Sleater-Kinney Concert Review Archive / 2001-2006

Synergy Pearl Jam has some S-K relevant photos up from Nashville. Carrie and Stone Gossard in the first, Janet and Matt Cameron sharing the drumkit in the second.

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By Jason Beck

My second Sleater Kinney show. My fourth Pearl Jam show. This may have been the best one yet for me. Security was LAME. I chose the Nash Vegas show because Sleater Kinney is one of my favorites ever. I arrived with my gang of friends around 6:00 p.m. As we were walking up we saw the band and PJ playing Basketball and Ping Pong behind the fence backstage. We stopped only for a second or so. The security guard runs over and tells us “They want you guys to keep moving……” It wasn’t as if we were calling out their names, we were actually just looking. We moved on to the ticket window, picked up our tix and went into the line for entry.

The security guard makes me throw away my pens in my pocket stating ” They really don’t like to sign anything”. It was just a pen in my pocket. A pen. Fine. I move in wandering around the venue to get a sneak peak of the ladies from SK. Many posts have stated they wandered around a bit. No such luck. SK XL tees were sold out as well : ( . I get ready for the show by finding my seat with a nice view.

Ed comes out does a song and introduces SK. They plowed into “O2″ and I got goose bumps. Those ladies put on quite a show. Many times they mentioned “Nobody knows this song but…….” I had already met those gals once in Atlanta so I thought after they said that I would try to show my appreciation after the show. “All Hands on a Bad One” was rocking. ” Don’t watch CNN!!! Read Read !” “End of You” slamming. It doesn’t get any better. The ladies were up to par and served up some jams in the songs to spice it up. There was a newer song that I liked. “You’re No R & R Fun” was catered to the PJ fans although many didn’t know it. I would say they got a better than average response. The fans in Nash Vegas really know how to jump and dance. I caught Coldplay at the Ryman last month and felt the same vibe. I thought for an opening band they did very well in winning over some new fans. The lights came up and went down again.

During the second PJ encore everyone came out and did “Leaving Here”. The gals sang great backup. “Fortunate Son” with Steve Earle too……aghhhhh! And then “Rockin’ in the Free World”. Nice touch at the end. Felt like a great jam amongst fans and friends………ahhhhhh what a night!

Afterward we went back to where the buses were I was hoping to see SK and tell them I was there singing every word and how much I enjoyed it. I was hoping to shake Ed’s hand and tell him great show. Security would have something else in mind. As we stood waiting with maybe 10 others, Security guards threatened to write us tickets and citations if we didn’t leave. What??? It was crazy. I love PJ but I was there to show SK love mostly and these dudes with flashlights were harassing us. No one was outta hand we were just standing there hoping to say thanks. Some people had autographs in mind I am sure but come on. “Leave them kids alone!!!!!” They kept using the word ” They “. “They don’t like you guys waiting.” It was totally lame and they kept threatening the people away. Who are “they” anyway. I hope the band reads this and does something because it was like terrible and harassing for sure. I will probably never go to another amphitheatre show again. We were bummed. It almost put a damper on the whole night until I woke up the next day and said to myself ……… “They” may not like it but you may have seen the best show ever!

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by Drew

setlist:

o2
all hand’s on the bad one
far away
get up
oh!
you’re no rock’n'roll fun (modified lyrics)
one beat
step aside
new song
end of you
words and guitar/extended jam
dig me out

the band looked like they were having a lot of fun tonight, and mentioning how the they have played for some really great crowds the last couple of nights. they mentioned something (maybe it was within one of the songs) that pearl jam has the best fans. :D all of the lyrics in ‘you’re no rock’n'roll fun’ were changed to show appreciation and thanks to pearl jam: ‘you’re so rock’n'roll fun / like a party i don’t want to ever be done.’ i don’t have any of the other lyrics from it because i couldn’t hear (it’d be awesome if someone had a recording of this show). the new song is the same one they’ve been playing the last couple of months, something about ‘look away, look away’ with carrie playing a tambourine. the extended jam probably went into six minutes of playing, and it was amazing. the band sounded really tight throughout their set.

