In a move to beat bootleggers to the punch,
Pearl Jam decided to release each of their 2000 American concert performances in a series of inexpensive double-CD sets. The August 29th concert recorded in Boston, MA, is among the better recordings offered. The material balances nicely between songs from 2000's
Binaural and many of their earlier fan favorites.
Eddie Vedder's post-encore encouragement to get out and support Green Party candidate Ralph Nader feels less urgent since the election is long over, but his solo version of "I Am a Patriot" by Steven Van Zandt is still poignant and heartfelt. On the fan favorite "Yellow Ledbetter," guitarist
Mike McCready augments his solo with a riff from "Sick as a Dog" from Boston's own
Aerosmith, leading into a cover of
Neil Young's frustrated but cathartic "Fuckin' Up." Strong versions of "Once," "Nothing as it Seems," "Wishlist," and guitarists
McCready and
Stone Gossard's fiery interplay on their blast through "Go" (which is quite possibly better than the studio version on 1993's
Vs.) highlight this terrific live performance. By far one of the best releases in this series. ~ Zac Johnson