Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Ed Covers My City of Ruins

OK, if your tapped into any Pearl Jam news source, you've seen this, but it's worth reposting.



Via twofeetthick, via Bugs:




All That's Sacred, Episode #33



Episode #33 is now available.

Been feeling a little under the weather here lately and had this week’s podcast sneak up on me. Luckily I had some listener help with the song selections and was able to crank this out to end the year on a high note. With #33 being the last episode of 2009, we’re going out with a BANG and featuring songs where Mike McCready ignites the moment by creating sonic fireworks with his instrument! I just couldn’t think of a more appropriate way to close out the year.



Hope you all have a happy and safe New Year! Looking forward to 2010 but recognize that 2009 wasn’t without its highlights. The biggest personal highlight for me this year was the creation of the podcast and connecting with so many of my fellow fans. Thanks to everyone in the Pearl Jam online community and special thanks to Brandon at The Sky I Scrape for the early and continued support. I really appreciate you all coming along for the ride and contributing to the podcast and hope to continue for the foreseeable future. See you next year.


Then head to our forums to discuss it!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Eddie on CBS Tonight!

Sorry for the late warning, but the TwoFeetThick reminded me that Ed's scheduled to be on the CBS Broadcast of the Kennedy Center Honors.  He performed Bruce Springsteen's My City of Ruins.





I stole your picture, Kathy.  Thanks!

Monday, December 28, 2009

The Top Ten Pearl Jam Moments of 2009, Part 2

5. The Side Project
With a massive reissue of their debut album, the recording of a new studio album, and tours on 3 continents you'd think that the members of Pearl Jam would have plenty to do. Still, they found time to spring to life with plenty of solo [Eddie, Stone, Mike] performances, as well as reunite great Grunge Era acts like Green River




... and Deranged Diction,




... and Mike treated us to the usual gaggle of Flight to Mars 




... and Shadow 86 shows.  


Did I miss any?  Oh yeah, Temple of the Dog reunites in L.A. for Hunger Strike:





 


4. Austin City Limits
It is a rare occurrence that we get to dig into Pearl Jam on television. Even rarer that the performance is archived on-line. The opening performance of Just Breathe performed with a string trio is so heartfelt that Pearl Jam distributed it as a video for Backspacer's second single.




The show contained little in the way of live rarities, but the band did transition from softer songs to real face-melting numbers with their usual ease. Look for an acoustic version of Lukin with the string trio and Ben Harper joining the band for Red Mosquito, a favorite of this board.


3. Ten Reissue
It was a busy year for reissues and boxed sets. Maybe you picked up Neil Young's Archives, Volume Oneor the Beatles' Mono Box (because seriously?  stereo?) or Jane's Addiction's Cabinet of Curiosities or the Beastie Boys' first four Grand Royal album reissues, but if you're a die-hard Pearl Jam, you most definitely picked up the Legacy Edition of Ten, packed with two, TWO versions of Ten on CD and Vinyl, MTV's Unplugged on DVD, the Drop in the Park show on vinyl, a replica of the Mamasan demo tape, and a whole pile of cool stuff jammed into a fancy fabric-covered box.




For those of us without $100+ to drop on this eye-candy collectible could spring for smaller, more affordable versions, depending on exactly what piece of memorabilia meant the most to us. Whichever version you got, you most likely dove into the new Redux version of Ten remixed by Brendan O'Brien and spiked on the end with some rare gems including a remixed version of Brother with words which brought Pearl Jam back to the charts. I'm not sure I even put the remastered version into my CD player. For those of you still clinging to your ugly, pink version of Ten ... why? It's just an evil little goat.




2. Backspacer
It's a weird combination of guilt and bliss for a Pearl Jam blogger when Pearl Jam news and reviews pour in so fast that you can't even begin to keep up. Even a round-up with links to all the news articles across the country would have crashed TSIS's servers.  I felt like I would be behind the game for the rest of time.




Every member of the band was speaking on to the press. Every website that ever covered music news was talking about Backspacer. They were topping the charts. Target was marketing hard. The marketing lead-up with on-line scavenger hunts and free, rare vinyls.  All of that, and the album was, in the end, pretty sweet.  


There.  I'm caught up.




