Pearl Jam Podcast Episodes

As a major surprise in an intimate setting, Pearl Jam brought something to Moline that hadn’t been done before – they played No Code in its entirety. While they had performed two albums front to back in years prior to this night, this was the kick off of an unexpected tradition that spurned into more album shows on following tours. This one had a special feel to it though. We’ll do our best to recreate a night that can’t be replicated, but as you’ll hear throughout this episode we’re just as blown away by the surprise as the fans in attendance were.

One of the most rare and special shows in Pearl Jam’s live catalog, the small club in Chicago played host to just over 1,000 fans in attendance prior to a Lollapalooza headlining gig. What followed was something we’ve never seen from them before or again – a show filled entirely of white whales and uncommons. No Even Flow, no Alive, no Better Man but instead we see them bust out lesser heard songs such as All Or None, Education and Undone. To help us with numbers and stats, we welcome Dave JanTausch from LiveFootsteps.org to get into the nitty gritty details of what made this show something we’re likely to never see again.

We’re going down under, but leave your didgeridoos at home because this show will leave you rockin’ out! Okay, that was lame.. but this episode contains a show that was used for a very early bootleg called Rarefied And Live that was released back in 95. In the middle of the Vitalogy tour, Eddie is full of anger and angst during this 26 song set. Also, who better to make an appearance on drums than a future fighter of foo? That’s right, Dave Grohl and the band rock in the free world at this show and its everything you could ever hope for.

Featured in the episode is the only Pearl Jam show ever performed on Thanksgiving Day that took place in Mexico City. There’s a lot of debate and discussion about set list construction and what worked and also what did not sit well with Matt and Randy from this night. They also take a look at two modern day uncommon tracks in Of The Earth and Ole and the different reactions that fans have to each of those songs.

For this episode, we take a trip back to 1995 to cover a show that was never originally supposed to happen. In June of that year at a show in Golden Gate Park, Eddie caught a bout of food poisoning and left the stage after 7 songs. Luckily for the band, Uncle Neil came to the rescue and played a full set of Mirror Ball songs and other classic Neil tracks. As the story goes, the crowd was angry that Eddie left the stage and many were so insulted that they “swore off the band for life.” But this band has a history of doing right by the fans and in this instance they made up for it by adding a show in San Jose in November.

Thanks to Maria Vigil for suggesting this show to us!

The time machine takes us to our first trip to the 90’s where Pearl Jam were smack dab in their prime. This Atlanta show is famous for so many different reasons. First, it was broadcast live for free on radio stations across America where young teens and college kids had multiple tape cassettes handy. Second, parts of this show was featured on the highly popular 3-disc Dissident single at a time where boots were slowly starting to become a normal thing. Last but not least, this is the final show before the official death of Kurt Cobain. Eddie dedicates Go to him and we relive some of the news and rumors that surrounded the story of his demise. Also, lots and lots of love for Vs. here as the band was supporting the album on tour, but with Vitalogy on the horizon we get to hear some special little surprises that gave hints to what the album would eventually offer. Our Patreon donor John Farrar joins the show to discuss listening to it on the radio and swapping out cassettes!

Hey! Ho! LET’S VOTE! We flashback to 2004 to focus on the first show from the Vote For Change tour that took place in six different swing states prior to the Presidential election. The message on this night was one that can be reiterated in our current political climate – Every. Vote. Matters. While we attempt to stray from our personal beliefs (yet at some points can’t hold back), we take the overall message from this time period as a wake up call for today. As for the show, it’s an intimate set featuring a total of 10 covers (if you count Last Kiss and Crazy Mary) including some that are no longer in rotation today. On top of that, we discuss the pacing of songs played that night such as Given To Fly and how they’ve changed up their playing style during current live performances.

Welcome our first annual Halloween show titled In My Treehouse Horror I! In this episode we cover a doozy of a show focusing on the final performance ever played at The Philadelphia Spectrum. The last of a 4 show series to say goodbye to a legendary arena featured a set full of 41 songs! Including a few that have never been played before and barely been played since. And to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve, the band took a time machine back to 1980 to put on red hats and yellow jumpsuits and perform Devo’s “Whip It”. This is our longest episode to date, so buckle up and enjoy the 3 hour ride!

Is Brooklyn in the house?!? I thought so. Fan and listener Chris Buckley joins us as we cover this instant classic from the Lightning Bolt tour. What made this show so great? A set that kicked off with NINE straight songs before the band stopped to talk, rare songs such as All Those Yesterdays and Blood played along with crowd favorites like Wash and Footsteps, and Eddie telling an awesome story about broken vases in China. This is a can’t miss episode with tons of inside jokes, including picking out when Eddie mumbles his way through Leaving Here. Listen through until the end, you won’t regret it!

We’re going to Graceland! We take our first bite into covering the Lightning Bolt tour with this Memphis show from the 2014 Midwestern leg. This episode focuses on Randy’s experience traveling down south and witnessing the band from the rail all while Eddie was battling a dreaded cold. As we’ll mention throughout the episode, it was raining throughout the entire day and the set list choices reflected it. Lot’s of fun going on in this episode, so come for Pearl Jam and stay for the amazing Elvis impersonations!

We’re on a road movie to Berlin! In this episode, we add our 5th and 6th legs to the podcast – Stephen Maytan! He talks about his experience traveling from New York to Germany and what it was like to be in the crowd on a very emotional night. This night in Germany was the 10th anniversary since Roskilde Festival tragedy. They poured all of their emotions into renditions of Black and Come Back as the crowd responded with a heartfelt appreciation for the band. We talk about how a beautiful summer night in Germany banded a crowd of strangers together bonded as family.

For this episode, we dig into show that was made especially for Pearl Jam fans. Amsterdam’s Night 2 at the Ziggo Dome in 2012 features a setlist created by lifelong fan Brian Farias. Warning: this set is not for the weak at heart! The main set is one of the fastest, hard rockin’ sets you’ve ever heard and even features a new take on rarely played live song Bugs. This episode is guaranteed to rock your face off. So if you’re ready for a loaded set without the likes of Even Flow, Porch or Do The Evolution, you’re gonna be in for a treat.

Randy and Matt take their first trip nine years into the past to breakdown Night 2 at the United Center in Chicago. They discuss venturing out to the midwest for the first time at the age of 23 for Pearl Jam and a night game at Wrigley Field. We tackle set list arrangements as well as answer the age old question of whether or not its okay to use the bathroom during Even Flow. We also take a look at 2018’s tour reviewing some of the highest and lowest points and sharing our Top 5 favorite sets from this year.

We head back to Fenway to finish up the last of the 2018 away shows. Randy and Matt discuss how their entire day was planned from 6:30 am until showtime – this featured merch line waiting, word of mouth promotion and especially meeting all of the awesome LO4L fans for the first time. This experience made the day extra special for both of them! Oh right! There was a show that night too! What an incredible way to end the 2018 stadium shows as the band lit the stage on fire from the very start. From fan favorites like Red Mosquito, to an interesting take on Immortality, and a DIRTY little teaser near the end – we cover it all in this jam packed episode!

Our first episode covers the first of two nights of Pearl Jam’s away shows at Fenway park. Since this is LO4L’s first go around, Randy and Matt introduce themselves and tell stories about how they got into the band as well as inspiration for starting the show. The first night at Fenway had its ups and downs and we break it all down from Eddie’s drunk ramblings to highlights of the night such as “Tremor Christ” and “Out Of My Mind”.