Pearl Jam North American Concert History

List of Pearl Jam Concerts in North America

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September 3, 2022 – Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ONT, CAN

Main Set: Of The Girl, Garden, Alright, Nothing As It Seems, Low Light, Given To Fly, Do The Evolution, Wishlist/(Waiting On A Friend), Dance Of The Clairvoyants, Even Flow, Seven O'Clock, Corduroy, Immortality, Black/(We Belong Together), Jeremy, Porch

encore 1: Better Man, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Crazy Mary, Alive, Fuckin' Up, Yellow Ledbetter

Show Notes:

Stools are out again for the first 5 songs, looks like this will continue going forward, at least for the rest of this leg. Garden is a surprise for the acoustic set, although Mike is on an electric. Alright has…

Show Notes: 

Stools are out again for the first 5 songs, looks like this will continue going forward, at least for the rest of this leg. Garden is a surprise for the acoustic set, although Mike is on an electric. Alright has a very chilled out, relaxed feel. Ed says they’re going to do a couple like this (seated), “but once we get going…no turning back.” After NAIS, he gives credit to Jeff, saying “those were some compositions by Mr. Jeff Ament. Can we get a little…low light here,” teasing the next song and pointing out a woman in the front doing a “Beyonce dance” that he noticed while singing, and dedicates Low Light to her. The line in Given to Fly is changed to “…made it north of the border…” Stone takes the spotlight with dynamite solos on Evolution and Throw Your Hatred Down. Ed talks about Neil Young before the latter, saying

“as long as we’ve been together, there’s been a few disagreements over the years…we have strong opinions, we don’t always agree…but there’s one thing we all agree on, hands down, no doubt, that one of the greatest humans on the planet Earth is Mr. Neil Young…”

Afterwards, Ed tells a quick story about being a kid and his parents not letting him go see the Jackson 5, who were his favorite, joking “I never really forgave them,” and Wishlist is dedicated to Sienna and Cole, 8 and 10-year olds whose dad brought them to the show. Mike takes a long solo on Even Flow, going back to his amp for part of it, stretching the song out to 8 minutes. It’s storytime again, Ed talks about waiting tables in Chicago at 18 years old and having to sing happy birthday to all the various tables and how he hated doing it, but they’ve had a lot of birthday requests on this tour and he’ll make an exception, and then goes on to mention a few birthdays. The call and response on Corduroy has a little extra emphasis behind it from Ed, who leads the crowd up and down. Mike takes over Immortality and Black. Following Jeremy, Ed talks about a woman named Ashley who was in the front in Quebec City and motions for her to come up to the front, playing a short improv about her as she makes her way up to the stage. He says he got a note from her

  “and she said in this note that our music has saved her time and time again…but I just want to tell you all this: that it’s YOU who keeps US healthy to keep playing, that keeps us together so we can keep playing…that makes us friends still, so we can still be here to keep playing…all you folks have really kept us alive, so WE thank YOU…it’s the truth…”

He mentions Ashley again and a couple more people, and says this next one is dedicated to them, before kicking right into Porch. After the break, Ed talks about the livestream of the Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins tribute show and the “indelible energy that Taylor had, the infectious energy, the undeniable energy that this guy had,” and also mentions Gord Downie from the Tragically Hip, which gets a nice crowd response. Ed says that Taylor had sent him a video of his son Shane playing drums on a David Bowie song with his side project, and “he was so proud of him, as he should have been” (Shane played drums on the Foo’s song “My Hero” at the tribute show). He continues, sending well wishes to Taylor’s family and the Foo Fighters family before Better Man. Small Town is played to the back. Josh and Boom get a shout out before Crazy Mary, with Mike and Boom dueling and then combining for the finish. Fuckin’ Up makes its first appearance since 2018, and Ed makes sure to thank everyone in the back before Yellow Ledbetter ends the night.

September 1, 2022 – Videotron Centre, Quebec City, QC, CAN

Main Set: Daughter, Footsteps, Buckle Up, Other Side, Off He Goes, Dance Of The Clairvoyants, Why Go, Even Flow, Quick Escape, Corduroy, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Who Ever Said/((I Can't Get No) Satisfaction), Take The Long Way, I Got Id, Mind Your Manners, Black, Porch

encore 1: Present Tense, Do The Evolution, Alive, Purple Rain, Indifference

Show Notes:

The band comes out seated, just like in Amsterdam. Daughter is the opener for the first time since 2010, four times in total. It’s played full acoustic without a tag at the end. After Footsteps, Ed toasts the crowd and…

Show Notes: 

The band comes out seated, just like in Amsterdam. Daughter is the opener for the first time since 2010, four times in total. It’s played full acoustic without a tag at the end. After Footsteps, Ed toasts the crowd and says:

 “…we’re gonna play slow songs, fast songs, loud songs, quiet songs, new songs, tight songs, so buckle up…” 

This leads into…Buckle Up. He dedicates a song for a friend in the community who lost his brother, saying he lost his brother as well, and it’s Other Side! It was sound checked earlier in the day, this is only the 4th performance ever! Afterwards, Ed speaks about his friend Dr. Pete from Quebec who had recently walked the Pacific Crest trail from Mexico to Vancouver, and shows him on the video screen. He gets passionate during the requested Off He Goes, and Mike does a flamenco-style solo. Corduroy has an extended solo, Ed telling Mike to keep playing. Black has some improv lyrics at the end: “…where will your heart be when you know….one more life, one more chance…” Crowd starts big ‘ole’ chants during the encore break. Present Tense is played for former ESPN anchor Kenny Mayne, and a kid in the crowd whom Ed mentions as ‘Cole’s brother.’ Stone starts Alive and then stops for Ed to make a dedication to Venus and Serena Williams. Klinghoffer is thanked profusely before stepping to the front for Purple Rain. Before Indifference, Ed says

“Alright, I guess we’re on tour now…thanks for a great beginning.”

Special thank you to Danielle Tatlow for relaying the setlist live, and livestreaming in the Pearl Jam Podcast Community Facebook group.

May 16, 2022 – Save Mart Center, Fresno, CA, USA

Main Set: Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Given To Fly, Do The Evolution, Corduroy, Wishlist, Daughter/(Improv), Don’t Gimme No Lip, Once, Why Go, Even Flow, Garden, Black, Eruption, Animal, Quick Escape, Throw Your Hatred Down, Purple Rain, Porch

encore 1: Jeremy, Deep, State Of Love And Trust, Alive, Baba O’Riley, Yellow Ledbetter

Show Notes:

Despite it being the first night with no Ed preset, this third Matt Cameron-less show is promised to be a special one by Josh Klinghoffer multiple times before the band hits the stage. After Small Town with Josh on drums…

Show Notes: 

Despite it being the first night with no Ed preset, this third Matt Cameron-less show is promised to be a special one by Josh Klinghoffer multiple times before the band hits the stage. After Small Town with Josh on drums (continuing the streak of unique openers this tour) and Given To Fly, Ed reveals that he is battling a stomach flu and hasn’t felt this bad since Neil Young replaced him in San Francisco back in 1995, but promises to power through. He says that “this one’s certainly different” and that while Cameron is making strides to get back, “we’ve got another surprise for you later…” Prior to Corduroy, Ed points out a woman who’s at her 100th show, and that Rob Bleetstein (from Pearl Jam Radio) is at his 300th show, adding “I’ve only been to a few more than that,” and plays a short improv about having friends in Fresno. He repeats “it’s okay” in the Daughter tag, but without the change in key that indicates the Dead Moon cover. Stone gets the microphone, who prefaces Don’t Gimme No Lip with “…we played this backstage so hopefully it’s alright.” Afterwards, Ed talks about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, adding

“The part that was most rewarding was seeing some old bandmates, we had our friend come out from Seattle, we only played a couple of songs, but when this all went down with Matt the other day, we started thinking about all the other people that…we’ve been through some great drummers [laughs], some of the best, and we have the best currently, but, you know that first record seems to be a record that affected so many people, and our friend that was playing drums at that time, the amount of shows that he got to play with us was fairly limited. Well, it looks like this week we’re going to get to make up for that…ladies and gentlemen, on the drum kit, Mr. Dave Krusen!”

This kicks off a mini-set of Ten tracks, including a nice moment after Even Flow when Ed gets up on the drum riser and gives Dave a fist bump. Mike’s solo on Black is majestic. Afterwards, Ed asks Mike if he has any drummer transition music, which cues Eruption and Richard Stuverud’s entrance. Ed introduces Throw Your Hatred Down by shouting out Jack Irons and commenting on the mass shooting in Buffalo and the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court leak, saying

“Pro-life people should be anti-gun, and then they could save more lives”

Ed asks Josh to come out and sing the next song, leading to the live debut of Purple Rain. Ed starts the first verse and then Josh takes over. It also features a Mike solo that lives up to all expectations. Following, Ed remarks “…that song makes you wanna…fuck” and that Prince’s estate might have to be responsible for paying child support if his songs draw people to have sex and women are forced to give birth. He proposes a “sex embargo,” adding “think about it, ladies…sex embargo.” Krusen returns for Porch to end the main set and stays on after the break. Ed says that he’s spent a lot of time in Fresno over the last 5 years and that it’s his “new favorite place on Earth.” Following Jeremy, Ed comments on Krusen’s playing, saying that he’s “tripping balls tonight” and hearing him play the songs the way he does takes him back to being in the basement in 1991, adding

“Drummers are like fingerprints or snowflakes. They’re all different, all of us are different.”

