Explosive performances, wild stories, and unforgettable moments in Florida.
Opening Act: Dead Pioneers
Dead Pioneers’ set (only the songs with Jeff Ament): Dead Pioneers
Setlist: Release, Of the Girl, Given to Fly, Do the Evolution, Dark Matter, Wreckage, Daughter/It’s Ok (Dead Moon), Not For You/Modern Girl (Sleater-Kinney), Even Flow, Scared of Fear, Immortality, Jeremy, Faithfull, Black, Something Special, Better Man/Save It For Later (The English Beat), Porch, Just Breathe, Upper Hand, Small Town, Sonic Reducer (Dead Boys), Alive, Rockin’ in the Free World (Neil Young), Yellow Ledbetter
After the incredible kickoff of the Dark Matter Tour 2025, Pearl Jam made their return on April 26 at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, delivering a second night that was as intense and unforgettable as the first.
Once again, the explosive Dead Pioneers opened the show, igniting the crowd with their high-energy, no-holds-barred set. A special moment came when Jeff Ament joined them on stage to play Dead Pioneers, a track from the band’s new album PO$T AMERICAN. A powerful reminder of the deep bond between Pearl Jam and the artists they choose to support.
Right before 9 PM, Pearl Jam kicked off their set with a goosebump-inducing start: Release, Of The Girl, and Given To Fly, followed by an explosive version of Do The Evolution.
Between songs, Eddie Vedder shared a hilarious anecdote from early Florida shows: during one gig, he had to jump from a ceiling beam, evading an overly eager bouncer, landing in the crowd who caught him while he threw up gestures at the bouncer.
After warming up the crowd, Dark Matter took the stage, followed by Wreckage, solidifying the new album as a live show staple.
One of the funnier moments of the night came when Eddie poked fun at a review that called Mike McCready a “pyromaniac” after the first concert. According to Ed, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had tried to get Mike arrested and shipped off to El Salvador, but Mike got away because “he’s white and has money.” This lighthearted moment was followed by a deeper reflection on the importance of thinking about others and not just ourselves.
Even Flow showcased Mike McCready at his best, while Scared Of Fear confirmed just how well the new material plays live.
Notable highlights in the main set included Immortality and Faithfull, the latter replacing I Got Shit.
After Black, Eddie took a moment to greet his family in the audience, reflecting on how, in the early days of his career, writing songs with his kids in mind seemed impossible. He also congratulated Mike McCready’s eldest son, recently accepted into an important school.
The final part of the show was a crescendo of emotions: Something Special, Better Man (with a bit of Save It For Later tacked on), and a blistering version of Porch.
No break before the encore: Ed stayed on stage, sharing a couple of stories about fans, birthdays, and “wrong shopping carts.”
The second half was pure emotion: Just Breathe, Upper Hand, and a special dedication to the Seminole Tribe and Chris, the person who had found Jeff Ament’s original bass used on Vs., the very instrument Jeff played during Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town.
After Small Town, the band played one of their fan-favorite covers, Sonic Reducer by the Dead Boys.
The grand finale was a celebration: Alive, a wild version of Rockin’ In The Free World, and to close things out in style, Yellow Ledbetter.
It was a concert that spoke straight to the heart, without any need for theatrics. Just music, emotion, and that magic that, after all these years, is still as powerful as ever.
The poster for the night was designed by Gregg Deal.
Who’s Gregg Deal? He’s a full-on artist, activist, and disruptor from the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, known for dropping powerful messages through his art, murals, films, and spoken word. Oh, and he’s also the frontman of the Dead Pioneers — the punk/post-punk band that’s been lighting up the early dates of Pearl Jam’s Dark Matter Tour 2025.
And the coolest part? Gregg’s the first opener ever to design an official Pearl Jam concert poster — and it’s the one you see right here.
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.