THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 20, 1995 TAG: 9501200075
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 110 lines
AFTER MANY MONTHS of walkin' the walk, Pearl Jam finally got to talk the talk this week at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.
Besides delivering a powerful 90-minute-plus set, frontman Eddie Vedder took time to address the band's fight for the freedom to choose and the right not to be robbed by Ticketmaster.
``We can have fun without Ticketmaster,'' Vedder sincerely proclaimed to a crowd of 3,500 cheering fans, reaffirming Pearl Jam's highly publicized objection to the ticket chain's costly service charges. The $25 reserved-seat-only tickets were sold through a mail-in lottery. About 175,000 post card requests were sent in.
The concert, which celebrated the 22nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, was the second of two weekend benefit shows for Voters for Choice, a D.C.-based political committee that assists pro-choice candidates for state and national office.
Hosted by Gloria Steinem, president and founder of the committee, the five-hour-long concert also featured Neil Young and Crazy Horse, L7 and Lisa Germano. Fans treasured the intimate atmosphere, as well as the bands' political commentary and simple stage set-ups, all atypical of big-name shows.
Pearl Jam's 20-song shred set kicked off slowly with ``Release,'' the last tune on ``Ten,'' their debut album. With all spotlights off, Vedder's trademark voice came out of the dark and lucky fans instantly knew it wasn't a dream.
The stage lit up and the band offered a sampling of songs from their latest release, ``Vitalogy,'' with Vedder picking up his guitar and joining in on ``Last Exit'' and ``Not for You.''
After introducing new drummer Jack Irons and confessing that they ``feel like a real band now,'' Vedder used the end of ``Daughter'' to reinforce Pearl Jam's pro-choice beliefs: ``You own your own body/Mine, mine, mine/This body is mine.''
While incense burned atop one of several stacked speakers, Vedder's moodiness bled through his long-sleeved shirt. Hiding behind his bush of curly brown hair, Vedder clung to the microphone at times, wildly paced in circles at others and even demolished a microphone stand, which he later handed in pieces to fans in the front row.
Vedder's innocence shone at the end of a wicked ``Satan's Bed,'' when he shrugged his shoulders as if it was ``just OK,'' and during the hypnotizing ``Black,'' when he sweetly stuffed his hands in his pockets.
Just as they have avoided videos since their second album, ``Vs.,'' Pearl Jam refused to end with hits such as ``Jeremy'' and ``Alive,'' finishing instead with the crunching ``Porch.'' Regardless, the echo from a dedicated, die-hard audience was constant.
During the first encore, Vedder calmly stressed the importance and seriousness of voting and noted recent murders of abortion doctors and clinic workers. Before breaking into ``Better Man,'' Vedder pleaded: ``What can I say? Hold on to your freedom.''
The second encore brought openers L7 back on stage for a fun version of ``Rockin' in the Free World,'' a grunge-fest minus the mosh pit. Pearl Jam guitarists Mike McCready and Stone Gossard and bandana-bound bassist Jeff Ament sang back-up and boogied with the chicks from L7, while Vedder hopped around smiling.
A graceless and completely raw Neil Young, along with his band, Crazy Horse, opened their set with guitar talk. For nearly five minutes, the plaid-flannel-clad Young rocked back and forth speechless while his thinning brown hair waved to the audience.
His surprising set included newer songs such as ``Sleeps With Angels,'' the haunting title track from his latest album, as well as timeless classics such as ``Down by the River.''
The 50-minute set ended with crowd favorite ``My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue),'' a tribute to Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten. While Young huddled center stage with his co-pilots, devoted fans screamed in unison, ``Rock 'n Roll is here to stay.'' Young ground his guitar to the wood, breaking a few strings before leaving.
The adventurous L7, who started the pro-choice group Rock for Choice in Los Angeles, were smooth, even comical, during their 10-song grunge attack, which included various songs from ``Bricks Are Heavy,'' the band's debut album, and the latest, ``Hungry for Stink.''
Proving that they are the reigning queens of the riot-grrl bands, L7, adorned in fluorescent orange glowing horns, took control immediately by shouting, ``On your feet or on your knees,'' before ripping into ``Andres.''
While Mudhoney drummer Dan Peters filled in for a resting Dee Plakas, bassist Jennifer Finch and guitarists Donita Sparks and Suzi Gardner twirled and head-banged with an untouchable gracefulness.
Lisa Germano, a sometime fiddle player in John Mellencamp's band, delivered a handful of personal songs about finding oneself and making bad choices, from her third album, ``Geek the Girl.''
Five hours later, sweaty but satiated concert goers, dressed in everything from flannel shirts and jeans to ``choice'' T's and skirts, filed out of the hall and poured into the chilly D.C. streets, singing their favorite songs of the night.
On the way to their cars and taxis, fans exuded a sort of magical energy brought on by the unique show; an energy that will hopefully generate what it was all about - change. MEMO: Holly Wester is a sophomore at Virginia Wesleyan College. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder sang out for the freedom to choose.
Photo
LANCE MERCER/BARRY AMENT/Sony Music
Pearl Jam headlined Washington, D.C., concert marking the 22nd
anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision.
Photo
Holly Wester
by CNB