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OTTAWA - Fifteen years ago, if you were a band from Seattle and had an attitude of despairing integrity, then you were labelled Grunge, like it or not.
While the label seemed almost perfect for Nirvana's sodden virtuosity, the label didn't fit Pearl Jam nearly as well, other than to hint at their musical integrity and fan base that rivalled the legions that followed the Grateful Dead.
Like the 13,000 frenzied fans at the Corel Centre last night.
Surprisingly, their relatively low profile -- they haven't produced anything new since 2002's Riot Act -- has done nothing to erode their drawing power. Or their mystique.
And the band was all business last night, covering a marathon-length set of close to 25 songs with bold intensity for close to three hours.
Ottawa's rich and famous were there, such as Senators Dominik Hasek and Dany Heatley.
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Nope, the band hasn't lost any of its appeal.
Chemistry
Then, from the opening chorus of Wash, the chemistry between the band and its fans was about as insanely intense as a British soccer fan's love for Manchester United. For the first half hour, enigmatic frontman Eddie Vedder kept most of their rapt attention to himself, playing the rock star, ignoring the adoring fans except to pose a little and stretch his muscular vocals out on Don't Go, Hail Hail and Animal before mumbling "Thank you."
But that's about as much showmanship as we got last night. Instead, the band focused on performing with ferocious intensity -- as if their instruments were dangerous power tools.
Which I suppose, when you can rule a mob like this with a guitar and good singer, is partially true.
Judging from the cheap seats, Vedder's muscular, passionate vocals paired brilliantly with Stone Gossard and Mike McCready's combative guitars, Jeff Ament's bass, and Dave Krusen's at-times dazzling drumming on Brain of J, Corduroy, Immortality, In Hiding, Don't Gimme No Lip and Evenflow.
Political diss
Meanwhile, Vedder threw in a couple of pithy comments about how screwy American politics is these days, which is par for the course. Every American playing north of the border disses George.
Still, it sounded more convincing and sincere coming from Vedder.
The band's kinship with the fans peaked with the crowd joining voices with Vedder on Betterman and, later, even a cover of the English Beat's Save It For Later before a long encore set of jams before wrapping it all up with the arena anthem Alive.
No, wait, there's still another encore.
It was a brilliant marathon performance from a band that sticks to only one category -- its own.