Pearl Jam Still Kickin’ It

I probably first saw Pearl Jam at one of the old downtown Seattle clubs - RCKNDY, the Off Ramp, the Vogue or the Crocodile Cafe…in maybe 1991 or 1992. I was bartending for a living in Pioneer Square and nights I didn’t work I was doing the club thing…it was the birth of grunge….

I was amazed at the strong, deep voice that came out of the front man, Eddie Vedder. He’s a little guy and he had that long, long, wavy hair and those piercing eyes. And Mike McCready – the guitar maestro.
The first show that I fully recall was Drop in the Park in September 1992. Pearl Jam sponsored a free show for about 30,000 of us in Magnuson Park on Lake Washington. Eddie was crazy. He threw his microphone cord up until it wrapped around the scaffolding, then he shinnied up the scaffolding on the side, “monkey-barred” himself over to the middle of the scaffolding, sang and then slid back down to the stage via the microphone cord. The crowd went wild!

Well, Saturday night in Vancouver, WA I was not disappointed with Pearl Jam. All these years later they still have the licks, the power, and good music. Eddie’s voice is as strong as ever. The venue was perfect. Our seats were just 10 rows back, in the center section. Cousin Mary and son Jordan sat in the same row, only 15 seats away.

What else can I say. Mike had a great birthday show!!!