He goes on to tell the backstory behind Deep, a sunny day that got a little dark when he noticed a guy shooting up in a third floor window and didn’t know whether he’d nod off out of it or into the apartment. With Krusen’s fast count in, the intro of the song is quite the flashback in itself. Mike adds a little tease of War Pigs at the end of the Alive solo. Stuverud returns to the kit for Baba O’Riley, Jeff goes up on the drum riser and they have a moment together. As Ed shouts out all of the band members before Yellow Ledbetter closes, Mike adds a simple “how about Ed tonight?” A well-deserved recognition towards Ed’s perseverance towards making this historic night possible. Ed finishes off the night saying “I won’t forget this one.”

May 13, 2022 – Oakland Arena, Oakland, CA, USA

Main Set: Long Road, Given To Fly, Once, (Interstellar Overdrive)/Corduroy, Throw Your Hatred Down, Quick Escape, Dissident, W.M.A., Mind Your Manners, Brain Of J., Low Light, Even Flow, Immortality, Do The Evolution, State Of Love And Trust, Seven O’Clock, Rearviewmirror

encore 1: Bee Girl, Smile, Better Man, Crazy Mary, Porch, Alive, Baba O’Riley

Show Notes:

Night 2 without Matt Cameron opens with Klinghoffer on drums and a deliberate Long Road, Ed gives a quick dedication “to Gretchen.” Following Once, Ed calls Matt a “legend” and we learn that he’s still in Arizona after his positive…

Show Notes: 

Night 2 without Matt Cameron opens with Klinghoffer on drums and a deliberate Long Road, Ed gives a quick dedication “to Gretchen.” Following Once, Ed calls Matt a “legend” and we learn that he’s still in Arizona after his positive COVID test, Ed says that this show is dedicated to him. No new intro for Corduroy here, it’s Interstellar Overdrive instead. All the uncertainty of the previous night seems to be gone, they look confident and charged up. Richard Stuverud again joins on the kit for Throw Your Hatred Down, with a very cool breakdown at the end, even throwing in a little Ziggy Stardust. Before Quick Escape, Ed says “this one’s about life on Mars too…,” and it also has an extended solo section. Dissident is introduced as an old one, “one we haven’t played in a while, so let’s see if we get it right.” Stuverud begins the W.M.A. intro and to everyone’s surprise it’s full W.M.A., the first time since Greenville 2016! There’s an extended drum outro as well, pounding drums, a standout performance. Ed is visibly angry, pacing around in a circle, he kicks over an amp and hurls his wine bottle across the stage. A 17-year-old drummer named Kai Neukermans is introduced and joins for Mind Your Manners before Josh returns to the kit for Brain of J. After Even Flow, Ed is still worked up, saying

“I’m still mad that we were divided at the beginning [of the pandemic], not united…fuck you…fuck you…FUCK YOU….FUCK YOU!”

Seven O’Clock is only the second Gigaton song of the night and third post-2000 song, this is a heavy 90’s set, perhaps reflecting Ed’s frame of mind. Rearviewmirror FINALLY makes an appearance on the tour, Ed talks about Steve Gleason beforehand. Smile is played to the back. Boom gets a shoutout leading into Crazy Mary, which has a killer back and forth Mike and Boom duel. Ed is pacing around the stage again during Porch. Stuverud is absolutely rocking out on Baba, standing up at the kit and pounding away. Ed closes the show with “…love to Matt, we love you…goodnight, goodbye, until next time. Shaka.”

May 12, 2022 – Oakland Arena, Oakland, CA, USA

Main Set: Rockin’ In The Free World, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Why Go, Corduroy, Quick Escape, Superblood Wolfmoon, Nothingman, Even Flow, Given To Fly, Wishlist, Black, Do The Evolution, Daughter/(Long May You Run), Not For You/(Modern Girl), Seven O’Clock, Jeremy, Porch

encore 1: You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away, Better Man/(Save It For Later), Lukin, Animal, Alive, Baba O’Riley, Yellow Ledbetter

Show Notes:

The band opens with Rockin’ in the Free World, it’s rumored that Neil is in attendance, although he does not come out on stage. RITFW has never been used as an opener before! The house lights are up, Klinghoffer is…

Show Notes: 

The band opens with Rockin’ in the Free World, it’s rumored that Neil is in attendance, although he does not come out on stage. RITFW has never been used as an opener before! The house lights are up, Klinghoffer is on drums, and after Small Town, Ed addresses the crowd, revealing that Matt Cameron tested positive for COVID the day before:

“Even his superhero status couldn’t prevent him from testing positive.” 

He adds that they are lucky to have Josh, the Shohei Ohtani of the band, filling in for him. During Corduroy, Ed references Cameron, saying “…everyfuckinthing’s changed!” Josh heads back over behind Mike’s amp, and Ed introduces RNDM drummer and longtime friend Richard Stuverud, saying they called him yesterday,

“He was in the middle of teaching a music class, we said, ‘Hey, do you want to come play with Pearl Jam tomorrow?’ He said ‘I’ll call you back, I gotta go change my pants.’

After Superblood Wolfmoon, Ed tells a story about Jeff and Richard doing some writing and demoing in between Vs. and Vitalogy at Reciprocal Recording, they invited Ed down and he drove down in a ‘64 Plymouth, they played Nothingman and he got a cassette of it afterwards, saying he drove home listening to it, screaming along at the top of his lungs, and asks for the crowd’s help to scream along tonight. Stuverud takes a short drum solo during Even Flow and Mike is extra flashy during the outro. Ed points out a sign that reads “Last time I saw Pearl Jam, I wasn’t born yet,” then mentions a recent story about a woman giving birth on the side stage at a Metallica show during Enter Sandman, joking that they almost ended up naming their child James Ulrich or Sandman. Klinghoffer is back on the kit for GTF. After Evolution, Ed makes mention to the Bridge School benefit, and says

“…NEXT time we play the Bridge School…I hear rumors…good ones…” 

He gives a shout out to the families and teachers and artists who all put in their time playing the Bridge School, and mentions Amber Jean Young, who just had her first art exhibit and is raising money for ovarian cancer. She named her gallery after Pegi Young. Ed calls Daughter a “dark” song, and Neil’s “Long May You Run” is tagged for the first time. He makes a reference to a show back in 1973 where Keith Moon passed out twice at a Who show, and they asked if anyone could play. Ed asks anyone in the crowd if they can play drums and a fan is spotlighted, everyone around him pointing at him. Ed sees him, and says they are going to test him and bring him back in the encore. He continues, saying the Oakland A’s were the coolest team in the 70’s, and names just about every member of their World Series roster. Stuverud joins the band again during Seven O’Clock. Jeremy has a little bit of a funky guitar riff before the bass comes in, and Stuverud plays it a little slower than usual.

In the encore, Ed asks for another bottle and passes it into the crowd, mentioning that they can’t share the bottle together, “we’re not going to make this a wine tasting superspreader event,” but solo cups are broken out and everyone can enjoy a drink. Ed gives a nod to the audience, calling them the best crowd yet on the tour. Klinghoffer is back on drums for Better Man, and Ed messes around in the tag, speaking somewhat unintelligibly, but compliments the entire band. Tons of Townshend windmills from Ed. He references the Metallica story again and says:

“If you’re having a baby now, you’d have to name it… Lukin!”

Stuverud returns for Animal, making its tour debut. There’s a massive ending build at the end of Baba that gets wild, and Ed holds out a lengthy note at the end. He says his goodbyes afterward, making a point to thank Josh and Richard, and then says “we have one more drummer tonight…,” inviting out the fan from earlier, Josh Arroyo, to play Yellow Ledbetter. He’s wearing the “Krusen&Chamberlain&Abbruzzese&Irons&Cameron” shirt, and Ed jokes that he’ll have to add his own name to it. The lucky fan lives out a dream, doing an excellent job on the drums. Ed even looks back, visibly impressed, and Arroyo gets to take a bow with the band at the end.

