Pearl Jam were at their biting best with Eddie Vedder using the podium of the Australian stage to throw venom at the most evil men in the world - the politicians.
"Your guy is blaming the economy over the price of bananas. I've got a banana for John Howard," Vedder said grabbing his crotch. "Tell him to get his hand off Bush's banana".Pearl Jam is equal parts rock concert, equal parts political statement and Vedder doesn't hide the fact that he doesn't like George W Bush nor does he have any respect for Australian Prime Minister John Howard.
However, Vedder does have a connection and genuine respect for the fans. At one stage he honored the venue, The Rod Laver Arena, with a story about how once when he worked in a hotel in San Diego, Rod Laver would often stay. "Rod always had a glass of champagne and two beautiful women by his side," Vedder said. "I never knew then that years later he would be giving us this great venue to work in."
Musically, there are acts who go nowhere near the power or the passion of a Pearl Jam gig. Special mention to Mike McCreedy and Matt Cameron who stole the evening with their solos in 'Even Flow'.
The two and a half hour show had the right balance of old and new, opening with 'Life Wasted' from the new record but then quickly offering up the back to back gems of 'Animal', 'Spin The Black Circle' and 'Corduroy'.
Pearl Jam return to Rod Laver Arena on Thursday, with support Kings of Leon.
The setlist for Monday, November 14 was:
Wasted Reprise,
Life Wasted,
Animal,
Spin The Black Circle,
Corduroy,
Severed Hand,
Jeremy,
Given To Fly,
Marker In The Sand,
Even Flow,
Insignificance,
Army Reserve,
Daughter/Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2 (Pink Floyd),
Leatherman,
Do The Evolution,
Better Man / (Save It For Later),
Rearviewmirror
1st encore:
Inside Job,
Once,
Come Back,
Black,
Alive
2nd encore:
Dead Man,
State Of Love And Trust,
Comatose,
Why Go,
Rockin' In The Free World (Neil Young),
Yellow Ledbetter/Little Wing (Jimi Hendrix)
