I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: September 14, 2022] Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam released Gigaton, their first album in seven years back in 2020.  They announced a US tour, but it was remarkably limited in scope.   There was an NYC date, but that sold out really quickly.

It was postponed for COVID and when they announced their 2022 tour, they threw in a stop in Camden as well.  So we actually had a chance to see them (us and 25,000 other people).

Well, getting there was a nightmare!  We got to Camden with no trouble and then it took us an hour to get from the Camden exit to a parking space.

I don’t know if this is a Camden problem or if the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion is to blame (they are at least the third owners since I’ve been going there and it doesn’t get better).

We missed the opening band Pluralone entirely and were actually worried we might miss the opening of the Pearl Jam set.  We didn’t but we only had to wait about 15 minutes.  And of course, we were REALLY far back.

Pluralone is the creation of Josh Klinghoffer who also played guitar and more with Pearl Jam on this tour.  I was really surprised that they had an opening band as recently they haven’t been having one.  I’m glad there was one as we would have missed the band if there hadn’t been.  But it also meant a shorter set (I think).

Pluralone plays some interesting experimental music.  They would have probably been pretty interesting to see, although Klinghoffer did wind up playing with Pearl Jam for the entire set,

C. went with us for this one (his first and hopefully not last Pearl Jam show).  T. was going to come with us, but she bailed.  It’s probably just as well, as we had to walk about a mile to our car and she didn’t really know them all that well.

Without question, I will not be going to another show in Camden again. They simply don’t have the infrastructure for that capacity crowd.

But all was forgiven when the band came out.

They opened the show with a slow set.  The video screen was even black and white.  It was an unusual choice, and was quite a difference from when they burst forth with “Given to Fly.”

They opened with “Wash” which they opened with when we saw them in Wrigley.   That turned out to be an incredible 3 hour show.  But things weren’t exactly the same here. They followed it with “Oceans” the moody song on Ten.  C. loves Ten but said he often skips “Oceans.” Oops.  Then came “Daughter.”  More upbeat, but still mellow.  And then “Hard to Imagine” (that’s two songs from the odds and sods compilation Lost Dogs).

Then they woke the crowd up with “Animal.”  It’s one of my favorite PJ songs and they play it pretty much all the time, so that’s great.  They did a segment of greatness by following it with the rocking “Mind Your Manners” and then my favorite live PJ song “Do the Evolution.”

They touched back on Ten with “Deep” and after a brief riff of Pink Floyd’s “Interstellar Overdrive” they played classics “Corduroy” and “Given to Fly”  An outstanding segment of music!

So they did release the new album back in 2020 and although I liked a lot of it, I didn’t listen to it all that much.  I love “Dance of the Clairvoyants” and “Superblood Wolfmoon” is super catchy as well.  They didn’t play either of them rather, they opted for “Quick Escape” which is a very solid song and “Retrograde” a rather moody ballad with a catchy melody.

They bounced back to Ten (last time they were in the Philly area, they played the album straight through), for a rocking “Even Flow.”  Then they played “MFC.”  It’s the first time I’ve heard this classic song and it was great.   Every show that we’ve been to in the past has been chock full of songs that we hadn’t seen live before.  This one had a fair share (8), but they were mostly new ones.  So it was nice to get this treat.

After a rocking “Not for You” they played “Who Ever Said,” the song that opens the new album and one which I think is outstanding and can’t believe it wasn’t a single.  It sounded even better live.

Eddie had somethings to say, although not a ton. He talked about the upcoming election and they had a QR code for texting to vote.  And then somehow he was talking about volcanoes and asked Mike to play “Eruption” the Eddie Van Halen solo.  Which he did.  And it was really quite amazing.

This segued into to more songs from Ten, a scalding “Why Go” and a ripping “Porch”  Two frankly great set enders.

After the encore, they played a song from the maligned and underrated avocado album.  I happen to really like this album and would love to hear a few songs from it (see my picks below).  They played “Inside Job,” the moody album closer.  It’s a lovely song but not really an encore song.  Given that they play like seven encores though, it was like warming up the audience for the rest.

I’m always thrilled to hear “State of Love and Trust.”  Eddied introduced a first responder. He said that he had introduced a few in Madison Square Garden the night before but this guy couldn’t make it (or something).  They said some nice words and then they were told they could request a song.  And they chose “Breath” so both songs from the Singles soundtrack were covered.

I feel like I’ve heard “Crazy Mary” a million times, but this was only the second time they’ve played it for us.  I thought that might mean the end of the encores, but they launched into a viscous “Leash” before the ever familiar riff of “Alive” started up.

C. was in awe of 25,000 people all on their feet singing along to the chorus.  It always seems like “Alive” should be the last song of the show but it pretty much never is.  And this time they added on “Rockin’ in the Free World” which we never get tired of hearing.

All in all it was a solid and enjoyable Pearl Jam show.  The moon was full and looked cool.  The night was perfect temperature.  It was way overcrowded and we didn’t look forward to the mile long hike back to the car.  But it was great to bring C. to this show and to experience it with him.

These were the songs that I hope to see next time (I got nothing checked off my list this time).
Grievance
Light Years
Dissident