Live Review – Pearl Jam

If Pearl Jam were an AFL footballer they wouldn’t be Buddy Franklin (that might be someone like Prince – prodigiously talented but somewhat erratic). They wouldn’t be Chris Judd (that could be more your Bruce Springsteen – passionate, yet meticulously prepared, professionally presented and secure in the knowledge of your ability to deliver). They wouldn’t be Gary Ablett (that would be more likely to be REM – possessed with all the skills but also with a twist of the eccentric that sets them apart). They wouldn’t be Brendan Fevola either (a matchwinner on his day, but fatally flawed at other times – that sounds more like Guns N Roses).

No, if Pearl Jam were an AFL footballer they would be Lenny Hayes.

Lenny Hayes is the footballer’s footballer. He has no shortage of talent and his finest moments are sublime but his stock in trade is more the hard ball get and the inside work. He’s not flashy – he’ll probably never win Mark of The Year or Goal of The Year but he the sort of player you’d want on your side when the going got tough. He’s legitimate, reliable, hard working and rock solid. He’s never really had more than a couple of games when he’s been out of form. He gives value for money and he is enduring. He’ll still be going, giving an honest effort when most of his peers have dropped away. He’s not necessarily the first player you think of when you are asked to describe the essence of the game, but he’d be a guaranteed selection in that side. He’s not likely to win the Brownlow because he doesn’t get enough Best on Ground votes but you’d pick him in your Dream Team on consistency and reliability. You are not likely to read about Lenny in the social pages and he isn’t likely to be involved in a scandal that makes the front pages. He’s a consummate professional and plays like he still loves in the game with the same passion he had when he was a kid. Lenny isn’t likely to surprise you but he can always be relied upon to deliver in spades.

Pearl Jam are a lot like Lenny Hayes.

There is a lot of integrity about the way Pearl Jam go about their business. With Liam Finn and Ben Harper on the bill they certainly provide a depth of musical entertainment in their concerts. They keep their ticket prices at a reasonable level. They play a 2 ½ hour show consisting of 31 songs. They play a good selection of their hits, they offer a couple of well chosen covers and they reach deep into their catalogue and pull out some fan favourites for the faithful. The faithful are provided with priority access to the best viewing areas.

They do their homework. During the course of the show they give shout outs to Cosmic Psychos, Nick Cave and Matthew Richardson. Think about that for a moment. The reference to the Psychos is a nod to local grass roots punk rock – it says “we haven’t forgotten were we came from and we remain a part of that community”. The reference to Melbourne born Nick Cave – described by Eddie Vedder as “one of the greatest writers on the face of the planet”  – says “we embrace the art and the alternative, don’t mistake us for Bon Jovi, OK, just because we are playing in a stadium”. The reference to Matthew Richardson says “we know which town we are in, we are regular guys who embrace the populist local sports culture.”

Even the choice of covers is telling. Vedder returned for the encore by playing a solo acoustic version (is there any other type?) of The Needle And The Damage Done by Neil Young. They perform Throw Your Arms Around Me, the anthemic Hunters and Collectors song. And they offer up a version of The Who’s Baba O’Reilly. And in one of their most popular songs Daughter, they manage to segue effectively into an excerpt from Pink Floyd’s The Wall. It’s smart, informed and effective.

Don’t mistake my observations for cynicism. Yes, there is an element of calculation about the line up, the ticket prices, the shout outs and the covers and yes, they are designed to re-enforce a well crafted band persona, but the calculation is done with integrity and for sound reasons.

And amongst the 31 songs are some crackers. They played seven or eight songs from Ten – their breakthrough early album. Glorified G and The Fixer run back to back and the latter is already a concert highlight. The majestic Even Flow is awesome with Mike McReady’s guitar literally shredding as the song unfurls. Another new song Got Some, comes early in the set and it serves to establish the bands punk credentials for those who were asking.

Not that anyone was asking.

If anything it’s the bands lack of pretence that is their shortcoming. They don’t resort to theatrics or staging or big light shows and the closest they come to anything contrived in the presentation of their songs is…well actually there is nothing contrived about the presentation of their songs! What this means is that you need to be a serious, serious fan of those songs to navigate through 31 of them without getting a teeny bit bored. Not all 50000 or so people there were serious fans and in the area I was sitting there was a definite air of detachment as the concert evolved. People were happy enough, they watched the screens, they responded when one of the bigger hits kicked in and I reckon they went home satisfied.

But even this is a credit to the band. Essentially they play a show that would be well suited to a small venue. It’s a show that is most definitely structured to satisfy their hard core fans. And they do this in a stadium. And largely get away with it. You have to admire that. Pearl Jam don’t play concerts to attract the masses, but the masses come anyway. More power to them.

