Honoring The Boss!

30 Year Old Logs

Once in a while you get a gift from the past and it's just so special. My mom recently stumbled upon my old Lincoln Logs from what has to be 30 years ago, wrapped them, and gave them to me to open.

Some of the pieces are pretty beat up and things aren't quite straight when you get something built but it's brought back a lot of really cool memories. And the best part... now I get to build new memories with my daughters and some 30 year old Lincoln Logs!

Thanks Mom! Josie is already have a blast with them and I know Lily will too.

Utah '95

Finally, a freakin' bootleg update!! While it's been quite some time since we've seen some bootleg action around this joint I can pretty much guarantee this one was worth the wait. This is one of the Monkey Wrench broadcasts from 1995 so the sound quality is what you call... pretty fookin' good!

Enjoy the boot! You can find it in the 1995 bootleg section of The Vault! Salt Lake City, Utah 11/1/1995. This show is available in FLAC only at this time. If you want MP3s please visit Spreading The Jam. He's got lots of shows in MP3 format and I just don't see the point of putting them up here any longer when they are available in several other places.

Godammit Larry!!

One day we'll get this at a show we go to together..

Ocean City 2009 Memories

So this is my first attempt at an iMovie with my Macbook. Basically just pictures set to "Your Hand In Mine" by Explosions In The Sky. I would have like to have done a bit more with this but 5 to 10 minutes is all I have time for these days! Kids!!

Wave to all my friends...

Once again I've gone far too without a post on this blog-o-mine! Life has just been tough to keep up with lately. Lily just turned 9 months and is now crawling all over the place! Josie turns 3 yrs next month and is just so amazing, and funny, and absolutely crazy sometimes.

Finally getting around to getting some of my bootlegs in order again and just getting organized. I hope to get some updates going again for the bootleg vault really soon!

I had the pleasure of seeing two of the four PJ shows at the Spectrum last month! Such a great experience as always when Pearl Jam performs. Couldn't believe I got to see some songs like "Rival", "No Way", "1/2 Full", "Push Me, Pull Me", and "Bee Girl"! They really did pull some shit out of their hat! Went to both shows with my brother and just had a blast. The crowd singing during "Garden" was simply amazing! The roof nearly blew off with "I willllll waaaaalk wiithh my hands bound..." parts. Hope they make it back to the Philly area in 2010 although I wouldn't mind trying to get a road trip in to see them either. Looks like they continue to tear shit up on the Oz tour at the current time.

Here's a couple pics of me inside and outside the Spectrum. I'll miss this old building!!

Happy Birthday Brother!

It's a wave... building before it breaks

It's the excitement that can come only from the pending release of a new Pearl Jam album. It's the anticipation of cracking open that CD (pre-ordered from the 10 club weeks and weeks ago) and swiftly slipping it into the CD player for the first listen. It's trying desperately NOT to listen to all the little snippets of the songs available on Youtube as only the full tracks will quench the thirst now being endured by this Pearl Jam junky. It's waiting ever so patiently to find the vinyl version at my door step (yes they still make those round black things and yes people DO still listen to them) and seeing the artwork in all its gigantic glory. It's just pure child like excitement that I don't expect anyone else to really understand.

This has added to my excitement...


Hearing that little piece of "Just Breathe" in that video just about does me in. I need to hear that really, really soon!! This just seems like it's going to so different from their previous few releases. Just based on the first single "The Fixer" and some of this video footage they just seem much more optimistic and well... happy.

Also, that footage of them throwing axes is just priceless. When we went to the Vedder show back in June at the Tower he told a little story about how he was teaching his daughters to throw axes. I thought he was kidding... guess not :)

"The Fixer" video:


So for me the waiting is driving me mad but, I have a feeling this one will be worth the wait. And then of course the anticipation for the Philly shows in October will begin to build. And then there will be the bootlegs to listen too. The later part of '09 certainly looks good for a Pearl Jam fan. Here's to having things to look forward to!

New Song Debut 8/18/2009 London England!!

Backspacer Promo

FW: Additional Tour Dates Added!

Great news ... Pearl Jam has added some dates onto their North American
tour, on both coasts.

