Search - Pearl Jam :: 10/27/00 - Fresno, California

A Jammin' Concert

J. Kumagai | Fresno, CA USA | 03/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Excuse the bad pun, I couldn't resist. I have been a longtime fan and when I heard they were coming to Fresno, of all places, I was in shock. Eddie was quite the humorist at this show. Being under the weather, he informed the audience that "the lead singer is on drugs (prescribed, of course); the worst tattoo he ever saw involved Yogi Bear and a guy's buttocks and introducing Mike McReady to Fresno, "Fresno, Mike McReady-Mike McReady, Fresno"Of course, can't forget the music-which proves why Pearl Jam is one of the greatest live acts around. Thanks to Pearl Jam for releasing these shows on CD. Who knows if they'll ever make it to these parts again?"

Hey Boo-Boo, are you in there?

David R. Finnegan II | Rockford, IL, USA | 11/06/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"On some of these bootlegs, I can barely believe Mike McCready is of the same species as the rest of us. This is Mike's night. On Corduroy, Last Exit, Dissident, Nothing as it Seems, and the classic State of Love and Trust, he plays as though his fingers are being controlled by psychic purple space monkeys. I really don't know how else to explain it. On a song that has become one of his highlights, Black, his solo is unfortunately abbreviated, but as the song is bookended by State of Love and Trust and the Binaural rarity Parting Ways, no complaints here.



Aside from Mr. McCready's heroics, the setlist is as good as a set can be without Given to Fly, or Yellow Ledbetter- my two favorite Pearl Jam songs. Other highlights include the all-too-rare Footsteps and Indifference. Pearl Jam's always been a band about alienation, and if these songs don't illustrate that, I don't know what does. Another rarity is No Code's 'Habit', prefaced by one of the finest moments of Eddie Vedder incoherence of the entire tour. If you want to know what he says, just get the bootleg. It's worth it for the music, and you'll crack up as an added bonus."