May 9, 2022 – Gila River Arena, Phoenix, AZ, USA

Main Set: Wash, Given To Fly, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Corduroy, Quick Escape, Why Go, Superblood Wolfmoon, Alright, Even Flow, Dance Of The Clairvoyants, Black/(We Belong Together), I Got Shit, Red Mosquito, Sleeping By Myself, Daughter/(W.M.A.), Porch

encore 1: Smile, Eruption, Do The Evolution, Better Man/(Save It For Later), Leaving Here, Alive, Yellow Ledbetter

Show Notes:

Ed comes out for the pre-set and Far Behind makes its debut at a Pearl Jam show. Wash is dark and eerie to open, the 4th different opener in 4 shows so far. Corduroy has the new intro jam again…

Show Notes: 

Ed comes out for the pre-set and Far Behind makes its debut at a Pearl Jam show. Wash is dark and eerie to open, the 4th different opener in 4 shows so far. Corduroy has the new intro jam again and an incendiary Mike solo, it’s been one of the standouts of this run so far, it feels rejuvenated. Ed does a spoken space shuttle countdown-style spiel during Quick Escape. Ed says that they’re in the land of coyotes, mentioning NHL Coyotes players Christian Fisher and Clayton Keller, before Superblood Wolfmoon, saying wolves are close to coyotes. Ed goes on a passionate rant about freedom before Alright, making its tour debut. Prior to Even Flow, Ed mentions the highway signs around the area that had been changed to “Even Flow on the gas, keep left to pass”. Mike and Ed take turns getting the sides of the arena to out-cheer each other, Ed adding, 

We’ve never done this kind of cheesy bullshit before

Josh is rocking out behind the amps during Dance of the Clairvoyants, adding some drum accents and background vocals. Astronaut Scott Kelly is in attendance, and Black is dedicated to him, Ed does a little improv based off of We Belong Together. He stresses the “FUCK” during I Got Shit. He says they’ve got mosquitos here, but they’re in the land of scorpions, adding “…don’t get too excited, Mike” (referring to Mike’s fandom of the 80’s hair metal band Scorpions), leading into Red Mosquito. Before Sleeping By Myself, Ed talks about testing positive for COVID, isolating and thinking to himself “…why did I ever smoke cigarettes, what the fuck is wrong with me…,” saying that Sleeping By Myself was running through his head the whole time he was quarantined. 

The number for voting information is put on the screens in the venue as Ed talks about supporting freedom to choose. Mike has some skronky guitar tones during the W.M.A. tag, and Ed changes the lyric to “..police stopped my daughter again…” Matt ends the song with a powerful drum rhythmic outro. Ed talks a lot about his niece Molly, who’s in attendance, choosing to come to the show instead of her graduation from Arizona State, and she gets a spotlight and a nice roar from the crowd. Ed changes up the setlist, saying they were going to play a sad one but he doesn’t want to anymore, and they play Smile instead. Mike goes back behind his amps to play with Josh for a while during Jeff’s solo. The Eruption solo seems a little longer than previous versions. Ed mentions Taylor Hawkins before Better Man, saying he’s seeing a lot of Foo Fighters shirts in the crowd, adding that he had only gotten to know him a little over the last year but Matt was close with him. The intro to Leaving Here is a train wreck, but they get it squared away, Jeff takes all the solos. After Alive, it feels like the show might be over, but they put the instruments back on and close with Yellow Ledbetter. In Hiding, Come Back, and River Cross were on the original setlist but not played.

May 7, 2022 – The Kia Forum, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Main Set: Release, Given To Fly, Do The Evolution, Low Light, Quick Escape, Take The Long Way, Even Flow, Seven O’Clock, Immortality, Cold Day In The Sun, Daughter, Unthought Known, Glorified G, Lukin, I Believe In Miracles, Garden, Mind Your Manners, Porch

encore 1: Better Man/(Save It For Later), Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Jeremy, Leash, Alive, Indifference

Show Notes:

Walking out for the pre-set, Ed gives a shout out to the fans on the rail for having a “long day” and asking them if they camped out at the venue, saying they’ve been through a lot. He hands out…

Show Notes: 

Walking out for the pre-set, Ed gives a shout out to the fans on the rail for having a “long day” and asking them if they camped out at the venue, saying they’ve been through a lot. He hands out blank slips of paper, and says write down whatever you want to hear, as long as it’s on the “master list” we’ll give it a shot. On the list are Brother, Severed Hand, Blood, Untitled/MFC, Tremor Christ, Breakerfall, Unthought Known, Angel, Glorified G, You Are, Strangest Tribe, Fatal, and Marker in the Sand.

Lots of Yield early, after Evolution, Ed says “live from The Forum it’s Saturday night!” Ed holds on that last line in Low Light for what feels like an eternity. Afterwards, Ed points to Stone’s side and says he’s getting an “edible” vibe from them. He adds that the next song, Quick Escape, is about interplanetary travel, but it’s not “Life On Mars,” making a David Bowie reference, and that we may have to live there one day because we’re destroying our own planet. He mentions certain billionaires, saying that for every dollar they get for space travel, they should match it for putting it back into saving the beauty and environment of Mother Earth. Quick Escape’s solo continues to be one of the most powerful moments of the Gigaton tour so far, with Mike holding his head back and firing away. Take the Long Way has a little extra guitar fire from Mike to kick it off. Before Even Flow, Ed continues the story of the homeless man named Eddie he talked about during the Home Shows in 2018:

“He had a shopping cart with a globe inside, he’d spin the globe and look at all the places he’d never get to. We came back from a tour once and he was gone. No one knew and it sort of went right through the cracks. People don’t understand any of the lyrics, but Eddie I was talking about you.”

Ed hypes up the crowd before getting into the chorus by shouting “Sing it for Eddie! Sing it for Eddie!” Mike’s Immortality solo is electrifying, he’s losing his mind, so much so that it looks like he’s having a conniption on stage! Big powerful ending, with the band huddling around a dominant Matt Cameron. Ed mentions that some folks here tonight are some of the most important people in our lives, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and meeting Stone and Jeff through Jack Irons after he was a Chili Pepper. He shouts out Chad Smith who’s on the side stage, and says they’re thinking about Taylor Hawkins, adding that he was someone that truly loved living on this planet, the one thing we can be consoled by is that he never wasted a moment. Ed introduces Mark Guiliana to play drums as Matt Cameron grabs a guitar and steps to the microphone to sing Taylor’s Foo Fighters song Cold Day In The Sun! Chad Smith is seen playing tambourine. An amazing tribute, with Matt’s vocals sounding pristine. Big hugs all around at the end for this emotional performance. After Daughter, Ed asks for the list of songs that the fans created before the show started, “after going through all of the hassle and having the cops think there were all these homeless people outside, you’re giving me a list! Alright we got a plan, and this is a very intelligent choice.” Unthought Known is the first choice, after which Ed mentions how Sean Penn is out helping people in the Ukraine. Before the next request, he talks about Dave Chappelle getting tackled on stage, the person who tackled him had a knife hidden in a fake gun, leading to Glorified G. Great crowd response from the front that makes Ed turn the mic around to give them the moment to sing back. Ed runs out of gas by the end of Lukin, but the band gets right back on the horse with an I Believe In Miracles cover. Garden is very heavy, lots of weight behind it.

After the break, Ed channels his inner Taylor Hawkins with some call and response moments, and then says you should sing in the shower with me. He asks for someone to fetch him his sparkly jacket from his dressing room, saying “that lady has a sparkly jacket and I’m not about to be outdone by that bitch!” The jacket is acquired and then he talks about equal pay and diversity in Hollywood, and goes on a long rant defending Bill Murray. The Save It For Later tag has almost the full song lyrics. Small Town is played for the back, with a lyric change, “…lifetimes are catching up with ALL OF US!” Midway through, he asks for the band to speed it up a bit. The house lights come up for Jeremy. Ed dedicates Leash to COVID-19 saying “fuck you COVID-19! Leash is an excellent surprise, no “lucky face” phrasing. Mike ripping another song apart. Ed dribbles a basketball around the stage during Alive then tosses it to the crowd. Indifference closes out the night.

May 6, 2022 – The Kia Forum, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Main Set: Of The Girl, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Superblood Wolfmoon, Corduroy, Dance Of The Clairvoyants, Quick Escape, Faithfull, Not For You/(Modern Girl), Buckle Up, Even Flow, Never Destination, Down, Nothingman, Present Tense, Who Ever Said/((I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction), Porch

encore 1: State Of Love And Trust, Wishlist, Do The Evolution, Black/(We Belong Together), Alive, Yellow Ledbetter

Show Notes:

A relaxed Of The Girl opens, setting the tone for a fun Friday night in LA. After Superblood Wolfmoon, Ed says: “I was gonna tell a story but I wanna just keep playing. I’m not gonna tell any jokes tonight…

Show Notes: 

A relaxed Of The Girl opens, setting the tone for a fun Friday night in LA. After Superblood Wolfmoon, Ed says:

“I was gonna tell a story but I wanna just keep playing. I’m not gonna tell any jokes tonight so don’t anybody even THINK about walking up here and hitting me!”

After Corduroy, he tells a story about driving up from San Diego to the Forum for Pink Floyd’s The Wall show. His buddy forgot the tickets at home, forcing Ed to sit in the parking lot for the whole show. Quick Escape is wild, it continues to be the standout live Gigaton song. Faithfull is played for the first time since 2016. During Not For You’s breakdown, Ed comments on the Roe situation and says:

“I think if you’re a girl or woman out there, and the guy you’re going out with … and you’re thinking about maybe going all the way with… I think that if that guy is not pro-choice, then he shouldn’t be allowed to fuck you!”

