May 18th, 2025
PPG Paints Arena
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Setlist. . .
Garden/Nothingman/Why Go/Deep/Running/Scared of Fear/Elderly Woman/Immortality/Faithfull/Even Flow/Dark Matter/Wreckage/Better Man/Insignificance/Once/Wishlist/Rearviewmirror
Encore. . .
Future Days/Hunger Strike/Do the Evolution/Setting Sun/Crazy Mary/Lukin/Alive/Rockin' in the Free World/Yellow Ledbetter/Little Wing

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I have put off this recap for over 7 months because I knew it would be a doozy. So here I am, on December 30th, with the goal of finishing up my recaps lingering over my head. So much has happened since the show - I have to get better about capturing the moment right AFTER the moment. Resolution? Perhaps.

We knew the only PJ shows we were going to attempt to hit up this year were Pittsburgh. But we knew we had to turn it into a family vacation as well. Kids were obviously game - they are always game for a vacation. Requirement - hotel with pool. So we planned on going to these Pittsburgh shows, taking the kids. Needing babysitters, etc. We did it before, why couldn't we do it again? However, I had a walk and talk with Nate months beforehand and he expressed an interest in actually attending a Pearl Jam show. You all don't know Nate - this is a big deal. He does not like to stay up past his bedtime. Not joking. Even in the summer, he has a self-imposed bed time in his head...and that's when he has to be home and sleeping. I thought I was a party pooper but man...this kid has me BEAT. Anyway, after clarifying that he would have to STAY up and at the show the whole time...it was decided. The kids were going. I didn't even have to ask Piper - girl was 100% going to be in.

I decided ahead of time that we would take them to the second night. Friday night is part of Loser's Night Out and Sunday night would be an easier ticket grab...right? Oh my gosh. Work, momming, whatever...I did not pay attention to the fact that the Pittsburgh shows were END OF THE TOUR. Moron, Jess. Moron. Grabbing two extra tickets was not going to be simple. We went to Pittsburgh without tickets for the kids. Mike said he would skip if he had to. Silly talk.

Thanks to Rebecca, we got a spare from her in the section over from my tickets. Now. Also...my tickets for Night 2 were the EXACT SAME as Night 1. That has NEVER ever ever ever happened to me. On top of the fact that they were AISLE seats. And it turned out they were the last row of the section so we had a nice, clutch spot to store things like merch and food. It's the little things. Anyway, ok, so there we were, 3 tickets. 4 people.

When the box office opened, Michael ran up to the venue. Grabbed a single wherever it was. AMENT. We were in.

I tried explaining to the kids that Pearl Jam is like my job. I take it seriously. So there would not be restroom breaks. There would not be any talk of leaving the show early. Their dad is a little more accommodating. You guys know...

The kids were so excited to go to the show and it was fun to introduce them to our friends...even though most people have met the kids before, the kids likely didn't remember...were too young or whatever. Anyway...we went into the venue and hung out at our seats (and borrowed seats) for Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers. Kids got popcorn and soda...and then Piper spotted someone in our section with a Crumbl cookie box...so of course she convinced Michael to go find a freaking Crumbl cookie in the venue.

Before the show, the kids had engaged in a conversation with Rich about what they wanted to hear. We knew Nate wanted to hear Even Flow and Piper wanted Why Go but Piper said she hoped she was going to hear Hunger Strike...I pretty much told her she's dreamin'.

So show starts...in retrospect, looking at the setlist and where these kids are at with their Pearl Jam journey...

Wait, side track. Back story - Piper was 9 at this show and Nate was 11. We have NEVER forced Pearl Jam music on them. Save for driving in the car or having music on in the background in the house here or there...we never force fed the kids Pearl Jam. Music is so special to us, there's no way in HELL I would ever force my kids to "like" any particular music (though I would question my children if they were into country music...sorry not sorry?) I am not even joking that as little as one or two years prior to this show, the kids couldn't even name a title of a Pearl Jam song. Really. That's how aloof they were about Pearl Jam.

Anyway, with their Pearl Jam journey...months later, Nate's obsession has grown to a huge degree. But both of them appreciate Ten the most. So looking back on this show, they really got a good setlist for their first show...fun stuff and rarities aside.

So check off the box - Piper got her Why Go...Nate got his Even Flow. All I wanted was Setting Sun (pretty much my all time fav at this point)...so yes, yes, yes! And then Mike got Lukin...and yes, I moved the kids away from him.

The big surprise was the fact Hunger Strike was played...Piper flipped out...and I was 100% wrong. I told her there was no way it was happening. Then it did.

The kids did great...though they both were sitting down (tired?) during Better Man and Piper later asked if they played it...uh, hon, you were scrolling on the internet during it...
BUT of course it was a long one and Nate did in fact lose his patience so after we were like dude, Ledbetter is the end and then they actually went into Little Wing...Mike started walking towards the car with the kids because Nate lost his shit. I stayed and watched the champagne rain. As I watched, I thought...hmmm...this seems a little over the top. The comments throughout the night. The finale atmosphere. Little did we know until later...that it was Matty Cam's last show. So so so bittersweet. But glad the kids were there for it, you know?

So we survived a show as a family. Of course they both want to go to more shows. Maybe one a tour...but that's it, children. I'll need a second job.

It was full circle, though...as perfect as it could be. Pittsburgh show in 2013 our first Lightning Bolt show and where we opened up our "gender reveal" envelope for Nate. Pittsburgh FTW.
 
 

12.30.25

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