Pearl Jam in Saskatoon

This past Wednesday I had a chance to see one of my fave bands of all time. Pearl Jam played in Saskatoon and even though our seats had a lot to be desired, I was blown away by the show. With no new album to promote, Pearl Jam played a killer set of old and new songs. Given their extensive catalogue, they will always omit a few of everyone's favourite songs. Personally, I would have loved to hear "Man of the Hour," "Lowlight," and "I Am Mine" but I can hardly complain since they plyed "Rearviewmirror," "Daughter," and "Do the Evolution." Pearl Jam are not a typical big-time band with etched-in-stone setlists. Every time they hit the stage you never know what songs they will play. They may play most or all of their "hits" or they may have a setlist that caters more to their rabid, hardcore fans. One of the things I've admired about Pearl Jam is that they were one of the biggest bands on the planet when they started, but they willingly shot themselves in the foot commercially by refusing to make music videos and by doing very little press. They did not want to be over-exposed. I like the fact that I can go to record shop and by their album the day it comes out without being beaten over the head with it by hearing their latest single on Muchmusic and MTV and radio ten times a day. I love U2, but it gets to a point where you can only listen to "Vertigo" so much in one day. So when Pearl Jam's new album comes out in a few months time, I'll be there at A & B Sound or HMV. And by the sounds of the two new songs they played, it's gonna be great.