Review: Pearl Jam at The O2 arena

REVIEW
It was a case of sweat and tears but astonishingly, considering the enthusiastic agility of Eddie Vedder, no blood when Pearl Jam launched themselves at The O2 arena on Tuesday night.

Almost 20 years since the Godsons of Grunge played their debut eight-track show in London, they rewarded their loyal fans with an epic two-and-a-half hour set.

For a venue as big as The O2, the show felt fabulously intimate. I, for one, was involuntarily transported back to the school bus circa 1992, in the halcyon days before health and safety, when sixth-formers smoked on the back seat and were allowed to ask the driver to play their cassettes.

As the opening bars of Release kicked off the gig, I admit to struggling with something of a lump in my throat. Looking around me, I don't think I was the only one.

It is easy to forget just what a sensational voice Vedder has.

He seemed to effortlessly fill the arena, although a closer look at his face betrayed just how much passion and energy he put into every word.

Leaping around the stage and dangling precariously from the mic stand, he claimed they weren't out of shape, instead just had a lot more songs to get through these days.

Unable to visibly pace themselves, Pearl Jam powered through a set that spanned the decades.

Swigging from a bottle of red wine Vedder chatted amiably with the devoted crowd handing over lead vocals on more than one occasion.

The anthem of a generation, Alive drowned out the band and resulted in many a bearded man in long shorts and faded black t-shirts stepping down from the nostalgia train with much hugging and back slapping.

Pearl Jam also showcased new songs The Fixer, about the fact women want to talk about things and men just want to fix them and Supersonic, which received its first on stage airing.

This could easily have been a run of the mill best of concert as the band announced this would be their last visit to Europe for some time. Instead it reminded an army of followers just how good this band can be and left them hungry for more.