Tag Archives: Eddie Vedder

An Evening With Pearl Jam: Live at Hampton Coliseum

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In early April Seattle, WA grunge rockers Pearl Jam embarked on a tour celebrating their 25th year as a band with no opening act. The tour made a stop in Hampton, VA at the famous Coliseum also known as the Mothership because of its dome shape. After deciding a few hours before show time to cancel their next stop on the tour in Raleigh, NC due to their opposition to the controversial House Bill 2 (HB2) they had recently passed, front man Eddie Vedder had a little extra aggression and energy for the performance opening with fast paced songs ‘Why Go’, ‘Mind Your Manners’, and ‘Corduroy.’ The crowd was in for a good show.

Pearl Jam, by Matt Lambert

Pearl Jam, by Matt Lambert

 

Pearl Jam, by Matt Lambert

Pearl Jam, by Matt Lambert

For those of you that aren’t aware, Pearl Jam is one of those bands that people follow around on tour because of their unique set lists, no two shows are ever identical. The show was no different, the band is great at tying in local stories, memories and people to incorporate them in the live show. Ed commented on how beautiful Hampton, VA was and that they hadn’t played in 8 years comparing it to the locust schedule. For a little over three hours the band played 32 total songs from 8 of their 10 studio albums as well as covers like ‘I am a Patriot,’ ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ and rare singles like ‘Breath’ from the Singles soundtrack, the whole show was engaging and left no one disappointed. Lead guitarist Mike McCready’s solos were on point most notable during ‘Even Flow’ and Soundgarden drummer turned Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron was keeping the beat behind the kit. Bassist Jeff Ament, rhythm guitarist Stone Gossard along with keyboardist Boom Gaspar glued it all together. Ed even performed a song from his solo efforts ‘Sleeping by Myself’ with full band help, and noting that Chris McCandless’ sister was in the crowd he played ‘Setting Forth’ from Into the Wild soundtrack (the film that was about Chris McCandless’ life).

Pearl Jam, by Matt Lambert

Pearl Jam, by Matt Lambert

 

 

Pearl Jam, by Matt Lambert

Pearl Jam, by Matt Lambert

 

Pearl Jam, by Matt Lambert

Pearl Jam, by Matt Lambert

 

Pearl Jam, by Matt Lambert

Pearl Jam, by Matt Lambert

Author’s note: I drove over 600 miles to get to the concert it was worth all of it. Pearl Jam is like one of the seven wonders of live rock and have to be seen at least once. Check out the rest of their tour dates at pearljam.com/tour.

Pearl Jam Set List:

Why Go

Mind Your Manners

Corduroy

Brain of J.

Faithfull

I Am Mine

Jeremy

Setting Forth

Even Flow

Daughter

Long Road

Wishlist

Sirens

Habit

Given to Fly

Lukin

Rearviewmirror

I Am a Patriot Cover

Sleeping By Myself

Come Back

Sad

Lightning Bolt

In My Tree

Breath

Do the Evolution

Porch

Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town

Inside Job

Black

Alive

Rockin’ in the Free World Cover

Indifference

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WORDS AND PHOTOS BY MATT LAMBERT

 

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Kristian Harting – Summer of Crush

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Much as with Eddie Vedder’s ukulele musings, there’s often debate as to whether the somewhat-less-than-Heavy products of Rock stars deserve attention from the scene purely because of their purveyors’ status. Step forth Dane Kristian Harting, whose early Thrash / Noise tendencies are sacrificed in favour of a spiky, summery Americana.

There are moments of true beauty within Summer of Crush (Exile on Mainstream): the harmonies of opener ‘Traveller’ and ‘White Spirits’ touching the heart alongside Harting’s honeyed airs, the latter tracks squalling lead guitar adding a post-style crush to an acoustic riff which evokes those late ‘Hippy’ highs such as CSNY. ‘Temporary Rooms’ and ‘How High’ have a Country Pop twang, the vocal adding some real sunshine to worlds normally coated in a hellish darkness.

The insouciant chanting of the brief ‘I Am You 2’, fired by a pedal-affected riff which resonates through the instrumental ‘Spirits Revisited’, adds experimentation and atmosphere to a largely stripped-down sound. ‘Ship Of Fools’, meanwhile, sees those of us of a ‘bongo’ bent patted into ecstasy alongside a harsher yet still melodic vocal and more atmospheric organ, increasing to a euphoric crescendo in not dissimilar fashion to early 90s Rock adventurers Largo.

