When Pearl Jam performed on MTV’s classic acoustic live
music series, Unplugged, the grunge
legends began to establish themselves as a rock band to be taken seriously and
that they were more than a one or two-hit wonder. Many still claim this was one
of the group’s best shows and that its versions of “Black”, “Alive”, and “Even
Flow” are among the best ever performed.
While this is debatable, it’s clear that appearing on that particular TV
show made a significant impression on the band’s fans and casual viewers alike.
In spite of the strength of that short but powerfully-engaging concert from
1992, it’s easy to forget that Pearl Jam had only released one album at that
point in time, 1991’s Ten, so all of
the songs they played that night were from that album or a song related to it.
Having now been actively releasing original material for over 25 years, one
could suggest it may be interesting to hear acoustic arrangements of tracks
from the band’s many other records, especially since so many of their songs
lend themselves so well to being re-imagined in that style.
By 2003, Pearl Jam had released 7 albums and had built a
varied and respectable catalog of radio hits, deep cuts, cover songs, and
fan-favorite b-sides. Following the U.S.
tour for their most recent album at the time, 2002’s Riot Act, the group partnered with YouthCare, a Seattle-based
charity that focuses on helping homeless youths in the area, to stage a
fundraising performance in the band’s home town. Rather than performing at a larger venue,
like Key Arena, or even one of Seattle’s many famous rock clubs, the concert
was given at Benaroya Hall, a venue known for its magnificent acoustics and one
that does not often feature rock music. Considering these qualities, the band
decided to perform a full-length acoustic show, in the style of that famous MTV
performance, but now featuring songs from several albums, along with a few new cover
songs worked up for the occasion. Each player’s talent and musical skills shine
through, especially at a lower volume and without distortion and reverb to
cover missed or bad notes. With the exception of guitarist Mike McCreedy, who
still plays a few songs with an electric to cover leads and solos that would
otherwise make parts of songs sound a bit hollow, the rest of the group plays
acoustic instruments exclusively throughout the 2 hour, 10 minute concert.
While listeners and concert goers were treated to another intimate performance of “Black”, the band seemed to almost intentionally avoid featuring material from the first album era, as it had already been covered on the original MTV appearance. Instead, highlights of mid-tempo songs and ballads from the group’s other albums received a focused and careful presentation. Songs that were newer at the time, such as “Thumbing My Way”, “Man of the Hour”, “All or None”, “Down”, and “Can’t Keep” , fit right in next to radio singles and fan favorites like “Thin Air”, “Immortality”, “Off He Goes”, and “Daughter”. While the song selection doesn’t take too many risks, such as slowing down or re-writing faster or heavier numbers, the inclusion of some of Pearl Jam’s most beloved cover songs, including tunes by The Ramones, Bob Dylan, Victoria Williams, and Johnny Cash, make this concert a treat for fans and for casual listeners alike. Singer/guitarist, Eddie Vedder, commands the stage and engages the audience throughout with a consistent performance and with comical anecdotes between some of the songs, and drummer, Matt Cameron, plays with restraint to lower the volume without sacrificing technical elements of his execution. Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament, on guitar and bass respectively, are no strangers to working in acoustic instruments during any Pearl Jam concert or album recording, but to hear them work exclusively with the acoustic sound and style for the duration of an entire concert is rare in the band’s history, even for the hardcore bootleg collectors. The addition of organist, Boom Gaspar, about a year before this concert occurred, added yet another element to these songs and arrangements throughout.
As the members of the group were happy with the sound on the recording of the concert, and since the style of the show was so unique compared to most of the band’s other concert recordings, the decision was made to release the concert for purchase on a wide scale rather than just through Pearl Jam’s official bootleg series. The show was made available as a CD, sold online and in stores, and as a limited edition vinyl box set which sold out almost immediately via the band’s official website. Sales of these releases continued to benefit YouthCare, with part of the proceeds of sales going directly to the charity. In that sense, those who actually attended the concert contributed by purchasing tickets, and those who buy a copy of the album keep the contributions coming in to help the kids with whom the organization works.
While Live at Benaroya Hall is not a well-known Pearl Jam album, when paired with their original MTV Unplugged appearance, fans can enjoy an extended, well-rounded trip through the band’s first 13 years in the form of these special, acoustic arrangements. If you consider yourself a fan but have not heard these concerts, it is safe to say you will love them, and even if you aren’t the biggest Pearl Jam fan, or know very little about their work, you may become a fan after hearing these excellent performances.
Stream the original MTV Unplugged concert (3-16-92, New York City) here.
Stream Live at Benaroya Hall (10-22-03, Seattle) here.
(or watch a nice fan-made composite of official audio + bootleg video of the concert here.)
While listeners and concert goers were treated to another intimate performance of “Black”, the band seemed to almost intentionally avoid featuring material from the first album era, as it had already been covered on the original MTV appearance. Instead, highlights of mid-tempo songs and ballads from the group’s other albums received a focused and careful presentation. Songs that were newer at the time, such as “Thumbing My Way”, “Man of the Hour”, “All or None”, “Down”, and “Can’t Keep” , fit right in next to radio singles and fan favorites like “Thin Air”, “Immortality”, “Off He Goes”, and “Daughter”. While the song selection doesn’t take too many risks, such as slowing down or re-writing faster or heavier numbers, the inclusion of some of Pearl Jam’s most beloved cover songs, including tunes by The Ramones, Bob Dylan, Victoria Williams, and Johnny Cash, make this concert a treat for fans and for casual listeners alike. Singer/guitarist, Eddie Vedder, commands the stage and engages the audience throughout with a consistent performance and with comical anecdotes between some of the songs, and drummer, Matt Cameron, plays with restraint to lower the volume without sacrificing technical elements of his execution. Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament, on guitar and bass respectively, are no strangers to working in acoustic instruments during any Pearl Jam concert or album recording, but to hear them work exclusively with the acoustic sound and style for the duration of an entire concert is rare in the band’s history, even for the hardcore bootleg collectors. The addition of organist, Boom Gaspar, about a year before this concert occurred, added yet another element to these songs and arrangements throughout.
As the members of the group were happy with the sound on the recording of the concert, and since the style of the show was so unique compared to most of the band’s other concert recordings, the decision was made to release the concert for purchase on a wide scale rather than just through Pearl Jam’s official bootleg series. The show was made available as a CD, sold online and in stores, and as a limited edition vinyl box set which sold out almost immediately via the band’s official website. Sales of these releases continued to benefit YouthCare, with part of the proceeds of sales going directly to the charity. In that sense, those who actually attended the concert contributed by purchasing tickets, and those who buy a copy of the album keep the contributions coming in to help the kids with whom the organization works.
While Live at Benaroya Hall is not a well-known Pearl Jam album, when paired with their original MTV Unplugged appearance, fans can enjoy an extended, well-rounded trip through the band’s first 13 years in the form of these special, acoustic arrangements. If you consider yourself a fan but have not heard these concerts, it is safe to say you will love them, and even if you aren’t the biggest Pearl Jam fan, or know very little about their work, you may become a fan after hearing these excellent performances.
Stream the original MTV Unplugged concert (3-16-92, New York City) here.
Stream Live at Benaroya Hall (10-22-03, Seattle) here.
(or watch a nice fan-made composite of official audio + bootleg video of the concert here.)
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