MUSIC: Pearl Jam Unveils Lightning Bolt at The DCU Center

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Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Rob Duguay, GoLocalWorcester Music Critic

Last night at the DCU Center in Worcester, Seattle alternative rock legends Pearl Jam kicked off their two-night stay with authority. Earlier in the day, their tenth studio album Lightning Bolt was officially released to the masses to much acclaim. What better way to celebrate a new record from the all-time greats than in front of a sold out arena? With one of the best bands of the past 25 years making everyone go crazy for three hours with no openers, Worcester was about to get rocked into another stratosphere.

When lights dimmed and the stage resonated a distinct glow, people went absolutely insane. Pearl Jam took the stage and sent chills up my spine with "Release", an emotional tale about Eddie Vedder's dad who he never really knew. The crowd sang along to every word and it was the truest example of the human spirit I've ever witnessed at a show, and this was only the first song. With the spotlights initially focused on Stone Gossard strumming an acoustic six-string and Vedder singing vocals on "Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town", again the crowd sang along to every word with the rest of the band providing excellent rhythms. The audience-in-unison effect seemed to be the theme of the night, as it is with every Pearl Jam show from what I hear. Seeing the title track off the new album in Lightning Bolt performed live had a lot of energy. I listened to it a little bit before I headed to the show but experiencing it up close had a big impression on me. Right into another new one with "Mind Your Manners", this punk flurry of driving guitars combined with Vedder reliving his youthful angst took the intensity to another level.

Hearing "Evenflow" live showed how seasoned Pearl Jam is when it comes to playing a song they've known for over 20 years. Mike McCready's solo on guitar was incredible, Vedder was passing his bottle of wine around, and the audience kept on swooning to every lyric. Before Pearl Jam performed "Whipping", Vedder got all sorts of pumped up and proceeded to strum the opening riff. Afterwards they went into "Corduroy" and brought the house down. Vedder poured another concert goer a cup of wine and then Pearl Jam went right into "Got Some" that brought out one of many countless applauses throughout the show. Followed up with another uptempo number in "Save You", everyone in the arena was getting into it with hands clapping to the beats in the breakdown. If a song like "Leash" doesn't start a revolution I don't know what will, and when Pearl Jam played it the whole place erupted with vigor. Another track off the new album with "Let The Records Play" was the bluesiest song of the night; Gossard's and McCready's riffs syncopated perfectly. After igniting the pandemonium with "Do The Evolution", Vedder asked everyone if they didn't have any other plans and then they went right into "Betterman" for an epic finale to a spectacular initial performance.

Not done yet

You knew they were going to come back out, and after a brief intermission Pearl Jam took the stage by storm once again. With a roar from the crowd, Pearl Jam got intimately acoustic and dedicated "Man Of The Hour" to the late historian, social activist, author & Boston University political science professor Howard Zinn. "Yellow Moon" was another new one that had McCready unleashing one of his trademark blistering guitar solos. At the request of a member of the audience, "Fatal" exhibited the band's transition from acoustic back to electric with somber tone. To conclude the romanticism, Pearl Jam performed "Just Breathe" with people cheering and crooning from start to finish. Vedder then gave a vinyl copy of Lightning Bolt to someone in the audience and fittingly Pearl Jam went into "Spin The Black Circle" that resonated sheer bedlam in all corners of the arena. "Unthought Known" had a few people jumping up and down and then the ante got raised once again with "Porch". While the song was being played, Vedder and company started pushing all the overhanging lights around during another McCready guitar solo. In a flashback to the early 90's, Vedder started dancing on top of a crate on each side of the stage and then proceeded to do his best impersonation of Tarzan by swinging on one of the lights hanging from the rafters. At this point I thought it was over, there was no way anyone could top that. Man, was I wrong.

The crowd wanted more, screaming and clapping like there was no tomorrow. Lead by Vedder with another bottle of wine, Pearl Jam proceeded to play "Last Kiss" to the people in the upper sections behind the stage. The classic B-side "Crazy Mary" brought more howls from the crowd, the constant singing along from the sold out arena was especially on point. Another hit with "Alive" followed up sheer brilliance, hands were waving in the air like a bunch of rock & roll disciples praising Pearl Jam as their savior. Madness ensued when they went into a rendition of The Dead Boys' "Sonic Reducer" and then "Indifference" turned the tables to finish things off on a low-key note but with the audience incessantly singing along. 

What a night! I've seen a lot of concerts in my life and Pearl Jam on this evening definitely made the top 3. Everyone tells me how great Seattle's finest are live and they absolutely lived up to the billing. If you haven't gotten Pearl Jam's Lightning Bolt I suggest you get yourself a copy, it's a great return to form for one hell of a band. I'm never ever going to forget this show and I'm sure everyone else who attended will feel the same way.

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