More hostile squealing punctures the fragile, sparing lilt of ‘Digging Up Graves’ and it’s here that one fully realises the level of creativity and skill on display. It would be easy for these brief flurries of Harting’s roots to stick out like sore thumbs and make a track ‘clunky’ by merely not belonging. Here, they have an organic meld like instant displays of emotion: the fizz of lead squalls in the hypnotic, dreamy ‘South North Passage’ epitomising the rude disturbance of a deep meditation, telling its story wonderfully.

The main feature is of course that light melody, reminiscent of late Beatles or Oasis in the penultimate ’Soul Sister’: an edgy, electro-brushed ballad which could be the final straw for some yet, for those of us who are capable of appreciating the softer things in life, the gathering of the most heavenly aspects of an album both delightfully enticing, and just barely Rock.

7.5/10.0

PAUL QUINN


Eddie Vedder, Pete Townsend Celebrating The Who With Benefit For Teen Cancer America In May

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The Who guitarist Pete Townsend and co-founder of Teen Cancer America will be teaming up with Evanston, IL native and Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder on May 14, 2015 at the Rosemont Theatre.

Money raised from this show will be used to support programs for teenagers and young adults with cancer at the University of Chicago Medicine along with other local children’s charities.

For over 15 years, The Who bandmembers have been patrons of the successful U.K. charity Teenage Cancer Trust. Through their efforts, the rock group has raised millions of dollars through performances and special events. In 2012, Roger Daltrey and Townshend established Teen Cancer America to replicate their work in this country. Townshend has chosen Chicago as the city to host this very special fundraising performance. Vedder, who has supported teen cancer fundraising efforts by accompanying The Who in various performances, will step up once again to help make this a night to remember.

Townshend and Vedder will be accompanied by Zak Starkey (drums), Simon Townshend (guitar), Pino Palladino (bass), John Corey (keyboards), Loren Gold (keyboards) and Frank Simes (keyboards).


US President Obama Concludes Holiday Break With Visit With Pearl Jam Singer

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The Associated Press reported that US President Barack Obama concluded his winter break by taking his daughters Sasha and Malia to visit Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder in Oahu, Hawaii, and spending less that half an hour with him. The Obamas spent a two week holiday in a vacation home nearby.

In 2012, Vedder helped raise $1.7million at a fundraiser for Obama’s re-election campaign. The singer performed two Pearl Jam Songs, ‘Rise’ and ‘Without You’, plus covers of James Taylor’s ‘Millworker’ and Neil Young’s ‘Rockin’ In The Free World’, at a $20,000 ticket event, and spoke to the crowd about how he was able to achieve his dream of being a musician.

In October last year, Pearl Jam premiered a new song called ‘Moline’ at a show in the Illinois city that inspired the track. The song followed a surprise performance of the band’s 1996 album ‘No Code’ from start to finish.


Deathkings – Destroyer

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This vinyl reissue of the debut album from LA quartet Deathkings, originally released in 2011 and now remastered to split the original three tracks into four, wraps a doom / sludge centre inside a lazy stoner vibe, for the most part decorated in a bellowing roar reminiscent of Kurt Windstein or Matt Pike. The slow, pulsating start to Destroyer (Midnite Collective) verges on melancholic until a deep, buzzing riff meets drums burying themselves into the mind, with the accompanying lead possessing a mournful feel. The quieter bridges of opener ‘Halo of the Sun’ have an introspective air occasionally touching on drone, with clean vocals evoking Eddie Vedder’s more subtle moments. These mantras give added depth and meaning to a brutally heavy yet hypnotic track, an aching sadness blending with resigned pleas for sense and sanity.

There are no prolonged repetitive passages here, but that gives the album magnetism. A metronomic pulse opens ‘Martyrs Vol. I’ leads to a slowly pounding, grinding anger; a passionate vocal performance dragging along a protesting rhythm section which, despite being dynamic, is delightfully laconic on occasion. The rumbling bass of ‘Martyrs Vol. II’ gives a sedentary yet constant movement to a tragic tale, told with such feeling that it’s impossible not to empathise with the victims. The strange organic structure shows adventure and points to a progressive sensibility, but there are no ineffective noodlings or indulgent drifting, every ingredient is crucial to the story.

The tortured roars and chants of the closing title track are carried by a latent beat and gently throbbing riff which, during moments of swelling crescendo, burst with a paradoxical euphoria whilst being accompanied by brief spiralling leads. A chant of the Bhagavad Gita quote made infamous by Oppenheimer ushers in a delicate, mournful passage where the band’s purpose – despair of destruction – becomes clear, it’s a message constantly emphasised through fluctuating elements of power and lamentation to the close.

Despite appearing a little aimless and dull on first listen, repeated plays open up the emotion, intricacy and creative glory of a quite spellbinding set.

8.0/10.0

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PAUL QUINN