Live: 26-5-00 Velodromo Anoeta - San Sebastian, Spain - Pearl Jam

The May 26, 2000, concert in San Sebastian, Spain, is the third in Pearl Jam's official bootleg series of all their 2000 shows. The band is still far from its top form. In fact, this particular performance may well be the worst of the whole year. The guys spent the whole day on the beach and surfing in the ocean, and they are so relaxed that they can't seem to get it together on stage. Despite a promising start featuring many of the band's best concert numbers -- "Release," "Given to Fly," "Do the Evolution," "Corduroy," "Jeremy" -- the show quickly loses momentum and descends into a sloppy mess. Eddie Vedder flubs many lyrics, including skipping the whole bridge section of "Alive," sending the song into a state of chaos. The song is probably the band's most popular tune, which they had played hundreds of times, so the error is inexcusable. Guitarists Stone Gossard and Mike McCready make their fair share of mistakes too. The band tries to salvage things by playing the high-energy rocker "Whipping" from the Vitalogy album for the only time in Europe, but it is characteristically sloppy as well. Another unique feature of this concert is a short bluesy improv played while some technical problems are fixed. The show gives off a really loose party vibe. It's just one of those nights. This concert is good only if you're in a goofy mood. Otherwise, strictly a night to forget. ~ Steven Jacobetz, All Music Guide