Pearl Jam at the Great Western Forum (Los Angeles)

July 9, 2006

 

No one's keeping track, but here are a few number to support one great show.

  • One of rocks more enduring bands.
  • 16 years of experience under their collective belts.
  • 8 studio recorded albums worth of work behind them.
  • 2 excellent solos by Cameron and McCready on rock solid drums and smokin' hot guitar respectively.
  • 1 mascot bottle of wine in tow by Eddie.
  • 29 songs played loud and with gusto.
  • 3 more were from Vitalogy.
  • 10 songs from the new record titled simply Pearl Jam.
  • 7 of the tracks off of Ten played.
  • 4 tunes were 2 each from Vs. and Yield.
  • 2 rare tunes thrown in for good measure. Technically speaking only one since "Last Kiss", a cover of the 1950s ballad by Wayne Cochran. PJ left their mark all over that one, so they own it in our eyes.
  • 3 ½ songs covered - "Here's to The State of Mississippi" by Phil Ochs, The Who's "Baba O'Riley", Slater-Kenny's "Modern Girl" (the ½), and of course a Mother Love Bone song "Crown of Thorns".
  • 1 famous politically inclined friend by the name of Tim Robbins lending his new lyrics and vocal assistance to Eddie on "Here's to The State of Mississippi." Coincidentally the state with 4-I's and 4-S's.
  • 3 hour long set.
  • 2 crowd pleasing encores
  • 1 about-face where the band played for the poor people who were seated behind the stage.
  • 3 plugs to save the planet (proceeds from the sold out show went to benefit Heal the Bay http://www.healthebay.org/)
  • 4 other tunes blended into their own "It's Ok", "I Believe in Miracles", "Blitzkrieg", and "Save it For Later".
  • 18,000 Very satisfied fans filled the Great Western Forum's walls.
  • $80 hoodie for sale (with hand stitched art, it was pretty rad).
  • 5 dudes and Mr. Avocado. Jeff Ament, Eddie Vedder, Stone Gossard, Matt Cameron, Mike McCready and the CD Avocado are rendered into 1" buttons. (Best buy at the merch booth)


In all these years Pearl Jam has captivated a legion of highly devoted fans on the power of their outstanding live performances. Their live show is all you could expect and more. This reviewer will hold this show in memory as one of the best ever attended. Of course the band played well, but some thought went into some of the smaller details. The show was well executed on every level possible. With the magic of coordinated and lights the bands songs were showcased. The dancing coronas of color brought varying moods when needed and added visual interest for those who were further back in the large arena. The set list was well thought out. Naturally they did play a good selection for tunes from the latest "self-titled" album but still left room for many of the memorable songs they've written over the years. Among the many special moment of the evening three stood out. The solos played in the middle of "Even Flow," the tender emotional feel of the crowd singing the first verse of "Elderly Woman Behind The Counter in a Small Town," And the interesting guest-visit (mostly because it was just different). The various moments of the evening ebbed and flowed seamlessly. The band even threw in some unexpected surprises as well as some more reflective almost contemplative moments. Picking a set list can't be an easy task for a band with so many songs to choose from. In the end I think most of the audience heard a few of their favorite Pearl Jam songs.

With shows like this, its no wonder they offer fans close to 180 "official bootleg" show recordings. Eddie's unassuming vibe along with his between song chatter makes him easy to connect to even if he is on a stage performing like a God. Vocally his resonance and timbre are every bit as present and forceful as on any studio recording, maybe more so. McCready's guitar was set on fire for a thrilling three hours with some moments that were pure white heat. Matt Cameron plays deliberate and steady. Matt drives each song forward adding his own intense flare throughout, without even seeming to break a sweat. The band plays with effortless perfection. Being the road-dogs that they are it's got to be like breathing to them by now. It's so seamless all you can do is go for the sweet ride Pearl Jam are music -- ALIVE, kinetic, passionate, sweeping, epic and altogether astounding.
 

The set list:

Porch
Release
World Wide Suicide
Corduroy
Do the Evolution
Given To Fly
Severed Hand
Jeremy
Gone
Even Flow
Unemployable
Wasted Reprise
Better Man
Whipping, Not For You/(Modern Girl)
Inside Job
Life Wasted
Rearviewmirror

Encore One

Elderly Woman Behind the Counter In A Small Town
Come Back
Here's to The State of Mississippi*
Black
Crown Of Thorns
Alive

Encore Two

Last Kiss
Comatose
Why Go
Big Wave
Baba O'Riley
Yellow Ledbetter
 
*Originally written and recorded by Phil Ochs during the civil rights movement as Here's To The State of Mississippi, later revised by him as Here's To The State of Richard Nixon. Tim Robbins updated the song and performed it during the Vote for Change tour in 2004, and Ed Vedder further revised it and performed it as Here's To The State of George W.
 
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