Gig review: Pearl Jam in Auckland
By CHRIS SCHULZ - Stuff.co.nz
It's taken them 11 years to perform in New Zealand again, but Pearl Jam's Auckland show felt like a homecoming celebration. Chris Schulz was there.
Pearl Jam
Where: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
When: Friday, November 27
Long hair, flannel shirts, extreme guitar solos, a Neil Young cover, an appearance by at least two members of the Finn family and Eddie Vedder sculling wine straight from the bottle.
It might be 11 years since Pearl Jam last played in New Zealand and 18 years since their debut album Ten was released in grunge's heyday, but things haven't changed that much for Vedder and the boys.
Their shows still sell out, the angsty front man likes to bring his friends on stage, and Pearl Jam's hugely enthusiastic fans still know every single word of spine-tingling ballad Betterman and can sing it without assistance.
And, continuing the mayhem that marked both the band's shows in 1995 and 1998 at the Mt Smart Supertop, the moshpit at the front of Pearl Jam's shows still looks like one of the world's most dangerous places.
An obviously concerned Vedder was forced to issue the first of the night's many warnings at the band's sold out show at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland after just the first two songs, pleading with the crowd to take "three steps back" and singling out a particular rowdy group of guys holding up proceedings.
"I've got my eye on you," he warned, waving his finger at them. "You keep your promise to behave and we'll pay you back - don't worry about that."
A wine-sculling Vedder kept his word as the band worked its way through a greatest hits set list that ran for more than two hours and included covers, B-sides, guest appearances and tracks from each of their nine albums.
They opened with Daughter, a song that soon had the stadium's 32,000 fans up on their feet rocking, swaying and singing in unison, before finding their stride with a stunning Faithful as Vedder punched the air for added effect.
Showing no signs of the cold that cut the band's show short in Sydney earlier in the week, Vedder was in fine form, whether he was stealing the spotlight for solo versions of Just Breathe, Life Wasted and Betterman, cooing seductively through a stunning Black, or tailoring Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town to make light of the band's 11 year absence.
"It won't be 11 years till the next time we come," he promised to cheers. "Maybe we'll come stay for 11 years."
The 44 year-old may have lightened up a little these days, but he still has the steely-eyed intensity that made him a hero to millions of teens in the early 90s. His trademarks - gripping the microphone with both hands, shaking his head when he's in the middle of a gravelly howl and pulling sweat-drenched hair out of his eyes - are moves that should be studied by all young rock stars.
Vedder was happy to take a back seat too, letting guitarist Mike McCready lead the way with a Guinness World Record-threatening guitar solo during Even Flow, inviting opening act Ben Harper on stage to play slide guitar on a squealy Red Mosquito, and singing back up vocals for Neil and Liam Finn as the father-and-son Kiwi duo dedicated a stirring rendition of Not Given Lightly to the song's creator Chris Knox.
Pearl Jam were at their best when they were giving that moshpit a reason to bounce, from an epic Corduroy and Matt Cameron drumming showcase Given To Fly, to fast-paced early tracks Porch and Why Go from Ten. And songs from this year's acclaimed comeback album Backspacer - Among The Waves, Johnny Guitar and current single The Fixer - stood up surprisingly well against their older material.
It was a shame their second encore was cut short with brief versions of Neil Young's Rockin' In The Free World and Yellow Ledbetter played as the stadium's floodlights came on. Are there noise restrictions in South Auckland?
But despite that, and the 11 year wait, tonight's show - from Vedder's obvious affection for the country, to Hawaiian keyboardist Boom Gaspar's All Black top - felt somewhat like a homecoming celebration.
Yep, just like your favourite flannel shirt, Pearl Jam still seem to fit just right.
*What did you think of the show? Post your comments below.
Sponsored links
Newest First
Oldest First
what a great show.daughter such a great start.free world and ledbetter to finish.it felt like a blessing.come back soon
I saw Pearl Jam with my brothers in Wellington in '98. From what I hear the concert was good the other nite in Auckland. Only proves that Pearl Jam are The Band for good reason. They Kick It Live. Rock on Christchurch. Iron Maiden was good too in ChCh.
