The lights dim and a montage of the history that has happened at the Spectrum plays (Kate Smith singing before the Stanley Cup finals, Dr. J soaring through the air, Bruce Springsteen, The Grateful Dead, Billy Joel). The montage concludes with a shot of a computer generated Spectrum with the Pearl Jam Ten album cover and the final four dates showing. The Rocky music plays with Pearl Jam taking the stage. Eddie is wearing boxing gloves and proclaims "This is it." He is referring to the final concert ever at the legendary Spectrum.

The seats I had for this show were behind the stage proving to me that the Spectrum blows for sound. Yea, there is history at this place, but I will not miss the cramped seats, the shitty sound, the seemingly always slippery steps, and rape central (AKA Bathroom row where you have to go downstairs to get to them) Sometimes progress is good and in this case, The Wachovia Center is the future.

There was a hiss and an echo behind the stage from the sound ricocheting from back of the arena and returning toward the front. It was minimal and with ear plugs was all but heard. It was like you were hearing Eddie singing the same parts twice, seconds apart. But, I had ear plugs so they drowned out the returned sound.

Pearl Jam was ready to give the Spectrum the best send off they could. The band kicked off at 9 pm on the dot with Why Go from Ten getting the crowd throwing hands in the air and singing along immediately.There were rumors in the parking lot and message boards about the band playing until 2am. One girl came to me while I was buying a poster and talking to my father about my hurt back from standing the previous night before:

Girl: You are in for a long night dude. Pearl Jam is playing until at least 2am.
Me: No they are not. Who is paying the cops over time? The overtime for Event Staff? The Union Workers overtime?
Girl: The band is I guess.
Me: I don't think so. They might play an extra hour or so, but not until 2am. That is absurd.
Girl: You find me at 2am and I will laugh in your face. Plus Bruce is here tonight.
Me: No he isn't. He just lost a family member and was at the Rock n' Roll hall of fame induction in NYC. He's not here.
Girl: You don't know what you are talking about. I am a fan club member and I know it is true.
Me: Well I am a big blogger who runs a hack website. I know what I am talking about.

(Ok I didn't say that last thing. I merely walked away because reason and logic weren't her specialties)

What actually happened was an amazing show. Pearl Jam played their longest show EVER, clocking in at three hours and 40 minutes. They played all of their hits and some really rare b-sides. They pulled out some songs never heard live and songs only done live once, and that one time was in 1994. Before I continue, here is the setlist:

Why Go
Last Exit
Corduroy
Severed Hand
The Fixer
Elderly woman behind the counter in a small town
You Are
Amongst the Waves
Even Flow
Pilate
Unthought Known
Daughter
Johnny Guitar
Rats
I'm Open
I Got Shit
Glorified G
Out of My Mind
Black
Insignificance
Life Wasted

Encore 1
Just Breathe
The End
Low Light
Speed of Sound
Jeremy
Inside Job
Bugs
Spin the Black Circle
Porch

Encore 2
Whip It (Devo Cover)
Got Some
Crown of Thorns (Mother Love Bone cover)
Satan's Bed
Sweet Lew
Do the Evolution
Better Man
Smile
Alive
Rockin' in the Free World (Neil Young cover)
Yellow Ledbetter
Star Spangled Banner on guitar only

After the first encore, Pearl Jam decided to get into the Halloween spirit by dressing as Devo and playing Whip It. It was a nice comical interlude and they gave a spirited effort.



In fact, everyone was getting into the Halloween spirit with Eddie's mic tech and head roadie doing a mean Evel.



The band was stellar with Matt Cameron and Eddie really standing out. In a three plus hour show, singing and drumming becomes the hardest. Eddie's vocal cords have to hold up and he has to remember all the lyrics. Matt Cameron has to pound the skins sitting on just a stool working both arms and legs. If he was Rick Allen, it would be arm and legs.

This was an absolute fitting tribute to a building that has held so much Philadelphia history. It sadly took a Seattle band to give the building the best send off.

(Click any picture for the larger version)