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Pearl Jam Fans Were Pleased, Entertained. NEWS ARTICLE 6/14
Jeremys Spoken
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Pearl Jam Fans Were Pleased, Entertained
By JENNIFER CANADY
LEDGER CORRESPONDENT
Published: Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.
Having floor seats for Pearl Jam might very well be the nirvana of alternative rock. Remember Pearl Jam? That CD (OK, cassette) you had back in high school?
With a packed house at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa on Thursday night, it seems this group has longevity to go with its classic no-frills style.
A Pearl Jam concert does not mean tricked-out video displays and cool visual effects. But the enjoyment of their art along with a completely insane fan base makes for a great evening sans technology.
After the opening act Kings of Leon finished their set, Pearl Jam took the stage at about 9 to thunderous applause. Decked out in a peace sign T-shirt, Eddie Vedder was a master of vocals from beginning to end. Favorites such as "Sleight of Hand," "Better Man" and "Daughter" were welcomed by the fans who stood for more than two hours to see a group that has been absent in the Tampa Bay area for the last eight years.
For such a laid-back group, Pearl Jam managed to put in some political jabs along the way. Vedder compared one of the baseball players on his much-loved Chicago Cubs team to Barack Obama. The crowd booed and cheered over his comments about how it doesn't really matter what color someone's skin is, but what they do. Later in the concert, Vedder took time to welcome a voting registration group and encourage the audience to register and make their voices be heard.
Each song in Pearl Jam's set felt like an anthem for the audience. Popular songs like "Even Flow" and "Alive" left fans out of breath from jumping and pumping fists to the air.
During the song "Wishlist," Vedder changed the lyrics around a bit to sing that he wished he was the president. The crowd went wild to this idea. Interesting. Eddie Vedder for president. Certainly something to ponder.
In the end, after two encore sets with a few songs in each, the house lights came up for the ending songs so the band could connect with fans. Vedder made a point of thanking a dad and his 3-year-old daughter in the audience for coming out and for her staying awake the entire concert. The final song, "Yellow Ledbetter," was what fans were waiting to hear. To complete the political awareness theme, guitarist Mike McCready ended the show with a Jimi Hendrix-esque version of the "Star Spangled Banner."
Here's hoping it won't be another eight years before we get to see Pearl Jam again. I, for one, can't wait for the next show.
By JENNIFER CANADY
LEDGER CORRESPONDENT
Published: Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.
Having floor seats for Pearl Jam might very well be the nirvana of alternative rock. Remember Pearl Jam? That CD (OK, cassette) you had back in high school?
With a packed house at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa on Thursday night, it seems this group has longevity to go with its classic no-frills style.
A Pearl Jam concert does not mean tricked-out video displays and cool visual effects. But the enjoyment of their art along with a completely insane fan base makes for a great evening sans technology.
After the opening act Kings of Leon finished their set, Pearl Jam took the stage at about 9 to thunderous applause. Decked out in a peace sign T-shirt, Eddie Vedder was a master of vocals from beginning to end. Favorites such as "Sleight of Hand," "Better Man" and "Daughter" were welcomed by the fans who stood for more than two hours to see a group that has been absent in the Tampa Bay area for the last eight years.
For such a laid-back group, Pearl Jam managed to put in some political jabs along the way. Vedder compared one of the baseball players on his much-loved Chicago Cubs team to Barack Obama. The crowd booed and cheered over his comments about how it doesn't really matter what color someone's skin is, but what they do. Later in the concert, Vedder took time to welcome a voting registration group and encourage the audience to register and make their voices be heard.
Each song in Pearl Jam's set felt like an anthem for the audience. Popular songs like "Even Flow" and "Alive" left fans out of breath from jumping and pumping fists to the air.
During the song "Wishlist," Vedder changed the lyrics around a bit to sing that he wished he was the president. The crowd went wild to this idea. Interesting. Eddie Vedder for president. Certainly something to ponder.
In the end, after two encore sets with a few songs in each, the house lights came up for the ending songs so the band could connect with fans. Vedder made a point of thanking a dad and his 3-year-old daughter in the audience for coming out and for her staying awake the entire concert. The final song, "Yellow Ledbetter," was what fans were waiting to hear. To complete the political awareness theme, guitarist Mike McCready ended the show with a Jimi Hendrix-esque version of the "Star Spangled Banner."
Here's hoping it won't be another eight years before we get to see Pearl Jam again. I, for one, can't wait for the next show.
2008 - MSG 6/24-6/25
2010 - Newark 5/18 MSG 5/21
2011 - PJ20 9/3-9/4
2012 - MIA Festival 9/2
2013 - Wrigley Field 7/19 Brooklyn 10/18-10/19 Philly 10/22
2015 - Colbert show - 9/23 Global Citizens Festival 9/26
2016 - Philly 4/28-4/29 MSG 5/1-5/2
2010 - Newark 5/18 MSG 5/21
2011 - PJ20 9/3-9/4
2012 - MIA Festival 9/2
2013 - Wrigley Field 7/19 Brooklyn 10/18-10/19 Philly 10/22
2015 - Colbert show - 9/23 Global Citizens Festival 9/26
2016 - Philly 4/28-4/29 MSG 5/1-5/2
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2010 - Newark 5/18 MSG 5/21
2011 - PJ20 9/3-9/4
2012 - MIA Festival 9/2
2013 - Wrigley Field 7/19 Brooklyn 10/18-10/19 Philly 10/22
2015 - Colbert show - 9/23 Global Citizens Festival 9/26
2016 - Philly 4/28-4/29 MSG 5/1-5/2
I don't think I was dreaming, but I believe I saw Pearl Jam in Tampa in 2003.
Not certain, but thought he said that.