Dave Krusen is in attendance, Ed says we love you and you’re always a part of this group. Mike channels his inner Eddie Van Halen on Even Flow’s solo, thrashing around like a madman and putting on an absolute display. Ed mentions Howard Zinn, followed of course by Down, Mike with a very poppy, refreshing solo. Something happens in the crowd during Present Tense that Ed pauses mid-song to address, while Mike keeps the riff going. Present Tense has a powerful ending, with the band completely synced up. Who Ever Said has the Satisfaction tag again, sounding more like Devo than the Rolling Stones. Ed warms up with some Pete Townshend windmills before strumming into Porch. Another excellent McCready moment, shredding during the solo down near the pit and running laps alongside them. After the break, during State of Love and Trust, Ed runs off the stage, forcing the band to keep playing, leading to an extensive solo. He comes back on the stage with a new shirt. The band flips around to play one to the back, it’s Wishlist, we haven’t seen this one in this spot before, it’s always been Last Kiss or Small Town or Smile. Black is an out of this world performance with a long, powerful solo, Mike wailing soulfully at the end, with Ed improv lyrics about good and bad. He tells a story about a guy named Dave and his brother who, after an Earthlings show, found out that he had a tumor in his brain. After surgery, he had a difficult time getting his motor skills back, but was able to muster up the words:

“We’re not missing that fucking Pearl Jam show”

Dave is shown in the crowd, and gets an amazing ovation. Mike goes down to play the Alive solo towards the floor as Ed tosses tambourines into the crowd. After Alive, the band takes off their instruments and waves goodbye to the crowd, it seems like the end, but they quickly regroup for Yellow Ledbetter to end the evening.

May 3, 2022 – Viejas Arena, San Diego, CA, USA

Main Set: Oceans, Retrograde, Never Destination, Corduroy, Dance of the Clairvoyants, Amongst The Waves, Even Flow, Who Ever Said/((I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction), Quick Escape, Long Road, Given To Fly, Superblood Wolfmoon, Daughter/(In My Tree), Seven O'Clock, Jeremy, Porch

encore 1: Lightning Bolt, Better Man/(Save It For Later), Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, River Cross, Footsteps, Once, Alive

Show Notes:

This was the first of the rescheduled 2020 shows and the first North American arena show since May of 2016. After Never Destination, Ed greets the crowd and says “Well, thank you for your patience,” followed by a standing ovation…

Show Notes: 

This was the first of the rescheduled 2020 shows and the first North American arena show since May of 2016. After Never Destination, Ed greets the crowd and says “Well, thank you for your patience,” followed by a standing ovation from the crowd. Corduroy has an interesting riffy lead-in that had never been played before. After Dance of the Clairvoyants, Ed talks about paying tribute to the history connected with the band in San Diego:

Because of our location…we’re choosing songs that have something to do with the ocean…even if they don’t mention it in the words…well half of ‘em were written in the ocean anyway.

During Amongst The Waves, Ed points out to a crowd member and asks for people to help them out. Who Ever Said is especially tight, synth sounds amazing from Klinghoffer. Who Ever Said has a Rolling Stones “Satisfaction” tag, the first instance in Pearl Jam history. Ed pays tribute to Taylor Hawkins before Quick Escape:

You put all of these lights together and they still wouldn’t match up to the light that poured from within that guy. He emitted something very special. I’m so mad for your loss. But it just gives us another chance to say how much we appreciated you as well. 

There’s a request from a guy named Mike whose brother Stan died in a 2016 accident, Ed says he can relate – his brothers and mom and uncle and nephews are here tonight:

We lost a brother…four of us boys…and a sister in Texas…we lost him pretty quick, and it fucked us up…but we got through it together. Last time we played here, he was working up in the rigging. That was the penultimate time I saw him, last time was my 50th. There’s a plaque here up in the rafters with his name on it” 

This leads to a rare main set version of Long Road. Lights up on cell phones in the crowd. Ed says near the end “I’ll save you a seat”. GTF has the lyric “…came to San Diego, smoked a joint in a tree…,” after which Ed talks about teachers, joking that Stevie Ray Vaughan was Mike’s guitar teacher. Ed’s guitar teacher is in attendance, he can’t see him face to face because of COVID protocol, so he guides the spotlight to him. He jokes “I’m not gonna talk this much at the other shows…this feels like home so…” The Daughter tag is In My Tree (!), followed by a call and response. Ed talks about Jeff and Stone playing together for 39 years, says they should do a podcast together about it, and jokes that they never thought they’d live to 39. He tells a story about bullying leading into Jeremy, saying the song was somewhat based on things he witnessed in junior high school in the area. Porch closes the set, with Ed reflecting light into the crowd on his guitar pickguard.

After the break, Ed says he’s sorry he couldn’t visit all the people he knows here, and says Jeff is the smart one because he has a house in San Diego now. He mentions some local record stores, and continues, talking about his high school:

The proximity of my high school to the ocean pretty much guaranteed you weren’t gonna graduate. (jokingly mocking) Now kids, don’t leave school or you’ll turn into drug dealers and addicts…or…or…Republicans!

Prior to Lightning Bolt, Ed tells a story about having trouble writing the chorus to the song:

I had my headphones on and my notebook, and I was so close I had written the whole fucking song. But I couldn’t come up with the line of the chorus. It was like… she’s a what? I just couldn’t figure out what the fuck she was and I wasn’t going to give up. Then my phone buzzed and it must’ve been from Hawaii, and I looked at it but couldn’t answer it because I was singing. I looked over and it was a call from Gerry Lopez (surfer). And I was like that’s it! She’s a Lightning Bolt!

Nice jam at the end of Lightning Bolt with the lighting effects resembling shooting stars. After the song, Ed spotlights his mom in the crowd, mentioning she went to SDSU undergrad in 1989, and graduated with her Masters in 1992. Elderly Woman is played for the back of the audience. River Cross is played with the full band, intensely powerful with Ed emoting while playing on pump organ. Midway through, a Ukrainian flag goes up on the big screen. The reverse Mamasan Trilogy, Footsteps, Once, and Alive, closes out the night, the first time it’s been done in this order since 2011! Karen Vedder is shown fist pumping to Alive. Ed closes out the show thanking Jack Irons and then Stone and Jeff, adding “catch some good waves, keep this place beautiful…we love you.”

Big thank you to Aaron Redmond, Brooke Krause and Amy Cook Lancaster for providing  updates throughout the night!

October 2, 2021 – Ohana Encore Festival, Dana Point, CA, USA

Main Set: Superblood Wolfmoon, All Night, Last Exit, Lukin, Corduroy, Dance Of The Clairvoyants, Quick Escape, Wishlist/(Waiting On A Friend), Given To Fly, Seven O'Clock, Not For You/(Modern Girl), Even Flow, Take The Long Way, Unthought Known, Daughter, Once, Black, Again Today, Smile, Porch

encore 1: Wasted Reprise, Life Wasted, Alive, Rockin' In The Free World

Show Notes:

Pearl Jam gets right down to business on the final night of Ohana with a series of 7 straight rockers, starting with Superblood Wolfmoon through Quick Escape (the gem of the live Gigaton songs so far, so much energy and…

Show Notes: 

Pearl Jam gets right down to business on the final night of Ohana with a series of 7 straight rockers, starting with Superblood Wolfmoon through Quick Escape (the gem of the live Gigaton songs so far, so much energy and power). Before Lukin, Ed talks about the recent laws being passed in Texas, and how women’s rights are being affected. Wishlist has the Rolling Stones’ Waiting on a Friend tag again, and in a very touching moment, Given to Fly is dedicated to Mikey, a 15 year old with EB who is in attendance. Seven O’Clock is another Gigaton highlight (as Ed mentioned during night 1, it’s “a song with a lot of words,” and this night he nails it). Crowd is UP for Not For You. For the second night in a row, Mike crushes the Even Flow solo, including playing a few measures with his teeth again. Take The Long Way returns, a tight, compact performance, and it’s followed by a beautiful Unthought Known (made even more beautiful by the surroundings). No Daughter tag, just an inspired call and response. Brandi Carlile joins the band for the second time on this tour, for the cover of her song Again Today. After the break, Boom is quietly playing Wasted Reprise in the background, and Ed speaks about how special the festival was this year, mentioning several local folks who helped make it all happen, including the Mayor of Dana Point, who played a role in helping evacuate Afghan refugees during the recent turmoil. Life Wasted and a high-energy version of Alive follow. The band ends the show with a version of Rockin’ in the Free World that has perhaps the most bizarre group of special guests ever assembled on stage with the band: Andrew Watt, Sleater-Kinney, Kelly Slater, Randy Johnson, Chad Smith, John McEnroe, Mikey (the aforementioned 15 year old), Taylor Hawkins, Patti Smith, Brandi Carlile and Tim Robbins. The jam climaxes with Taylor and Matt both pounding the living daylights out of the kit, and Chad Smith eventually joins in on the fun.

