Pearl Jam had one of the biggest years of its storied career this year and just about everything the members of Pearl Jam did benefited local causes in some way. From raising money to help solve Seattle and King County’s homelessness crisis to playing gigs with old friends to provide preventative health care services for members of the local music community, Pearl Jam gave a lot back to the community in 2018 and had quite a memorable year in the process.
Here’s a look at some of what Pearl Jam did in 2018:
The Home and Away Shows announced
The band got the year off to a pretty exciting start by announcing a seven-date, U.S. summer tour called The Home and Away Shows. The shows, which took place in Seattle, Missoula, Boston and Chicago, were the only U.S. concerts the band played this year and the two Seattle concerts were the band’s first local shows in five years.
Along with being the group’s first hometown shows in half a decade, The Home Shows were also benefit concerts. As part of the tour announcement, the band pledged $1 million of its own money towards fighting homelessness in Seattle and King County and created The Home Shows fund, which is where proceeds from the concerts would go to contribute to homelessness causes. The group set the lofty goal of using the concerts to raise $10 million, in addition to the $1 million of their own money, for the cause.
“Can’t Deny Me” released
On March 10 the band released their first new song in nearly five years. The track, “Can’t Deny Me,” was a surprise single sent to Ten Club members. It made its live debut during the group’s spring South American tour and Eddie Vedder dedicated it to the survivors of the mass shooting in Parkland, Fla.
Jeff Ament’s solo album
Another bit of new music from the Pearl Jam camp came in early spring when bassist Jeff Ament announced his third solo album, “Heaven/Hell.” Recording under simply Ament, the release featured Mike McCready and Matt Cameron, as well as acclaimed up-and-coming vocalist Angel Olsen on backup vocals for the excellent track “Safe in the Car.”
The Anywhere Shows launches
The excitement of The Home Shows inspired a local journalist (me) to launch a podcast centered around the shows. The five-episode series featured interviews with members of the band (Mike McCready), notable local fans (Steve Migs), friends of the band (Craig Gass), people who have worked with the group (Chris Friel) and a few big-name musicians too (Duff McKagan, Nancy Wilson, Chad Smith, Mike Ness). Okay, so this entry into the listing of Pearl Jam’s 2018 is bit of a shamless plug, but it’s something thousands of fans enjoyed so I figured it merits sharing.
Matt Cameron joins MC50
Jeff Ament wasn’t the only band member who had a little side action happening in 2018. Matt Cameron joined his Soundgarden bandmate on a few dates of Wayne Kramer’s MC50 tour celebrating 50 years of the MC5.
Mother Love Bone reunites for a good cause
Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard got their old band back together (no, not that old band, we’ll get to that old band soon) for a good cause for a one-off reunion gig in May.
The band — drummer Greg Gilmore, bassist Ament, guitarists Bruce Fairweather and Gossard — was joined by Shawn Smith of Brad, Om Johari of Hell’s Belle’s and Steve Mack of Stag on vocals in place of the late Andrew Wood. Their set included “Man of Golden Words,” “Bone China,” “Stargazer” and “Stardog Champion.” It was the first Mother Love Bone reunion in eight years.
The concert also included several other local scene stalwarts covering Wood’s vocals without the backing of the remaining members of Mother Love Bone. Guest vocalists included Carrie Akre, Adam Czeisler, Steve Mack and others.
The concert was a benefit for SMASH, a non-profit organization that helps provide health care services to musicians. Organizers estimated the concert raised $32,000, surpassing their goal of $20,000.
Mike McCready honored by MusiCares
Professional face-melter Mike McCready was honoed by The Grammy and its MusiCares organization for his work with helping his peers with addiction and recovery issues at a star-studded concert.
The concert featured McCready jamming with fellow rock icons like Nancy Wilson, Mike Ness, Duff McKagan and Chad Smith as well as countless friends in Kim Virant, Star Anna, Chris Friel, Rick Friel and many others. And during the pre-show red carpet Nancy Wilson shared a touching story about how Heart helped save Pearl Jam from financial ruin during the band’s early days.
Cast of rock & roll A-listers celebrate Mike McCready at the Showbox
PHOTOS: MusiCares Concert for Recovery honoring Mike McCready
Promotions for The Home Shows
The goal of The Home Shows was to raise $10 million to fight homelessness in Seattle and King County and in order to do that the band needed to do more than sell out Safeco Field twice in August.
