Pearl Jam Commemorate Their 20th Anniversary

Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder — Photo Credit: Herbert P. Oczeret

Marking the anniversary of their debut album Ten (as well as the year the band ‘broke out’ and made it big), Pearl Jam headlined what they labeled the “PJ20” festival, on September 3.

The two-day concert (the only two days PJ will be performing this year, according to the Examiner), which was held at Wisconsin’s Alpine Valley Music Theater, incorporated some sweet Seattle grunge bands, including Soundgarden and Temple of the Dog’s Chris Cornell, Mudhoney, and non-Seattleites Queens of the Stone Age and The Strokes.

The festivities started at noon, with bands such as Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs, and The Young Evils.  Even John Doe, the great leading man from the legendary punk band X, made the show.

Somewhere around 6 P.M., Mudhoney brought the main-stage vibe, singing songs like “Suck You Dry” and “Touch Me I’m Sick”.  Following them, Queens of the Stone Age rocked it.  Singer Josh Homme let the crowd know that, if it wasn’t for PJ’s guitarist Stone Gossard, the Queens might have not been there.  Gossard was responsible for signing QOTSA in 1998.

The Strokes, who came out next, played an energetic set.  For both PJ and Strokes’ fans alike, the highlight of their set might have been marked by Eddie Vedder vocally joining forces with Julian Casablancas for the song “Juicebox”.

Last but certainly not least, Pearl Jam took the stage, opening with “Release”, and amazed hard-core fans with songs “Push Me/Pull Me”, “Help Help”, and “Education”, which were not often played by the band during concerts.

During the set, members of the earlier day’s bands joined PJ.  One of the more notable moments, apparently, was when Chris Cornell came out to rock some Temple of the Dog hits, and he and Vedder collaborated on the song “Hunger Strike”.

PJ fans got to experience, not only the awesomeness of the caliber of bands that agreed to perform, but also fun little touches put out by the concert’s organizers, like the “Pearl Jam Museum”, which presented the legendary grunge band’s merchandise over the years, such as posters, t-shirts, musical instruments, and previously unreleased video footage.  Also included, custom-made surfboards and the band’s stage props.

Wow, what a night!  For the sad folks that would have wanted to go, but couldn’t, I’m hoping that Pearl Jam will be releasing some sort of DVD of the experience….fingers crossed.

For a complete set list of PJ20, visit the Examiner.com.

Also, check out the video below of Temple of the Dog and Eddie Vedder singing “Hunger Strike”, via YouTube!