Ever since the on sale date for tickets back in June, the city of Buffalo has been waiting patiently for the return of Pearl Jam. Fresh off an opening date in Pittsburgh the night before, the band took to the stage to a sold out crowd. With a brand new album also in tow called Lightning Bolt, the band is gearing up for a big late year run.
Pearl Jam took the stage to a thunderous ovation at about 8:25pm. Vocalist Eddie Vedder with his songbook in one hand and a wine bottle in the other, was all smiles as he and the band went into “Pendulum.” Guitarist Mike McCready came on stage with a violin bow and played the entire song using it on his guitar. This was a sign for wonderful things to come for the rest of the evening. After a few songs, the band set in a groove and Vedder said we have a whole night’s worth of music and wanted to pace ourselves. He went around to talk to each bandmate after “Do the Evolution,” and they decided to change up the set list and now “Immortality” was on deck. With some starts and stops, as you can tell, the band was truly still working out the kinks. Even so, the band came off more likeable and honest. No limits were set and Vedder steered the ship to make sure that was the case with lots of impromptu moments. “Evenflow” followed this pattern with an elongated solo as Vedder made sure the fans behind the stage were not forgotten. Pearl Jam turned around and played to the back for a song as well.
When the band returned for their first encore, it was just with acoustic guitars. They ran through seven (7) songs as McCready threw guitar picks into the audience throughout the 30 minute set. The band returned for its second encore and yes, the fans were still clamoring for more at this point. As Vedder tossed out tambourines to the crowd, the band played a few songs including a cover of The Who’s “Baba O’ Riley.” Vedder also mentioned how his daughter scored her fist goal in soccer today. He also added even though he missed it, the warmth of the crowd made up for the long distance. In total, 9 songs were played off of the new CD.
A terrific night of music that fans came for from Toronto to Albany and everywhere in between. It’s nice to walk away from the First Niagara Center after a rock show where every seat was filled not only physically, but with passion and emotion.
Setlist:
Pendulum
Low Light
Sometimes
Corduroy
Lightning Bolt
Mind Your Manners
Do the Evolution
Immortality
My Father’s Son
Even Flow
Swallowed Whole
Sirens
Once
Comatose
I Got Id Infallible
Present Tense
State of Love and Trust
Porch
Encore:
Off He Goes
Yellow Moon
Future Days
Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
Rats
Got Some
Rearview Mirror
Encore 2:
Go
Alive
Baba O’Riley (The Who cover)
Indifference
We would like to thank Sarah Seiler Vandenberg Communications for the credentials to review the show.
