Pearl Jam triumphantly returns to St. Paul

Pearl Jam rocks Xcel Energy Center

It’s been over ten years since Pearl Jam have headlined a performance in the Twin Cities. A very energetic crowd at the sold out Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN made sure the band knew the preeminent grunge-rockers from Seattle were not forgotten.

Pearl Jam played 32 songs in total, and for me, the show really took off during the 14 song encore. The band came out and played a stripped down set, including a beautiful cover of “Imagine” by John Lennon, then launched in to the rock they are well known for. “Do the Evolution”, “Black”, and their cover of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” were raucous and awesome.

This was my first Pearl Jam concert, so I don’t have much to compare it to, but I enjoyed nearly every minute of it. Their career spanning set, powerful energy, and interaction with the crowd felt great. I wish I was the lucky guy who got to take Eddie Vedder’s white Gibson SG home.

**photographer note: We were split right and left with little room to move. I was on the right side (stage left).

Pearl Jam at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN 10.19.14 Setlist
Pendulum
Release
Nothingman
Go
Life Wasted
Corduroy
Lightning Bolt
Mind Your Manners
Save You
Even Flow
Sirens
Love Boat Captain
Daughter
I Got Id
The Fixer
Unthought Known
Given to Fly
Rearviewmirror
Encore:
Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
Thin Air
Footsteps
Imagine (John Lennon)
Last Kiss (Wayne Cochran)
Why Go
Do the Evolution
Porch
Encore 2:
Black
Setting Forth (Eddie Vedder)
Better Man
Alive
Rockin’ in the Free World (Neil Young)
Indifference