red lights


basement tapes	concert reviews	cd reviews	interviews	ticket swap	music news

Pearl Jam and Co. take Alpine by storm

Pearl Jam / The Strokes / Queens of the Stone Age
Alpine Valley Music Theater
East Troy, WI
September 4, 2011

Pearl Jam - Day 1

Story and Day 2 photos by Rob Ireland
Day 1 photos by Terry Mayer

In a celebration of 20 years of musical prominence, veteran rock star Eddie Vedder took the stage at Alpine Valley for two nights performing for more than 2-1/2 hours each evening. However, that wasn't enough for the Pearl Jam frontman.

He joined his opening acts, Queens of the Stone Age and The Strokes, as they warmed up the crowd. Those favors were later returned.

The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas, who Vedder was quick to point out shares the same initials as Jesus Christ, provided background vocals for Pearl Jam's performance of Red Mosquito off the band's fourth-album No Code.

If, at 46, Vedder feels any of the aches and pains brought on by 20 years of performing he didn't show it for a second on stage. With the energy of a man a couple of decades his junior, Vedder threw his body around, drank and while grabbing the ends of his green shirt extended his arms, bent down and spun around like a child in a driveway dreaming of flying.

With a discography that would overload an iPod Shuffle, Pearl Jam pulled from two decades worth of tracks performing some of their lesser known songs and the major hits "Daughter," "Jeremy" and "Even Flow."

The crowd at Alpine Valley - one of the Midwest's premier venues where the odor of Budweiser spilt on the floor and cannabis perpetually lingering in the air seems permanent - seemingly was pleased with every song.

As the crowd took over during the last chorus of "Even Flow," Vedder backed away from the microphone and enjoyed the audience with an unjaded smile.