Pearl Jam Tour With Harper and Finn

Pearl Jam have announced that they will play a series of outdoor shows in November in Australia and New Zealand, in support of their new album, Backspacer.

Pearl Jam will be returning to Australia for the first time in 3 years, bringing with them their old touring mates, Ben Harper and Relentless7 and Liam Finn, to play for one night only in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland and Christchurch. Tickets for all shows go on sale Monday 17 August.

Pearl Jam is one of the most influential live bands of the modern era. Beginning with their iconic debut album, Ten, in 1991 and continuing through to today, the quintet have consistently combined the perfect amalgam of punk aesthetics with anthemic, classic rock sounds, and in the process have created one of the most respected catalogues in rock history. For the past 18 years, Pearl Jam has remained a relevant cultural and political force, having completed countless international tours and selling over 60 million records worldwide.

Scheduled for release in Australia and New Zealand on Friday, 18 September, the band’s ninth studio album, Backspacer, will be available in both countries before the rest of the world. The first single, The Fixer, went to Australian radio on 21 July and was the No. 1 most added song to radio that week.

Its been 3 years since Pearl Jam last toured Australia and New Zealand and their Australian fans clearly haven’t forgotten them with two songs appearing in Triple J’s recent Hottest 100 of All Time list (Alive at No. 24 and Better Man at No. 39).

Appearing with Pearl Jam, and no stranger to Australian shores, is Ben Harper and Relentless 7, who were last here in April of this year to headline the 20th Anniversary East Coast Blues and Roots Festival and perform a one-off, sold out headline show in Sydney.

In the current sea of disposable, throwaway pop artists, Ben Harper and Relentless 7 are making timeless rock music with a cohesive collection that is as raw and unrelenting, as it is arrestingly haunting and emotional.  Any preconceptions in regards to a “Ben Harper sound” should be thrown out altogether as Ben Harper and Relentless7 get their rock chops on for these stadium shows.

Opening all shows will be New Zealand’s own Liam Finn.  Having played his own sold-out shows on every continent, opened for the The Black Keys and Eddie Vedder, and performed at the All Tomorrow’s Parties’ ATP Vs The Fans Part II: The Fans Strike Back Festival in UK earlier this year, Liam will join the tour in support of the worldwide release his new EP, Champagne In Seashells, featuring Long Way to Go, on 4 September, 2009.

Currently preparing for a short tour of New Zealand and Australia, Liam said “…Pearl Jam are one of the most genuine bands around today and have always been committed to their non-compromising attitude towards making real rock n roll. It’s an honour to share the stage with them.”

Perth
Saturday 14 November
Members Equity Stadium

Adelaide
Tuesday 17 November
Adelaide Oval

Melbourne

Friday 20 November
Etihad Stadium

Sydney
Sunday 22 November
Sydney Football Stadium

Brisbane
Wednesday 25 November
QSAC Stadium

Auckland
Friday 27 November
Mt Smart

Christchurch
Sunday 29 November
AMI Stadium

Pearl Jam’s Ten Re-Released

It’s hard to believe that its been 18 years since the release of the debut album by Pearl Jam -  Ten. It went on to sell 12 million copies. The album has been  reissued and became available last weekend. The reissue of Ten serves as the launch of a planned two-year catalogue re-release campaign leading up to the band’s 20th anniversary in 2011.

This collector’s edition box set includes two versions of the album: the remastered version of the original album PLUS an accompanying remixed version done by the band’s long-time producer, Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC, Audioslave). The remixed version includes six bonus tracks: “Brother,” “Just a Girl,” “State of Love and Trust,” “Breath and a Scream,” “2,000 Mile Blues”, and “Evil Little Goat.” Both versions come on both CD and vinyl in this package.

A new DVD has also been released featuring Pearl Jam’s previously unreleased 1992 MTV Unplugged performance including never before seen bonus performance of “Oceans” with 5.1 surround sound audio remix.

The collection also includes 2 more LPs featuring Drop in the Park – Live at Magnuson Park in Seattle on September 20, 1992 (audio mixed by Brendan O’Brien), plus a cassette replica of original “Momma-Son” Pearl Jam demo cassette featuring “Alive,” “Once” and “Footsteps.”

The package also includes an Eddie Vedder-style composition notebook filled with replica personal notes, images and mementos from the collections of Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament, a vellum envelope with replicated era-specific ephemera from Pearl Jam’s early work and a two-sided print commemorating the Drop in the Park concert.
Special Features:

* Cassette replica of Eddie’s original demo tape
* Bound recreation of Eddie’s notebook including lyrics, doodles, etc.
* Envelope containing a wealth of stunning genre specific merchandise
* Postcards
* Fabric sticker
* Laminated backstage pass replica
* Ticket replica
* 6 11″ x 11″ photos with written notes on reverse
* 2′ x 3′ large poster