DATE CITY VENUE 10C PRESALE

Oct 31 Philadelphia, PA Spectrum Arena* Aug-12 @9am PDT
Oct 27 Philadelphia, PA Spectrum Arena* Aug-12 @11am PDT
Sep 28 Salt Lake, UT E Center Aug-12 @1pm PDT
Sep 26 Portland, OR Amphitheater Aug-12 @3pm PDT
Sep 25 Vancouver, BC GM Place Aug-12 @5pm PDT

General sale tickets for the Philly shows will start August 14th through
www.comcasttix.com. The Portland general ticket sale will also start
August 14th through www.ticketmaster.com. The remaining west coast dates
will go on-sale to the general public through www.ticketmaster.com on
August 15th.

Ten Club will be hosting a swift pre-sale for these shows beginning
August 12th and ending August 13th at 5pm PDT. Coordinated dates and
times are listed above.

You must be an active member as of August 9, 2009 to qualify for the
ticket pre-sale. Tickets will be sold online only at
https://www.pearljam.com/max with a Visa or Mastercard only. Two (2)
tickets per show. No single tickets.

For wheelchair accessible or disabled seating, please contact the Ten
Club at 1-800-724-8038 before making a ticket purchase.

*The Philly Spectrum has graciously provided Ten Club with a
more-than-usual allotment of tickets for our eligible members. However,
after our usual allotment, seat allocation (for these additional shows
only) will be comparable to general public sale tickets, but still
assigned by membership seniority.

Ten Club tickets are sold on a first come, first serve basis and
available only while supplies last. Seat allocation for the additional
west coast shows will be distributed by membership seniority, with the
exception of rows 1-2 and 9-10 which are randomly assigned regardless of
seniority.

Tickets are not mailed in advance. Tickets are distributed at the venue
on the day of the show. The Ten Club member must collect the tickets
with a valid photo identification.

By opting to purchase tickets, you agree to all Ten Club policies. All
ticket sales are final. No refunds, exchanges or transfers. Please visit
here http://www.pearljam.com/ten-club/tickets for a full description of
the Ten Club ticketing policy and procedure.


~10club
http://www.pearljam.com

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The contents of this message, together with any attachments, are
intended only for the use of the person(s) to which they are
addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged
information. Further, any medical information herein is
confidential and protected by law. It is unlawful for unauthorized
persons to use, review, copy, disclose, or disseminate confidential
medical information. If you are not the intended recipient,
immediately advise the sender and delete this message and any
attachments. Any distribution, or copying of this message, or any
attachment, is prohibited.

Josie's first experience on a real bike...

Josie borrowed her cousin Meg's bike and took a few loops around Nana and Papa's driveway. She did really well. It may be time to give her the bike that's been sitting in the garage for a few weeks now :) Thanks for the use of your bike Meg and thanks Luke for helping Josie get started and for riding with her.

The Art

8/1/09 Ride & Punxsutawney "Phil"

My ride on Saturday was interesting for a variety of reasons. First, it was early as hell (up at 5:45 am) and I drank nearly a full bottom of wine the night before. Not the best thing to do for the legs in the morning but damn did that Zin taste good?! So with my legs feeling like cinder blocks I saddle up and hit the trail shortly after 6:00 am. Not far down the trail I come upon a slew of deer, which is not uncommon by any means, and stop to snap a few pics. You may be able to tell from the pic that they didn't stick around very long to see what I was up to.

Anyway, as I was stowing my camera back in my jersey pocket on my back, out of no where, comes along another rider from behind me. He was an older gentlemen, maybe 65ish, and he instantly struck up conversation with me as he noticed I had taken an interest in the deer. It wasn't long before I found myself riding side-by-side with this fella and having quite a pleasant discussion about a variety of non-sense including hunting, children, our bike routes, and on and on for 20 minutes or so. It wasn't really what we were talking about that stuck with me about this man but, more his mild manner and seemingly stellar outlook on life. He had recently moved to the area from Western PA to be closer to his children and grand children. He loved to get up early and either go for a ride or take a walk to begin his day. Just an extremely genuine person it seemed.

