Review: Pearl Jam Live!
- Jade Read
- Apr 24
- 2 min read
Pearl Jam opened their Dark Matter Tour with a performance at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, marking their first South Florida appearance in nine years. The show took place almost exactly 32 years after their debut in Miami at the Cameo Theater on Miami Beach. Eddie Vedder referenced the original concert during the set, recalling physical scrapes from crowd-surfing during that 1992 performance.
The band’s setlist was notable for its range. It included material from eight different albums, with Ten and Dark Matter receiving the most representation. Six tracks from Dark Matter were performed: React, Respond, Dark Matter, Wreckage, Won’t Tell, Running, and Setting Sun. Early fan favorites like Yellow Ledbetter, Daughter, Better Man, and Jeremy were not included.
The show also featured four cover songs: I Won’t Back Down (Tom Petty), So You Want to Be a Rock N’ Roll Star (The Byrds), and Baba O’Riley (The Who). Deeper cuts such as Footsteps, Leatherman, and Lukin were included alongside more the classics of Even Flow, Corduroy, and Alive.
The crowd responded strongly throughout the night. While the setlist left out several expected tracks, the performance focused on legacy over familiarity. Vedder addressed the audience multiple times between songs, sharing memories tied to the venue and referencing the band’s history in Miami.
Pearl Jam played for over two hours. The performance blended new material with lesser-played songs from their catalog and made apparent the band's connection to longtime fans. The show was the first of the tour and served as both a launch for Dark Matter and a return to the 305!
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