PJ20

Because I promised you and I always try to keep my blog promises, I'm blogging about PJ20 today.

What is PJ20 you ask?

Twenty years ago one of the greatest bands, Pearl Jam, was formed.  I have been a fan ever since their first album, Ten.  Yes, I was only 11 years old!  I remember hanging out in my room and listening to my CD on repeat.  I was hooked and have been a fan ever since.  When I met Chad he knew a few of their radio hits but wasn't the fan I was.  He was quickly converted to a huge fan like me!  I always wanted to go to a concert when I was younger but never had the opportunity.  Finally in 2000, Chad and I attended our first concert.  Since then we've been to many shows all over the US.

This year in honor of Pearl Jam's 20th anniversary they put on a 2 day music festival in East Troy, Wisconsin at Alpine Valley Music Theatre.  At first I didn't think we would go because it's just too far away and it was being held the week before our beach vacation.  Chad convinced me it was something we couldn't miss and we decided we would make it  happen.  Boy am I glad we didn't miss it!

The trip was fantastic and a great get away!  We went with our good friends, Robert and Mandy, who are also big Pearl Jam fans.

Of course it had to rain off and on the first day!  We didn't care.  We ran to Target to buy ponchos and went on our way.

They had set up a "Pearl Jam museum" inside the pavilion.  It was pretty cool to see all the memorabilia collected by the band over the past 20 years!

Eddie Vedder (the lead singer for all you non-fans) uses an old typewriter to type his lyrics.  They had displayed some of his lyrics he's written over the years.  This was my favorite part of the museum!

Eddie's compilation books.  Look at all of them!  He's always seen carrying one of these on and off stage.

They had an artist painting this graffiti art on the billboards as you walked into the venue.

Our first night we had seats in the pavilion.  And great seats they were!

The whole band! 

One of my favorite pictures of Eddie!

The second day the weather was beautiful but chilly!  We had lawn seats this night so we just hung out at the top of the hill and enjoyed the day/night in the special fan club area.  That's right... we're important!

Patiently waiting for Pearl Jam to take the stage!  Once the sun went down it was down right cold!  We weren't prepared for cold weather AT ALL!  Thank goodness for the mall right next to our hotel!  We ran there to buy warmer clothes.  And thank God we did!  I was still cold in jeans, long sleeves and a jacket!  I couldn't imagine what it would have been like if I had worn the summer clothes I had taken!

Pearl Jam finally took the stage and played one of the best shows I've ever seen!  Okay, so I say that after every PJ show I attend!  But maybe that's why I like them so much.  They never disappoint me!

Look at the sea of people in this picture!  They said over 30,000 people attended the two-day festival.  I believe it!  Look at all these people!  And that's not even all of them.  My camera would only get part of the crowd!

What a great weekend!  And I forgot to mention this was the longest Chad and I had been away from Eli at the same time.  Thanks to the in-laws for coming to stay with Eli and the dogs!  We couldn't have made the trip possible without you!  Wisconsin was a beautiful state (what little we saw anyway).  It reminded us a lot of northwest Arkansas.  Rolling hills and farmland.  Well there aren't a lot of farms here but the rolling hills we definitely have!

What a great trip we will always remember!

Thanks Pearl Jam!