As quickly as he came into my life he was gone. We ended our time together at the bottom of Spring Mountain where we exchanged goodbyes and "enjoy the rest of your ride!". I never did catch my new friends name but I decided I shall remember him as Punxsutawney "Phil" since he came from that small town across this long state. He still owns a 50 acre farm out there with a fly fishing creek that runs through it. I hope to ride with you again "Phil". Be sound.

I wish I would have snapped a photo of "Phil"...

This Ones for Luke & Meg!!

This is Just Insane!!

6:00 AM Saturday Ride

Saturday I saw the beginning of the day from my bike. Such a beautiful morning and and even better when your on the bike at sunrise. The legs didn't really feel that great but it was great to be outside, on the trail, and have some tunes cranked between my ears. Started the ride off with The "Into The Wild" soundtrack and headed home with "Because of the Times" by King's of Leon.

Here are a few pics from along the way. That's me there with the bike obviously. Next is sunrise over Palmer Park and then just a cool looking building just off the path on my way to Green Lane Park which is the last picture there at the bottom.

New Single "The Fixer" Online!

Pearl Jam's first single, "The Fixer", from their upcoming new album "Back Spacer" is up on their Myspace page. Check it out here! Pretty solid mid temp tune. Definitely a radio friendly, happier type of jam. It's good but I could go for something with a little more bite to it. Will have to wait and see what the entire album is like. Either way I'll be at the Spectrum on October 28th loving the new and the old stuff!!

Philly I 2009!!

Well the 10C presale was a complete fiasco as usual but probably more so since the Philly shows are the only ones on the East coast this year. I was able to secure a pair for night one but got shut out for night two. Hopefully will be able to grab a pair through the public sale tomorrow morning but who knows how that will go. These final shows at the Spectrum are bound to be legendary! Let me know how you made out yesterday if you tried getting tickets through 10C. I know there are plenty of pissed off folks over at the message pit and I completely understand. The volume is just too great when a band of this caliber is only playing a few shows in an area loaded with 10C members. Until the next time...Be sound.

One of my favorite Youtube vids at the moment!

Cool Pic and A New Direction

Due to a number of reasons this site will soon be heading in a different direction. While bootleg updates will still be included they will not be happening that frequently. My apologies but I just don't have the time to compile the uploads like I did before. The good news is the archive will remain intact and I'll try to get any links updated that are no longer active. My premium account with Megupload was recently updated for another two years so the links, for the most part, should be good for at least that long.

So if you continue to check this place out you will be finding more of a personal blog. It will include things that are important to me in my life including family, friends, music, etc... I have two daughters now so I'll have many adventures with them that I will most certainly be posting about. It's basically going to be a dumping ground for the things I'm passionate about. Fortunately, one of those things is Pearl Jam and I don't plan on that changing any time soon. Hitting a couple shows in Philly this fall! So that's where I'm heading now. If you want to stick around that's cool, if not that's cool too. Most importantly I hope you've enjoyed the music.

Utrecht, Holland '92

The 1992 bootleg section has been updated with the 3/04 show in Utrecht, Holland. The show is available in FLAC and MP3 formats. Enjoy the show!

Two Feet Thick notes:

03/04/92 - Tivoli: Utrecht, Holland [90m]
attendance: 950
soundcheck: Even Flow (3x), Alive (4x), Even Flow (3x), Alive (2x)
set: Release, Even Flow, Why Go, Jeremy, Deep, Alive, Black, State of Love and Trust, Once, (Sympathy for the Devil), Porch
enc: Jam, Alone, (Outshined)/Leash, (Hunger Strike), Garden, Jam
notes: Incredible amounts of stagediving at this show cause Jeff to be concerned for his pedals and he warns the crowd to be careful of the equipment. Ed also expresses some distress: “These heads you see up here … they’re human. They break. If you wanna break someone’s head, maybe you should do it with your head and not your boots, you pussies!” ‘Deep’ is introduced as “a four-letter word called ‘Deep.’” Ed’s intro to ‘Alive’: “And maybe, what I think of this song is a world you would be in on MTV or something. No, listen, maybe it feels a little weird for me, cause I am a protector of this song as well, cause it’s like as you know, your life. So I hope you listen to it in the right way, and I think live is probably the way.” During a short ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ jam, Ed attempts to cool down the crowd by calling it the ‘Waterpouring Song’ and pours water on the crowd. With the crowd yelling for ‘Hunger Strike,’ Ed asks if there is a “political strike going on in Holland cuz everywhere we go we hear people yelling about a hunger strike.” He later treats the crowd to a short version of ‘Hunger Strike’ saying, “I can’t wait to tell Chris about that”) and plays a little drum solo before ‘Alone.’ Ed tells the crowd he has a new tattoo and now he’s a “… walking piece of art. I used to be just a loser.” He says he really wants to jump in the crowd but is concerned people will grab his sore, tattooed leg. A super show.

