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)