Pearl Jam, Kings of Leon @Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne(14/11/06)

Thu 23rd Nov, 2006 in Gig Reviews

Pearl Jam’s live reputation has always been the jewel in the crown of a mind-boggling career. The prospect of their first Australian appearance in five years had fans eagerly shelling out for tickets, once if not three times over.

I was excited to see Kings of Leon pop up on the bill, but have to admit that, as a support, they wind up making rather a twee impression. Singer Caleb Followill and his kin remain glued to their marks, looking aggrieved at the size of their audience. They should take heart in one thing – the strict no alcohol policy in force at Rod Laver Arena. Most of the punters are busy downing multiple beers outside on the concourse while the Kings roll out their modern-hillbilly-rock tunes.

The energy lifts towards the end of the set, bolstered by a cameo courtesy of Eddie Vedder – arms wind-milling to the rhythm of Slow Night, So Long, as he smashes a pair of tambourines to smithereens.
 
There’s a promising taste of new material shuffled amongst the calling cards, but it’s impossible to get a real feel for the debutantes in the ‘blink and you’ve missed it’ support slot. Just as Caleb starts to work his vocal yelps to full effect, it’s all over.

Speaking on behalf of the uninitiated, the only way to describe a Pearl Jam show is to say that it’s akin to watching elite athletes perform at the highest level. There’s something disarming about the fact that, despite their collective decades of experience, the group pours as much heart into their music as ever.

Theatrics, grandiosity and solo grand-standing are not usually signs of a great rock show, but the sheer depth of Pearl Jam’s talent makes the whole production thrilling to behold. Mike McCready executes a masterful guitar solo guitar while holding his guitar aloft behind his head, eyes tightly closed. Former Soundgarden drummer Matt Chamberlain produces a drum-solo on Porch that kicks the show into an even higher gear.

The masterstroke is, of course, Vedder’s voice, which remains untouched by age – travelling smoothly along that familiar gravel road. At times his manner and delivery are strikingly reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen – a comparison I would never have thought to make from listening to their studio albums. His connection with the audience is astounding, bridging the gap between the stage and the last row of the concrete jungle that is Rod Laver Arena. At one point he lifts his guitar over his head, reflecting the spotlight onto crowd members in a steady arc around arena. As he gazes hypnotically out into the crowd, it seems as though he’s memorising each of their faces.

Having doggedly polished off a bottle of wine during the first half of the set, Vedder is loose and somewhat inebriated, dancing to the crowd on the side of the stage and sharing his second bottle of wine with fans down the front, who eagerly grasp the plastic cup proffered by crowd control to drink his dregs. 

The encore is a chance to bring out some acoustic numbers, and the obligatory crowd serenade to Better Man is impressive – Melbournians are a musical bunch! Some of the best moments were towards the end – Leash was rip-snorting, and Baba O’Riley reasserted the band’s melodic prowess.

Having lashed out at John Howard the night before, Vedder is a conciliatory mood – thanking Australia for giving him the opportunity to make Banana jokes. It’s these personal touches and the feeling of good-will emanating from the band that creates the infectious atmosphere that has fans baying for more – even after two encores. Sadly, it’s not to be tonight, as the powers that be unceremoniously turn the stadium lights on at midnight. The blinding lights illuminate the onlookers, including the awestruck Kings of Leon. After defiantly thrashing out two final numbers, Pearl Jam thank their support act and the audience, before deservedly acknowledging their own achievement, linking arms to take a bow centre stage.