Concert Review: Pearl Jam

I saw Pearl Jam live for the first time last night. We were sitting in the upper bowl behind and to the side of the stage. They had no back curtain, so my first thought was this show was going to be about the music, not flashy video and gimmicks.

I was impressed with how we could easily see everything on the stage, the lights, the gear, and the band, who would often turn around and rock out to us "behind the scenes". However, while there were a few speakers pointed our way, I could barely make out the in-between song talk from Eddie. No idea what he was saying. The sound in the coliseum sucks to begin with, but if they're going to have a full concert bowl with a quarter of fans behind them, the sound needs way more work.

I didn't recognize a lot of the songs, as I've never been a hard core fan, but I was still expecting a decent mix of tunes, and that they'd play their more popular ones. One of my favourites they play, and our band even plays it, is "Alive". I waited and waited. And after a full two hours, two encores, even playing with the house lights up, they never played it. You could feel the anticipation in the air, and then a lot of disappointment.

I've always said that Pearl Jam picked up where Led Zeppelin left off and this concert reminded me of watching old Zep videos of their long jams and solos, with blues, and the like. However, having two to three guitars at a time, was a bit much, and hard to distinguish the intricacies and detail of these talented musicians. There's no doubt these guys enjoy playing live, lots of movement from the guitar players, but without a doubt, the focus was on Eddie.

So then a song like "Better Man" comes along with a single light pointed Eddie Vedder, long hair and all, and his Fender Stratocaster. I had no idea HE was the one who played it at the beginning and this was a surprise. Then with all the lights out, the crowd inundated the bowl with lighters. Reminded me of the time I saw George Bush Sr. make a speech in the same spot 10 years ago about "A Thousand Points of Light". You could hear the crowd sing along "Waiting. Watching the clock, it's four o'clock, it's got to stop..." while pretending you're floating in space looking at the stars. Truly a moment I won't forget. Then it kicked up with lights on and it was great.

But then they'd play some really slow long drawn out songs, that didn't seem to go anywhere. This was that boring mope rock at it's finest. I could make out some of his political diatribes. I've never been a fan of artists mixing wtih politics. They really have no pull whatsoever. Stick to the music. I don't mind a charitable cause, as Pearl Jam brings needed attention to Crohns Colitis disease. I also like the Free Tibet campaign many artists get involved in, but partisan politics doesn't fly well.

Eddie's a funny guy though. "Tomorrow we're going to Saskatoon. Saskatoon. Do they have electricity there?"

Anyway, I hear that die hard fans loved the show. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. I would have preferred to see them in a more intimate setting at a smaller show. Will I see them again? Sadly, no. Most concerts I go to, there is an element of "WOW!". There were a couple times that almost happened.

Snaky gives Pearl Jam live in Edmonton 2.6 fists out of 5.