Top 5 Pearl Jam Moments of 2019 #1

#1, Record Store Day

Pearl Jam hadn't dropped vinyl on Record Store Day as a band for several years, but our patience was rewarded in 2019 with a pair of classic shows after Pearl Jam was declared the 2019 Record Store Day Ambassadors.  Sure, both shows have previously been released in other formats, but this was the first time on vinyl for both.

First, was their 2005 Record Store Day performance at Easy Street Records in Seattle, previously released as an EP on CD.  This year is was available in record stores on vinyl, and via the Ten Club on red vinyl.

Then, later, in November, we were treated to their 1992 MTV Unplugged performance.  Both are great, iconic shows, and even though neither record is a full show (Easy Street is a sampling of the show, and Unplugged is the missing the Rockin' in the Free World encore), both are great collectibles worth visiting your turntable for often in the coming year as you wait for Album #11.

Top 5 Pearl Jam Moments of 2019 #2

#2, Eddie Tours Europe

Perhaps to refresh himself and stir creative juices, Eddie took a break from two years in the studio with his band mates to hit the road across Europe.  Hitting a mix of small venues and festivals, Ed brought his individual brand of music.

Top 5 Pearl Jam Moments of 2019 #3

#3, Vault Release: Seattle 12/8/1993

Pearl Jam's Vault releases always seem to make our list, but there was quite a bit of debate on this one.  Did we need another 1993 release?  Las Vegas 1993 was Vault #5.  Was this show actually deserving of a place of honor?  Some claim it's particularly sloppy.

Quality and necessity aside, in a quiet Pearl Jam year, it's no doubt this was going to make the list.  Check out the album on vinyl, CD, or digital formats.

Top 5 Pearl Jam Moments of 2019 #4

#4, A Grammy Nomination for Jeff Ament

A surprising amount of Pearl Jam news this year was actually Soundgarden news.  Joe Spix, Jeff Ament, and [his brother] Barry Ament were nominated for a GRAMMY this year for Best Record Packaging for their work on the Chris Cornell career retrospective, which contains a few Temple of the Dog songs and "Hey Baby! (Land of the New Rising Sun)," a Hendrix tune covered by McCready, Ament, Cameron, and Cornell (one member short of Temple of the Dog).

You'll have to tune in next year to see if the nomination turns into a win, but hey, maybe you'll see that in next year's Top Ten.

Top 5 Pearl Jam Moments of 2019 #5

I hate to admit that there are not 10 great moments to celebrate in 2019, but let's be honest, Pearl Jam played zero shows and released zero new music in 2019.  In a year when there were no major appearances by the band, and they stayed sequestered, possibly, working on a new album for 2020, here is what we've come up with to celebrate.

#5, Infinite Color and Sound

If you were a fan of Mike McCready's 2018 project with Kate Neckel blending Mike's trippy sonic creations with Kate's performance art, you had a chance to catch entirely new live creations in Seattle, New York, and New Jersey in 2019 as the show went on tour. 

You also had a chance to collect three 7-inch vinyls of the music at the Ten Club. 

Now, however, your only chance is the sample below, put out by HockeyTalkter Records.

Happy Birthday, Eddie Vedder!

Photo credit: Ten Club

Vault Release #9 (Seattle 1993) Is Now Available in Digital and CD Formats.

You can now pick up the December 8th, 1993 Seattle show at Seattle Center Arena is now available in Digital ($10) and CD ($17) formats via the Ten Club store.

TRACKLISTING
Release
Even Flow
Dissident
Sick O' Pussies
Go
Animal
Jeremy
Deep
Why Go
Daughter/Do You Feel Lucky/WMA
Glorified G
Alive
Once
Footsteps
Porch
Last Exit
Tremor Christ
Blood
State of Love and Trust
I've Got a Feeling
Rearviewmirror
Rockin' in the Free World

Pearl Jam European Tour 2020

At the tail end of a very, VERY silent year, Pearl Jam has announced plans for a European tour in the summer of 2020, including their first ever show in Hungary.  Could an album announcement be far away.  Sadly, yes.  Yes, it could.

But don't dismay!  Just head to the Ten Club.  You've got 3 days to enter the drawing for tickets.  Public sale starts on December 7th.

DATE	CITY	VENUE
June 23	Frankfurt, Germany	Festhalle
June 25	Berlin, Germany	Waldbühne
June 27	Stockholm, Sweden	Lollapalooza Stockholm
June 29	Copenhagen, Denmark	Royal Arena
July 2	Werchter, Belgium	Rock Werchter Festival
July 5	Imola, Italy	Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari
July 7	Vienna, Austria	Wiener Stadthalle
July 10	London, UK	American Express presents BST Hyde Park
July 13	Krakow, Poland	Tauron Arena
July 15	Budapest, Hungary	Budapest Arena
July 17	Zurich, Switzerland	Hallenstadion
July 19	Paris, France	Lollapalooza Paris
July 22	Amsterdam, Holland	Ziggo Dome