Andrew Watt and Glen Hansard also join band for explosive climax of their 50th New York City concert
Pearl Jam wrapped up their two-night stand at Madison Square Garden Wednesday night with an explosive show that featured six songs from their new LP Dark Matter, half of their 1991 debut Ten, guest appearances by Glen Hansard and producer Andrew Watt, covers of John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth,” the Dead Boys “Sonic Reducer,” and Steve Van Zandt‘s “I Am a Patriot.”
Van Zandt was in the house to watch the show, and they brought him out for a wild encore of “Rockin’ in the Free World” alongside Watt, Hansard, and members of Hansard’s band. The Neil Young song has been in Pearl Jam’s live repertoire since 1992 and it’s their most frequently played cover. This was their first time playing it with Van Zandt, but the E Street Band guitarist did perform at a 2004 Vote For Change show with Bruce Springsteen and surprise guest Neil Young.
On Tuesday night, Eddie Vedder reflected on the fact that the Madison Square Garden show marked Pearl Jam’s 50th career concert in New York City. “We’re still a little mystified that this small group from Seattle, they let us take over this whole room for the whole night,” he said. “In 1991, we played Wetlands, late 1991 we played CBGB. And now here we are the grande dame that is the Garden. And it’s a great building. But it’s really the people who fill it up. I only bring this as a point of gratitude and thanks. You make us feel, New York City, like the luckiest fuckin’ people in the world. We are very grateful.”
The main set on night two wrapped up with a guest spot by Andrew Watt on “Waiting For Stevie” and “Rearviewmirror.” It was a full circle moment for the producer, who saw his first Pearl Jam show at MSG as a fan back in 2003. At one point, he even stood in line at the New York arena with a sign that read ‘Let me play the guitar solo to Alive.’
“They are my favorite band of all time,” Watt told Rolling Stone in April. “I’ve been to more of their concerts than anyone should know about, at least 40 of them. I have every T-shirt. And my favorite show I’ve seen in my entire life is Pearl Jam at the Spectrum in Philadelphia on Halloween 2009.” (That happened to be the longest show Pearl Jam has ever played at three hours and 21 minutes.)
Pearl Jam continue their Dark Matter tour Saturday night with a show at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The U.S. leg concludes September 29 at the Ohana Festival in Dana Point, California. In November, they head to New Zealand and Austria for a run of stadium shows.
