Grunge Grows Up With Pearl Jam

My high school friend called me to say that Pearl Jam -- which sang the anthem of our awkward years -- would be playing in Los Angeles on Oct. 28. Although we had traded in our flannel shirts for button-downs, we had a date.

Rekindling My Love For Eddie

The concert largely spotlighted lead singer Eddie Vedder undulating on stage with a stubbly beard and a furrowed brow. Eddie hunched on stage most of the time, sometimes swirling the microphone, pouring coffee, lighting a cigarette. His garbled lyrics left listeners to fill in the blanks and relate with their own pains.

Vedder entranced the audience with his real personality more than his performer appeal, and at his best seemed to be having an intimate conversation with the audience.

He began with some wisecracks: "This song is about kids these days and what happens when they pack their own lunches," he quipped before the classic "Jeremy."

He acknowledged that it was cold in the outdoor venue and started bringing it together with some shout-outs to love: "Give it up for love. One more time for love."

The audience greeted the music by throwing glow sticks and shouting, "I love you, Eddie." The crowd moved in synch with Vedder: When he jumped, they jumped; when he wailed, they sighed.

Pearl Jam played many of its hits, including "Evenflow," "Betterman" and "Daughter." On the newer songs, the band jumped around the stage.

Vedder introduced the other members of the band by their former occupations: lead guitar Mike McCready worked at a coffee shop; bassist Jeff Ament, a pizza place; drummer Matt Cameron, Kinko's; rhythm and lead Stone Gossard never worked a day in his life except at a lumberyard that his uncle owned; and Vedder started with construction and then waited tables.

Together they alternated from an angry pulse to a sweet whisper while blue and purple lights created a background. They were all dressed in black outfits and jeans or jean jackets, and seemed like unpretentious guys whom one would meet in a not-quite-hip coffee shop.

It's About Trust

After a long pause and some fires starting at the back of the audience, Pearl Jam came back on stage for an encore, and Vedder started to speak: "I didn't mean to leave you in the cold. We just had a bit of an argument in the back. No one is quitting yet ..."

He mentioned the fires and how the last Woodstock was one of the most ridiculous things that he had ever seen, partly because "the promoters led people to be animals."

Vedder couldn't resist the soapbox, and reminded the crowd, "We aren't trying to f*** you, charge you $100, treat you like sh**." Then he warned, "People in the back are starting fires, and that's just a bad idea."

A blue light flashed on the audience, and Pearl Jam let go with some rock 'n' roll.

During the encore of "Elderly Woman," a man jumped on stage from the audience. Security rushed in, and I assumed that he would attack the singer. Vedder embraced the invader and started singing with him, arm in arm.

The fan fell to his knees, arms out and hands clasped, pantomiming the song with religious zeal.

Vedder ended the song with a jump, and the bodyguard was waiting. As he hustled the wayward fan offstage and the audience howled its support, Vedder chided, "Have a nice night in jail, young man."

Pearl Jam finished the night with "U," "Do the Evolution" and "Yellow Ledbetter."

The night before this show, I overheard a cynical coffee-shop conversation about how the era of rock stars was over. After seeing Vedder and the band live in the white light, no real dramatics and soul to spare, I would have to disagree.

• The Pearl Jam Vault Online Guide
• The Five Horizons Concert Chronology?s Set Lists

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