2008 Woodie Awards
Grunge-rock lives at Comcast Center
Pearl Jam delivers during last performance of summer tour
By Chase Wheeler, Collegian Correspondent
Issue date: 9/2/08 Section: Arts & Living
MANSFIELD, Mass. - The final two dates of the grunge rock giant Pearl Jam's June tour saw a combined 40,000 fans fill the Comcast Center for two nights of electrifying performances.
Riding on the success of their self-titled 2006 release, the band's eighth studio album, the Seattle-based Pearl Jam scheduled a 13-date tour of the eastern United States that began on the hot sands of West Palm Beach, Fla., and concluded amidst the dense forests of Massachusetts.
When doors opened at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 28, the night of the first show, the isolated open-air venue was flooded with fans and followers, mostly concentrated between the ages of 20 and 50.
Around 7 p.m., those already inside the compound were treated to a surprise one-song pre-opener by Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder. Taking the stage alone, Vedder played his version of Australian band Hunters & Collectors' "Throw Your Arms Around Me," which he humorously renamed "I Will Kiss You in 155 Places".
When finished, Vedder introduced the opening act, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, before exiting the stage to tumultuous applause.
Hailing from Washington, D.C., lead singer and guitarist Ted Leo and his band mates performed an hour-long set of fast-paced punk and indie rock songs. The band's loud and unrelenting sound set up Pearl Jam's entrance well, as the crowd was buzzing with anticipation during the intermission.
Shortly after 9 p.m., the lights onstage went down and the sold-out crowd roared as Pearl Jam's five-man team crept onstage in the darkness. Vedder, who also played rhythm guitar to back up his vocals, was joined by energetic lead guitarist Mike McCready, bassist Jeff Ament, somber rhythm guitarist Stone Gossard and former Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron.
The band opened with the B-side "Hard to Imagine", which was originally cut from the band's "Vs." album, before launching into the "Ten" classic, "Why Go." Vedder, swaying slightly with a bottle of red wine in hand, then greeted the crowd and stated that the band would make the most of the long two-hour set it had in front of it.
Riding on the success of their self-titled 2006 release, the band's eighth studio album, the Seattle-based Pearl Jam scheduled a 13-date tour of the eastern United States that began on the hot sands of West Palm Beach, Fla., and concluded amidst the dense forests of Massachusetts.
When doors opened at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 28, the night of the first show, the isolated open-air venue was flooded with fans and followers, mostly concentrated between the ages of 20 and 50.
Around 7 p.m., those already inside the compound were treated to a surprise one-song pre-opener by Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder. Taking the stage alone, Vedder played his version of Australian band Hunters & Collectors' "Throw Your Arms Around Me," which he humorously renamed "I Will Kiss You in 155 Places".
When finished, Vedder introduced the opening act, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, before exiting the stage to tumultuous applause.
Hailing from Washington, D.C., lead singer and guitarist Ted Leo and his band mates performed an hour-long set of fast-paced punk and indie rock songs. The band's loud and unrelenting sound set up Pearl Jam's entrance well, as the crowd was buzzing with anticipation during the intermission.
Shortly after 9 p.m., the lights onstage went down and the sold-out crowd roared as Pearl Jam's five-man team crept onstage in the darkness. Vedder, who also played rhythm guitar to back up his vocals, was joined by energetic lead guitarist Mike McCready, bassist Jeff Ament, somber rhythm guitarist Stone Gossard and former Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron.
The band opened with the B-side "Hard to Imagine", which was originally cut from the band's "Vs." album, before launching into the "Ten" classic, "Why Go." Vedder, swaying slightly with a bottle of red wine in hand, then greeted the crowd and stated that the band would make the most of the long two-hour set it had in front of it.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
warmbreath
posted 9/01/08 @ 9:13 PM EST
as huge as the pearl jam catalog is and as long and jam packed their concerts, a reviewer could at least look up the setlist or ask someone better versed in the bands work what the name of the 2 solid songs were, hopefuly this is an amateur review, to get paid for that kind of sloppyness is just wrong, know your subject or find some one whjo knew or buy a download from the bands site. (Continued…)
Chris
posted 9/02/08 @ 12:14 PM EST
The songs following Even Flow were;
Do the Evolution (throwing the crowd into a frenzy)
the aformentioned Once
and Rearviewmirrior closed out the opening set. (Continued…)
nighthawk
posted 9/02/08 @ 5:10 PM EST
this concert was over 2 months ago...why review it now and do a poor job to boot!
what a squid beak....thanks for nothing broseph
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