Here's a question for you: can it be considered a standing ovation if the audience never once sat down? Such was the enthusiastic truth for Pearl Jam's first Canadian date on their Yield tour. It was the band's first headlining show in Vancouver in nearly six years, following the group's hard-fought (and eventually lost) battle with Ticketmaster.
The night started out with an enjoyable (but forgettable) opening set by Frank Black, highlighted, surprisingly, by the 1989 alterna-classic "Wave of Mutilation" from his old band, The Pixies. Although the reasonably-priced $40 tickets were an even better value thanks to the familiar opening act, most in attendance barely batted an eye, clapping no more than politely after each unfamiliar tune. As the house lights raised following Black's set, so did the energy level.
Instantly the half-filled venue suddenly poured to near-overflowing, various audience members (a few adorned in freshly-purchased $50 Pearl Jam soccer jerseys) stood on their chairs, encouraging other fans to rise and cheer. Soon, decibel-splitting screams energized the room, gearing up even the most jaded of concert-goers. As the house lights went down, a very simple set-up remained; five towering candle holders lit up the back of the stage, the rest was simply stacked with a minimum of gear.
As the five-piece took the stage, the whole audience -- most of them in their mid 20's -- instantly lost their composure. Jumping, screaming, hugging, the emotion was filled-to-bursting, right from the moment the group kicked into their first number, "Sometimes" taken from their 1996 release, No Code. And in spite of the fact that PJ frontman Eddie Vedder has been professionally chastised for being too intense, it is exactly that focus which made the night so special. Dressed simply in black combat pants and a Rock For Choice shirt, Vedder led his group through a powerful set list that was obviously designed with the fans in mind.
The first spontaneous crowd roar burst forth when the opening guitar strains of "Dissident" filled the room, Vedder's rough alto grabbing each word of the chorus with conviction. Almost immediately, the band then charged into a revved-up version of "Even Flow" from their wildly successful debut Ten. In spite of that song's age (seven years and counting) the boys tore through the number like it was written yesterday; the same held true for the group's massive hit "Jeremy". As is the case with most great live bands, an old familiar song might start out simply as a good memory, but a superior level of intensity and a well-focused band can bring powerful new life to an old, past-tense tune; much to the delight of the adoring audience, the Seattle troupe did just that. From then it was a series of passionate jams, with highlights including "Not For You" (where Vedder nearly screamed himself into extinction), "Better Man" (which included an impromptu audience sing-along) and an incredibly powerful version of "Rearviewmirror" masterfully nailed when lead guitarist Mike McCready -- watched respectfully by a kneeled-down Vedder -- put forth one of the most emotional guitar solos this writer has seen in years.
Watching exuberant fans pour out of the venue, one thought held court over all others spurred that night. Indeed, there has certainly been times when liking this genre of music has not been in vogue (can you say 'grunge' without choking?) but be that as it may, when such a talented band is able to make time stand still for so many thousands of people, one thing shall remain forever clear: watching a DJ onstage may be the current craze but it could never, ever surpass the feeling of being a part of an emotional live performance, the likes of which Pearl Jam and few others are capable of consistently giving.
JAM! Rating: 4 out of 5
