PJ Berlin Notes…
The Pearl Jam Berlin – Wuhlheide show was amazing and melancholic at the same time! Considering the emotional state I’m in lately, it was even more powerful for me. 30th of June being a painful memory for the band and the fans, it was a bit sad. But the overall experience was definitely unforgettable.
The tenclub tickets were not as special as I’d hoped unfortunately. The pit was not separated as it was in the 2007 Berlin show we girls had met for. We only had the early entrance advantage by half an hour, which was actually exciting for it was my first tenclub ticket. Plus the gate was different and we could hear the band in soundcheck & rehearsal while we were waiting! But I was a little envious of the experiences I’d heard and seen like being able to watch the guys during soundcheck. The more hardcore tenclubbers were at Wuhlheide earlier and had been waiting for a while. Finally when we got in, the places we could sit were actually quite nice – a little left of the center (stage right / Mike’s side), a few meters to the security line. Another friend joined us when they let others in; and we enjoyed the anticipation with beer and conversation.
At 18:30 Ben Harper & The Relentless 7 were rocking on the stage! Although I adore his music, I had low expectations because of the Ben Harper concert I’d been in İstanbul (years ago). He doesn’t interact with the audience much. He usually plays sitting down, and even when he stands up (which he did) he seems to be in his own universe all the time. The sound, the songs were wonderful and we had a real great time though! Eddie joined the band for a lovely “Under Pressure” and the crowd was even more excited. Meanwhile the pit was getting more and more packed!
When PJ came on the stage, a wave of energy blew us all away! I really didn’t expect this much and to tell the truth I was a little overwhelmed, maybe even frightened. When hardcore fans, younger fans and some out-of-control drunk shitheads (excuse the language) started jumping; us smaller sized ladies were sent backwards with this wave. To be in their mids meant either to be able to jump as much or to get squashed in the excitement. Still, at this point we were quite close to the stage. On “Why Go” we were thrown back a bit more and on “Push Me Pull Me” further more! But I was close enough to see their faces and gestures when the people in front of us were not on shoulders or jumping like crazy.
Towards the end of the main setlist Başak suggested we go back on higher ground. That we did; but it didn’t feel right to me! Having had the opportunity to see Mike’s face shredding the guitar, I couldn’t bring myself to stay so far away from the core. Although it was nice to see everyone move at the same time like a single entity from above, I wanted more to be a part of that. So I steered back into the pit. This time the jumping and the waving of the crowd let me move forward instead.
The show seemed to go so fast after that… When they played “Black” it was so powerful! I didn’t cry this time, but all kinds of emotions clogged my throat and my heart was racing. And I could see it was what we all felt. When it was time for the audience to join in, we could go on forever… It was smooth and calm when Mike played his wonderful solo; and afterwards we got louder and louder with Eddie rambling for a while. It was a very strong experience, and also felt mutual. All knew about the 10th year anniversary of the Denmark incident; both the band and the auidence were in a peculiar mood. Eddie had already asked if we had felt happy and SAFE earlier. Seeing this kind of energy flowing from the crowd, he said they really needed it especially tonight! And he couldn’t hold back his tears… a tender moment for everyone. It was a while untill he could speak, and the crowd filled in with the singing once more before he asked for a moment of silence for the 9 lost souls we missed that night. We lit our lighters, phones, etc. and waved in their memory in “Come Back”. I hasitated to move forward then; I didn’t dare beacause of my hurt ankle. I was a little jealous of the girls beeing carried on sholders but the ditraction was short and “Alive” brought the mood up. Mike was playing the solo above his head again… Eddie walked to the sides of the stage and thanked everyone. It was still not completely dark in the long Berlin summer night when they finished with “Yellow Ledbetter” and the crew started packing… a night I didn’t want to end.
All those mixed emotions after a show… the adrenalin was still flowing in my veins, but the nostalgia of this relationship with the band for almost 20 years brought bitter sweet memories to mind. I still wanted more at the same time… a hunger hard to satisfy. And the rough reality that hits one in the face once this great gathering is coming to an end: It is done… we all go back to our own small worlds now! We will be fighting our small battles, dead ends and all… the currents that carry us will not shift after tonight. Maybe we will change as much as a drop in the ocean, and that’s just maybe. Maybe we’ll feel more alive, or empowered a little… and maybe nothing will change. This bitter face of the world is frightening at these moments. Then and there I didn’t know if I was smiling or crying; because I felt like both.
Set 1: Long Road, Got Some, Why Go, Given To Fly, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Push Me Pull Me, Immortality, In Hiding, Even Flow, Johnny Guitar, Corduroy, Light Years, Gonna See My Friend, World Wide Suicide, Low Light, Gonna See My Friend, World Wide Suicide, Low Light, Comatose, Do The Evolution
Encore 1: The End, Just Breathe, Spin The Black Circle, Public Image, The Fixer, Kick Out The Jams,
Encore 2: Unthought Known, Black, Come Back, Alive, Yellow Ledbetter
