence from time to time.


June 20, 2014 – San Siro Stadium, Milan, ITA

Show Notes:

80,000 fans packed into San Siro, home of European soccer giants AC Milan and Inter. Ed comes out to play Porch solo before the start of the actual show. The crowd is in excellent form all evening, singing along loudly…

Show Notes: 

80,000 fans packed into San Siro, home of European soccer giants AC Milan and Inter. Ed comes out to play Porch solo before the start of the actual show. The crowd is in excellent form all evening, singing along loudly to almost every song, aided by a Release/Nothingman opening, the extended outro to Sirens, and a very early, powerful, rousing version of Black. After its conclusion, Ed addresses the audience in Italian before asking, “Are you ready?!” They immediately shift gears, tearing into Go and not letting up until after Mind Your Manners. Jeff gets some recognition after Pilate, and the crowd chants his name. Following MFC, Ed proclaims “I was very high when I wrote that song…but not as high as those people back there! This one’s for you,” leading into Given to Fly, which has Ed translating the “…fuckers” line into Italian. Mike solos for over 3 minutes on Even Flow, and Ed introduces him as “Michelangelo McCready” afterwards, adding

“I was watching Mike play…and watching this great crowd, and I was wondering, what would be easier…if you all moved to Seattle or if we just moved here? Maybe 6 months we try it. Almost all of the band, we have our wives and family here, I think we might just stay.”

Following Swallowed Whole, he addresses the crowd again:

“There is a young man out there, his name is Michael, it’s his first concert and I would like to totally ruin him by saying Happy Birthday Michael in front of all the people, and have a great birthday, he will be 13 in a couple days. See, other bands…especially the singer, he would never fuck up a song like I’m about to fuck up this song…that’s a guitar solo right there. And Michael, the next time I see you you will probably be 15. And next time, maybe your dad won’t be around and we smoke a little pot or something.”

After the break, he mentions the first time they played in Milan, at a small club called Sorpasso on February 18, he can’t remember the year but eventually lands (correctly) on 1992. Just Breathe is beautiful, just Ed and Boom. Daughter transitions into W.M.A, with Jeff laying down the full W.M.A. bassline and Mike adding some strummy guitar, and then when it sounds like It’s O.K. is imminent, Ed starts singing “Let It Go” (yes, the one from Frozen) before going into the Dead Moon tag, finishing triumphantly, a standout version. Prior to Better Man, everyone sings Happy Birthday to April Cameron, “‘cause I know it will freak her out,” adds Ed. The Porch jam is very guitar-heavy and less jammy, reminiscent of the early 90’s. Ed thanks the wonderful crowd before Alive, taking a few moments to add:

“I want to say before we leave… you have cities in this country that are eternal…we are now in the greatest age of science, and knowledge, and technology, and discovery, the greatest age our world has ever known. And at the same time, war, and people’s mental health, and corruption and the government, keep all the people from living in peace. And so, we agree on this, and again, it’s such a beautiful thing to go anywhere in the world and see this many people agree on anything. It’s fucking beautiful, so thanks for letting us witness this, because it gives us the hope that, as long as the sun keeps fucking burning, that we won’t keep trying and trying together to make this a world, where peace, and joy, and love, and health, that we can win, we will win, we can win!”