Pearl Jam Benefit Raises $3 Million For Charity

Pearl Jam Benefit Raises $3 Million For Charity

Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder
July 02, 2008 , 2:00 AM ET

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Pearl Jam packed arena-sized power into New York's 2,800-capacity Beacon Theater last night (July 1), rattling off an eclectic 26-song set list during a private show that raised $3 million for the Robin Hood Foundation's poverty fighting initiatives.

Frontman Eddie Vedder told the crowd, some of whom had paid $2,250 for floor-level seats, that he required a steroid shot in his posterior to get him stage-ready for the evening, the last show of a mini-U.S. tour for the Seattle band. Pearl Jam had played a two-and-a-half hour set the night before in Boston.

As such, the group eased its way into the show, playing seated for the first five songs, which included such obscurities as "Lowlight" and "Sleight of Hand" alongside covers of Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" and Bob Dylan's "Masters of War."

The band then shifted into its normal set, which went heavy on some of its more classic-sounding repertoire like the Motown-inspired rave-up "All Night," the sing-a-long "Marker in the Sand" and "Down," which showcased lead guitarist Mike McCready's blues-drenched leads.

Vedder was not shy about getting political, bashing the current Presidential administration's continued funding of the Iraq War and reminding the audience that the next time Pearl Jam returned to the New York area that there would be a new leader in the White House.
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But the focus remained on the music, with the band offering a slew of crowd favorites such as "Wishlist," "Why Go," "Do the Evolution," "Black," "Crazy Mary," "Alive" and a thunderous, show-closing cover of the Who's "Baba O'Riley."

Pearl Jam will now transition into work on its next studio album, which will be produced by longtime collaborator Brendan O'Brien. Vedder is also expected to embark on an East Coast leg of his solo tour in August, showcasing material from his soundtrack to the film "Into the Wild" alongside deep Pearl Jam tracks and covers.

Here is Pearl Jam's set list:

"Lowlight"
"Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town"
"Sleight of Hand"
"Harvest Moon"
"Masters of War"
"Down"
"All Night"
"Corduroy"
"Even Flow"
"Light Years"
"Army Reserve"
"W.M.A."
"Marker in the Sand"
"Wasted Life" -> "Wishlist"
"Why Go"
"Do the Evolution"

Encore 1:
"Undone"
"Who You Are"
"Given To Fly"
"Black"
"Crazy Mary"

Encore 2:
"No More"
"Last Kiss"
"Alive"
"Baba O'Riley"

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baba o'riley? haven't heard that cover.

I saw them do that cover a few years ago on MTV. I think it was the time that "Singles" came out (AIC and Soundgarden were performing too...good times). It was great, you can tell from their covers that they truly love the song/artist.

I have been a PJ fan for years, and have yet to see these guys live. Everytime I try to get a ticket, they sell out or it's a seat behind the stage.

Also, bravo to them for raising so much cash!!

vedder is one of hte only guys who could go right from the can taking a shit to my face for rigourous rim job and still charge me for it.

some rich fag should match that 3 million if ed agrees to be photographed beating his cock and finger fucking his sure to be gorgeous asshoel.

and then share it on the internet.