Pearl Jam -- keeping it all about the music -- rocks late into the night

By Bill Hetherman
Staff Writer

Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - In the middle of Pearl Jam's double-encore set Monday night at the Verizon Wireless Ampitheater in Irvine, Eddie Vedder heard some boos from the crowd.

The reason wasn't the grunge band's typical high-voltage performance mixing old classics like "Corduroy" and "Even Flow" with new songs from the current "Riot Act" CD, including "Save You."

Instead, the group's front man warned that there were 15 minutes until a local curfew kicked in and the band might have to pull the plug or be fined $5,000.

"It's going to cost a decent chunk of money," Vedder said. "But we'll play these songs and be happy to pay it."

Vedder's solution was a typical fan-friendly remedy by a band that probably hurt its own career momentum battling high ticket prices and criticizing perceived corporate greed.

Opening up with "Of the Girl" - a track from the generally weak "Binaural" CD - Vedder quickly moved back in time for "Last Exit," from "Vitalogy."

An extended version of "Even Flow" included an instrumental interlude that delighted the crowd by pushing it beyond the five-minute mark.

For all the complaints the group hasn't had a great CD lately, the band has had some gems since "Vitalogy" with "Wishlist" from "Yield" and "I Am Mine" from "Riot Act," both on Monday's set list.

Vedder resisted the urge to get political Monday night, other than to hint he appreciates Canada's stand against the war in Iraq.

In earlier stops on the tour Vedder chided the likes of President Bush and Microsoft's Bill Gates. On Monday, "Bu$hleaguer" wasn't even played.

The two encore sets were both a triumph and a disappointment. Included were the poignant "Daughter" and the powerful "Alive," the band's first single recorded just six months after its members dropped the name Mookie Blaylock and redubbed themselves Pearl Jam.

The poignant "Better Man," a frequent encore song on the tour, was regrettably skipped Monday. Just as unfortunate, the weak "I Am a Patriot" was featured.

For the last two songs of the night, the group borrowed a page from U2, which opened with the full arena lights on in a showing of unity with the crowd. Pearl Jam did the same with The Who's "Baba O'Riley" and the fan sing-along favorite, "Yellow Ledbetter."

The group also played the Verizon Wireless Ampitheater on Tuesday night in a week in which they are performing six nights in five venues.