October 1, 2021 – Ohana Encore Festival, Dana Point, CA, USA

Main Set: Low Light, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Dance Of The Clairvoyants. Never Destination, Do The Evolution, I Am Mine, Buckle Up, Even Flow, Seven O'Clock, Nothingman, State Of Love And Trust, Who Ever Said, Sweet Lew, Better Man/(People Have The Power), Rearviewmirror

encore 1: River Cross, Garden, Why Go, Alive, All Along The Watchtower, Yellow Ledbetter

Show Notes:

Low Light opener is a little unexpected, after Gigaton-heavy opens both shows prior. Matt drives a gentle rhythm. Ed mentions how getting back out playing has taken a little getting used to the last couple of shows, but seeing everyone…

Show Notes: 

Low Light opener is a little unexpected, after Gigaton-heavy opens both shows prior. Matt drives a gentle rhythm. Ed mentions how getting back out playing has taken a little getting used to the last couple of shows, but seeing everyone has made them feel comfortable. Dance of the Clairvoyants is the first Gigaton track of the night and continues to groove, with Stone playing fluid bass, Mike’s guitar riff sounding electrifying, and Josh adding color on synths and backing vocals. The band sounds crisp and in sync on Never Destination, with Ed delivering a passionate vocal. After a strong Do the Evolution which featured two succinct, funk-flared solos from Stone, Ed talks about being concerned for everyone’s well-being and safety, remarking how great it’s been to see everyone again, and how well everyone has been treating one another and how reassuring it’s been to them. He introduces the next song as being written by Stone, saying both he and Mike just had anniversaries, and it’s a rare occasion that all the spouses are in attendance, and Buckle Up is debuted. Even Flow is paced well by Jeff and Matt, leading into a blistering Mike solo, which has him playing with his pick in his mouth. Seven O’Clock is next, as the Gigaton songs are more sprinkled throughout the set tonight. Nothingman is a crowd pleaser, with everyone singing at the top of their lungs during the “into the sun” chorus. SOLAT follows with Stone, Jeff, and Mike delivering a classic performance.  Mike stretches out the solo when Ed misses his entry point to the final verse. Who Ever Said is the second debut of the evening, and sounds crisp and well-rehearsed. Ed is animated throughout, and reaches a fervent peak in the second verse. The deep cut of the night is next, with Ed saying “every once in a while, with a little push, Jeff can be persuaded to sing this one,” leading to Sweet Lew. Jeff is decked out in a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Western Conference All-Star basketball jersey. Ed and Josh alternate between providing backing vocals on the chorus and dribbling basketballs. Better Man is tagged with People Have the Power again. The main set is punctuated by an absolutely ferocious Rearviewmirror, Mike throws himself to his knees at his pedal board for the bulk of his solo as Jeff, Matt, and Stone gather at the drum riser to set a groove-filled pocket for him, just a thunderous show stopper. The encore begins with Ed mentioning that we were picking out a few songs, and we think you’ll really like them, but first we ask for your indulgence on a little prayer. Ed waltzes over to the pump organ as the rest of the band takes a seat, and River Cross is finally debuted, played by the full band. Garden is a surprise setlist addition and sounds wonderful, tight and full, Mike colors his solos in spectacular fashion. Alive is next, met with a mix of excitement and confusion as it was still early in the evening. As the last verse is delivered, Ed says “…it feels different singing these words than it did before…” Mike starts Yellow Ledbetter before Ed waves him off, Josh joins at the front of the stage with his guitar, and the band launches into All Along the Watchtower. Yellow Ledbetter closes the night with Mike providing a thoughtful, less bombastic solo.

September 26, 2021 – Ohana Festival, Dana Point, CA, USA

Main Set: Retrograde, Dance Of The Clairvoyants, Quick Escape, Seven O'Clock, Corduroy, Alright, Daughter/(W.M.A.), Red Mosquito, Superblood Wolfmoon, I Got Id, Even Flow, Immortality, Given To Fly, Do The Evolution, Better Man

encore 1: Let Me Sleep, Black, Crazy Mary, Alive

Show Notes:

Pearl Jam’s second show back is the proverbial exclamation point on the weekend’s festivities, closing Ohana on a Sunday night. It feels like the band is eager to perform their new songs and this night drove that point home firmly,…

Show Notes: 

Pearl Jam’s second show back is the proverbial exclamation point on the weekend’s festivities, closing Ohana on a Sunday night. It feels like the band is eager to perform their new songs and this night drove that point home firmly, as five of the first six songs of the evening hailed from Gigaton, including the opener, the live debut of Retrograde, a gentle yet soaring build into the oceanside evening air.  Dance of the Clairvoyants follows, transitioning well from the atmospheric outro of Retrograde. Quick Escape is already becoming an explosive crowd pleaser, it feels drenched with years of setlist veteran status, giving fans everything they wanted from Mike, Stone and Jeff. The guitar and bass onslaught in the culminating jam is harmonic disharmony. Ed quickly addresses the crowd, saying “if it feels good out there, it feels great up here…we’ve been looking forward to this for a long, long time,” leading to Seven O’Clock. Like Retrograde, it bends towards the soaring energy through its peak and climax. Alright, introduced by Ed as a beautiful song written by his friend and bassist Jeff Ament, is the second debut of the evening. It’s gorgeous in the open air, and showcases the atmospheric elements Josh Klinghoffer will provide for the new songs. Daughter with Stone notably on his duo-tone harkens back to the Binaural era sound wise. Red Mosquito makes its third consecutive Pearl Jam set with Danny Clinch on harmonica. Superblood Wolfmoon KICKS live, expect it to be a mainstay during the Gigaton shows. Josh plays Ed’s guitar parts on this, freeing up Ed to emote and dance around during the entire song. Before I Got Shit, Ed shows off a guitar he got from Joan Jett, and turns it over to show her signature. Matt Cameron absolutely crushes Immortality with a blistering percussion display. The main set culminates with Ed referencing a statement he overheard Brandi Carlile make, that this day was blessed with “Power Bitches” on stage. Ed, being a man, shows a “signed” authorization from Brandi giving her permission for him to say this. Brandi joins the band on stage, sharing vocals on a powerful Better Man. After the break, Ed takes a drink from his bottle, saying you “can’t do that ‘drink a bottle and pass it around’ thing anymore, unless it’s Purell,” hinting at Crazy Mary, before mentioning his participation in the Global Citizen vaccine awareness concert back in the spring, saying:

I stayed near the ocean up north near Santa Monica, and I got outside, and when you went through Venice it got really intense, and since then I heard that all those people were relocated, and I could never find out the details on where and how they were relocated, but I just keep thinking about them and I really hope they’re okay and healthy and able to get whatever assistance they needed to get back on their feet, so I’m gonna drink to their resilience, and dedicate this one to them…

California has been dealing with extreme homelessness issues in several city areas, and it resulted in people being removed. Let Me Sleep is played for only the 8th time ever. Ed remarks about a nice note and picture he was given from a girl named Nicole, with a request for Black, and dedicates it to her and her mom and dad. Mike’s solo is poignant and emotive, gaining the rapt attention of Earthling producer Andrew Watt, who’s watching from the side of the stage. Just as the band was hitting its stride on Crazy Mary, the song is stopped so that a fan can get some medical attention just in front of Mike’s stage side. The band picks up right where they left off, and Boom gets to lay out the entire solo on the B3. Alive closes out the evening, and features both an array of band hiccups and one of the more explosive endings to a Pearl Jam show ever. Someone (or perhaps everyone) is slightly off time in the buildup of the intro before the first verse. The ship is seemingly righted, and then Ed jumps up a full verse, and the band gathers around Matt’s drum kit. Hashing it out, Ed realizes he messed up and can be audibly heard saying into his microphone, “…oh I fucked it up! I owe each of you guys $100.” He addresses his blunder hysterically to the front of the house, with a sarcastic, self-effacing acknowledgement: “Who, me? Never….” As the band fires into the distinctive outro jam, McCready points to Andrew Watt, walks towards him, lifts his guitar over his shoulders, and places it around Watt’s neck. Watt then, with the joy of a million fans given the opportunity of a lifetime, absolutely slays the solo as the band extends the jam out feverishly, ultimately handing the guitar back to Mike for the final few moments.

September 18, 2021 – Sea.Hear.Now Festival, Asbury Park, NJ, USA

Main Set: Dance Of The Clairvoyants, Quick Escape, Seven O'Clock, Corduroy, Present Tense, Never Destination, Even Flow, Wishlist/(Waiting On A Friend), Superblood Wolfmoon, Red Mosquito, Daughter/(W.M.A.), Take The Long Way, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Given To Fly, State Of Love And Trust, Better Man/(People Have The Power), Porch

encore 1: My City Of Ruins, Alive/(Voodoo Child), Rockin' In The Free World

Show Notes:

After 1,110 days, Pearl Jam returns. 20 minutes before show time, the band’s tour bus and trailer drive down the beach, making its way to the stage. Right from the start, they debut 3 songs off Gigaton, starting with Dance…

Show Notes: 

After 1,110 days, Pearl Jam returns. 20 minutes before show time, the band’s tour bus and trailer drive down the beach, making its way to the stage. Right from the start, they debut 3 songs off Gigaton, starting with Dance Of The Clairvoyants, with Stone on bass and Jeff on guitar and keyboards, and Ed using a loop track at the end to sing around. Quick Escape and Seven O’Clock debut next, both immediate standouts, it’s evident that the band LOVE the new songs. Stone and Mike both have fantastic solos on Quick Escape, Ed puts on a guitar halfway through. Ed changes the line in Seven O’Clock, saying “…we had sitting bullshit as our fucking president.” Afterwards, he tells the first of many heartfelt stories of the night:

Good evening, Asbury Park…we got the moon lighting up the ocean…someone said I thought maybe we were nervous as the day got closer because six months ago it seemed like we would be in the clear, and then as the day got closer, it wasn’t…nothing was, or is guaranteed. I was getting a little bit nervous and thinking about everybody’s safety, and what we’ve been through as a band, you know, safety first, like every band up here, we care about you so fucking much…but then another reason to be nervous is we haven’t played as a group for three fucking years…we’re so glad you made it, we’re happy we could make it, we’re all gonna make it together

Corduroy has a very emphatic and timely “absolutely everything’s changed” lyric swap. Ed, again:

