all that's sacred #54

Whether you were one of the fortunate ones or not, I imagine just about every fan is experiencing some sort of post tour blues. The short domestic swing through the midwest and northeast barely whet our collective appetite and anticipation for the Euro dates could not be higher after the way the boys closed the tour at Madison Square Garden in New York City. I’ve said it before but it bears repeating: Pearl Jam is a like a fine wine – just gets better with age. The sincerity of each nightly performance and the craft of the set list construction rivals anything they’ve done before and eclipses every other mainstream musical act. If you saw them in May, consider yourself lucky. If you’re seeing them in June/July, consider yourself warned.

Cheers! Donny

all that's sacred #53

This tour might be short, but the guys are definitely making the most of each show. Nightly, I'll check the set lists from the west coast and find my mouth agape as I read. Usually by the encore my jaw will just completely give way and shatter on the ground! My envy of the lucky ones in attendance grows exponentially and has me glowing a healthy shade of green. Unbelievable.

Seems only appropriate to end the run with a two night stand on the biggest stage and in the biggest city in the country: Madison Square Garden in New York City. To help prepare for this occasion, #53 takes a look back at a few memorable moments from past NYC/MSG gigs. As good as some of these are, I can only imagine what people are in store for this time around given the momentum of the big wave the boys are riding into these last two shows.

Enjoy the podcast and enjoy the shows if you're lucky enough to be there.

Cheers! Donny

all that's sacred #52

Here it is, folks... I've been planning and hyping #52 for weeks now as it marks the one year anniversary of this here podcast. It's the realization of a longtime goal and I really want to celebrate the occasion. From the image art to the 1 hour and 48 minutes of audio, this is a dedication to all my fellow Pearl Jam freaks. It's the listener initiative and input that really makes this episode special.

It's pretty amazing how this band and their music connects us and unites us - all walks of life from all over the globe. I've always had some understanding of this intuitively, but I've gained a new appreciation for just how true this is through this little experiment of mine. Thanks for being a constant source of encouragement, ideas, and correspondence. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to listen and contribute over this past year. My highest aspiration for the podcast is that it enhances the fan experience in some small way. I think we are off to a promising start...

Alright, enough mushy talk... Let's do this up right with the most epic ATS ever!

Cheers! Donny

* Full size image art found here.

all that's sacred #51

I figured it was going to be hard topping last week’s podcast, so I decided #51 should be fast and loose and dig deep into the mailbag. Some great stories and song suggestions explored as well as a few choice moments from tours past to get you ready for the shows next week. We also continue to push the envelope into new interactive territory with the first ever Skype interview.

There is a lot on the immediate horizon to excite the Pearl Jam fan and I appreciate anyone and everyone spending some time each week with this here unofficial podcast. I am beyond stoked to realize that we are about to celebrate the one year anniversary of this experiment and I hope to build some anticipation.

Cheers! Donny