United States Senator Jon Tester is a blue dog democrat in a Ron Paul state. Senator Tester faces his first senate re-election campaign, running against Montana's only U.S. Representative, Denny Rehberg.
Both Rehberg and Tester look like Montana politicians with local haircuts and suits from the mercantile, but Tester shows a world-view affinity for music. If you can make it past the flattop, you can see Senator Tester in a Jerry tie on the front page of his website. Or you can see him at a sold out special Pearl Jam show last night in Missoula. Mitt Romney loves The Carpenters and Steve and Edie -- no surprise. But Senator Tester is the most surprising good-music lover exposed since Tipper Gore and Ann Coulter confessed they attended Grateful Dead shows.
Missoula knows how to host a party: from bikers, to the love family, to the Griz, and the Stones. Our last report from Missoula was to cover the Rolling Stones' invasion of the University of Montana's cute football stadium. Sunday night it was Pearl Jam invading the University of Montana's cute basketball arena. Mr. Vedder is as close as an American gets to Mr. Jagger.
Show was a sell-out at 7000, including 2000 in bleachers behind the band and one lucky couple from Billings with couch seats on stage. We had Ten-Club tickets on the side in Section 203 row 11. Seat neighbors from Seattle, Bellingham, Coeur d'Alene, Pullman, Kalispell, and Spokane. East coasters and even Californians were spotted among the lucky fans who made it to western Montana for the special show.
Seattle grunge-inventors Mudhoney opened the show, openly wondering why they were in Montana, and offering-up their brave setlist: Run and Yell; Give Me Back My Flag; Killing Goats with a Hammer; I'd Like to Yell at You; Executing Axl Rose; Sitting and Yelling; Eating a Piece of the Sun; Machine Gun Bullets; Killing Your Dog Old Yeller. Here are the Mudhoney guys in action.
Pearl Jam ran to the stage to show-stopping adoration. The band and the audience both seemed appreciative.
Set I:
Elderly Women Behind the Counter in a Small Town -- "I just want to scream hello!" Perfect opener for the smallest town Pearl Jam show you've ever seen (or will see?)
Corduroy -- This Missoula crowd is the ultimate Pearl Jam audience -- 6900 die hard know-it-alls and another 100 or so along for the ride.
Do the Evolution -- There is no doubt that Missoula is the most evolved Montana city.
Got Some -- The audience is in fine fine form. Mr. Vedder takes a moment to chat about voting and personal responsibility and how cool Missoula is. He likes being surrounded with friends and family and U.S. Marshal's Service security guys.
Given to Fly -- Senator Tester is given lots of encouragement from the very people he looks like he would otherwise like to bust. Here is versatile bassist Jeff Ament on one of the five different bass instruments he played last night.
Amongst the Waves -- Mr. Vedder is steely on this ballad and the audience is riveted.
Severed Hand -- Senator Tester has seven fingers.
Unthought Known - Soulful. If someone dropped you from the sky into this basketball arena during this soulful number, would you guess this is Pearl Jam?
Not For You -- Punchy and bassy. Here is guitarist Mike McCready in one of the many costumes he donned during the show.
State of Love and Trust -- This would be a good name for a bank in Missoula. Elvis Costello-ey.
Jeremy -- More arms open like a very loud church service. Song ends with Mr.Vedder doing his food stamp rap. Here is Pearl Jam founding member Stone Gossard without a food stamp worry in the world.
Ghost -- Jeff Ament wrote the song and Mr. Vedder uses its "Bring it on because I am no victim" line to fit his political agenda.
Daughter -- We saw parents with children at the show, but the parents seemed like the interested ones.
Blitzkreig Bop -- Audience is in synch -- this is the A-Team audience for certain. Here is keyboardist Boom Gaspar contemplating his next move.
Know Your Rights -- Mr. Vedder introduces this Clash anthem about youthful awareness by complimenting the University of Montana and wishing he had gone to college.
Comatose -- Fast and rising, with full consciousness.
Why Go -- Ripping. You know its the closer. Tremendous energy in the crowd. Drummer Matt Cameron is seen here relaxing as the set closes.
Set II:
Last Kiss -- "Oh where oh where can my baby be...." Played with the band behind the stage facing the bleacher seats in the back.
Off He Goes -- Perfect girl in Section 203 gets her acoustic call. "Nothing's changed except the surrounding bullshit..."
Low Light -- Stone Gossard justifies his parents' decision to send him to music lessons.
Man of the Hour -- Senator Tester seems to have left the building, but PJ is still talking about him.
Nothingman -- Pearl Jam is bursting with heartfelt tunes once you crack the electric code.
Betterman > Save it for Later -- Mr. Vedder is surfing it up and the crowd is as good as we have ever seen on the vocals. Song slips into the English Beat ska "Save it for Later, runaway, run, run, run, run, runaway..."
Life Wasted -- Boom on the church organ. One astute cowboy-booted fan proclaims drummer Matt Cameron as the hardest working man in show business.
Fortunate Son -- Too bad Senator Tester didn't stick around for this terrific Creedence Clearwater Revival cover.
Alive -- With the Mudhoney guys in a lights-up melee.
Kick out the Jams -- With the Mudhoney guys and pushing and swearing on a school night.
Rockin in the Free World -- Mr. Vedder channeling Neil Young mocking George H.W. Bush is poignant political commentary.
Indifference -- The band tries to make the entire show meaningful while some of the fans depart into the Montana darkness.
See you at Joe's Garage solstice party!