Since closing out the last ever Big Day Out festival tour in 2014, Pearl Jam had yet to return to Australia until this spring.
A ten-year wait between visits not only generated three standout studio albums for the Seattle-based rockers, but also feverish anticipation and fervent appreciation for their monumental return.The vibe in Melbourne in the 24 hours preceding the show was abuzz, with a pop-up store downtown offering an early release on official merchandise, drawing crowds of thousands to queue up for hours to secure limited, concert-specific goodies. The city was then awash with all manner of PJ-themed paraphernalia.
T-shirts came in especially handy, with temperatures reaching 33°c on show day (16 November), measures were being taken to keep cool, tricky in the heightened build-up to what was sure to be a life-affirming night of song, story and celebration.
With a red wine bottle in hand and songbook in the other, Eddie Vedder, the jolly band leader and famed songwriter, strolled out to centre stage as the lights dimmed, with guitarists flanking the sides.
Image © Mike Lockheart
The show opened with a burst of energy as 'Why Go' ignited the audience, followed by the heartfelt anthem 'Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town', with its powerful, sing-along chorus echoing through the stadium.
Vedder, wearing shorts reminiscent of his early days, assured the audience it wasn't nostalgia but practicality in the heat, sparking laughter and applause.
'Given To Fly' then soared with its uplifting melody, featuring a breathtaking aerial film of the stadium itself, and 'Hail, Hail' packed its usual punch, reinforcing the band's enduring chemistry and penchant for the odd hard rocking rager. The transition to 'Corduroy' had the crowd in a frenzy, a quintessential Pearl Jam classic still resonating after decades of airplay.
As the set progressed, the focus shifted to their latest album, 'Dark Matter'. Before launching into the brooding title track, Vedder paraphrased Duke Ellington, praising drummer Matt Cameron with: "If you have a great drummer, you have a great band."
Image © Mike Lockheart
The sentiment rang true as Cameron's impeccable timing anchored a heavy, atmospheric rendition of 'Dark Matter', showcasing the band's ability to innovate while staying true to their roots.
Mike McCready took centre stage with a blistering solo reminiscent of Van Halen's 'Eruption', demonstrating his virtuosic talent before seamlessly transitioning into 'Wreckage'. This track, also from 'Dark Matter', was accompanied by breathtaking visuals of waves crashing in slow motion on the massive LED screens. The new material shone brightly, though its impact was somewhat diminished when placed amidst the opening string of beloved classics.
A standout moment came with 'Garden', introduced as a dedication to an anonymous fan Vedder had met earlier in the day. Bathed in a turquoise and green glow, the song created an ethereal atmosphere. Families, friends, and strangers linked arms as McCready's emotive solo enveloped the stadium, a testament to Pearl Jam's ability to create communal experiences.
Image © Mike Lockheart
Vedder's heartfelt reflection on the band's 34-year journey added depth to the evening: "It boggles our minds to come all this way across the planet to play our music. We love each other, like brothers, but you make us be close." This gratitude set the stage for a rip-roaring 'Even Flow', with each band member delivering virtuosic performances that electrified the crowd.
While every song was delivered with passion, 'Porch' stood out as the night's most exhilarating performance. McCready's guitar solo seemed to defy gravity, elongating the song into a dizzying crescendo. Meanwhile, Vedder wandered the far reaches of the stage, connecting with fans in the furthest corners of the cavernous venue.
The encore began on a quieter, intimate note with Vedder performing a solo-acoustic rendition of 'Just Breathe' followed by 'Inside Job', before building to anthemic heights with 'Do The Evolution' and 'Better Man'.
The latter saw the entire stadium on its feet, singing in unison – a moment of collective joy that was both spectacular and deafening, bringing together friends, families, generations in unified song, something only a band like Pearl Jam can achieve, wearing authenticity firmly on their sleeve.
Image © Mike Lockheart
The transition from 'State Of Love And Trust' to 'Alive' was euphoric, the house lights coming on to reveal a sea of elated faces, and a not so subtle nod to the fact the band were exceeding the sound curfew, though they paid little heed, much to the delight of the crowd.
The night concluded with a powerful trifecta: Neil Young's 'Rockin' In The Free World', featuring a raucous full-band jam, and the iconic 'Yellow Ledbetter'. McCready, now wielding a vintage Stratocaster, delivered subtle nods to Jimi Hendrix's 'Hey Joe', capping the night with a sense of reverence for rock history.
This concert, the first of two nights in Melbourne, before a further two shows in Sydney is an opportunity to catch the grunge-rock legends at their very best. With a revolving door of songs to choose from, the set list in Melbourne was solid, surprising and a fantasy come true for a first time PJ attendee like myself.
More photos from the concert.