1. The Spectrum




In the heart of a true fan, what could be a better moment than the release of the new album. Well, how about four shows in a row to close out an arena scheduled for destruction? How about 104 separate songs? How about a cover of Whip It in costume as Devo?








Ed on stage with an accordion for the first ever, live performance of Bugs?




Confetti? A balloon drop?



Speed of Sound
?







I'm Open
?







Sweet Lew
?







Out of My Mind
?









Yes ... I think I am out of my mind, but not about the Spectrum Closer being the greatest Pearl Jam moment in all of 2009.


Pearl Jam's October 27, 28, 30, and 31 shows at Philadelphia's doomed Wachovia Spectrum were a spectacular send off with a set of shows that rivals anything Pearl Jam has done before. They were loose.  They were sharp.  They were funny.  They were melancholy.  It was clearly a great moment in Pearl Jam history and the fact that Pearl Jam are still not selling the official bootlegs from those shows has fans whispering "boxed set." Surely, fans will step over their own mother for that one. There never has been, nor is there likely to be another, string of Pearl Jam shows as epic as the four-night farewell to the Spectrum.


Good-bye, Spectrum.  Good-bye, 2009.


Saturday, December 26, 2009

The Top Ten Pearl Jam Moments of 2009, Part 1

Surely, 2010 is going to be a great year to be a Pearl Jam fan, especially for Europeans and Louisianians.  Pearl Jam has already announced some tour dates and hinted at others.  They've murmured something about an EP with Backspacer outtakes.  We're expecting seven more remastered, remixed, and/or reissued albums, at least some of which HAVE to be available in 2010.


But before that drool starts staining your shirt, let's look at 2009 one more time, and see why that was a great year to be a Pearl Jam fan.





10. The Fixer Leaks
When you first heard this early clip of The Fixer recorded through the door of Chop Suey, your first thought was probably, "would that dude please shut up!  I'm trying to hear the band."  It was so bad that Red Mosquito crashed from desperate fans flocking to a 20 second clip from Major League Baseball.    No one was talking "Grammy" back then.  Nonetheless, this was the first fans heard of the song we would all love to hate.  Maybe because it diverges from the Pearl Jam we've known.  Maybe because we associate it with a corporate deal with mega-store Target.








Maybe everyone is just too embarrassed to admit how well worn that white (or orange) 45 really is.




9. The Pearl Jam Blogosphere Is (Re)Born
How many Pearl Jam blogs were there in 2008?  No, no, no ... I don't mean abandoned, never used pages with a headline featuring a McCready show from 6 months ago.  Zip.  2009 has seen the Pearl Jam Blogosphere/Twitterverse/YouTubeNation spring to life.  OK, get your RSS Reader open and ready.  Not only did we begin actively updating news in February, but TwoFeetThink sprung back to life with a redesign just days later.  On-line forums continue to thrive here and at Pearl Jam Boots, Red Black and Yellow, PJCollectors, (to name a few) and the Ten Club (which, by the way, you can now access via a two-dollar iPhone app).








You can also catch regular Pearl Jam news at Given to Cast and Grunge Report, but you can find Twitter feeds from @thesky_iscrape, @twofeetthick, @allthatssacred, @giventocast, @grungereport, @lettertothedead, @PJBugs, @PJVault, @pearljamonline, and oh yeah ... @pearljam themselves.  




8. YouTube Channels
YouTube isn't new, and it's not uncommon to find clips of Pearl Jam concerts there.  However, 2009 brought us some sweet gems.  Pearl Jam, of course, has their own channel where among other things, we've caught a few great recordings by Stone,








... and apparently feeling left out during the roar of press surrounding the reissue of Ten, so does Dave Abruzzesse.  He threw up some classic, never before seen live video.








Also, recently the Frogs dumped their collection of Eddie Vedder videos for your enjoyment.








And without YouTube, how would non-Philadelphians know how great Bugs sounds live?










7. The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien Debuts
Nothing brings TSIS's server problems to light like a highly anticipated show featuring never-before heard music by oh my God, oh my God, .... Pearl FUCKING Jam!  Yeah, we died ten minutes into the show, but when we were back up in the morning, it was clear that the debate on Got Some, which we were calling "Get Some" [Thanks a lot, nbc.com!] had begun.








