Rolling Stone Article: Review of London SB show.

VeddernarianVeddernarian Posts: 1,924
edited August 2009 in The Porch
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/i ... in-london/

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Pearl Jam Break Out New Songs, Rarities, Ronnie Wood in London
8/12/09, 10:41 am EST

Photo: Dyson/WireImage


Last night in London Pearl Jam broke out rarities, brand new songs and even the Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood. Playing in the legendary Shepherd’s Bush Empire, Eddie Vedder and Co. kicked off the evening with “Sometimes” from No Code before briefly visiting Pink Floyd’s “Interstellar Overdrive,” which served as a segue into “Corduroy.” The band then introduced “The Fixer,” the first single from their upcoming Backspacer, to the 2,000 stoked fans packed inside the tiny venue.

Get a look at Pearl Jam’s intimate London gig, in photos

Just four songs into the gig, frontman Vedder told the unsuspecting crowd, “You’re supposed to save the best for last, but we’re not,” as Wood sauntered onstage to lend his guitar skills to “All Along the Watchtower.” The group reveled in the moment while jamming out at length to the Dylan masterpiece before riding the momentum with inspired takes on old favorites “Why Go” and “Dissident.”

The energy of Wood’s appearance returned midway through the first set during “Even Flow” as Mike McCready bolstered the track with searing guitar leads and Matt Cameron added a thunderous drum solo. The band also dusted off gems including “Down,” “Present Tense” and “Low Light” for the fan club only audience. Pearl Jam introduced “Brother” and “Got Some,” two more tracks from Backspacer, at the end of the 18-song first set, separating the two with “Do the Evolution.”

See classic photos of the Rolling Stones onstage.

A solo Vedder opened the first encore with an acoustic performance of “The End,” the last track on the new album (watch it, below). The band returned for “Inside Job” and the crowd took over on “Betterman,” singing along on the first two verses with gusto. When the band launched into “Alive,” the room seemed to time-travel back to the early ’90s as crowd surfers stumbled their way to the front of the stage.

See Pearl Jam’s famous tour posters.

Answering the calls for a second encore, the band reclaimed the stage and Vedder spoke about his introduction to Arthur Alexander, the composer of their next tune, “Soldier of Love.” After rocking out to “State of Love and Trust” Pearl Jam enlisted Simon Townsend for help on his older brother’s tune “The Real Me” from the Who’s Quadrophenia. The familiar first notes of “Yellow Ledbetter” signaled the end as Vedder told the faithful, “This is how we say goodbye.”

Check out photos from Pearl Jam’s 2008 tour.

Pearl Jam’s mini European tour continues Thursday in Rotterdam with additional stops in Berlin, Manchester and London’s O2 Arena. The band recently announced more U.S. dates this fall and will also play a half-dozen outdoor gigs in Australia and New Zealand. Backspacer is due out on September 20th.

Set List

“Sometimes”
“Interstellar Overdrive”
“Corduroy”
“The Fixer”
“All Along The Watchtower”
“Why Go”
“Dissident”
“Severed Hand”
“Given To Fly”
“Low Light”
“Even Flow”
“Present Tense”
“Save You”
“Down”
“Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town”
“Brother”
“Do The Evolution”
“Got Some”

Encore:

“The End” (Eddie Solo)
“Inside Job”
“Betterman”
“Alive”

Encore Two:

“Soldier Of Love”
“State Of Love And Trust”
“The Real Me”
“Yellow Ledbetter”
Up here so high I start to shake, Up here so high the sky I scrape, I've no fear but for falling down, So look out below I am falling now, Falling down,...not staying down, Could’ve held me up, rather tear me down, Drown in the river
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • slightofjeffslightofjeff Posts: 7,762
    So Brother is going to be on Backspacer, eh? ;)
    everybody wants the most they can possibly get
    for the least they could possibly do
  • tcaporaletcaporale Posts: 1,577
    Ha, just a typo.

    Pretty good review though. It sure seems like it was a fun show.
  • mfc2006mfc2006 HTOWN Posts: 37,484
    cool pic of Stone & Ed...
    Picture4.png
    I LOVE MUSIC.
    www.cluthelee.com
    www.cluthe.com
  • Good review and I've read another good one in the London paper. However, I wish they'd stop referring to this show as a "fan-club only" show - it wasn't.

    If it was fanclub only there'd have been no general sale or HMV pre-sale. And I would have probably got in!!
    "We have to change the concept of patriotism to one of “matriotism” — love of humanity that transcends war. A matriarch would never send her own children off to wars that kill other people’s children." Cindy Sheehan
    ---
    London, Brixton, 14 July 1993
    London, Wembley, 1996
    London, Wembley, 18 June 2007
    London, O2, 18 August 2009
    London, Hammersmith Apollo (Ed solo), 31 July 2012
    Milton Keynes Bowl, 11 July 2014
    London, Hammersmith Apollo (Ed solo), 06 June 2017
    London, O2, 18 June 2018
    London, O2, 17 July 2018
    Amsterdam, Afas Live (Ed solo), 09 June 2019
    Amsterdam, Afas Live (Ed solo), 10 June 2019



  • Gary CarterGary Carter Posts: 14,067
    So Brother is going to be on Backspacer, eh? ;)
    :lol::lol:
    Ron: I just don't feel like going out tonight
    Sammi: Wanna just break up?

  • Force Of NatureForce Of Nature York, England Posts: 1,109
    So Brother is going to be on Backspacer, eh? ;)

    i read another review that said last exit was played. now, unless i was getting so into the moment i didnt realise they played it, the reviewer was wrong. cant pearl jam just let me go to all their shows and i'll review each show properly ;)
  • mjbmjb Posts: 1,315
    More of a summary than a review, no?
  • Weak that there were no pics of Boom, Mike, Matt or Jeff in Rolling Stone

    It ain't the fuckin' Eddie Vedder Band...

    Sorry, but fair is fair, no?
    "No way to save someone who won't take the rope,and just lets go..."
  • PaukPauk Posts: 1,084
    I would've liked a decent photo of Stone. :( He seemed to get into the groove a bit more than he usually does, and I love his new hair!
    Paul
    '06 - London, Dublin, Reading
    '07 - Katowice, Wembley, Dusseldorf, Copenhagen, Nijmegen
    '09 - London, Manchester, London
    '12 - Manchester, Manchester, Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen
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