A year and a half ago, we were ready to play, and we were excited to play, and we had new songs to play, we were gonna start touring quite a bit, that was one of the inside jokes of naming the record, we called it Gigaton, it’s a unit of measurement, but you can also say gig-a-ton, we thought we were gonna be on the road quite a bit, and then the extraordinary and unthinkable happened…with all we’ve been through, it’s Sea Hear Now, all of us, but be here…now, in the present tense

Josh Klinghoffer is also introduced as part of the touring band, leading into a faithful Present Tense, highlighted by the crowd and Jeff, who hasn’t lost a step during the ending jam. Following the debut of Never Destination, Ed jokes about helping his daughter with Calculus by calling a tutor, but adds:

But my problem lately has been with English, and that’s because I’ve had such a difficult time thinking about how to communicate…the question that we have, why aren’t we able to come together more closely when we’re faced with such huge challenges, like climate change, and the pandemic, as a country and as a planet…this is what we need to be united, not divided…I think we all feel sometimes, and I wish we could reach out to our neighbor, and I wish we could understand our differences, and I wish we could come together and fight, you know, as if aliens were coming down from the universe, like an alien virus comes in and infects us all, and English was failing me, so I went to simple math, I’m gonna try out my equation on you, so multiply love, add hope, subtract fear, and end division

Even Flow feels rejuvenated, with a new groove and feel. Ed makes a mistake on the first verse and calls himself out on it. Mike’s solo builds at a very steady pace, getting more electric towards the end, dropping to his knees, slashing at the strings. Before Wishlist, Ed talks about the last three years, saying “stay in touch with the people you love,” and mentions the recent losses of Charlie Watts and Norm MacDonald. Wishlist is halted due to a crowd issue, Ed checks in to make sure everyone is okay before restarting, but it feels fresh and new, and is tagged with the Rolling Stones’ Waiting On A Friend, with lyrics changed to “wishing on a friend.” Superblood Wolfmoon gets its live debut next, Ed shouting and emoting throughout, the band taking it to another level than on record, and Ed gets the crowd clapping a la Do the Evolution at the end. Festival organizer and photographer Danny Clinch is invited out to play harmonica on Red Mosquito, bookending the 3-year absence nicely (he had played at the last Fenway show in 2018). Stone powers an intense, extended W.M.A. tag. The final Gigaton track to debut is Take the Long Way, punctuated by Mike’s heroics. Small Town is uplifting and cathartic. Stone thumps his chest as Given to Fly soars. Prior to Better Man, Ed relates the story of Bruce Springsteen’s 2020 DUI arrest in New Jersey, questioning the wisdom of the officers involved. Patti Smith’s People Have The Power is tagged on it, making its first appearance at a PJ show since 2010. Ed teases a couple of rafter climbs during Porch, only going up one step though. After the break, Ed introduces “some of Asbury’s finest local singers,” Jason, Alexander, Josh, and Michelle, and with piano accompaniment, they combine for a lovely version of Springsteen’s “My City Of Ruins,” which Ed had done solo but never before at a PJ show. Ed dedicates the second verse to Anita, a unique and special performance. Jeff and Stone jam together during the Alive solo, which also includes some of Voodoo Child at the very end. Lenny Kaye (from Patti Smith’s band) joins for a closing, celebratory Rockin’ in the Free World, the band having a blast and clearly glad to be back. Mike, masked up, takes the final solo down by the front row playing in front of a fan in a wheelchair. Light Years, Retrograde, Do the Evolution, River Cross, All Along The Watchtower, Unthought Known, and Down were all on the setlist but scratched for time.

September 4, 2018 – Fenway Park, Boston, MA, USA

Main Set: Given To Fly, Animal, Save You, Arms Aloft, Lightning Bolt, Red Mosquito, I Am Mine, U, Even Flow, Immortality, Taillights Fade, Not For You/(Modern Girl), Nothingman, Can’t Deny Me, Jeremy, Better Man/(Save It For Later), Porch

encore 1: Thumbing My Way, Imagine, Crazy Mary, Comatose, Go, Rearviewmirror

encore 2: Smile, Wasted Reprise, Life Wasted, (Dirty Frank tease)/Dirty Water, Alive, Baba O'Riley, Yellow Ledbetter/(Star-Spangled Banner)

Show Notes:

A little ballpark symmetry as Given to Fly opens, just like at Wrigley 2. The Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros cover “Arms Aloft” is the first of two covers in the main set, with the lyric changed to “Arms Aloft/in…

Show Notes: 

A little ballpark symmetry as Given to Fly opens, just like at Wrigley 2. The Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros cover “Arms Aloft” is the first of two covers in the main set, with the lyric changed to “Arms Aloft/in Fenway Park” instead of Aberdeen. The first of many guest appearances on the night sees famed photographer Danny Clinch join to play harmonica on a fantastic Red Mosquito. Leatherman is scratched from the original setlist in favor of another Yield b-side, U. Following Even Flow, Ed applauds Mike for playing so well while medicated, due to a sinus infection. He then introduces the next one by saying they are going to play it “a little differently” this time. Then, for the first time since the Orpheum in 1994, Ed sings the original lyrics to Immortality:

I could take the sun
Pour a cup to share with everyone
Need to feel some comfort in this world
I won’t take it all
I won’t say that nothing’s not my fault
Cannot feel the future in the wind

I could paint the moon
With the light reflected in my room
All I need’s a mirror for the glare
I could paint the Earth, how
With the love I feel for you and her
Needn’t I to alter in the air

After Immortality, Bill Janovitz from Buffalo Tom is back out for the 2nd night in a row. Bill says it’s “wicked awesome” to be there a second time, and he and Ed trade off lyrics on main set cover #2, Buffalo Tom’s Taillights Fade. During the bridge of Not For You, Ed starts a “Let’s Go Red Sox” chant. Introducing Can’t Deny Me, Ed claims the original title of the song was “Voting Is Your Superpower,” and Mark Guiliana (drummer on Matt Cameron’s solo record Cavedweller) is invited on stage to play cowbell. Ed claims the title of the song was originally “Voting Is Your Superpower.” Jeff adds the bass line from Sweet Emotion at the end of Jeremy, as a nod to Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton, who is in attendance. The Betterman tag finds Ed pondering whether he could find a better crowd: “Maybe Philly, that’s a pretty good crowd. New York City, that’s a pretty good crowd. Some nights it just feels like you can’t find a better crowd than Boston, Massachusetts…is tonight one of those nights? Whaddya got?” Coming back out for the encore, Ed says “the next time we play together we’re gonna be in the studio, [this is] the last time we’re gonna be playing in front of people for a while,” and that tonight “we’re gonna play until David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis [former Red Sox players] come and pull us off the stage.” This prompts Youkilis to take the stage carrying a guitar, holding it in his signature batting stance. Thumbing My Way is a request for a person Matt met, as well as a friend of Ed’s. Ed asks the crowd to hold their phones up to light the stadium for Imagine. Loud “Boooom” chants after Crazy Mary, as Ed mentions Team Hawaii won the Little League World Series and that Boom’s wife is involved with the league on the island. Over the Wasted Reprise bed, Ed says he’ll miss the Monster but hopes to be back in October (the Red Sox would end up winning the World Series). Life Wasted is dedicated to John Martin from the Red Sox video crew, who was stricken with ALS. The ever-elusive Dirty Frank is teased for about 30 seconds before a debut cover, Dirty Water by the Standells.

September 2, 2018 – Fenway Park, Boston, MA, USA

Main Set: Sometimes, Release, Low Light, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Why Go, Corduroy, Mind Your Manners, Down, Given To Fly, Army Reserve, Even Flow, Amongst The Waves, Daughter/(W.M.A./It's O.K.), Got Some, Do The Evolution, I Am A Patriot, Lukin, Porch

encore 1: I Won't Back Down, Just Breathe, Present Tense, Once, State Of Love And Trust, Tremor Christ, Black/(Waiting On A Friend/Time Heals), Taillights Fade, Blood/(Atomic Dog)

encore 2: Out Of My Mind, Alive, Rockin' In The Free World

Show Notes:

Band in great spirits from the start. Last line of Sometimes is changed to “You’d like it here…dear god.” After Low Light, Ed mentions Bono “losing his throat” the night before, and thanks him for his work with the Red…

Show Notes: 

Band in great spirits from the start. Last line of Sometimes is changed to “You’d like it here…dear god.” After Low Light, Ed mentions Bono “losing his throat” the night before, and thanks him for his work with the Red Campaign and other charitable/philanthropic endeavors, and asks the “Irish” crowd to wish the “Irishman” well. After a blistering Corduroy, driven by Matt, Ed takes a sip of wine and regales the crowd with a speech about the word ‘fuck’:

…you know, it can be used as a noun. Well, it can be used as a verb, which in its best way, you know, is romantic and ‘let’s fuck’. Or it can be insulting like ‘get fucked’…and I’ve got an adjective too…like ’fucking amazing’ like the Red Sox, they’re ‘fucking amazing.’ And anyone from Boston who might be booing, ‘fuck you.’ Or, you can use it as an adjective and a noun ‘you fucking fuck’ or an exclamation, which I’m realizing now because there might be kids in the audience and I’m thinking to myself ‘fuck!’ Sorry, sorry, fuck, sorry.

