Eddie Vedder - Atlanta - June 24th, 2009

[Guest Review - Dentist]
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre; Concert Date: 6/24/09

Though he’s not quite as universally revered as Bob Dylan or Neil Young, Eddie Vedder rivals or exceeds both pound for pound in terms of vocal tonality and delivery. The chance to see him sans Ament, Gossard, McCready and Cameron in an acoustic setting was one that I jumped at. The location was the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, a 2,700-seat capacity venue in Atlanta, GA , that was the perfect intimate setting for Vedder’s haunting vocals and sometimes hilarious commentary. Click below for more Vedder:

At 8:45 the curtain was drawn and Eddie came onto the stage in a very unassuming manner, clad in jeans and a cool Dickies-esque jacket and took his position center stage with an acoustic in hand. After a generous round of applause he very matter-of factly said “So, I think we should all just let it all f**king hang out!”and his set began with a trio of covers from Cat Stevens to Floyd and a brilliant version of Girl From the North Country. One of the highlights for me was a stunning version of Betterman played on a smaller guitar/ukulele that Vedder introduced by saying “this might be one that some of you recognize”. The night would not have been complete without the requisite douche-bag, drunken frat-guys heckling Eddie song after song until he finally stopped, called them out and said “I barely heard what you said, but f**k you. I came here in a good mood and I’m not going to let you ruin it. I don’t come to Kinko’s and tell you how to do your f**king job”, which was met with thunderous cheers.

Best of the show for me was the cover of I Won’t Back Down, complete with Eddie going into the higher register on the chorus and the show closer Hard Sun, performed with the house lights on and Liam Finn with supporting vocals (close second was an absolutely stunning version of Bobby Jean, apparently an extremely rare cover, that Priest would have salivated over). It’s worth noting that for a frontman of a rock band, Eddie Vedder is the exception to the rule in that he can absolutely play a guitar about as well as anyone I’ve seen. This talent was one that I was not formerly aware of and really struck me as particularly exceptional. As I alluded to before, as good as Vedder’s voice is layered over full rock band armamentarium, it is phenomenal in this setting. As bad as he sounded on Conan a few weeks ago, the timbre and vibrato that have defined his sound were on perfect, glorious display here. He was talkative, very laid back, and delivered a varied set that had something for hard-core PJ fans and neophytes alike. Do yourself a favor and see Eddie or Pearl Jam if at all humanly possible. In the meantime, buy this.

Set list: Don't Be Shy (Cat Stevens), Brain Damage (Pink Floyd)/Sometimes, Girl From the North Country (Bob Dylan), Betterman (Lullabye Version), Untitled->Gone, No Ceiling, Rise, Far Behind, Guaranteed, Driftin', Millworker (James Taylor), You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (Beatles), I Won't Back Down (Tom Petty), Bobby Jean (Bruce Springsteen), Small Town, Wishlist, Porch

1st encore: Society (Jerry Hannan, w/ Liam Finn), Throw Your Arms Around Me (Hunters And Collectors, w/ Liam Finn), 'Till the Rivers All Run Dry (Don Williams, w/ Liam Finn), The Golden State (John Doe, w/ Eliza-Jane Barnes), The End (New Song)

2nd encore: Hard Sun (Indio, w/Liam Finn & Eliza-Jane Barnes)