Pearl Jam fever hit Chicago last week and Wrigleyville is just now returning to normalcy. The buzz when the boys (Eddie, Jeff, Mike, Stone, Matt, and Boom) are back in town is contagious. There’s a Northside euphoria, and now we’re all on the comedown.
Of course this time around Pearl Jam gave us plenty to reminisce about. On Saturday there was the band’s cover debut of David Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel” with the MLB Commisoner’s Trophy on stage, Eddie waxing rhapsodic about the Cubs, beautiful tributes to the late greats Chris Cornell and Tom Petty, a rousing rendition of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World,” a weird Dennis Rodman appearance, and a 3-hour set that went well past Wrigley’s noise curfew.
On Monday there was the hour+ thunderstorm delay; the live debut of “Evil Little Goat,” some killer covers (The White Stripes, The Beatles, The Who), an appearance by former Chicago Blackhawk Chris Chelios capped with a beautiful tribute to the late hockey Hall of Famer Stan Mikita, and my personal favorite memory: Eddie smashing his guitar to pieces to end their 2018 Wrigley residency.
All in all, Pearl Jam did what they always do live—gave it their everything. It was felt and received, fellas. Chicago loves you.
SETLIST, 8/18
Wash
Low Light
Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
Breakerfall
Corduroy
Hail Hail
Animal
Getaway
Leaving Here (Edward Holland, Jr. cover)
Present Tense
Even Flow
Missing (Chris Cornell cover)
Garden
Not for You (with “Modern Girl” tag)
Can’t Deny Me
Wishlist
I Won’t Back Down (Tom Petty cover)
Porch
Just Breathe
Sleeping by Myself
(Eddie Vedder song) (Dennis Rodman brings Eddie the ukelele)
Footsteps
State of Love and Trust
Breath
Know Your Rights (The Clash cover)
Do the Evolution
Alone
Rearviewmirror
ENCORE 2
Rebel Rebel (David Bowie cover) (live debut by PJ)
Better Man (with “Save It for Later” by English Beat tag)
Alive
Rockin’ in the Free World (Neil Young cover)
Yellow Ledbetter
SETLIST, 8/19
Given to Fly
Why Go
Go
Last Exit
Mind Your Manners
Do the Evolution
Rain (The Beatles cover)
Throw Your Hatred Down (Neil Young cover)
Even Flow
U (first performance since 2014)
In My Tree
Immortality
Daughter (with “It’s Ok” tag)
Unthought Known
Jeremy
I Am a Patriot (Little Steven cover)
Lukin
Porch
ENCORE
We’re Going to Be Friends (The White Stripes cover)
Come Back
Corduroy
Black
Lightning Bolt
Rearview Mirror
Smile
Evil Little Goat (live debut)
Leash
Alive
Baba O’Riley (The Who cover) (Danny Clinch on harmonica)