Before Given to Fly, Ed mentions that this is their 23rd show in Boston and dedicates it to a local named Dick, who worked putting on shows in the area and was recovering from a recent health scare. This version of I Am A Patriot starts off with the slow intro that develops into a raucous performance with a nod to the crowd, presumably full of New England Patriots fans, with Ed proclaiming “this is the one city in the world where you don’t have to introduce this one.” Ed changes into a Red Sox “Vedder 18” jersey during Porch, traversing the front of the crowd. After the first break, Ed brings out a red Fender Telecaster given to him by Tom Petty, saying “this is only the second time that I’ve taken this guitar out of my house, because a few years ago I gave Tom a guitar that he was looking for…and then a couple months later I got this beautiful red Red Sox color Telecaster in the mail from Tom, and he said ‘this was my baby for the last few tours, but I think there’s a few songs in it.’ So I brought it tonight. He played here in 2014 and he was right, there’s some songs in it. Maybe we can get his attention if we light some lights and make this place look like the church that it is for our dear friend Tom. Please sing along with me. I want him to hear. I love you Tom” leading to an emotional I Won’t Back Down. Tremor Christ seems to be added on the spot, Ed: “If I talk to the fellas, can we play a little something we don’t normally play? We’ll try it, if we fuck it up it will be my fault and it won’t be the first time and my wife’s here to attest to that.” After a soaring Black, Ed says that in July of 1991 the band stayed at a Howard Johnson’s across the street, and he and Jeff shared a room together, while Stone and Mike roomed together, and they lit incense and it was “so romantic,” then tells a story of how he snuck into Fenway and took two pictures behind home plate, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Ed comes onstage after the second break wearing a backwards #23 Red Sox batting helmet, and talks about pot being legal in Seattle, and that they rolled one up with something they found called “The Green Monster.” Bill Janovitz of Buffalo Tom joins for the debut cover of Taillights Fade. Out Of My Mind is played for the first time since the final Spectrum show in 2009, Ed making the shocking admission that the song doesn’t have set lyrics and that he just makes them up. Another Red Sox jersey is thrown at Mike during the Alive solo, but he doesn’t miss a beat and wears it on his shoulder for a few seconds before tossing it on a mic stand.

August 20, 2018 – Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL, USA

Show Covered by Podcast

Main Set: Given To Fly, Why Go, Go, Last Exit, Mind Your Manners, Do The Evolution, Rain, Throw Your Hatred Down, Even Flow, U, In My Tree, Immortality, Daughter/(It's O.K.), Unthought Known, Jeremy, I Am A Patriot, Lukin, Porch

encore 1: We're Going To Be Friends, Come Back, Corduroy, Black, Lightning Bolt, Rearviewmirror, Smile, Evil Little Goat, Leash, Alive, Baba O'Riley

Show Notes:

Ominous weather all day culminates with a 2 hour rain delay, bringing back memories of 2013. Ed enters wearing swim trunks, says “Good evening,” and asks the crowd to give themselves a big hand. Given to Fly lyric is altered…

Show Notes: 

Ominous weather all day culminates with a 2 hour rain delay, bringing back memories of 2013. Ed enters wearing swim trunks, says “Good evening,” and asks the crowd to give themselves a big hand. Given to Fly lyric is altered to “made it out to Wrigley felt the rain in the breeze.” Right on cue, rain begins pouring harder and continues through the next four songs. After Mind Your Manners, Ed asks to see the crowd and plays call-and-response. He refers to Boom and a Hawaiian expression that rain is a blessing, and explains that this night is the answer to his childhood dilemma: “it rains in heaven.” Do the Evolution lyrics are flubbed, Ed asking the crowd during Stone’s solo to “sing in the rain.” Rain is wonderful and appropriate. Throw Your Hatred Down is dedicated to the South Side, “with love.” Even Flow gets extended due to another blooper (to the dismay of Stone) and Ed improvises lyrics to make light of the situation. He praises Mike who, in his plaid pants, had his behind-the-back solo moment, shouts out Buddy Guy, and spots a “The Incredible Matt Fucking Cameron” sign, trying different versions of the phrase. “Goodbye Girl” intro to Immortality. Jeff, with “META-PHOR” still on his amps, referencing the Missoula controversy, shines during ‘Jeremy.’ After Lukin, Ed plays a reprise with “I’m going to Wrigley” lyrics. After the break, Ed comes onstage wearing a Chris Chelios jersey and announces that the band will no longer tour from April to October because he’s been offered a dream job to “smoke some pot and put up some numbers” in the scoreboard. White Stripes’ Lots of Chicago references during We’re Going to Be Friends. Chelios then appears with the late Stan Mikita’s jersey, and Come Back is played in his family’s honor with the 2016 World Series trophy in the background. “Go Cubs Go” call-and-response during Corduroy. Ed asks the band not to leave the stage during the “encore” transition due to approaching extended curfew. Smile is played by request. Dirty Frank chants are answered with the first live performance of Ten-era rehearsal track Evil Little Goat. Baba closes, with Danny Clinch playing harmonica and Ed destroying his blue telecaster. Poor Stone misses the band photo, and Ed thanks each section of the field by Cubs player name.

August 18, 2018 – Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL, USA

Show Covered by Podcast

Main Set: Wash, Low Light, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Breakerfall, Corduroy, Hail, Hail, Animal, Getaway, Leaving Here, Present Tense, Even Flow, Missing, Garden, Not For You/(Modern Girl), Can't Deny Me, Wishlist, I Won't Back Down, Porch

encore 1: Just Breathe, Sleeping By Myself, Footsteps, State Of Love And Trust, Breath, Know Your Rights, Do The Evolution, Alone, Rearviewmirror

encore 2: Rebel Rebel, Better Man, Alive, Rockin' In The Free World, Yellow Ledbetter

Show Notes:

Ever conscious of the band’s relationship with the weather at Wrigley, the opening lyrics of Wash are changed to “oh please don’t let it rain today…this city’s so fuckin pretty.” Low Light is played as the sun sets, always a…

Show Notes: 

Ever conscious of the band’s relationship with the weather at Wrigley, the opening lyrics of Wash are changed to “oh please don’t let it rain today…this city’s so fuckin pretty.” Low Light is played as the sun sets, always a special moment. The Wrigley crowd belts out Small Town, and Ed remarks “you sound warmed up.” 2 songs in the uptempo section make their 2018 debuts, Breakerfall and Getaway. Leaving Here early in the main set is a surprise, Ed asking everyone to “keep a high modicum of respect for your fellow man, and certainly the women.” After a fantastic Present Tense, Ed comments, “nice to play a song like that under the beautiful moon of Wrigley Field,” and continues, saying that he sees a sign that reads, “Play ‘Black, Red, Yellow’ you Evanston pussy.” Teasing, Ed responds “We played it two years ago…where were you? Mike, will you just rip his head off with the guitar during this next song?” and Mike obliges with a ridiculous Even Flow solo. Missing is played next, as a perfect and heartfelt tribute to Chris Cornell. Ed introduces Matt, saying, “it’s like being the greatest pitcher and the greatest hitter” (referring to Matt’s roles in PJ and Soundgarden). Not For You is extended, with a call and response section where Ed asks the crowd to “say hi to [Cubs manager] Joe Maddon,” and they go back and forth with “heyyyy Joe,” then talks about how he “sure found joy in this place as a 6/7-year-old.” After Wishlist, Ed talks about this guitar that he has never taken on the stage before, given to him by Tom Petty during his last tour and that the Wrigley stops meant so much to him. Ed asks the crowd to light up their phones so that “we can all see you..get Tom to come back and visit,” then treats the crowd to a solo electric version of I Won’t Back Down. In the encore, Dennis Rodman brings Ed a ukulele after Just Breathe and thanks Chicago for their support and for always believing in him. The two ‘Singles’ soundtrack songs are played back to back. Ed is giddy as he talks about the Cubs to open the second encore, giving a huge thanks to Tom Ricketts (Chairman of the Cubs) for saving the 2013 show. Ed brings Tom out to the stage with the World Series trophy as the video screens replay a dramatic Cubs walk-off. The celebration continues as Yellow Ledbetter closes the show. Ed switches the lyrics to “I want to come this way again” and signs off with “Thank you, Chicago…sure is nice being in centerfield.”

