Pearl Jam returned to New Orleans to headline Saturday afternoon at the annual Jazz & Heritage Festival. Almost 100,000 people filled into the fairgrounds to eat, drink, and listen to music: local and national.
To start their set, the band brought out long-time fan and former Saint’s player, Steve Gleason and his family, for an introduction. Gleason was diagnosed with ALS in 2011, and Pearl Jam has been actively involved in his charity, Team Gleason, since.
The band ran out on stage and launched into one of their most popular B-sides, “State of Love and Trust” followed by a cover of Joe Strummer’s “Arms Aloft (In Aberdeen)”, which they changed to “Arms Aloft In New Orleans”
Ed has always loved New Orleans, and after a few songs, he greeted the audience and comments on how colorful they are. He likes it here because New Orleans not only tolerates colorful people, but they celebrate them. “Of course if you really want to see colorful people, get arrested at about three in the morning. I know from experience. I don’t recommend it.”
Before the band plays crowd favorite “Even Flow,” Ed talks about how they are still upset about the death of music legend Prince, who, a few years earlier, did a cover of the song with the band 3rdEyeGirl. Ed noted how they played “the shit out of it”, and they hoped to play the shit out of it too in honor of Prince.
After the song “Daughter,” Ed ponders, “Is this our version of jazz? This is about as close as it gets…”
During the intro of ,Lightning Bolt,, Ed spotted a red hat in the audience and asks if he can have it. It was a “Make Donald Drumpf Again” hat, which is a reference from TV host John Oliver.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers were playing the festival the next day, and the two bands go way back. Ed fondly discusses the group, and he talks about how well they were treated when his band opened for them in the early 90s. “If it wasn’t for the Peppers I would probably be hearing ‘Mr. Vedder, clean up on aisle 3′ or maybe I would be working at the legal pot store in Seattle. This next song is from when I was working in the drug store.” Cue “Betterman”.
“The Real Me”, a cover from The Who’s Quadrophenia album is a regular staple in a Pearl Jam set. This version included a horn section from several New Orleans musicians: Skerik on saxophone, Carly Meyers and Big Sam Williams on trombone and Drew Baham on trumpet, keeping true to the theme of Jazz Fest.
To close out their set, Pearl Jam brought out Chad Smith on drums and Josh Klinghoffer on guitar from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Nathan Followill from Kings of Leon played the tambourine to which Ed said, “He is over qualified. I know.” Matt Cameron, the drummer for PJ switched to guitar. The one-time super-group covered another favorite Pearl Jam cover, Neil Young’s, “Rockin’ In The Free World.”
Ultimately, Pearl Jam continues to dominate the Rock and Roll world and will continue to tour throughout the year.
Pearl Jam Jazz & Heritage Festival Setlist:
1. State Of Love And Trust
2. Arms Aloft (In Aberdeen)
3. Mind Your Manners
4. God’s Dice
5. Setting Forth
6. Corduroy
7. Nothingman
8. In Hiding
9. Evenflow
10. Sirens
11. Unthought Known
12. Long Road (A request. Normally played at the beginning of a set instead of the middle)
13. Daughter
14. Of The Earth
15. Last Exit
16. Porch
[ENCORE]
17. Go
18. Inside Job
19. Given To Fly
20. Lightning Bolt
21. Betterman/Save It For Later
22. Do The Evolution
23. Alive
24. The Real Me
25. Rockin’ In The Free World