Pearl Jam on Tonight Show with Conan O'Brian June 1st!! New Songs will be played!!!!!

"Saying No" in Den Haag!!!

The 1992 bootleg section has been updated with the 03/02/92 show in Den Haag, Holland! This is one of those great early bootlegs that circulated through head shops and corner record stores for $30 to $40 back in the day. It's been a while but I used to listen to this boot all the time. Best part I can remember is "I've Got A Feeling", it's just an awesome jam and one of many highlights on this one. The sound of this recording is also very good which is always a plus. As usual this show is available in both FLAC and MP3 formats. Hope you enjoy the show!

Here's some vid footage of "I've Got A Feeling":


03/02/92 - Paard, Den Haag, Holland [88m]
attendance: 500
set: Oceans, Even Flow, Why Go, Jeremy, Deep, Alive, Black, Saying No/Suggestion, Alone, Once, Porch
enc: Garden, Leash, I’ve Got A Feeling
notes: Ed has more words for stage divers: “Just a couple of words. In my whole life, I never wanted to be a policeman or anything of authority. But in fact, all my life I’ve been in a crowd like this, and whenever I was back there and people throw up onto the stage and jumped back off it always looked so cool, but when you are up here, see all these peoples’ heads bein’ smashed in by boots and stuff, it’s really fuckin’ ridiculous. Prior to ‘Black’ Ed notes, “You know, we canceled tomorrow night’s show just because I knew I would sing with everything I got tonight … a very good decision I think.” ‘Suggestion’ is an extremely rousing version, renamed ‘Saying No in Den Haag’ by Ed. Stone and Mike sing an ear splitting a capella version of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ before ‘Porch.’ Ed’s brother, Jason, jams with the band during a long, lively version of ‘I’ve Got a Feeling’ including parts of ‘Hunger Strike,’ ‘Say Hello 2 Heaven’ and ‘Jane Says’ (by Jane’s Addiction). Excellent show.

Maui

The 1998 bootleg section has been updated with the 2/20/1998 show in Maui! The show is available in both FLAC and MP3. Show notes from Two Feet Thick.

02/20/98 - Alexander M. Baldwin Amphitheatre: Maui, HI [96m]

attendance: 5,000

support act: Mudhoney

soundcheck (not included in download): Long Road, Off He Goes, Red Mosquito, Corduroy, Wishlist, MFC, Oceans, Jeremy, Alive

set: Corduroy, Hail Hail, Brain of J, Faithfull, Red Mosquito, Wishlist, Even Flow, MFC, Improv(?)/Habit, Better Man, Jeremy, Given to Fly, Daughter, Black, In Hiding, Do the Evolution, Last Exit

enc: Once, Smile, Yellow Ledbetter

notes: An awful pit and not the best crowd either, going wild with ‘Corduroy’ as the unusual opener, and breaking the barrier during ‘Red Mosquito.’ Ed asks the crowd to step back and references the (ineffective) “Mariah Carey barricade.” ‘Wishlist’ includes modified lyrics: “I wish I was a 40-foot wave, breaking off the north shore.” Ed smashes down his microphone and stand at one point, seemingly annoyed that he was flubbing lyrics. After the band huddles around Jack, Ed comments that he “… just wanted tonight to be perfect …”, applauds the crowd and they launch into ‘Do the Evolution.’ Mike is awesome, giving a fantastic solo during ‘Even Flow’ and bringing out the flying-V Gibson during ‘Evolution’ and ‘Last Exit.’ ‘In Hiding’ is wonderful live (wow!) and the brief lead-in (new song, improv or whatever?) features a rocking tune. (Partial lyrics: “Came here with no bags, don’t need nothing, don’t need no clothes, I don’t need sunblock on my nose.”) A SUPER encore, with ‘Once’ as an always pleasing surprise, followed by instrument switching (and Jeff’s nice solo) during ‘Smile.’ A 10pm curfew resulted in a too soon end to the show

