ACL Live Shot: Pearl Jam
Seattle institution puts the pedal to the metal
By Michael Toland, 1:30PM, Mon. Oct. 6, 2014
Last time they headlined ACL Fest, Pearl Jam blasted a greatest hits set guaranteed to make waves in the sea of people. Rather than repeat that performance, the Seattle alt-rawk staple dug deep into its catalog for a set that, while not stylistically diverse, proved the band has more arrows in its quiver than just the classic rock warhorses.
![](/binary/d19b/RESIZED.Pearl_Jam__226_.jpg)
The 24-year-old quintet opened with a moody run-through on “The Long Road” from the two-song single companion to Mirror Ball, the group’s 1995 collaboration with Neil Young. Premature respite over, Pearl Jam put the pedal to the metal with the fierce “Go,” and rarely let up for over two hours.
From vintage (“Why Go,” “Even Flow,” “Corduroy”) to contemporary (“Lightning Bolt,” “My Father’s Son,” “Got Some”), the band ripped into its catalog with gusto, letting up only for sort-of ballad “Sirens,” the acoustic “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town,” and John Lennon’s “Imagine” in the encore. The latter tunes were bulldozed in any case by the 1-2-3-4-5 punch of “State of Love and Trust” (from the Singles soundtrack), “Lukin,” “Porch,” “Alive,” and the band’s standard attack on Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
With versions of folk rock (“Love Boat Captain”), roots rock (“Red Mosquito”), garage rock (“Do the Evolution”) and punk (“Mind Your Manners”), the band dabbled in stretching its boundaries. Yet Pearl Jam is Pearl Jam no matter how the loaf is sliced. The element of surprise may be long gone, but Pearl Jam clearly still feels the fire.
ACL Fest set list, Oct. 5
“The Long Road” “Go” “Why Go” “Do the Evolution” “Mind Your Manners” “Save You” “Corduroy” “Lightning Bolt” “Faithfull” “Love Boat Captain” “My Father’s Son” “Got Some” “Even Flow” “Sirens” “Red Mosquito” “Daughter” “Rearviewmirror“
Encore:
“Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town” “Imagine” “Come Back” “State of Love and Trust” “Lukin” “Porch” “Alive” “Rockin’ in the Free World”A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.
Rachel Rascoe, Aug. 3, 2021
Kevin Curtin, Oct. 2, 2017
June 28, 2024
June 21, 2024
ACL Fest, Pearl Jam, ACL Fest 2014, Eddie Vedder, Neil Young, John Lennin