Loved it!  Hated it!  Nothing in between.  Eddie smokes too much.  Eddie's getting fat!  And what was with Conan totally lying to us about the cover of Backspacer?




6. Jamcasting Takes Off
The first Pearl Jam podcast, Given to Cast, debuted in 2006, but 2009 saw a plethora of downloadable content for the rabid fan.  Not only did GTC, which had fallen silent for some time, return to the airwaves, All That's Sacred continues a weekly themed show with episodes numbering in the 30s.







Grunge Report recently debuted a podcast, not devoted entirely to Pearl Jam, but often discussing the band.  This year also saw two great series of podcasts Ten Code, leading up to the release date for Ten's Reissue, and PearlJamTour.TV, a video cast leading up to the Australian/New Zealand Tour.  Pearl Jam fans no longer have to wait or root though piles of vinyl and CD-ROMs to pass the time between albums.  Make sure to load up your iPod.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas!

Dear Pearl Jam,



All I want for Christmas is a Christmas-themed 45!











Pearl Jam iPhone App

Now you can keep all things Pearl Jam in your pocket for two measly bucks with the new Pearl Jam iPhone App.






Here's a list of features from the Ten Club
Home
  • Check out the latest news from Pearl Jam
  • Join the Ten Club
  • Access to your Ten Club member account from anywhere
  • Modify your Ten Club online profile
Media
  • A comprehensive collection of every song Pearl Jam has created -- including snippets for most songs
  • Detailed track data with snippets for every album on iTunes
  • Song details including set lists for live performances, lyrics and more
  • Releases and one stop shopping for all official Pearl Jam album
Official Pearl Jam YouTube videos
  • Interactive record player with 3 bundled songs from Backspacer
Tour Features
  • Upcoming tour dates
  • Past set lists -- giving you mobile access to a chronology of every song ever played live by Pearl Jam
  • Tour map with live updates of tour information
  • Tour photos with pinch, zoom and flick abilities
  • Dynamic show beacon that blinks in time to the ambient sound while at a concert or rocking out in your own home
Community Features
  • Complete access to the Pearl Jam forums
  • Ability to post and ready almost anywhere Read and share in the Pearl Jam community anywhere your iPhone or iPod Touch takes you.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

All That's Sacred, Episode #32



Episode #32 is now available.


With Christmas looming so close, I wonder what kind of listenership to expect this week for episode #32. I don’t really have that great of expectations, but I hope most of you find a moment to break away from the craziness of the holiday to tune in to this week’s podcast. This week is notable because every single song was requested by one of you in your own voice! As I had hoped, the voicemail has added a new dimension of connection and interaction to the podcast. It’s nice to have your additional input and perspective and I appreciate you all being game enough to try it out. Most importantly though, there is some great Pearl Jam music being explored here.



Next week is the last podcast of 2009 and I want to end things with a BANG! I can think of only one way to accomplish that and that’s by featuring songs where Mike McCready is shredding guitar and melting faces! I got a list started but, as always, I’d really like some help from you listeners. If you got something to contribute, please contact me by email, Facebook, Twitter, or check out the voicemail at 707-SACRED9 (707-722-7339).



Have wonderful holiday weekend and see you next week to ring in the New Year!


Then head to our forums to discuss it!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Grunge Report Radio, 12/16/2009

The December 16th episode of Grunge Report Radio is now available.





On the December 16th edition of Grunge Report Radio hosts Brett and Duncan answer fan questions about Pearl Jam’s 2010 touring plans and much more.  There are also plenty of Creed and Billy Corgan jokes.  The next episode of Grunge Report Radio will also be fan question driven, so if you have questions post them in the comments here or on our forums in the FORUMS section.

All That's Sacred, Episode #31



Episode #31 is now available.




This year is quickly wrapping itself up and I figured episode #31 would be a great opportunity to reflect on the year that was by featuring a few highlights from some of the 2009 Pearl Jam shows. This last year found the band in a really good place – showing no signs of slowing down or becoming a caricature of their former selves. The guys continue to grow, perform, and surprise at a level that would be the envy of any self-respecting band. 



The anticipation for 2010 is already building with the recent dates announced for Europe and The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. I’m quietly hoping for a few dates here in the Pacific Northwest. I’ll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.