they came back out for three songs during the second encore. they sang backup and danced during ‘leaving here’ (an old high numbers song). next, carrie picked up a guitar, corin grabbed a tambourine, and janet went back behind matt cameron and played drums for ‘fortunate son.’ steve earle actually came out for this song, as well (talk about a fucking surprise!). they launched into an awesome ‘rockin’ in the free world’ with corin and ed trading verses. after the song, ed and corin threw their tambourines out into the crowd while janet and matt threw drumsticks. this show was unbelievable.. you could tell there was a lot of unity and respect between these two bands while they shared a stage. the best show i will every see.. period.

‘now i can die with a smile on my face, without feeling like the good lord jipped me.’

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by Sabrina Navarro

just blabbing about the charlotte show from wednesday. it was awesome! i drove down from ky and got there with an extra hour to spare, there was no major traffic and no holdups in the lines. the girls at the gate let me through with my camera and mini recorder and i was on my way. one thing i dont like about amphitheatres, though, is that the merch booths are located in a place all their own, and the theatre employees and pearl jams staff work the booths. this was disappointing because i really wanted to meet carrie. however, there was a band playing at the side stage until 730 when sk came on. this band was ok,
mostly targeting younger “alternative/punk” groups (which is ok for me, since im 21 and a little ‘alternative’ myself).

i went to my seat around 720 and was disappointed that no one was seated yet. and the girls came onstage and rocked out anyhow. i was in the center of the middle section all alone, though the first 5 or 6 rows were filled with people who seemed to really enjoy the set. there was an older woman a few rows ahead of me with holding a cell phone in the air for most of the set, i had to smile at this knowing she was sharing the moment to some other sleater kinney loving fan out there. i danced around and had lots of fun watching carrie throw out some of the best guitar kicks ive seen while corin was shaking her head doing her little head dance with janetsinging along in the back. when they played step aside, i threw my fist up in the air on “why dont you shake your tail for peace and love” and maybe im crazy, but i think corin looked at me and smiled.

during pearl jams set, janet was in the wings singing and dancing, but i didnt see corin or carrie. pearl jam gave two encores. the first four songs they played alone, but brought out sleater kinney for the last two. all the girls grouped together and sang in to the mic, but janet broke away and beat on the drums, standing up and carrie did a little dance and swung her arms in circles, and corin broke out the tamborines and beat on it jumping from the left to the right side of the stage. when she was done she threw it out in the crowd (lucky!!).

when it was all over with, i passed by the merch booth again and all of the copies of one beat had been sold and they were out of a few sizes of shirts too. anyhow, i uploaded some pics that i took from the charlote nc show to wordsandguitar, so check them out (some of them turned out ok, most were really fuzzy). if i can figure out how to adjust the noise levels on the cassette i took with me, i will upload the show to the depot. i wish i wish i wish i could go to the tennessee show, but im all out of funds. i hope you guys enjoy every minute of it. heres the set list

O2
Oh!
end of you
Light rail coyote
turn it on
One beat
AHOTBO
step aside
new song
YNRNRF
Little babies—> ex jam
dig me out
Leaving here (w/pj)
RITFW (w/pj)

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Synergy’s just put up some Raleigh photos. Carrie and Stone have a little guitar duel and Corin and Ed duet (framed by Stone and Carrie). Sorry, no Matt and Janet this time.

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By psychologyfreakazoid

Last nights show at Walnut Creek ampitheater was actually better than I thought it would be. Sleater Kinney played about 12 songs, did an extended jam into dig me out and came onstage for Pearl Jam’s 2nd encore-rockin in the free world (Neil Young) and fortunate son (Creedence). Eddie introduced the band after entertaining the crowd with a solo, I think a Beatles song.

The cutest thing happened when Sleater Kinney got on stage, both Carrie and Corin went to greet the audience and spoke at the same time, whereupon quick realization, both said “Jinx”. It was like sharing some best friends moment and it made me realize just how intune they are with eachother, even if for a second they are out of tune. Not much dancing to Sleater-Kinney, but lots of hollering skews, yewees, people seemed to like them but it was daylight and people weren’t drunk enough yet.

