My very first concert experience
It was 1995. I was 16 years old, and I was going to My Very First Concert Ever. This was a big deal. And it didn't all go to plan.
The problem was, I lived in Wanganui. It's not what I would call the most exciting place in the world to grow up. And it's miles from anywhere - especially Auckland, where my favourite band at the time, Pearl Jam, was playing in a couple of weeks.
But me and a few mates hatched A Grand Plan: We would buy tickets, go on a road trip and sleep at a backpackers.
So we spent our meagre supermarket wages on Pearl Jam tickets - the only four being sold in Wangavegas, the retailer said. We were stoked. Then we organised our ride. A friend had a beaten up Toyota Corolla with different coloured doors and rusty bumpers. It would get us there no worries, he said. We nodded our heads in agreement and smiled.
We told our parents of our Grand Plan. They looked at the Toyota and said 'No freaking way.' Loud words were exchanged. Tantrums were thrown. Tears were spilled. Panic attacks ensued. In the end, we threatened to take off and drive up anyway, so our parents got together, bought us train tickets and organised our accommodation. Sorted.
I remember a lot about that show. I remember wondering why Pearl Jam were playing in the big top. I still wonder that whenever I see bands play there. It's a fracking circus tent, for crying out loud. Is that the best Auckland can do?
But I remember having the time of my life. We queued from mid-afternoon. We charged the gates when they opened. I remember wearing a flannel shirt, my new Pearl Jam long-sleeved shirt with that stick figure above on it, and - what else? - baggy shorts.
My mate lost his shoe in the insane moshpit. They played my favourite Pearl Jam song ever, Corduroy. Eddie Vedder skulled an entire bottle of wine. Then, to top it all off, they bought out the Finn brothers and sang Split Enz songs.
And I sang along to every single word of every single song and vowed there and then to spend every waking moment chasing the massive high I experienced during that show.
It changed my life. It's why I'm doing the job I'm doing. It's why I have way too many CDs, DVDs and mp3s. It's why I spent far too much money going to Lollapalooza earlier this year.
And that's why I'll be at Mt Smart Stadium on Friday night. Will you?
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Last time Pearl Jam were here I was 16. And omg - I wanted to go so badly!!! But They Who Would Not Be Argued With said "no". 11 loooonggg years I've waited! HELL YES I'll be there.
hell yes. ill be in akl and chch. had to fly to brisbane in 03 to see them cos they didnt tour nz (had similar issues with parental consent but was 18 so had some leverage), then missed their last tour of oz cos i was in the states. cannot wait. i even made a banner last night
Sing loud for me.
Playing times just came through. Make sure you get there early:
Pearl Jam, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Gates: 4.30pm Liam Finn: 5.30pm Ben Harper: 6.30pm Pearl Jam: 8.00pm
That '95 concert was my first one as well, great day, great memories. Starting with snakebites at lunchtime at the Uni bar, catching the bus out to Mt Smart and having everyone sing cartoon themes, losing my 1.5m long beanie in the mosh pit... I'm pretty sure they opened with Eddie on acoustic playing a Hunters and Collectors song that had just been released?? And when the Finn boys came out for the encore - fricken magic.
Saw them in 95 at the Supertop and it ranks for me in the top 5. My first was David Bowie on the Thin White Duke tour about 77/78 at Western Springs. Really big stadium that was pretty full then it was Bob Marley in 79 at the same venue. I'm such a hoarder I've still got the ticket cos there is some stuff you need to hold on to
Yes, I missed them last time around and I'm thoroughly looking forward to it.
From a quick glance at the Aussie setlists, almost everything is up for grabs in terms of songs, although they're tending to lean more on the stuff from Ten through to No Code, with a few recent singles and the obligatory cover or two. Alive, Yellow Ledbetter, the Fixer, Even Flow and Small Town are probably the only certainties. If they play I Got ID and Severed Hand I will be REALLY happy.
It's pretty awesome when a band can vary their setlist that much...
Funny, Pearl Jam at Mt Smart was my first concert too! I think a couple of years later though. Loved it! But I'm not tempted to go again, as much as I still like PJ's old stuff and their latest song... I remember I wasn't old enough to drink alcohol so my friend and I scored some guarana powder (woohoo!) and drank that with chocolate milk on the edge bus on the way up from Hamilton... sweeeeetttt
Oh, and another thing: Keep an eye out tomorrow for an interview with Matt Cameron. From Pearl Jam. And Soundgarden. He talks about Soundgarden reunion rumours too.
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No... because it's my girlfriends best friends wedding. Hows that for timing huh? Pumped for Green Day though!