top of page

PEARL JAM: Dark Matters Tour 2024 - Coop Live Arena - Tuesday 25th June 2024


Photo By Danny Clinch


As the leviathan that is the much maligned Co Op Live arena hosts the return of grunge legends Pearl Jam, there are the ongoing rumblings and snagging issues that still dog this new state of the art events arena.


Notwithstanding astronomical fees for parking, pizza’s and IPA’s, I was looking forward to visiting the arena for the first time and to see the return first hand of Pearl Jam.

Irish Alt rockers, The Murder Capital, had the honour of opening proceedings to a huge crowd that seemed intent on only giving their energy for one band, and sadly it wasn’t the Murder Capital.


With an acapella start that dived into the first song, an interesting way to try and grab attention but the sound for the first few songs can only be described as reminiscent of a very recent experience of wading through thick stodgy mud at a wet festival!! Moody and dangerous red lighting, a photographers worst nightmare, along with wailing purposeful feedback did nothing to stimulate the crowd who were really there for one thing!

 

Shadows cast against the back of the stage, these heralded the grand arrival to rapturous applause of Pearl Jam into the UK’s largest indoor arena.


With a sedentary start to the show underpinned by an atmospheric and often psychedelic huge backdrop, Pearl Jam styled it out with ‘Of The Girl’ and ‘Present Tense’, it did become apparent quite quickly that Eddie Vedder’s vocals were not on top form and before long he explained he’d picked up ‘the sniffles’ in Dublin, although he commented on sign from the crowd that had explained the fan had been in a car crash but were still at the show! An unusual reference with Eddie exclaiming his sniffles just didn’t compare.


That being said his enthusiasm did not falter and the support of the rest of the band in particula Mike McCready just shredding all night showing that age is just a number and if you still got the chops, then you got the chops!!

Eddie's ailments didn’t seem to bother the vast crowd who were treated to some real deep cuts, knowing that Pearl Jam are notorious for really being creative and mixing round the setlists.


Dropping in ‘Daughter’ and a rousing rendition of ‘Even Flow’ early on in the set that needed the generous input of the crowds voices to lift Eddie from his struggles. Including in the set a selection from the new album including the title track ‘Dark Matter'  as well as ‘I got ID’d ‘, ‘React Respond’ and also the staple; but with an extensive back catalogue you could forgive them for not including ‘Jeremy’ and 'Rear View Mirror'

 

But coming back for the encore with seven more songs including ‘State Of Love and Trust’ and a mash up in ‘Black’ plus a Neil Young cover of ‘Fuckin Up’ and a ripping rendition of ‘Alive’. Pearl Jam still showed, that after all this time and, after a few years away from the UK, they can still pack out the UK’s newest and largest indoor arena.!


Article By Steve Harrison

16 views0 comments

Comments


© 2024 by DARKUS. Powered by Wix

  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • TikTok
bottom of page