It’s been just over a decade since Pearl Jam headlined the Big Day Out festival in Australia. With their triumphant return in support of their new album “Dark Matter”, it’s no surprise the namesake’s tour managed to fill multiple stadium dates in both Sydney and Melbourne.
Melbourne showed its first glimpse of summer, a balmy 34 degrees Celsius as fans came in droves to the first of two shows at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne’s CBD on 16th November 2024.
Early punters were treated to US alt-rock band, The Pixies opening up the show. It was evident there were plenty of fans in attendance judging by the number of the band’s t-shirts in the crowd.
They delivered a tight 45-minute set, with lead singer Black Francis delivering leading the melancholic pack. Four new songs, “Motoroller”, “Mercy Me”, “Chicken”, and “The Vegas Suite” from their latest album The Night the Zombies Came. The set also included crowd pleasers “Where’s My Mind”, Here Comes Your Man”, and “Monkey Gone to Heaven”.
Band:
Black Francis – Vocals
Joey Santiago – Lead guitar
Emma Richardson – Bass
David Lovering – Drums
Setlist:
Even as the sun began to set, the stadium seemed to heat up as 50,000 sweltering bodies were expectantly ready to see Pearl Jam. The band casually walked onstage to the roar of the crowd ready for an evening they would never forget.
Pearl Jam has been around for 34 years. And in that time, have amassed 12 studio albums, 23 live albums, and numerous tours. With such an extensive catalog of songs – no two Pearl Jam concerts are the same. Every show has a different setlist which is rare where most bands these days have rinse and repeat setlists. Tonight’s setlist had iconic songs that everyone wanted to hear, kicking off with “Why Go” which had the crowd singing along. It also included “Garden” as requested by a fan that singer Eddie Vedder met earlier; “Jeremy”, “Even Flow”, “Better Man”, “Do the Evolution” and “State of Love and Trust” which had the entire stadium singing along to every word and vocal run. But when the house lights came for “Alive”, the atmosphere was absolutely electric, not a single person was sitting.
The production was at stadium proportions – a visual backdrop enhancing the mood of every song, from aerial footage of Melbourne in “Given to Fly”, the new album’s graphic for “Dark Matter”, to band and crowd responses during “Jeremy”. Frontman Vedder showed humbleness and gratitude, acknowledging his life is the result of many years of support from fans, and sharing his involvement in medical research for epidermolysis bullosa (EB), bringing out EB ambassador and Aussie footballer Jonathan Brown. Vedder had clear intent on making connections with people and kids in the crowd, ensuring everyone was having the best experience in a safe environment.
The band displayed incredible musicianship, depth, and maturity from many years of playing together. Drummer Matt Cameron played seamlessly between songs, with Vedder’s compliment “You can’t have a band without a great drummer”. Mike McCready showed many moments of guitar prowess, confidently shredding iconic solos on “Dark Matter”, “Alive”, and an Eddie Van Haleneque guitar solo spot. Both bassist Jeff Ament and guitarist Stone Goddard held the musical fort with precision, and Eddie Vedder showed intricate acoustic fingerpicking in “Just Breathe”.
The show reached its conclusion with Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World”, and winding it down with the Hendrix-inspired “Yellow Ledbetter”. Fans were treated to two hours of rock ’n roll with an experience they would never forget.
Band:
Eddie Vedder – Vocals and Guitar
Mike McCready – Guitar
Stone Gossard – Guitar
Jeff Ament – Bass
Matt Cameron – Drums
Setlist:
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Darren Chan is a talented and creative photographer with a passion for capturing life’s special moments through the lens of his camera. With over a decade of experience in the photography industry, Darren has honed his skills in various genres of photography, including weddings, portraits, landscapes, and commercial photography. Over the years, Darren has developed his unique style, which is characterised by his ability to capture the essence of his subjects and their surroundings.
Whether it’s a live music event, press shoot, wedding, or a commercial shoot, Darren puts his heart and soul into every project he undertakes. He works closely with his clients to understand their vision and brings his expertise and creativity to the table to produce results that impress. His attention to detail, technical proficiency, and creative flair makes him a sought-after photographer.
Darren’s work has been featured in various publications and has his work presented in exhibitions including the Ballarat International Foto Biennale. He resides in Melbourne, Australia, where he runs his photography business and continues to capture life’s precious moments, one frame at a time.
