Pearl Jam - Live At The Garden [DVD]

A much more varied setlist than the usual. Riot Act completely dominates the opening few (inevitably), and the classics are slowly introduced. Mike's solo on 'Even Flow' is breathtaking, and the performance of 'Black' is so emotional that Ed has to step back a couple of times to take the whole spectacle in. The subtle songs of Yield (Faithfull, Low Light, Wishlist) are all performed tp pinpoint accuracy and a welcome highlight came from 'Half Full'; merely a good studio track is transformed into a bluesy/rock energy filled, funky masterpiece at The Garden.

When they come back for the encore's, PJ introduce a few of their favourite covers; Crazy Mary being the highlight of them.

Arguably the highlight of the whole show is 'Indifference' in which Ben Harper also sings, though 'Black' and the officially 'stage shaking' 'Do The Evolution' are other contenders.

Pearl Jam (ever giving) themselves had to pay $14,000 due to extending the show for a few extra tracks - which was vital however, so to include the crowd favourite, and ever perfect 'Yellow Ledbetter'.

The extras are a nice touch, to see the band's members more relaxed including a hilarious moment when Mike was ready to play baseball and an organise questioned 'who are you?', to which Mike replied 'the lead guitarist for the band'....'oh' said the embaressed organiser.

So to conclude, a MUST HAVE for any Pearl Jam fan, and for any music fan in general. Anybody who watches this DVD, whether they like it or not, has to be in awe at the talent of these six guys, and the emotion and effort that they put into every performance.

Live At The Garden represents part of Pearl Jam's 2003 tour for their recent Riot Act album. As such, it includes some of the newer tracks, but it also includes some very rare tracks, even for the official bootlegs. I guess chief among these is 'Crown Of Thorns', which is a track by Mother Love Bone, a band that Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard were part of before Pearl Jam (their singer died of a drugs overdose). Apparently, this is the only official recording of Pearl Jam playing this song, and I can assure you that it's stunning. Add to that, renditions of Breath, a FAB version of Yellow Ledbetter (listen to Mike McCready's guitar at the end...I swear, this man was on a STORMER of a night), Daughter (almost as good as the recent State College, Philadelphia CD), and you have a stunning double DVD package. Furthermore, add in Baba O'Riley and Sonic Reducer being played with members of The Buzzcocks, and you have the full circle of 1970s punk meeting one of its true 21st century heirs (forget pop metal of Linkin Park, Good Charlotte and Limp Bizkit, and look instead to Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers).

DVD-wise, the picture is much like that in Touring Band 2000, being shot on hand-held cameras, and of grainy quality. That said, I maintain that it suits the band perfectly. Sound is fab....a Dolby Digital 5.1 track on both R1 and R2 DVDs (unlike Touring Band 2000), and it is fab, although the centre speaker is not used as much as it perhaps should be for vocals.

Extras are better than on Touring Band 2000. This time we have the full version of 'Throw Yours Around Me' with its writer Mark Seymour, live from Perth, Australia (a gig I nearly attended!); live performance of 'Dead Man' by Eddie; compilation of 'Fortunate Son' performances; a great compilation of 'Down' performances, and 'All Those Yesterdays'. Trust me, it's fab.

Worth buying. Yes. Why? Well, if you like Pearl Jam, buy this. If you like live music, buy this. This is a fab DVD. Fab music, fab editing, fab extras and a fab price. Get it for around £13, or buy the official bootleg triple CD.