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Let me start by saying that this is not a Pearl Jam review. It's more of a Pearl Jam experiential reflection.
I'm a '90s baby, but I never got down with Pearl Jam. I don't know why. I don't hate them or anything. They just never really captured my attention or admiration. And just to be clear, I never found myself on either side of the "Cobain v. Vedder" debate, either. It skipped over me altogether and I'm not really sure how. I blame Gangstarr and Nas.
When my good friend John asked me if I wanted to take an extra ticket for this past Friday's show in Camden, I said sure. Maybe I'll get swept up in the live experience and start 'getting it,' I thought.
So I went.
I had a generally fun time. But I still don't understand.
CP webmaster Marc Steel, our ride and a dedicated member of the so-called "Jamily," informed me that the Boy Scout shirt-clad Eddie was "flubbing lyrics left and right" during the performance. I could not tell. I'm obviously not the first person to make this observation, but I really can't understand what that guy is saying. And it's not for lack of trying. I was listening really hard.
From my less-than-qualified perspective, though, it doesn't seem like Eddie has lost a step. His singing voice is as leonine as his locks. And he's got the charisma to convince hordes of writhing, fist-pumping people to chant his name repeatedly. That's clout, especially considering these guys and these songs have been around forever. But I'd be lying if I said I was captivated by the hit parade. They played many songs I recognized, including "Alive," which I amateurishly recorded during the second encore (see above; that's John at the end commenting on face meltage.) They did not do "Jeremy."
Jesus, the guitar solo during "Evenflow" was so long. I stood there chainsmoking and repeatedly checking the time on my cellphone after the fourth or fifth minute of Mike McCready shredding and posturing. The rolling sea of entranced PJers, meanwhile, swayed and cooed like they'd just been shot in the neck with mess of low-dosage tranquilizer darts. I tread water and passed the time by drinking a very expensive warm beer.
I kept waiting for a moment that would help me turn the corner and plunge me deep into what everyone else was experiencing. It never came. The dudes are icons, plain and simple. I guess I'm just inept when it comes to interpreting their iconography.
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