Next week on #32, we’ll be featuring some listener requests via the voicemail – which include a few additional 2009 tour highlights. I’m really enjoying this new interaction and I still have a few more spaces to fill so if you’d like to contribute, please call 707-SACRED9 (707-722-7339). I appreciate all the continued support and participation.


Then head to our forums to discuss it!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Pearl Jam in New Orleans

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has announced their performer schedule, and one of our favorite bands will be in attendance.



Saturday, December 12, 2009

Grunge Report Podcast





 
I'm a little late in announcing the Grunge Report Podcast.  It's not solely Pearl Jam centric, but you can check it out here.  We'll post updates here when there is a significant Pearl Jam mention.  Enjoy.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Vedder at Kennedy Center Honors



Last night Eddie performed My City of Ruins with a gospel choir at the Springsteen tribute at Kennedy Center Honors.

Washington D.C.’s elite rubbed elbows with rock & roll royalty Sunday night as Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, John Mellencamp, Sting and Melissa Etheridge paid tribute to Bruce Springsteen, one of five recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors at an elaborate tribute show. Robert DeNiro, Mel Brooks, jazz pianist Dave Brubeck and opera soprano Grace Bumbery were the other honorees at the ceremony, which will air December 29th on CBS.

The People Speak Airing December 13

This Sunday you can catch The People Speak featuring Eddie on the History Channel.  Read more at the Ten Club.



The 2010 Euro Tour

Finally!!!  It's official.





 
Here are your dates.



PEARL JAM EUROPE 2010

 

DATE             CITY                      VENUE

22-June / Dublin, Ireland / 02 Arena

23-June / Belfast, Ireland / Odyssey Arena

25-June / London, England / Hard Rock Calling Hyde Park

27-June / TBD / TBD

30-June / Berlin, Germany / Wuhlheide

1-July / TBD / TBD

3-July / Arras, France / Main Square Festival

4-July / Werchter, Belgium / Rock Werchter Festival

6-July / TBD / TBD   

9-July  / TBD / TBD

10-July / Oeiras, Portugal / Optimus Alive Festival

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Hard Rock Calling 2010?

Rumors containing the words Pearl, Jam, Europe, and 2010 continue.  I guess there will be more news tomorrow.

 

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Vote Now: Spin Magazine's Artist of the Year

Please go vote.  I can't deal with a Lady Gaga win.



The Fixer Nominated for a Grammy

I tweeted this the night of the announcement, but if you watch the news page, you might have missed it.



Wednesday, December 2, 2009

All That's Sacred, Episode #29



Episode #29 is now available.




The holiday season is upon us and I thought it only appropriate to make episode #29 a playlist of some of Pearl Jam’s yearly gifts via the annual Holiday 45 exclusive to Ten Club members. A couple of these aren’t “Christmas” songs per se, but still felt wintery and fitting. I’ll be back with the commentary next week, but figured I’d sit this one out. I thought some of you might want to have this for a little background ambiance while you gift-wrap, visit, and/or imbibe in the coming weeks – I’d just be getting in the way of the music.



I also included two Six Degrees of PJ tracks to mix it up a bit. While there is an easy connection to the artist on the first track, the second track ends the podcast and requires a little more analysis – although you don’t have to be a rock historian to connect the dots. While this closing track was recorded over 40 years ago, it’s regrettably and eerily still relevant to today – and a subtle reminder that we still live in a crazy world despite all the feel-good holiday sentiments. The more things “change”, the more they stay the same…


Then head to our forums to discuss it!

MonkOne Poster For Charity

Bidding starts at $500.

Pearl Jam: Number Three Hottest Tour!

 Behind the Boss and ... wuh?



Pearl Jam lands at #3 on the Hot Tours rankings with totals from its four sold-out shows at the Wachovia Spectrum in Philadelphia (Oct. 27-28, 30-31), the final concert performances in the 42-year old arena now scheduled for demolition.



Bruce Springsteen, Green Day, Kings of Leon and The Dead were among the artists to perform at the arena during its final year of operation. With over 400,000 tickets sold since the beginning of the year, the Spectrum ended the year with total reported grosses surpassing $23.8 million.