One of the best Pearl Jam covers ever recorded is available for streaming: Present Tense, performed by Brittany Davis and released via Loosegroove Records.
Originally pressed on vinyl as part of the exclusive 2024 Record Store Day compilation House of LSGRV, Brittany Davis’ stunning rendition of Present Tense is now available on streaming platforms.
“Singing this song was an honor, and it was the song itself that took me by surprise,” the singer wrote on her Instagram account.
Brittany Davis is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and a member of the band Painted Shield alongside Stone Gossard.
Davis’ first EP, I Choose To Live, was released in 2023 under Loosegroove Records, the label co-founded by the Pearl Jam guitarist. Last year, the label also launched Davis’ debut full-length album, Image Issues, co-produced by Josh Evans, known for his work on Painted Shield’s albums as well as Pearl Jam’s Gigaton.
“There are songs that define an era, and then there are some that become a part of us. For many Pearl Jam fans, Present Tense is one of them. Released in 1996 on the album No Code, this track is more than just a song: it’s an introspective journey, an invitation to live in the present without being crushed by the past or overwhelmed by anxiety for the future.
For some, P.T. is so special that it has become an indelible symbol. It is for me—I’ve had it tattooed on my skin since 2005. And when it comes to covers, it’s hard to find someone who can truly do justice to such an emotional song. But Brittany has managed to do just that: her interpretation is intense, authentic, and filled with the depth that has made Present Tense one of the most beloved songs by the Seattle band. Perhaps it’s the best Pearl Jam cover I’ve ever heard. After all, some songs don’t just belong to those who wrote them but to everyone who lives them.” – Luca Villa
Born in Reggio Emilia in 1980. He created pearljamonline.it in 2001 and wrote the first edition of “Pearl Jam Evolution” in 2009 along with his wife Daria. Since 2022, he is behind 2 podcasts: “Pearl Jam dalla A alla Z” and “Fuori Orario Not Another Podcast”. He has collaborated with Barracuda Style, HvsR, Rolling Stone, Rockol and Il Fatto Quotidiano. He continues relentlessly to try to find “beautiful melodies that say terrible things”.
Favorite song: Present Tense
Favorite album: No Code
Favorite bands/artists other than PJ: Tom Waits, Soundgarden, Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, IDLES, Fontaines D.C., The Murder Capital, Dead Kennedys, Mark Lanegan, Cat Power, R.E.M.