NEW YORK (Billboard) - Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder played a surprise five-song solo set in Seattle Saturday as part of a benefit concert anchored by the rock group's guitarist, Mike McCready.
The concert, at the Showbox club, raised about $16,000 for the local chapter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. McCready, who went public last year about his battle with Crohn's, rounded up four friends for a set of UFO and Aerosmith covers. The show also featured Left Hand Smoke, Vast Capital and Brad, the latter featuring Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard.
Vedder offered solo takes on Pearl Jam's "Parting Ways" "Man of the Hour" and "Porch," as well as a cover of the Who's "The Seeker." He finished things off with a rare appearance behind the drums for perennial Pearl Jam concert closer "Yellow Ledbetter" featuring McCready and Gossard on guitar.
No Jeff, but I don't begrudge him that. For all we know he could be out of the state or even out of the country right now! I think his -- and Matt's -- absence just seems glaring to people because for the last few years, whenever there's been a "PJ-related" show featuring only one or two members doing a one-off, it seems like the others have shown up in the audience, been there as "moral support" or jumped onstage, to the point where that scenario's really become "the norm". (I'm thinking back to around the summer of '01 at this point, starting with Jack McDowell's benefit where Ed sang with Wellwater Conspiracy at the Showbox, with Jeff watching from the back of the club). And while I think those displays of camaraderie are awesome, I think people now forget there was a time when similar one-offs were taking place and it really would just be "so-and-so of Pearl Jam" and nobody else from the band. Nobody got upset about it then, so I don't think people should read anything into the guys' absence when they don't make it to gigs like the one the other night. They could just genuinely be busy.
It's nice to see the event raised $16,000 for such a great cause. Good stuff! I was actually really curious as to what the finally tally would be.
BTW, though I personally haven't listened to it yet, copies of Ed's solo set including "Yellow Ledbetter" are floating around.
I agree with you Sarah, when you think about it, it actually makes a lot of sense to work apart from one another as they can cover more territory. Imagine the whole band climbing the Kilimanjaro for example. It would not have been possible I think. Then, it's far easier to work on issues that are close to you as ideas will come more naturally, like in the case of Crohn's. I know everyone in the band is totally concerned, obviously but, Mike is the one with the contacts and has the most motivation, of course. It goes the same was for everyone. And they totally support one another in their entreprises as we know. By also working apart, they can cover more grounds. That's why they do that.
-I came up with that title because the article I posted is Jeffless, and this is a Jeffly site-board, not because I was despising his absence from the event-
I too imagine Jeff roaming around since the weather is getting so nice around here, Northwest that is. And since they've been planning to get back in studio at around this time, if he (they) wants to take advantage of the time he has left and the weather, it's now or never!
I wonder how much money they've raised during their whole career? I've read about the causes they support but I've never really read or found anything about the fall-outs themselves. I'd love to. It's amazing the power they have. With Last Kiss, wasn't it someting like over a million dollars? I know it would be tough to evaluate the fall-outs of this one but, the Victoria Williams thing and the Mary *don't-remember-her-name* --the woman that got in an accident not long ago-- ... I wonder where they're at right now, are they ok? I hope they are.
The power of wealth. "The haves have not a clue". The percentage of wealthy people that are also wealthy in the heart and mind is desperately low.
Sorry for misinterpreting your original post, in terms of giving it the title that you did. I had seen a few souls on a couple of other Boards (which I still wonder why I feel compelled to check... ) complaining about and questioning Jeff and Matt's absence the other night, and I guess I brought my attitude towards that over here and misunderstood the aim of your post. Again, very sorry. Nothing personal.
Never read a Daniel Quinn novel, I have to say, although I've heard glowing praise for his works from both the PJ fan community and the band themselves, and of course, there's the apparent "ties" between Yield and Quinn's Ismael.
Without doing any research, I can't recall hearing any more about Maria, the woman who got in the auto accident a few months ago, since I last read about PJ being among the community members who were helping her out. Your figure for "Last Kiss" seems about right... I would assume you could check out CARE for the exact number(s). Off the top of my head, I would venture a guess that over the years, the fellas have raised well over a millon dollars for charitable/social causes. I have a fuzzy recollection of reading an article from '98 in which it said at the time that PJ had raised about $1 million... Forgive me for being equal parts sentimental and terse: They're a hell of a band, aren't they?! And regarding the status of Victoria Williams, last I heard/read, she was doing all right, still releasing records and making music, and was married to Mark Olson of The Jayhawks.
I really don't know what kind of stuff Jeff would say or do that could get me upset... I guess it's the lot that comes with being a hardcore fan. You seem to visit and/or know a lot of other message boards. I sometimes go check the Synergy bbs but that's about it. I really like this board for the people (so little lately) that post here. Sifting through moronic or boring threads on other boards have gotten the best out of my patience. "There's a lot to be said about saying nothing." JA.
As for the people that complain about other band members not taking part into certain events, charitable or not, I have one question for them, what did you do yourself(ves) that compare to what the absentees have contributed to the world?
The first Quinn book that I have read is actually not a novel, it's "Beyond Civilization". That book rocked my world, and god knows I've read a lot of that stuff in the past years! If you get your hands on it, tie up your tuque because your going for a rockin' ride! I read it more then once actually, I can't get my mind off the concepts he proposes, like I've been waiting for a long time for something like this. I also read "My Ishmael" which is a sequel to "Ishmael". I see "Ishmael" as an essay presented in a novel format. Quinn is a very intelligent individual. He gets my vote for Nobel Peace Prize! Now I want to get my hands on "The Selfish Gene" by Richard Hawkins.
As for the money PJ raised, I do remember that Last Kiss alone made more then a million. So through the years, I can estimate that the amount they've raised is far greater the a million. It's unfortunate that the medias aren't interested in covering such matters in more details, like I was saying in the previous post, they talk about fundraisers but once it's done, we don't hear about it anymore. I think that such info would raise much awareness as to the power such gestures and entreprises have over communities and issues. People would know that it works. It would inspire more people to do stuff on there own or get involved. We are a weird species among all the others on earth. We like drama and pain. We like discordance as it entertains. We like gossiping and the likes. And, we don't really care about understanding and educating ourselves. Someone else will do it. So Mama Earth is growing ill and we stand and watch saying "it's sooooo too bad..."
Better not get into that stuff, I'll be spending the night writing. And I'm all "cranked up" right now, I just came back from a non-profit org. board meeting to which I was invited and, got elected as a director. I just wish I can contribute something to the organization, I'll see with time. I'll most probably be directing the newsletter dept., since that was my main interest (and abilities) in getting involved in this particular organization. Small steps first! Sorry, got carried away.
I think his -- and Matt's -- absence just seems glaring to people because for the last few years, whenever there's been a "PJ-related" show featuring only one or two members doing a one-off, it seems like the others have shown up in the audience, been there as "moral support" or jumped onstage, to the point where that scenario's really become "the norm". (I'm thinking back to around the summer of '01 at this point, starting with Jack McDowell's benefit where Ed sang with Wellwater Conspiracy at the Showbox, with Jeff watching from the back of the club). And while I think those displays of camaraderie are awesome, I think people now forget there was a time when similar one-offs were taking place and it really would just be "so-and-so of Pearl Jam" and nobody else from the band. Nobody got upset about it then, so I don't think people should read anything into the guys' absence when they don't make it to gigs like the one the other night. They could just genuinely be busy.
I was actually really curious as to what the finally tally would be.
) complaining about and questioning Jeff and Matt's absence the other night, and I guess I brought my attitude towards that over here and misunderstood the aim of your post. Again, very sorry. Nothing personal.
