I really need to say up front that Pearl Jam are my all time favourite band so there is absolutely no way that I could provide an unbiased review. I've grown up with the band. Vs was the first CD I purchased (up until that time I was still rocking out with cassettes). They are the reason I first picked up a guitar and pretty much everything I've learnt about playing guitar, I've learnt from Stone Gossard and Mike McCready. Pearl Jam albums have been the one constant throughout high school, exams, university, in my car and now at work.

So in saying all that, I saw Pearl Jam play for the second time in the week last night (their third and final Melbourne show). Pearl Jam are the greatest live band in the world, full stop, double exclamation mark.

They played 29 songs last night in total, with the 1st encore featuring a slightly stripped back, sit down, mini set before blasting back into 'Black', 'State of Love and Trust' and 'Kick Out The Jams' (an MC5 cover). Just over half of last nights set was different to the Monday night show.

I think there is a strong possibility that Eddie Vedder is a Swollen Pickles reader because last night the band played 'Save You', as well as a couple of songs from the No Code album.

At one stage during the show I was a little concerned Eddie was going to lose his voice, and at times it didn't sound as strong as it normally does, but he proved he's a trooper and boxed on, earning maximum respect points. The fact that the packed Rod Laver Arena knew all the words to all the songs probably helped him out a little bit too. His voice did seem to pick up again following the break between the main set and first encore so perhaps he tucked into some Lemsip.

My highlight for the night was when they played 'Present Tense'. Love the song, love the lyrics and it was awesome to finally hear it live.

Another fantastic show, varied setlist, and even though Eddie Vedder's voice was a little strained compared to Monday's performance, it was an excellent night and I left in no way disappointed.  I sincerely hope that it does not take another 3 1/2 years for them to tour Australia again.

If your interested, the setlist from last nights show is below.

November 16, 2006 - Rod Laver Arena , Melbourne, Australia.

Opening: Kings of Leon

Set List:

Long Road, Corduroy, Hail Hail, Do The Evolution, World Wide Suicide, Dissident, Given To Fly, Love Boat Captain, Unemployable, Even Flow, Sad, Present Tense, Save You, Jeremy, Why Go, Comatose, Rearviewmirror

1st encore: Man of the Hour, Off He Goes, Small Town, Black, State of Love and Trust, Kick Out the Jams (MC5)

2nd encore: Wasted Reprise, Life Wasted, Whipping, Alive, Rockin' In The Free World (Neil Young), Yellow Ledbetter