Pearl Jam – Las Vegas, Nevada - October 22, 2000

This bootleg is special on many levels. It is Pearl Jam's 10th anniversary; which, from today's perspective, feels like nothing - but back then in the nineties time flew slower. 10 years was a lot and you can actually hear it. The band takes things in a different way than they used to. It isn't a different band yet, but it is morphing, metaphorically speaking. Here they are, 10 years after, but not the same people. Those 10 years has shaped them as musicians, performers - entertainers, for a lack of a better word. They barely survived that tour, after what happened in Europe on June 30. But they decided to keep it together, and that Las Vegas show is a triumph in that respect. It is a glory of music and a humility of man in its light.

The most important song here is "Crown of Thorns", with its Led Zeppelin-y intro riff. It is a celebration of Andy Wood and Mother Love Bone, the band that Pearl Jam directly ascended from. If you don't hear that special moment in Vedder's trembling voice, masked with lame jokes, you never will. You can also hear it in the way they played all the songs before "Crown" - fast, speeding, boosted with power. They know what's coming, they know it's their special moment, and they can't wait to get there. Just check the insane "Lukin"/"Rearviewmirror" to get my drift - it's fast as Ramones, but elaborate as The Who or Zeppelin.

After "Crown" things become pure fun. Beautiful rendition of Elvis' "Can't Help Falling in Love", "Last Kiss", "Mankind" sung by Stone Gossard, "Porch" with a poetic interlude, and "Baba O'Riley" to finish things off (it was still a rarity back then). When you hear it all happening, you cannot help smiling. You're at their party and they're over the moon to have you, giving absolutely the best they have. But, as Vedder says, today is today, and tomorrow is tomorrow. It's a great show, easy to picture when listening with care and headphones. Highly recommended!