Fenway Park: Pearl Jam Preparedness Guide 🎸

3:30 pm Update: Pilate from Yield was soundchecked just now.

BOSTON - While it might feel like July 14th (wicked hot today) it's actually September 14th and that means we are sounding the alarm 🚨 like Paul Revere did.

But, we are not spotting red coats. It's corduroy jackets instead. In other words, 24 hours to 'till Pearl Jam at Fenway. ⏰

Everyone is as excited as me (kind of), including Charlotte, who reluctantly modeled this PJ T-Shirt. 🤘

With the ticket situation remaining tricky, a lot of first-timers and some general confusion, I felt the need to inform my tens of readers about what to expect and how to plan for tomorrow.

After all, it's been six years since the band's last Fenway show, so, we are all in need of a refresher.

2024 Pearl Jam Preparedness Guide (Boston edition)

Setlist

My best guess about what they're gonna play relies on history.

While they do not repeat a lot of songs on tour, my money is on a combination of ones from the recent Philly and NY shows. A few hits, some from the new record Dark Matter, and, of course, rarities and covers.

Because Post Malone is also in town, don't be surprised if he makes a surprise appearance on Better Man.

Oh, almost forgot, I'd also review the setlists from three epic 2003 Mansfield, Mass. shows where they played 82 original songs, 12 covers and only repeated one song (Yellow Ledbetter).

Tickets

Fans online are screaming anxiety over the process, which is not smooth. Basically, to get in, you've got to transfer your digital Ticketmaster ticket into the MLB app. If you don't have the app, download it now. More info on how to do all of this is here. ⚾️

If you don't have seats, you can still grab some on StubHub. Cheapest seat is $109. Most expensive is $2,100.

Crowd

In 1996, my college buddies and I anxiously awaited the doors to open at Downing Stadium outside NYC. At the time, Pearl Jam was fighting Ticketmaster ( 👋 Taylor Swift) and the band avoided traditional venues.

So, here we were, stuck in hot ass muggy weather outside a crumbling old high school football stadium. It was general admission, so if you got there early you could get the best seats.

Once the gates opened, we sprinted to the stage and snagged front row (Mike's side). We held our position for a few hours, dismissed bathroom breaks, and witnessed some pretty gross moments along the way.

I'll never forget watching one teenager puke and create a puddle of awfulness. I'm a sympathetic pukerrrrrr, so I had to position my back from the mess, which was never really cleaned up.

I am somewhere in this chaos at Downing Stadium in NY (1996). 

Early on in the show, I was getting crushed against a metal fence that separated us from the stage. Kids were moshing, crowd surfing and generally just running into each other hard.

Eventually, one of the bodyguards pulled me up over the fence because I was pinned and couldn't move. No worries. They sent me through the side stage and I was back in the pit after missing just one song.

But that was 1996. A lot has changed.

With the fandom growing older 👴🏻 👵🏻, a lot of moms and dads now bring their kiddos 👧🏽👦🏻.

Pearl Jam hasn't exactly turned into Disney on Ice, but it's a much more mellow and

safe time. Still, there are moments that move the head bobbing grunge needle (why hello there, Spin the Black Circle).

1990s. Frantic craziness. 👆🏻

2018 Fenway show. Calmer times. 👇🏻

Stuff to buy (the"merch")

Here's a look at very expensive things you can buy outside Fenway this week.

What to do now

It's time to rest and enjoy this beautiful day. If any news happens, I'll be sure to update the top of the post. ✌🏻

Song of the Post

Just Breathe