Pearl Jam: Live at the Garden

-NO SPOILERS HEREIN (COULD THERE BE ANY?)- Being a huge admirer of Pearl Jam´s inventive and professional way of creating music, the awesome "Touring Band 2000" DVD was a real blast to me. The band turned out to be one of the best live acts ever to be witnessed. But recently I went to buy the new one- PJ live at the Garden. And it came to beat Touring Band in eyery aspect. Most important to me: The feeling was all right. In 190(!) minutes, the guys create an atmosphere of "Why the hell have all the other people been there and not me?". The music is just the way any music should be: handcrafted and professional (My personal favourite: The distinct and gripping "crown of thorns"). You get all the rockers and all the "ballads" and they´re gonna blow you away... And Ed Vedder is a great entertainer by not trying to be one. It´s real hard to describe the experience of watching a great concert like this one, so go buy and see it yourself. No Question: 10/10

This is actually their 4th DVD. (Single Video Theory, Touring band 2000, Live At The Showbox 2002 were their others) Eddie and company may not be the biggest band in the world anymore, but they are the best. This DVD is a tribute the energy & feeling they put into their live show. Being 1 complete concert instead of a "best of" lets casual fans know this band is for real from start to finish.

Some highlights are the Love Boat Captain opening "Let the show begin." The apperance of the elusive "Low Light", and a new soulful version of "In My Tree." The real show-stopping moments come from the fans. (I was at this concert and by watching the DVD it feels like I am right back in the Garden.) Durring Betterman Ed lets the crowd sing the better part of the song making for a purely sublime moment.

The extra material on the DVD are excellent, showing the lighter side of the band, and giving them a chance to let others shine.

This is a testament to a band that has risen above the "Grunge" label it was given & shown the world that rock and roll is still alive & well.

This is Pearl Jam second DVD, after Touring Band 200. Although that was good, this gains extra points for showing an entire gig as apposed to a collection of songs from a whole tour.

This is a must have for any real music fan as it shows what live music is all about. Expression, emotion, and sheer exuberance are what Pearl Jam put into every song that they perform. I could go on about the highlights of what was an extra-special gig (the Buzzcocks and Ben Harper make this unique alone.) but there are too many!

The DVD extra's are some of the best i've ever seen on a Live DVD. The Matt Cam is great but the best has to be the Montage of the Bu$hleaguer performances. This is truly funny and poignant as pearl jam were forced to atop this.

Get this DVD and keep on Rocking In A Free World (while we can)!

I agree with all the things this guy said below:

"This double DVD lives up to its billing. "Live at the Garden" A full show from the greatest band playing at the greatest venue in the greatest city in the world.

What else could you want.

From Love Boat Captain all the way through Yellow Ledbetter the boys show why their fans continually come again, and again, and again to their shows. Some of the highlights for me are Daughter w/ Ben Harper singing 'With My Two Hands" to Crown of Thorns & Breath. Then Eddie and Ben Harper doing a duet on Indifference, which was simply amazing."

Did I say that this DVD was good? It's really very good.

On July 8, 2003 when I walked out of Madison Square Garden I swore that my face was officially rocked off. Man what a show. I do not think the band could have been any better.

When I first heard about the "Live at the Garden" I was overcome with great anticipation of what was to come.

This double DVD lives up to its billing. "Live at the Garden" A full show from the greatest band playing at the greatest venue in the greatest city in the world. What else could you want. From Love Boat Captain all the way through Yellow Ledbetter the boys show why their fans continually come again, and again, and again to their shows. Some of the highlights for me are Daughter w/ Ben Harper singing 'With My Two Hands" to Crown of Thorns & Breath. Then Eddie and Ben Harper doing a duet on Indifference, which was simply amazing.

The bonus features just throw this DVD over the top: Eddie performing "Throw Your Arms Around Me" with Mark Seymour in Australia is great. Eddie performing Dead Man (showing fans why they should come in and see the opener at Pearl Jam show because he performs a song before the opening act) is also very good. The montage for the song "Down" (which has become one of my all-time favorites) is not to be missed either.

So if you are a Pearl Jam or Music fan and do not own this DVD, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? It is really that good.

10 out of 10 stars