They played the new song, which in the context of the Pearl jam concert setting seemed especially fitting. It must be a litte disheartening, even when you are getting rich off these people, to have many fans so politically different from yourself. Maybe the new SK song which says something about “We’re not here to entertain you..” and someting about 1974, is exploring that strange fan/performer relationship, where fans wants the power of your music but don’t recognize the place it comes from, i.e. fans coming to be entertained not wanting to hear the views that inspire the songs they like so much. Eddie did not say anything anti-war, he chose to let the music speak for itself. Probably a good call, everybody was having such a great time.

I am not a big Pearl Jam fan but they actually played my favorite song of theirs “Evenflow”, they also did Better man and what seemed to be alot of older songs-very cool. I loved the Jam Sleater Kinney did, I would like to see more of that in the future, they just keep getting better and better. They did play “not what you want”, i didn’t cry with joy but i did dance alot.

SK set list:(not in exact order)
O2
Ironclad
Faraway
YNRF
New song
Oh
not what you want
One Beat
sympathy
step aside
words and guitar
jam
dig me out

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By Roberta

i talked to security tonight to make sure that i would have no problems and they said there’d be no problems with me recording…in fact, the steward came to me a couple of times to see how it was going..rather amusing…

..another 45 min set….they sounded good and looked to be enjoying themselves..it was cool to see corin at the side of the stage during pearl jam singing along (friday i only saw janet singing and dancing)…last song was keep on rockin in the free world..janet was playing on the same kit as matt..corin seemed to have trouble in that the mic cord would only go so far but it was cute to see her dance with eddie towards the end….the girl behind me seemed to be really enjoying herself and kept pointing out the girls at the side of the stage to me..it was quite cute…i felt a bit bad because im not a jump up and down person so i dont know if it looked like i wasnt as excited as her….i did enjoy the show a lot though and i dont get a chance to go to so many since ive been working nights….

setlist is as follows:
1. start together
2. oh!
3. the end of you
4. step aside
5. combat rock
6. not what you wanted
7. new song
8. o2
9. one beat
10. fortunate son
11. jam/dig me out

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By Roberta

we just got back from the wpb show and i got so busted taping s-k…i got pulled aside by a member of security and taken to the security at the front…all the time the guy kept telling me to stop the recording and i refused to do it..i think you can probably hear me telling them that they let you record as long as its with a crappy recorder and i told them i had the print out that says you can record as long as its for personal use and with non professional equipment….well then i couldnt find the damn thing, the woman security guard finally made me stop the tape and take it out (this was during “step aside”)…im frantically checking all my pockets and cant find the print out…i tell her to ask the tour manager and she must have spoken to someone because 30 seconds later i get told its fine….and then when i get back to my seat, i find the damn printout….

i did manage to get about 5 mins of their soundcheck and all of the show with just most of “step aside” missing…if i can clean it up (or even if i cant) i’ll share this and the show from sunday in tampa that i plan on taping….my friend was in the 2nd row center so i gave her the camera but there was no flash so i wont know how things develop for a while..we were 13th row to the left of the stage…we could still see but we only got a back view of carrie (which suited the guy that was sitting with me)…

i think that they were well received, especially when they did the jam session into “dig me out”….i probably got a contact buzz because so many people were smoking pot and ive never seen so many frat looking guys jumping up and down because of eddie vedder, high fiving and hugging each other…and the sing along made me feel like i was at a dashboard confessional show (where you can hear the audience almost more than the band) but hey, if thats what gets you going - more power to you…i’d probably look just as stupid at a morrissey show since he’s my hero…

1. o2
2. oh!
3. turn it on
4. get up
5. one beat
6. new song
7. youre no rock n roll fun (a bit of a sped up version)
8 . youth decay
9. faraway
10. step aside (partial on my part due to argument with security)
11. hollywood ending
12. jam/dig me out

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By Susan

Let me preface this by saying that I?ve been fine with the Pearl Jam thing. I?ve had no gripes about Sleater-Kinney opening for them even though I?m not a PJ fan. I respect them, and I respect and love SK so I?ve been totally accepting of the tour.