"Rockin' In The Free World and Yellow Ledbetter played as the stadium's floodlights came on. Are there noise restrictions in South Auckland?"
I know it's been a long time since they've played NZ, but trust me, that happens at every show at the band's request, so that they can see the whole crowd at the end of the night.
Holding the microphone is Eddie Vedder's "trademark"???!!! Wow, then there's a hell of a lot of rock singers (the vast majority, I'd say!) who owe him royalties then...
Oh, and @ Lisa - LOVED your banner! 100 SalPoints(TM) to you.
To everyone who keeps moaning PJ didn't play 'Alive' and 'Jeremy' - I reckon it's pretty reasonable to let them rotate their old favourites rather than churning out the same crowd-pleasers gig after gig. Would rather they didn't play all their old stuff if it means they don't get sick of it! And their new album's amazing. 'Johnny Guitar' rocks my life.
Fantastic show. Could have given Mr Harper a bit more of a mention - somehow I'd never bothered to see him live and was pleasantly surprised at how more powerful his voice and music are live than recorded. THAT note - could anyone forget it? And thanks to his shout-out to the stoners I got high for free down the front. Cheers.
I have waited 14years to see PJ and they were nothing short of amazing, opening with Daughter was splendid, not too mention the intensity with which they played was mind blowing!
For anyone wanting to know the setlist, head over to setlist.fm (http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/pearl-jam/2009/mt-smart-stadium-auckland-new-zealand-6bd726c6.html)
@ Lisa #73
Nice! saw your banner go up from my lofty perch at the back of the east stand, it was a cool moment. Did you get it back?
@ McCready #42
What everyone else said. The notion that PJ are somehow ripping off Creed is completely barking.
@ Wyatt420 #12
Mate, you are either a troll or a tool for thinking that you 'win' a moshpit.
Amazing concert but pretty disappointed that Alive and Jeremy weren't even played. and dangerous moshing? I was at the very front and everyone was politely chilling out =/
Life changing. They were unbelievably awesome. Totally affected. Love you Eddie
Yo neen! identify yourself im from Te awamutu as well
epic concert, had studied the tour sets for a few weeks for some indurstry work I do and Auckland defiantly got a better set that Australia
Super Bowl ad irks White Stripes
Lil Wayne sentencing postponed
Fox used hand double for sexy ad
Eva Longoria in porn Tweet mishap
Horror movie causes panic attacks
Perez Hilton, Black Eyed Peas reach settlement
Piecing together the Lost puzzle
Beyonce, Alicia film video in slum
Lindsay Lohan's Jesus Christ pose
Angelina Jolie visits quake-hit Haiti
Jury sees site where Liberty Templeman's body found
SPCA steps in on injured dog standoff
Base jumper injured in 30m fall
Govt poised to make taxi safety measures compulsory
Referee says rugby has to change
Operation Titstorm hackers strike Australia
'Lovesick' student sparked airport alert
Paranormal Activity too scary for Italians
Principal accused of sunburn bribe
Eva Longoria in porn Tweet mishap
SPCA steps in on injured dog standoff
Daily trivia quiz: February 10
'Very white' Australian rugby cops criticism
Principal accused of sunburn bribe
Pattinson sex scenes 'disturbing'
Fantastic panoramic of Taranaki
Baby elephant a natural show-off
SPCA steps in on injured dog standoff
Plan to claw back $1.7b by axing depreciation tax breaks
Fifth of adults choose pets over partner
Key 'no GST rise' video emerges
Kong movie ship scuttled in strait
Outrage as Key signals national park mining
SPCA steps in on injured dog standoff
Key confirms GST increase being considered
A pass for Key, but much more to do
Lindsay Lohan's Jesus Christ pose
Sanzar and Sky decide it's time to titillate the fans
How do you feel about Fall Out Boy splitting up?
does anyone know the songs played by ben harper?? and in what order? AMAZING concert!!!!