BARRIE -- Pearl Jam fans may be washing for days.

At least judging from the enormous dust cloud they kicked up in front of the stage last night at Molson Park as the Seattle supergroup whipped an audience of 35,000 -- the largest show yet of their current North American tour -- into a fever-like frenzy from the very start of their two-hour set.

After a long, hot, sunny day, the crowd -- as boorish of some of them were, pushing and groping their way through the audience to get closer to charismatic Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder -- was ready for some action.

In this case, that either meant diving into the dust-filled mosh pit, wildly jumping on spot or engaging in several singalongs -- most notably to older Pearl Jam songs such as Animal, Dissident, Even Flow, Daughter and Jeremy.

Whoever said Pearl Jam were losing their superstar status in rock couldn't have been more wrong.

Not even bringing '70s rockers Cheap Trick with them as their opening act on the main stage could have dulled their appeal.

Although it did threaten to at one point.

Best known for their flamboyant, bow-tie-and-cap wearing guitarist Rick Nielsen, Cheap Trick were last in town opening for music contemporaries ZZ Top at the Molson Amphitheatre.

This time out, the Tricksters -- Nielsen now goes for a braided goatee instead of a bow-tie -- were handpicked by longtime fans Eddie Vedder and company to open for them in three cities.

Pearl Jam even chose Cheap Trick's set list, voting the democratic way apparently, and wasted no time in getting to such classics as Dream Police, which was the second song of the evening.

YOUNGISH CROWD

But the youngish crowd seemed to be at a bit of a loss, quite frankly, about Cheap Trick and starting chanting: "Eddie! Eddie!" early in the show.

In response, Nielsen leaned into the microphone and yelled: "Eddie who?"

Meanwhile, Pearl Jam members -- guitarists Stone Gossard and Mike McCready, bassist Jeff Ament and drummer Matt Cameron (formerly of Soundgarden and currently filling in for an ailing Jack Irons) could be seen off stage enjoying themselves during Cheap Trick's performance.

Gossard was air-drumming and McCready was taking pictures, while over on the other side of the stage, Vedder was swinging from some scaffolding in what appeared to be a pre-show stretch.

HOMETOWN HERO

Others joining in yesterday's musical festivities, which included an art and fanzine exposition near the event's second stage, were All Systems Go and Toronto's hometown hero Hayden and his backup trio, who went by the name Moving Careful. Also contributing sets were the Matthew Good Band and southern rockers Cracker, who played a solid two hours during a sold-out show at Lee's on Friday night.

But the star attraction was unquestionably Pearl Jam, who sold out their Molson Park show in a mere three days.

Vedder, dressed in a shorts and a T-shirt with the face of Lou Reed emblazoned on it, had the crowd in the palm of his hand from the get-go as he jumped on spot like a boxer waiting for his next bout.

"We made it, you made it, it looks beautiful out there, are you all right?" said Vedder, who, seconds later, caught a football thrown on stage and then promptly kicked it off again.

"We've been here before yeah! Let's make it better this time. It's already better. I'm Eddie Vedder."

Of the newer material from Pearl Jam's latest album, Yield, harder rockers like Brain Of J, Given To Fly and MFC went over especially well.

Vedder even took some time out to get political in the middle of the No Code song Habit, saying: "Speaking as a dumb-ass, beer-drinking, propaganda-believing, missile-shooting American."

Wonder who he was taking about there?

JAM! Rating: 5 out of 5