To help the cause of The Home Shows Pearl Jam offered up multiple limited-edition Home Shows items and various other ways fans could contribute while getting something in return. There was a Pearl Jam hotel room at the Edgewater, Pearl Jam fireworks night during a Mariners game, Pearl Jam booze, beer and wine, special Pearl Jam shirts and more.
All the cool ways you can support Pearl Jam’s The Home Shows (so far)
MoPOP’s “Pearl Jam Home + Away” exhibit opens
Back in March Pearl Jam approached the Museum of Popular Culture about doing an exhibit chronicling the band’s near three-decade career. The exhibit, which features more than 500 items(!), opened in August the week of The Home Shows. Some of the items on display include dozens of pages of hand-written lyrics, smashed guitars, a replica of Pearl Jam’s rehearsal space and a bronze statue of Andrew Wood commissioned by Jeff Ament that welcomes visitors upon entry. The exhibit is schedule to be on display through March 2019.
The Home Shows happen
Finally, after months of anticipation, Pearl Jam performed two marathon concerts at Safeco Field. The first concert featured a 32-song set that included deep cuts like the 1991 fan club single “Let Me Sleep” and “Breath” off the “Singles” soundtrack.
The band also delivered fiery versions of hits like “Even Flow,” “Rearview Mirror” and “Alive.” And covers of songs by Neil Young (“Throw Your Hatred Down,” “Rockin’ in the Free World”), Pink Floyd (“Comfortably Numb”), Little Steven (“I Am A Patriot”), The Beatles (“Help,” “I’ve Got A Feeling”), the White Stripes (“We’re Going to Be Friends,” which was performed live for the first time) and Brandi Carlile (“Again Today,” during which the band was joined by Carlile) all made their way into the set list.
While the first concert felt like an emotional, cathartic celebration of the band, its return to a stage in its hometown and what it was able to accomplish with the mission of The Home Shows, the second concert felt like a flat out celebration of rock & roll.
Simply put, the show was a 36-song rock & roll joyride filled. Starting with the opening one-two salvo of “Ten” classic “Oceans” and b-side “Footsteps,” the set included just about every song fans both hardcore and casual wanted to hear. The band paid tribute to their fallen friend Chris Cornell by covering his song “Missing,” an outake from his “Singles” recording sessions, and Kim Thayil joined the group for “Kick Out The Jams” during the first encore. Other notable hard-rocking cuts during the set were “Whipping,” “Spin the Black Circle” and “Blood,” Brain of J.”
The group was also joined by Mark Arm and Steve Turner of Mudhoney for “Search and Destroy” and “Sonic Reducer” (Thayil also joined the group for the covers). And the band had a little bit of goofy fun too by riffing on an ABBA cover (“Fernando”) after Vedder flubbed the opening of “Reareviewmirror.”
The set also included an emotional tribute to Tom Petty, with Eddie Vedder performing “Won’t Back Down” solo and the 45,000 in attendance all holding up their cell phone flashlights in the dark creating a beautiful moment. And later in the encore the band paid tribute to Andy Wood with “Crown of Thorns.”
The second night of The Home Shows, or Seattle Night 2 as it is called by fans, was one of the most memorable concerts Pearl Jam has performed in Seattle and has been heralded as an instant classic by fans. A lengthy and deep setlist (one of the longest in the band’s history) combined with passionate performances, an adoring hometown crowd and a good cause made it a night anyone in attendance won’t soon forget.
Oh, and as for that $10 million goal, the band surpassed it. The Home Shows raised $10.8 million for nearly 100 organizations that are working to address homelessness in Seattle and King County.
Green River reissues announced
Mother Love Bone wasn’t the only one of Gossard and Ament’s former bands to see some action this year. While there were no concerts performed (c’mon guys, between your day jobs in Mudhoney and Pearl Jam I’m sure you can find at least one or two days where you can play a gig), there was some activity in the Green River camp.
Last month Sub Pop announced that it will be reissuing deluxe remixed versions of the band’s two Sub Pop releases with additional bonus tracks, some of which are unreleased, early next year. The reissues were handled in the studio by Jack Endino and come on the heels of Sub Pop releasing a Green River holiday 7″ single on Black Friday.
