I PEARL JAM NON LI FERMA NULLA

After months of anticipation, classic alternative rockers Pearl Jam finally arrived in Chicago’s Wrigley Field to perform to an enthusiastic, sold-out crowd. This one-night-only show famously sold out in just under 60 minutes, and tickets were going for between $300-$2000 on the second market, so to say that this was a hot ticket is an understatement, and that’s not including the sweltering summer temperatures that blanketed the city for much of the week. Pearl Jam advertised early there would be no opening act, and since singer Eddie Vedder’s roots run back to Chicago, and to Wrigley itself, many concert-goers expected a special and lengthy evening of music. While the gates opened at 5:30pm, it was obvious from the overly packed Wrigleyville bars that many were not in a huge rush to get to their seats. Things began to fill in, however, around the 8 o’ clock hour, and the band took the stage at about 8:20.

Pearl Jam immediately engaged the audience with a passionate rendition of “Release,” the final track from their 1991 debut LP and a fan-favorite concert opener. The surprises started right after as the band moved into a set of quieter, reflective songs rather than kicking into a string of louder, up-tempo numbers, as is their tradition. Fans sang and swayed along to classics like “Nothingman,” and “Present Tense,” as well as more rarely played tracks like “Hold On” and “Come Back.” About 35 minutes after the band took the stage, Vedder explained to the audience that storm clouds were rolling in, and for everyone’s safety, there would be a temporary intermission until the storm passed. While he was reassuring that everything would eventually be fine, the audience had no way of knowing how the weather and the delay would turn out.

Eventually, two rounds of rain and lightning passed through, the field was cleared, and soggy, patient fans waited around to see if and when the band would return to the stage. After about two and a half hours of waiting, the stage crew began setting up equipment, fans were allowed back to their seats, and about 15 minutes later, Vedder returned to the stage. After reminiscing about his childhood love for the Chicago Cubs and performing a newly penned song paying tribute to the team, Cubs legend Ernie Banks took the stage to say a few words, and welcomed the band and the crowd to “his house.”

At around midnight, the band finally plugged in their electric guitars and launched into a rocking “All Night,” a sentiment many were glad to share considering the normal city curfew would have ended the concert about an hour prior to that moment. The next hour of music featured a blend of fan and band favorites, excellent musical execution, and a very engaged audience. The band played a few new songs from their forthcoming 10th LP including the current single, “Mind Your Manners,” and the title track, “Lightning Bolt,” which was performed for the first time ever. Vedder could not resist joking about the title of the album in its relation to the weather events of the evening.

Guitarist Mike McCready dazzled as he shredded his Stratocaster during “Even Flow,” choosing to perform the entire extended guitar solo behind his back a la Hendrix, and then again a few songs later when he debuted a note-perfect rendition of Van Halen’s “Eruption.” Another concert highlight followed immediately when Vedder emerged playing an accordion and leading the Pearl Jam devotees through a sing-along of the very rarely performed “Bugs,” from 1994’s Vitalogy. After a few more songs and a short encore break, another new song was debuted as the band’s long-time producer, Brendan O’ Brien, joined them on keyboards for the reflective “Future Days.” One surprise after another continued as the band next performed a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Mother,” then covered Mother Love Bone’s “Chloe Dancer” and “Crown of Thorns,” an obviously meaningful moment for the players on stage that was also a delight to the crowd.

During a particularly rocking and lengthy, stand-out performance of “Porch,” a new stage set that included descending, swinging, lighted globes added yet another level of visual engagement. After making out to quasi-crowd surf, Vedder came back on stage and swung across it atop one of the globes, similar to Bono during “Ultraviolet” on the most recent U2 tour. After a powerful performance of the radio staple and fan-favorite “Black,” Vedder explained to the crowd that he didn’t want to “ruin it for any other bands or ruin it for (themselves),” so they had to call it a night. The concert concluded with a strong cover of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World,” and at 2:05am CST, Pearl Jam left the stage. A night that began with questions and was interrupted by the elements had become a thrilling, celebratory evening under a picturesque and starry Chicago sky. As concert-goers emptied into the streets, it was clear the partying would continue well into the night (or morning).

Set List:
Release
Nothingman
Present Tense
Hold On
Low Light
Come Back
Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
———-(rain delay-2 hours, 45 minutes)—————
All the Way (w/Ernie Banks)
All Night
Do the Evolution
Setting Forth
Corduroy
Faithfull
Mind Your Manners
Lightning Bolt
State of Love and Trust
Wishlist
Even Flow
Leatherman
Eruption (Van Halen)
Bugs
Why Go?
Unthought Known
Rearviewmirror
————————-(encore break)—————–
Future Days (w/Brendan O’ Brien)
Mother (Pink Floyd)
Chloe Dancer (Mother Love Bone)
Crown of Thorns (Mother Love Bone)
Porch
Wasted Reprise
Life Wasted
Black
Rockin’ in the Free World (Neil Young)
——————————
(Listed on the set list, but not performed: )
Speed of Sound
Sleight of Hand
Man of the Hour
Daughter
Better Man
Alive
Baba O’ Riley (The Who)
Yellow Ledbetter