Eddie and Crew emerge TRIUMPHANT in dark matter!
Eddie and the guys didn't care it was a school night and punched the Golden One ticket!
Written by Music Fan Magazine Contributing Writer: Jessica Kingsford
Photos by: Conner Schuh
Pearl Jam rocked a packed Golden One Center in Sacramento on May 13 with a set that was both fresh and familiar on the heels of their 12th studio album release, “Dark Matter.” The Jam is known for delivering a unique set at each stop of their tour, and with so many hit songs in the books it’s not a stretch to do!
Deep Sea Diver opened the show with their Seattle indie-rock vibe while the Pearl Jam fans wandered around, looking for their seats and waiting in long lines for band merch and craft beers. We caught one tune sung by Deep Sea Diver frontwoman Jessica Dobson while we were passing by the stage on our way to the private Dark Matter Lounge. From what we could tell, Jessica and her band, which includes her husband on drums, have a tight, mellow rock sound with emotional guitar solos and heartfelt lyrics.
We missed the rest of the opening set because we were rubbing elbows at the private bar tucked away down a long stage-level corridor, which I imagine was right around the corner from the Pearl Jam green room (security was not interested in letting me investigate this theory). You see, by some twist of fate it turns out we at MFM have a friend who has a friend in the band. On a stroke of luck, we were invited to be guests of Josh Klinghoffer, a touring member of Pearl Jam and an all-around awesome guy. His close ties to Nevada City brought him into our orbit, and I didn’t waste any time getting an introduction. For a few moments, we got to chat with Josh about our mutual friends, favorite musicians, and - my personal favorite topic - food. For a guy who spent ten years touring with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Janes Addiction, among others, the dude is remarkably down to earth.
Darkness was definitely on the menu for the start of Pearl Jam’s two-and-a-half-hour set. The band opened with rather haunting performances of “Pendulum” and “I’m Open” on a starkly lit stage, then brought the audience to life with the familiar “Elderly Woman in a Small Town.”
Things got lively and the background graphics heated up as Pearl Jam delved into a string of tunes from their well-received new album, which is reviewed as a welcome return to the band’s heavy alt-rock style from a more experimental period. The crowd fist-pumped through the grungy, guitar-heavy “React, Respond” and “Dark Matter” and then grooved along to “Wreckage,” a catchy and friendly tune some may be inclined to call “dad-rock” but, hey, it worked magic for this listener.
From our seats just above the pit on the left side of the stage, we had an excellent view of our man Josh rocking out in his own little jam zone, providing guitar riffs, backup vocals, and keyboard fills behind the mostly original group of guys that have been playing together since I carried a Rainbow Brite lunchbox to school. I’ve never felt more “with the band” than when Josh gave me a wave from the stage on a break from being a badass on his wide collection of instruments. I mean, I’m pretty sure he did…
Flowing freely between moody hitters I’ve not heard since high school and punky tunes from albums I must have missed completely, the set list sunk deep into my Seattle-raised soul and satisfied the entire stadium by ending with “Better Man,” – a song which this fan happens to know every single word. Then the band returned for an extended encore, which felt more like a whole second set with a Tom Waits cover and rock ballads like “Jeremy,” “Black,” and “Alive.” Seriously - how many freaking hit songs can one band deliver!?
Pausing to thank the Sac crowd for their patience and understanding after canceling a 2022 performance over a couple of positive Covid tests, quintessential frontman Eddie Vedder took the crowd on a walk down memory lane, lamenting that he’s only had the pleasure of saying “good evening Sacramento” three times in over 30 years. The love-fest continued as he called out the many friends in attendance (hello, Eddie! Over here!) and then “Setting Sun” was just the happy ending a satisfied Sacramento crowd needed before heading out into the night smiling, stocked up on fresh merch and shiny new albums, and looking forward to the next Pearl Jam show to come our way.
Oh yea...A BIG thank you to Taylor at Live Nation for the extra access and all the kindness.
Smoke Meter - Light. Security at the door was tight and vapes and lighters were being confiscated left and right… but Pearl Jam fans are no rookies, and we spotted a few groups lighting up and passing to the left, especially during classics like “Elderly Woman” and “Better Man.”
Fight Meter - None. This crowd may have been up for a brawl in the pit 30 years ago, but this show was on a Monday, and no one wanted to sport a shiner at the office Tuesday morning.
Sing-along Meter - High… this crowd knew every word, and you could hear the voices coming all the way down from the third-story rafters. When Vedder belted out, “I just want to scream hello,” a chorus of a thousand voices rang right back. If it sounded like mumbling, it was just us trying our best to sound like Eddie.