Born of the ashes of legendary Andrew Wood-fronted alt-rock outfit Mother Love Bone, Pearl Jam formed to record one of the defining albums of the Seattle sound and achieve lofty chart positions, only to abandon it all to become unsung heroes of alternative music. Following their commercial peak, the band grew weary of their newly acquired MTV-fame, opting instead to fight their own war. Twenty years later, the quintet stands before us bareboned – their entire body of work an accurate deconstruction of the amorphous zeitgeist of popular rock music.
Amidst the frequent compromise-free reinventions of their own sound it’s apparent how their ability to put out few of the most memorable shows known to man went a long way in keeping them relevant. In celebration of the band’s 20th anniversary, they’ve decided to put together a tour they’re calling PJ20. The tour begins with a two-day festival at the Alpine Valley Music Theater in East Troy, Wisconsin followed by ten shows in Canada.
We’ve put together a list of the ten best Pearl Jam live videos from across the internet to coincide with the occasion, and to celebrate 20 years of the release of their seminal album Ten.
Words Ritwik Deshpande, with inputs from Anuj Gupta.
#10: ‘Not For You’ (Self Pollution Radio, 1995)
By 1995, Pearl Jam had morphed into something unrecognizable. After releasing their sophomore effort Vs. a year earlier to greater commercial success than debut Ten, the band spent the remainder of the year battling a new foe – the middle man. They refused to talk to the press, opting to interact straight with the fans. They capped their ticket prices in an attempt to outwit scalpers. They had a bone to pick with Ticketmaster – a noble move that gave way to an ugly outcome. Amidst the crossfire, the band presented Self Pollution Radio – a brash, unpolished four-hour-long show they put out on satellite radio as a response to a decline in the amount of alternative music crowding the airwaves. With appearances from possibly everyone who ever mattered then (the likes of which include Mark Arm from Mudhoney and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana), the band spun some great records and threw two live sets themselves. With Self Pollution Radio, Pearl Jam proved they weren’t ones to complain. They prefered being the solution instead. Watch the band’s raw-as-fuck take on ‘Not For You’ recorded straight from these sessions and be sure to appreciate Eddie’s fine green beanie.
#9: ‘Do the Evolution’ (Melbourne, 2003)
Things tend to get ugly when that friendly drunk fan clambers over the stage to hug the frontman, only to find himself locked in a nasty sleeper hold. On their 2003 tour in support of Riot Act, Eddie proved why he’s the nicest guy ever when he asked security to back off and let a fan prance around on stage. After letting him sing along to the chorus, Eddie waltzed around with him and climbed onto his back, picked up the mic and sang atop his shoulders. He let the fan stay through the length of the song and joked about how he could go to jail for doing this once it was done.
#8: ‘Sonic Reducer’ w/Joey Ramone (New Orleans, 1995)
Pearl Jam are known to play some memorable covers on stage. But one September 17th in New Orleans, they were joined by a Mr Joey Ramone while playing The Dead Boys’ punk outburst ‘Sonic Reducer’. Honestly, a mere mention of the punk rock godfather should warrant a listen. But consider this – the gig falls straight into the infamous post-Vs. era. Not from how they sounded but from what they did, Pearl Jam were punk as fuck. This video sees a scalper-bashing, Ticketmaster-boycotting band hell-bent on torching their own success cover The Dead Boys with Joey fucking Ramone. Is it just me or does this video really make The Shape of Punk to Come look like a new Green Day album?
#7: ‘Porch’ (Pinkpop, 1992)
Pearl Jam still remains an immensely energetic act live. But let’s face it – at forty, you’re not exactly in the shape to attempt a Matt Hardy-esque 12-feet jump from atop a camera crane into a sea of human beings. Pinkpop ’92 saw a young, reckless band rife with uncertainty give all they got to glorious effect. What’s still remarkable is how every ounce of that recklessness and uncertainty remains 18 years later, albeit in a subtler form.
#6. ‘Alive’ w/Jerry Cantrell (Los Angeles, 2009)
At a show in Los Angeles, the then newly-reformed Alice in Chains’ guitarist Jerry Cantrell made an appearance to solo on ‘Alive’. Before Cantrell’s appearance, Chris Cornell (of Soundgarden fame, and the guy who made that album with Timbaland) played on the song, leading to a Temple of The Dog reunion. It’s moments of genuine surprise like these that make the idea of seeing every Pearl Jam show ever not so insane.
#5. ‘Love Reign O’er Me’ + ‘The Real Me’ (VH1 Rock Honors – The Who)
The Who have always been a defining influence on Pearl Jam, so when Vh1 decided to throw a tribute to the British quartet as part of the Rock Honors series, the band was there. While quite a few The Who covers are Pearl Jam live staples, their rendition of Quadrophenia standouts ‘Love Reign O’er Me’ and ‘The Real Me’ capture the sheer desperation of the originals. Vedder, with his oft-imitated rasp brings to life the seemingly indomitable dilemma of Jimmy Cooper and the resolution thereof.
#4. ‘Light Years’ (London, 2009)
Among the Pearl Jam catalog, Binaural with its warm, blanketed sound remains one of the most divisive albums. There’s no debate however, to the bittersweet beauty of ‘Light Years’ – a song that shines most from the experimental recording techniques producer Tchad Blake employed. On two occasions, the band has dedicated the song to friends they’d lost, first at Pinkpop 2000, then at London in 2009. The 2009 performance is a powerful eulogy, where Vedder punctuates every word with uncanny tragedy, yet conjures a faint beacon of hope. It’s moments of like these that reek of pure honesty.
#3: First Show Ever (Seattle, 1990)
This is footage from before the band adopted the Mookie Baylock moniker and were later forced to abandon it for Pearl Jam. The guy who recorded the tape simply labeled it as ‘Stone Gossard/Jeff Ament Post Love Bone Project’. This Pearl Jam prototype sounded unpolished as ever, though there are traces of a brilliant band hidden somewhere. Notice how shy Eddie was before going on to become one of the defining frontmen of his generation.
#2: ‘Given to Fly’ (Missouri, 2000)
While quite a few bands employ an interpreter for the hearing impaired, so they can enjoy the lyrics along with the show, Eddie called theirs on stage while performing ‘Given to Fly’ in Missouri. This footage, taken from the Touring Band 2000 DVD has the interpreter turn her job into a beautiful interpretive dance that goes affably well with the song’s themes and motifs.
#1: ‘In Hiding’ (Yield Recording Sessions)
Pearl Jam weren’t exactly shy. They just hated music videos. They stuck with their decision to never shoot one following the success of ‘Jeremy’ on MTV, but ended up making one of the best without their own knowledge on the Single Video Theory DVD. The film was shot on a 16mm camera over three days in downtown Seattle, with footage of the band interspersed with interviews and other behind-the-scenes footage providing an intimate look at the band. ‘In Hiding’ again sheds light on the immaculate relationship the band has with their fans, and why there can’t be another Pearl Jam in a million years.
The good people at Sony Music are giving away a few Pearl Jam hampers to lucky Indiecision readers. To participate, drop a comment with your favourite Pearl Jam live video linked, and we’ll pick a couple of winners who’ll get the hampers shipped to their homes!
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