August 13, 2018 – Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, MT, USA

Main Set: Pendulum, Low Light, Go, Do The Evolution, Arms Aloft, Mind Your Manners, Corduroy, Pilate, Even Flow, In My Tree, Down, Lightning Bolt, Not For You/(Modern Girl), Daughter/(It’s O.K.), Setting Forth, Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town, Can’t Deny Me, Porch

encore 1: Bee Girl, Fatal, Imagine, Given To Fly, Throw Your Hatred Down, Better Man/(With or Without You/I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend/Save it For Later), Jeremy, Know Your Rights, Alive, Rockin’ In the Free World, Indifference

Show Notes:

The band partnered with Rock2Vote as well as several Montana organizations ahead of the 2018 midterm elections in setting up a festival on the grounds outside the stadium that included several musical acts and information booths, including “Goats for Votes”…

Show Notes: 

The band partnered with Rock2Vote as well as several Montana organizations ahead of the 2018 midterm elections in setting up a festival on the grounds outside the stadium that included several musical acts and information booths, including “Goats for Votes” featuring actual goats. Ed arrives on stage wearing an Evel Knievel (Montana native) jacket. After Mind Your Manners, Ed says that “music brings people together, and we are glad we have gotten together for an important reason,” and thanks Jeff for organizing this event, and for “inviting us, it’s nice to be back,” which inspires a “Jeff” chant, to which Ed toasts, leading Jeff to also partake from the wine bottle. Ed mentions he saw Paul McCartney in the same place and then plays a few bars of Blackbird.  He then mentions the Rolling Stones played there, prompting Mike and Matt to play a few bars of Jumpin’ Jack Flash. Then, Ed suggests they all play a different Rolling Stones song at the same time and counts it out, resulting in inevitable chaos. Crowd takes the final Even Flow chorus, followed by Ed offering that since they are on campus, he should give a history lesson, saying that their first real show 20 years ago with Matt Cameron was right here, and thanks Matt for “the best 20 years of this band’s life,” leading into In My Tree, which features “textbooks” instead of “newspapers” in the first line. After Down, Ed brings up the lights and points out a young girl on her dad’s shoulders who is keeping perfect time and giving him so much energy, remarking that it’s good to know that that is where the future of our country lies. He then gets the crowd to pass back a tambourine, which makes its way to her roughly 20-30 rows back despite Ed’s hesitancy noting “it’s better to give than to receive.” Lightning Bolt features the line “towards the great Big Sky.” Prior to Can’t Deny Me, Ed begins by remarking that election day should be a national holiday before noticing a couple in the front wearing matching “I Love Sex & Beer” shirts. He asks if they found each other today as they just happened to be wearing the same shirts, before getting each a beer, which they chug. He teases that he hopes that the other thing isn’t done as quickly. After the encore break Ed and Jeff appear alone on stage and Ed says  “can I talk about my friend Jeff Ament, a hometown hero? Our friend, the activist, philanthropist, not only is he an incredible skater, he builds skateparks and I would ask him how many he builds, but he doesn’t like to brag. He is much loved in the Seattle community and he’s never forgotten his roots here at home. Here’s our man, great bandmate, great bassist, writer, painter, Jeff Ament…Amen Ament. One more round as his mom and dad, George and Penny[…]on that fateful night a number of years ago, drunk on sex and beer, created this man here,” to which Jeff adds, “possibly.” Ed continues: “this is one of many collaborations…does that mean we colluded on this next song? We are guilty of collusion on this next song,” leading into Bee Girl. Betterman clocks in at nearly 9 minutes, with snippets of U2 and the Ramones before Save it for Later. Following Jeremy, Ed notes that this is the biggest benefit show they have ever done, and its importance with the upcoming midterm elections, and that they would never tell you who to vote for (while all band members have “Tester” shirts in honor of incumbent Senator Jon Tester). Ed dons the Evel Knievel jacket again before Indifference. Set heavy on Jeff songs, timely covers, and a unique 11-song encore.

August 10, 2018 – Safeco Field, Seattle, WA, USA

Main Set: Oceans, Footsteps, Nothingman, Why Go, Brain Of J., (Interstellar Overdrive)/Corduroy, Rats, In Hiding, Whipping, Even Flow, Missing, Daughter/(W.M.A./It’s O.K.), Immortality, I’m Open, Unthought Known, Can’t Deny Me, Do The Evolution, Lukin, Porch

encore 1: I Won’t Back Down, Thin Air, All Or None, Better Man/(Save It For Later), Crown Of Thorns, Kick Out The Jams, Spin The Black Circle, (Fernando)/Rearviewmirror

encore 2: Crazy Mary/(Paint It Black), Jeremy, Leash, Search And Destroy, Sonic Reducer, Alive, Baba O’Riley, Yellow Ledbetter

Show Notes:

Night 2 of The Home Shows, a two-night fundraiser supporting the homeless in Seattle. Many references to Seattle and ‘home’ through the night, starting with an “I’ll be home once more” lyric change in Oceans. Ed speaks after Corduroy: “Hello…

Show Notes: 

Night 2 of The Home Shows, a two-night fundraiser supporting the homeless in Seattle. Many references to Seattle and ‘home’ through the night, starting with an “I’ll be home once more” lyric change in Oceans. Ed speaks after Corduroy: “Hello family, hello friends, hello neighbors, hello visitors, hello Seattle.” Rats is dedicated to any “old Seattle residents that still might be residing.” After Whipping, Ed predicts that the world will be altered if people don’t show up in the elections. He then predicts that Mike will play out of his fucking mind, like always, but especially when he’s pissed off – he’s pissed off they are trying to tear down the Showbox, an iconic Seattle music venue. Later, during Even Flow, Ed starts a ‘Save our Showbox’ chant. Missing, a song from Chris Cornell’s Poncier tape, is debuted with no acknowledgement of Chris before or after. After Immortality, Ed introduces Matt and allows him to take a bow. He then tells a story about being excited about being in Rolling Stone for Temple of the Dog for the first time, even though Madonna was on the cover, and then intimates that Madonna even slapped his ass in front of his wife, and then tried to slap her ass as well, “but it didn’t work out.” He then shows Stone on the cover of Real Change magazine, saying “I’d take him over Madonna, he’s my kind of guy.” Ed is out solo after the break for I Won’t Back Down, saying he  wants to play the song to get Tom’s attention, so he can tell Tom that he misses him. Kim Thayil joins onstage prior to Kick Out the Jams. Kim shows his Chris Cornell t-shirt to the crowd and gets a huge crowd reaction. Spin the Black Circle is dedicated to Sub Pop Records. Rearviewmirror starts immediately after, and is aborted. Ed admits fault, saying he’s played the song “at least a couple times,” and drinks two huge pulls of the wine bottle, then continues: “I think I was playing the correct notes, but all I could hear is,” going into a few bars of Fernando by Abba. This seems to really amuse the rest of the band, all of them are seen smiling and laughing, as is most of the crowd. Before Search and Destroy, Kim Thayil is invited back, along with Mudhoney’s Steve Turner and Mark Arm. Lots of interaction between the guys during these two songs, the band all playing next to the guests, laughing and playing grab-ass. Lots of hugs as Ed acknowledges them again after Sonic Reducer. Before Yellow Ledbetter, Ed speaks again about local businesses contributing to the cause and giving portions of their sales, and again mentions homelessness, saying ”We want to be part of the solution…just don’t give up…this is not the time to give up, this is the time to rise up.”

Written by: Curtis Hames

August 8, 2018 – Safeco Field, Seattle, WA, USA

Main Set: Long Road, Release, Low Light, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, Corduroy, Go, Do The Evolution, Throw Your Hatred Down, Mind Your Manners, Lightning Bolt, Given To Fly, All Those Yesterdays, Even Flow, (Help!)/Help Help, Black, Setting Forth, I Am A Patriot, Porch

encore 1: We’re Going To Be Friends, Nothing As It Seems, Let Me Sleep, Breath, Again Today, State Of Love And Trust, Rearviewmirror

encore 2: Wasted Reprise, Better Man, Comfortably Numb, Alive, I’ve Got A Feeling, Rockin’ In The Free World, Yellow Ledbetter/(Little Wing)

Show Notes:

First hometown show in almost 5 years. Huge cheer following Corduroy is met by Ed commenting, “We are Pearl Jam. We are from Seattle, Washington. I guess that must mean we’re home.” Ed later jokes that Safeco is beautiful, unlike…

Show Notes: 

First hometown show in almost 5 years. Huge cheer following Corduroy is met by Ed commenting, “We are Pearl Jam. We are from Seattle, Washington. I guess that must mean we’re home.” Ed later jokes that Safeco is beautiful, unlike the old Kingdome, quipping “The old concrete gray lady…she was kind of a bitch.” Former Mariner Randy Johnson is in attendance, and Ed jokes that Randy’s favorite band is actually Soundgarden (at which point Mike busts into a Superunknown riff). Before Even Flow, Ed tells a story about the song’s origin: a homeless man Ed used to see in town way back in the early days named Eddie, a Black Vietnam vet who used to walk around in a strange blue tarp and a shopping cart. Ed used to talk to him while he was out getting lunch and coffee, and eventually, he couldn’t find Eddie anymore. Later he found out that the man passed away and never got to hear the song written about their conversations. After a stirring Black, Ed talks about how Jeff moved from Montana to Seattle in the early ‘80s and met a guy working at the local coffee joint by the name of Andy Wood. A slowed-down, Ed-only, vocals and guitar rendition of Help! serves as an intro to Help, Help. Patriot is full band, very energetic. Ed brings two of his daughter’s teachers on stage after the break and dedicates We’re Going To Be Friends to them. Let Me Sleep is introduced as “a song we wrote a long time ago, and it was one of those things about where you wrote about what you know.” Brandi Carlile joins for Again Today, exclaiming “This is a dream come true!” Before the second encore kicks off, Ed talks about the $11M raised by the 2 shows to fight homelessness, and encourages the crowd to keep the momentum going and get out and vote, and that we can do it together. He mutters “It could have been me” before Wasted Reprise. Betterman has the cool, extended Save It For Later tag. I’ve Got A Feeling is played in Seattle for the first time in 25 years.

Written by: Brian Horwitz

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