Sometimes the hardship of getting to a show makes it even more enjoyable. Travelling to the Eddie Vedder show, in Düsseldorf on June 30, was an adventure to say the least. My friend and I were booked on different flights from Sweden to Germany and although we did our very best to try and persuade the airport staff to put us on the same plane, it was impossible. Since I’ve only been to Germany a couple of times before, the thought of finding the train station and change trains to get to the venue on my own was a bit intimidating.
Turns out my worries weren’t unjustified: the train I was supposed to catch from Frankfurt Airport was cancelled and the situation on train station was totally chaotic. My three hour layover extended to four and more. Luckily my friend’s flight arrived and I was saved! After an extremely hot train ride (39°C) on a overcrowded train, we arrived to the venue in Düsseldorf just 15 minutes before the show, soaked in sweat.
Now to the concert: The Mitsubishi Electric Halle in Düsseldorf is a medium big venue with a capacity of about 4500 spectators. Our seats were in the stalls, three sections from the stage. Despite the the size of the venue the show felt quite intimate. That’s probably because of the set-up; Eddie Vedder, wearing a short sleeved shirt over a t-shirt, sat relaxed on a chair on the stage performing his songs. In between the songs he shared his thoughts with the audience. A guitar tech handed him different guitars as he played a mix of Pearl Jam songs, covers and original songs from his solo albums, most of the times by himself but on a few songs supported by the Red Limo String Quartet and Glen Hansard (who also opened the show with a 45 min set).
I was expecting (dreading) a slow acoustic set, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Although performing solo with only a guitar, the music and Vedder’s voice filled the venue supported by a very energetic and loud audience. The highlights for me were the songs Black, Society and Imagine. I also liked it a lot when we ran up to the stage two times. The first time we were forced back by security but the second time we stayed and watched the two last songs.
To conclude: travelling to Germany (where the band were) was eventful, sweaty, memorable and satisfying.
Setlist
- Even Flow [with the Red Limo String Quartet]
- Long Road
- Love Boat Captain
- Around the Bend
- Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
- I Won’t Back Down [Tom Petty cover]
- Just Breathe
- Wishlist
- Off He Goes
- I Am Mine
- Soon Forget
- Far Behind
- Long Nights
- Rise
- Black
- Unthought Known
- Porch
Encore 1:
- Alive [with the Red Limo String Quartet]
- I’m So Tired [Fugazi cover]
- Corduroy
- Last Kiss [Wayne Cochran cover]
- Imagine [John Lennon cover]
- Better Man
- Song of Good Hope [Glen Hansard cover]
- Society [Jerry Hannan cover]
- Hard Sun [Indio cover]
Encore 2:
- Seasons [Chris Cornell cover]
[“Parting Ways”, “Smile, “Indifference”, and “Rockin’ in the Free World” were on the setlist, but were not played. “Throw Your Arms Around Me” was listed as an alternate.]
Setlist provided by setlist.fm
Stray Bullet 