Tuesday, August 12, 2008

EDDIE VEDDER SOLO: "TIME TO PLAY B-SIDES"

Apologies for being a bit behind. Last week, I saw Eddie Vedder's solo concert at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark (great venue). I've actually seen two Eddie solo gigs in the past: once opening for The Who at the House Of Blues in Chicago in 1999 (awesome experience) and another time at the Tibetan Freedom Concert in Wisconsin (I think that was '99 also). Both times he had a bass player and drummer though. This was mainly a solo gig (except for when he was joined by opener Liam Finn).

It was an incredible show. As I mentioned when I wrote about Pearl Jam's MSG shows in June, Eddie seems much more comfortable with his popularity and status these days. At this solo show, he seemed to be having a great time, mixing up really obscure stuff (Pearl Jam B-sides like "Don't Be Shy" and one of my favorites, "Drifting") with more well known songs ("Porch," "Soon Forget," "Sometimes"), most of the songs from the Into The Wild soundtrack, and a bunch of cool covers (Dylan's "Masters Of War" and "Forever Young" and Springsteen's "Growin' Up"). Comparing this to a Pearl Jam show would be like comparing Bruce with and without the E Street Band or Neil with and without Crazy Horse. Just two totally different animals. But both are well worth checking out.

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