Photos and review by: Jason Robey

RALEIGH, NC — As the current leg of the Dark Matter tour winds down, Pearl Jam returned to Raleigh on Sunday, igniting the Lenovo Center with a performance that proved once again that they are dedicated to both their music and their fans on an unmatched level. The show marked their first appearance in the city since 2003, and their first in North Carolina since 2013, making it a highly anticipated event for fans across the region. Touring in support of their Grammy-nominated album Dark Matter, the band delivered a set that seamlessly blended new material with classic hits, reaffirming their status as rock icons. Eddie Vedder’s emotive vocals, coupled with the band’s dynamic instrumentation, created an electrifying atmosphere that resonated throughout the venue.

Australian indie rockers Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers opened the show with a 45-minute set that delighted the early arrivers in the crowd. From the first notes of “Treat Me Better,” vocalist Anna Ryan led the performance with her exuberantly snarky stage presence, winning over the audience and getting them pumped for the night. Later in the night, Eddie Vedder would tell the crowd of playing a festival of mostly Australian bands and being impressed so much by this group that he invited them to open a handful of shows. The group introduced the American audience to their sound through Australian award winners like “I Love You” and “I Used to Be Fun.”

Silhouetted against a solid background lit, Pearl Jam took the stage with their classic slow-burn opener, “Release,” sending the venue into an eruption of cheering and singing along. They picked up the pace gradually through an emotional run through of “Present Tense” followed by “Given to Fly.” Showing they know how to perfectly ride a setlist like a roller coaster, they blasted off with a one-two punch of the punky “Mind Your Manners” and long-time crowd favorite “Corduroy.”

The band took every opportunity to engage with the crowd, shaking hands, reading their poster board signs, and tossing about a dozen tambourines into the audience. Vedder, known for his storytelling and magnetic personality at shows, regularly talked to the crowd between songs. As the show was taking place on Mother’s Day, he told of putting off calling his mom all day and ran out of time, asking the audience to join him in wishing her a happy Mother’s Day via video call from the arena. He also reminisced about the their first roadie, Skully, who lived in the area until his untimely passing. After introducing his family, Vedder dedicated “Light Years” to Skully’s memory. 

Pearl Jam has been known for playing completely different setlists every night since early in their career, which fuels the interest in the live recordings they have released of every show since 2000. This gives the band the chance to surprise the audience with various rarities and covers woven into the hits every night, and this show was no different. “Satan’s Bed,” “Smile,” and one of the rarest of all, “Hold On” filled that space this evening.

As they were reaching the home stretch for the evening, the house lights were turned on during a powerful “Alive,” signifying that it was time to get off the stage. They defiantly continued with the show’s only cover, a raucous take on the Who’s “Baba O’ Riley,” before finally ending on the subdued beauty of “Indifference.” Fans left the venue with jaws dropped at what they had just experienced, many of whom will be returning for the second show on Tuesday. Following Tuesday’s Raleigh show, the group will play two nights in Pittsburgh to close out the tour. Keep an eye on their social media channels for future dates.