On Sunday night, Pearl Jam graced Boston’s iconic Fenway Park with their “Dark Matters” tour, marking the first of two shows. The band set a somber yet captivating tone as they opened with the brooding “Footsteps” and transitioned into “Release”, the final track from their debut album. Despite the introspective nature of the opening songs, the crowd’s energy was electric, with fans singing along to every word of Eddie Vedder’s poignant lyrics.
The momentum shifted with the performance of “Given to Fly”, a track from 1998 that provided a moment for the band’s founding members—guitarists Mike McCready and Stone Gossard, along with bassist Jeff Ament—to stretch their legs a little.
Halfway through the set, Pearl Jam introduced “Scared of Fear”, a standout track from their 2024 album, which was met with a positive reception from the audience. This song served as a reminder that while the band continues to evolve, their ability to rock with the same intensity as in the ’90s remains intact. The setlist included a mix of hits from across their extensive career, such as “Even Flow”, “Glorified G”, and concluded with the upbeat and reflective “Rearviewmirror”.
After a brief intermission, Eddie Vedder returned for a signature marathon encore. He dedicated “Just Breathe” to the memory of Boston’s own Tim Wakefield and his wife, Stacy Stover. Following this tribute, Glen Hansard joined Vedder on stage for a moving rendition of “Song of Good Hope”, a track written by Hansard.
The rest of the band rejoined for a series of additional hits, culminating in a high-energy finale with “Alive” and a rousing cover of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.” As the crowd’s enthusiasm continued, Pearl Jam responded after the lights came on with one final song: McCready launched into the riff of “Yellow Ledbetter”, and as the song drew to a close, he performed a solo rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner,” leaving the audience both excited and exhausted.
Pearl Jam once again demonstrates why they are an essential live band, blending nostalgia with fresh energy in a performance that shouldn’t be missed.
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PHOTO GALLERY BY: Nicholas Norton