East Lansing 1998

At long last I'm back with a concert update. I'm going to try to keep this going as long as I can. Updates will probably not be as frequent as they once were. We have a new addition to the family and I just don't have the time to get things uploaded as often. That being said I still have a shit ton of shows in lossless format that I want to make available here so I'll do my best to keep the updates steady. So here goes...

The 1998 bootleg section has been updated with the 8/18 show in East Lansing, Michigan. This recording is available in both FLAC and MP3 formats. MP3s are encoded at 320 kbps (cbr). Please remember that MP3s should only be used for your own personal enjoyment. If you intend to trade these shows please download the FLAC version for best quality. Enjoy the music!

Two Feet Thick notes:

08/18/98 - Breslin Student Events Center: East Lansing, MI [95m]

attendance: 15,300

support act: Iggy Pop

soundcheck: Soldier of Love, Footsteps (partial), Hard to Imagine (partial), Dissident, All Those Yesterdays, No Way (!!), improv, Indifference, Satan’s Bed

set: Release, Do the Evolution, Spin the Black Circle, Brain of J, Dissident, Given to Fly, Corduroy, MFC, Wishlist, Jeremy, Even Flow, Faithfull, Elderly Woman, Off He Goes, Rearviewmirro

renc 1: Hail Hail, I Got Shit, Alive, Black, Soldier of Love [cover]

notes: During ‘Brain of J,’ Mike and Stone jam together during Stone’s solo. Introing ‘Dissident,’ Ed says, “Dedicated to a girl named Monica.” Between ‘Corduroy’ and ‘MFC,’ Ed says, “… It feels like we’re playing a frat party on a Friday - not a frat party, a keg party … no not a keg party, a pot party… Anything’s worth smoking.” Ed has trouble with the e-bow (no sound initially) on ‘Wishlist,’ only playing a couple of notes and flubs the lyrics saying, “I wish I wish I wish … I wish I knew this song.” During ‘Even Flow,’ Matt does this really cool fill and Mike goes over and jams on it. ‘Elderly Woman is directed toward “you” (the crowd). Ed, having voice problems, motions toward his throat at various times. ‘RVM’ is excellent and the jam is really trancey. In the middle of it, Ed takes out a towel, puts it over the monitors, puts a soccer ball on it, and kicks it into the middle of the arena! The stage is brightly lit during ‘Alive,’ Ed was checks out the crowd, and sees a “Breath” sign. He gets a big smile and starts laughing (shaking his finger as if to say “no no no”), and then during ‘Black,’ in the line where he says “breath,” he really draws that word out while looking at the guy with the sign. ! After ‘Black,’ which features an INCREDIBLE solo from Mike, Ed says, “That’s Mike … you know Stone … but thanks especially to Matt,” and the crowd gives him a big round of applause. For ‘Soldier of Love,’ (a song by Arthur Alexander written in 1962) which Ed introduces as a “song for people in love,” and that they had just learned that day, he brings out a kid with a Univ. of Michigan shirt into the audience - he gets booed (MSU being a big rival) - Ed says, “Oh, I didn’t realize you were wearing the wrong shirt” and brings out a girl to hold the written lyrics in his journal for him instead. (He speaks into her recorder and began dancing with her toward the end of the song.) Final Ed comments of the night: some thanks to the crowd for choosing PJ over the Beastie Boys (also playing down the road that night) and “on behalf of all of us, we wanna thank Iggy Pop, it’s really nice to play with him in his own state …” and comments on the Michigan live music censorship bill, “some guy showing his penis or something,” and closes the show with the immortal comment: “They want your parents to have to go with you to rock concerts, just in case some guy pulls out his penis or something. It’s rock and roll. You should be able to, I should be able to show my penis. It’s rock and roll.” (On the setlist and not played: Footsteps, Fuckin’ Up, SoL&T, Habit)

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