Guest Author: Brad Dickerson
Flashback to Oct. 19, 1993, and you’d find this
then-13-year-old lad having his mom take him to a local record store in
Glasgow, Ky., called, conveniently, Record Rack to make a purchase.
This was a big day; it was the day Pearl Jam’s sophomore
effort, “Vs.” was being released. And in my hometown of less than 14,000
people, you had two options when it came to buying music – Wal-Mart or Record
Rack.
Back in those days, the big box store’s CD shelves were full
of albums from a plethora of country artists or more pop-friendly acts like
Mariah Carey, Sting and the like. If you wanted a rocker, Record Rack was your
destination.
In the center row, I found about seven copies of “Vs.” This
was not a decision that needed a second thought; I was ready to make my purchase.
As I handed the CD to the cashier, he commented that it was
the first copy he’d sold all day. Then, he said something that I still remember
to this day:
“Congratulations.
You’re the first person in Glasgow to own this album.”
For the 13-year-old who had been utterly possessed by their
legendary debut album, “Ten,” hearing those words made me feel as though I was
at the forefront of Pearl Jam fandom.
Which made what transpired more than 20 years later at
Greenville’s Bon Secours Wellness Arena all the more earth-shattering for this
lifetime fan of the Seattle stalwarts.'
Eddie Vedder and company opened the raucous show with
“Corduroy,” which quickly set the tone for the rocking affair myself and 16,000
other fans were in for. It was followed by “Vs.’” opening track, “Go.” Not missing a
beat, they segued into track No. 2, “Animal,” followed immediately by
“Daughter.” Suddenly, it hit me; are they about to do what I think
they’re going to do? We’ll see what the next song is.
And to my absolute delight, it was “Vs.’” fourth track,
“Glorified G,” a rollicking face melter that remains my favorite song in Pearl
Jam’s catalog. Plus, it confirmed what I was praying was about to happen; they
were going to play the album in its entirety from front to back.
Sure enough, the next eight songs were from “Vs.” in
sequential order. I could have called it a night right then and there and said
the show was well worth the price of admission.
But this is Pearl Jam we’re talking about here. They weren’t
even close to done. In fact, they were just getting started.
Having said that, before I continue with this long-winded
review (if you’re still reading, then God bless you), I need to pause and
reflect on what a moment this was.
In 25 years, Pearl Jam has only played an entire album live
two previous times. That means over the course of thousands of shows, only
three audiences have gotten to experience what I had just experienced.
Wow.
It’s just part of the magic of seeing this band live; no two
setlists are ever the same.I live for seeing bands in concert. It’s just a passion of
mine. And like any audience member, I want to hear the hits.
Unfortunately, for a number of acts, they stick to a tried
and true script and rarely alter their batting order. That doesn’t mean the
shows are any less fun, but it can make them feel a bit stale. You find
yourself yearning for one or two wild cards.
Pearl Jam excels at wild cards. One of their biggest hits is
unquestionably “Jeremy.” I’ve seen the band live five times and haven’t heard
the song once. But I have heard a stellar cover of Pink Floyd’s
“Comfortably Numb” and a tear-generating version of “Future Days” from their
most recent effort, 2013’s “Lightning Bolt.”Both made it into the Greenville setlist. No “Jeremy”
required.
And when it was time to wrap it up, the band left everything
on the stage with their final four numbers: “Better Man,” an arena-wide
singalong of “Alive,” the balls-to-the-wall thunder generated by covering The
Who’s “Baba O’ Riley” and the perfect last call number, “Yellow Ledbetter.”
After more than three hours and 32 songs, the band gave
their final bows and left the stage.
Our audience was hungry for another three hours. The reason
why is simple; Pearl Jam encapsulates rock and roll.
They may have burst onto the scene as one of the ambassadors
of grunge at the start of the 1990s. However, as the years passed and many of
their contemporaries suffered personal heartache or simply faded away, they
evolved into what they’d always been at their core – a classic rock band that
is one part Zepellin, two parts Springsteen and a dash of Iggy Pop.
And for one thrilling night, they held all of us in the palm
of their hand with their unprecedented set list, infectious energy and a sheer
determination to be the best at what they do.
For the 13-year-old who still lives deep inside, it was nice
to see that my money was well spent that day at Record Rack. For that purchase would make up a large
portion of the greatest concert I’ve ever seen.
