Pearl Jam hasn't lost its edge

MANSFIELD -- Pearl Jam continues to be the real deal. The band is not at the mercy of computerized staging or homogenized set lists or any of the artificial trappings that define most amphitheater rock shows. Pearl Jam remains a living, breathing, organic rock band that is still at the top of its game.

This time, Pearl Jam is even more ambitious than usual. The Seattle group is playing three shows at the Tweeter Center and singer Eddie Vedder told the sold-out crowd last night that the band will not repeat a single song in that time. Pearl Jam's catalog spans 105 tunes and Vedder hoped to play 35 of them each night. Only hippie jam bands like the Grateful Dead and Phish typically entertain such dreams.

Pearl Jam only got to 26 songs before curfew struck last night, but it was still a mighty impressive start to Vedder's goal. The band rocked for nearly two-and-a-half hours, pumping tunes from its new album, ''Riot Act,'' but also digging back to its 10-million-selling debut CD (appropriately named ''Ten'') for the hard-hitting ''Even Flow'' and ''Porch.''

And, yes, Vedder dared again to pull out ''Bushleaguer,'' his lyrical rant against George W. Bush's silver-spoon upbringing. Pearl Jam has taken some heat for the song and now only plays it every fourth or fifth show, but Vedder felt comfortable enough last night to don his famed Bush mask while draping an American flag around his waist. There was nary a boo in the crowd, unlike other venues.Vedder was at his loose-lipped best throughout. He sipped a bottle of wine and asked if this was going to be a ''Boston Tea Party or a Boston drink-wine-till-you-pass-out party?'' He also joked about the nearby trailer-park residents who he felt were responsible for the Tweeter's tight 11 p.m. curfew, but suggested that they be invited to party as well. His only misstep was an over-the-top shot at Canadian pop chanteuse Celine Dion, whom he compared to a ''robot dog'' that did anything that Sony Records (Pearl Jam's own label up until its contract recently ran out), told her to do.

Still, the crowd loved it and chanted ''Eddie! Eddie!'' He also held up an American flag elsewhere and said, ''Because of this flag, I can stand on a rock 'n' roll stage and say whatever I want.''

But Vedder definitely brought his rocking shoes as well. He blistered through early tunes ''Don't Go,'' ''Hail Hail,'' ''Save You,'' and ''Deep,'' twisted sensibilities with ''Dissident'' and ''I Am Mine,'' and jumped on some side speakers for ''Porch,'' as the band cooked behind him, with guitarist Mike McCready having an especially hot night, as did drumming workhorse Matt Cameron.

Tumultuous encores included covers of the Who's ''Leaving Here'' and a Neil Young song whose title can't be printed in a family paper. Pearl Jam let it rip and the crowd was right there with them, singing along.

Opening act the Buzzcocks, a late-'70s punk band that influenced Pearl Jam, transcended the years with an anthemic, joyous set.

Pearl Jam

With: the Buzzcocks

At: the Tweeter Center, last night (first of three shows)

This story ran on page E12 of the Boston Globe on 7/3/2003.
© Copyright 2003 Globe Newspaper Company.