Pearl Jam performs at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Aug. 29, 2024.
“I feel the need to thank the weather gods and [thank] the queen that is Wrigley Field for bestowing this beautiful night upon us,” said Pearl Jam front man, Eddie Vedder, before leading fans in a stadium-wide sing-along of “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town” during night one of a two-night run at the “Friendly Confines” in Chicago on Aug. 29. “We’re so glad you’re here. So glad we’re here.”
Appreciation – for fans, everything and everyone associated with Wrigley Field, and his bandmates – was a common thread found in the banter of Vedder, who grew up in Evanston, IL, throughout the night. That feeling of gratitude was returned ten-fold from fans as the band shared a setlist that opened with “Release” and closed with a spirited rendition of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
As Pearl Jam – Vedder, Jeff Ament (bass), Stone Gossard (guitar), Mike McCready (lead guitar), and Matt Cameron (drums) commanded the packed house, another constant was McCready’s awe-inspiring solo skills. From a sweetly screeching interlude on “Immortality” to the heart-wrenching beauty of his “Black” instrumentals, McCready more than impressed every time he stepped into the spotlight.
Pearl Jam performs at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Aug. 29, 2024.
“I didn’t realize until fairly recently, our good friend Michael McCready, the master of the Stratocaster, he’s fucking left-handed,” said Vedder midway through the night, before presenting a challenge befitting of the venue. “So, Mike McCready, we’ve played Wrigley Field three times before. Who knows how many times we’ll get to play it again. And I challenge you right now, to be above any other time ever. Game Seven of the World Series, it’s starting. Let’s go.”
During a show full of impressive shredders, McCready somehow elevated his performance to the stratosphere for the ensuing rendition of “Even Flow.” The Ten hit found the guitar god placing his six-string behind his head, and venturing off the stage and into the pit to melt the faces of fans in the front row. It was a scorcher of a solo and one of the most memorable moments of the night.
After over 25 years in the band, Cameron remains one of the best drummers in the business and his versatile talents were notably spotlighted during a performance of the title track of Pearl Jam’s 2024 album, Dark Matter. Elsewhere “Daughter” found Gossard treating fans to one of the most iconic riffs in the history of Grunge as Ament deepened the Vs. track’s sound by trading his traditional instrument for a stand-up bass. The song also featured Vedder voicing support for women’s healthcare and reproductive freedom during the “Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2” tag.
Fans enjoy Pearl Jam at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Aug. 29, 2024.
After a raucous set closer of “Do the Evolution” into “Porch” – which had everyone on their feet with fists in the air as they sang along with every word – the encore kicked-off with a pair of acoustic songs. Touring band members Boom Gaspar (keys) and Josh Klinghoffer (multi-instrumentalist), joined Vedder for a tender take on “Just Breathe” before Vedder shared a touching tribute to the late Tom Petty in the form of a cover of “I Won’t Back Down.”
“I’ve been a little choked up. It’s hard to sing. It’s very powerful to play here. I’m so grateful,” said an audibly emotional Vedder recalling an instance when he got a phone call from Petty – during which the legendary rocker told Vedder that he wished he was here – before he and The Heartbreakers performed at Wrigley Field. “And now all these years later, it’s me wishing he was here. Would you help me create a moment and, if there’s such a thing as the heavens, maybe we can light it up with our phones down here and we can sing this one together and bring him back.”
This beautiful moment was followed by the return of the full band who proceeded to unleash a relentless string of hits including “State of Love and Trust,” “Corduroy” – complete with a “Better Man” tease at the intro – and “Alive.”
A Pearl Jam concert at Wrigley Field is always a momentous occasion, but with the band in such a reflective and grateful mood – still more present than ever fueled by tunes from a critically-acclaimed new album – this Thursday night performance felt like one that will go down in the history books.
Check out photos from Pearl Jam’s Aug. 29 show below – featuring the evening’s opener Glen Hansard – and click here to pick-up tickets to the Aug. 31 performance. More information can be found at Pearljam.com.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