Now I?m going to bitch.

The short version is the venue was disorganized and the prices were inflated.

This is the long version.

I was ecstatic to hear that SK was playing in my hometown. I never thought I would be able to see them without driving 4+ hours round trip. I wanted to represent in Birmingham so nothing was going to keep me from the show. I made a point the morning these tickets went on sale to call in that first hour to insure that I got a good seat in the huge venue, and I managed to get 20th row. Completely satisfied with this, I paid the $37 fee for the ticket and the $8 Ticketmaster rape fee. In my frame of comparison, this is an exorbitant amount, but whatever. For my favorite band at home, I would pay it.

About a week ago the venue changes to a smaller one outside of town and the seating goes from assigned to general admission. Aw hell, there goes my cushy seat on row 20. Ok then, I figure I?ll make it there early and fight my way to the front with the Pearl Jam fans.

The venue is outside and as dumb luck would have it, the tropical Alabama climate gets a cold snap and the temperature goes down to near freezing last night with a mist in the air. (Vedder commented that it was the second coldest show they had ever played.) Ok, this isn’t anyone’s fault, but I couldn’t help but think about the nice warm indoor venue the show was originally booked in.

Bundled up in the car, leaving my house 45 minutes before the show is scheduled to start, I?ve still got a good attitude. But then we get within a mile of the venue and traffic is at a stand still. This place has one road leading to it. Imagine thousands of cars trying to filter in through a single lane. As we creep closer to the venue, we hear SK start playing (we’ve been in traffic outside for 25 minutes at this point). THEN we see the parking lot which is unavailable because, get this, there’s a fucking carnival in it! There?s a damn mom and pop traveling carnival in the venue’s parking lot WITH reserved parking for carnival only. I’m pissed as hell at this point. Who’s bright idea was it to move a concert that is attracting 5,000+ people to a venue where the parking lot have been cut in half by a carnival?

The cars are being directed further and further down this road and told to park on the wide shoulders. My friend who is driving is a sweetheart and let me get out at this point to go ahead and get into the venue to try to see at least half of SK?s set. In total we were probably in traffic, directly outside the venue, for 45 minutes. Let me say here that the audience only filled about 2/3 of the venue. Parking should not have been this big of a hassle for a concert that was not even near capacity.

I bust ass to the gate where there are a grand total of 2 lines open to take tickets. As I wait in line for about 10 minutes, I can’t hear any of SK?s set because of the carnival playing their jock-jam music.

Finally, inside the venue, I catch 3 SK songs — Step Aside, Words and Guitar with an excellent extended outro that lead into Dig Me Out. The sound was excellent and the band was giving an incredible performance. I resigned myself to watching from the top of the 2nd tier. I didn’t want to miss any of their set by angling for a better spot.

When they finish, I find my friend and we see about trying to find a closer seat (he’s a big PJ fan). We walk to the front section to find out it’s restricted. What’s this? I thought this was a general admission event. Yes, kind of, except for the front third of the seating that is reserved for PJ fan club and VIP ticket holders. This pisses me off, because it means even if by a miracle I had been able to make it into the venue in time to SK, I wouldn’t have been able to get up close because of these restrictions which were mentioned no where on Tickerfucker’s site. Additionally, the (expensive) tickets I purchased had guaranteed me a seat close to the stage in the original venue.

A couple of more things:

The t-shirt prices were jacked up to $23…re-fucking-diculous.

We stayed through the entire PJ set and 2 encores, There was no mention of SK much less did they join the band onstage for any song, which was a hope I was clutching onto to make everything about that night alright.

I concede that the sound was very good and that the bands performed excellently. However, I hope Sleater-Kinney never puts their fans through this kind of mishandled super-event ever again. The high costs and venue disorganization ruined my experience.

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Synergy Pearl Jam has photos up from the New Orleans show, including these two from the encore. Eddie Vedder and Corin watch Carrie and Stone Gossard go to work in the first picture and Janet and Matt Cameron share a mike on some vocals in the second. Good stuff.

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