Photo Credit: Geoff Whitman
By Matthew K.
My first show was in my hometown of Pittsburgh (Burgettstown) at Coca Cola Starlake Ampitheater on August 25th, 1998. I was 15.
Middle and high school were really hard, especially having been forced to move to a new school and didn’t know anyone. My mental health was really in a dark place for a long time, which is why I connected so much with Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and a few other bands. When Yield came out in February of that year, those songs really hit me in a way nothing had before. I had only been to a handful of other concerts at this point.
Cut to the day of the show and my life was about to change forever. They opened with “Release” and for the first time in my life I felt like I belonged. Singing along with everyone and belting out, “I’ll ride the wave, where it takes me” was cathartic and I knew these were my people. The entire set was perfect. “Brain of J” followed and then “Last Exit”. Getting the first ever performance of “No Way” in the encore blew me away.
In all the years and 38 shows since, Pearl Jam has been a huge part of my life and undeniably my favorite band. One of the greatest nights of my life. I met some of my closest friends along the way.
I never came down from the high of that night.
