Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder has announced a quick run of spring US tour dates in support of his solo album Ukulele Songs. He will launch the solo dates beginning in Vegas in April and wrapping up in Orlando in mid May before heading back on the road with Pearl Jam this summer.
Pearl Jam will be on tour throughout the summer, kicking things off in June. We don't have any details on a follow-up to their 2009 album Backspacer but there have been rumblings about activities swirling around the internet, including comments from bassist Jeff Ament to Rolling Stone the band hopes to release a new album early this year. We're keeping our eyes and ears open but have no details.
I love that Eddie has had fun with his uke project but am plenty anxious to see PJ crank things back up, particularly because I just didn't love Backspacer. Somehow I've allowed myself to not see them live once in their 20-year history (and still haven't seen Cameron Crowe's acclaimed documentary of the band). I need to do something about that. I've bought who knows how many live recordings but haven't taken one in yet. There are so many great acts hitting the road this year. I know I'm going to miss some so I'm taking a pass on Eddie's uke dates and hoping to score ducats for his "day job."
How about you? You excited to try and hit one of these uke dates? Did you love Backspacer? Want to start any rumors about the anticipated, unnamed 2012 record? Let's talk Pearl Jam.
Here is the complete list of dates. Please note all tickets go on sale to the general public February 3.
Well, this is some awesome news. Dude's playing literally 8 miles from my house.
I did love Backspacer. I found it to be one of the loosest albums and one of the band's most hopeful. "Unthought Known" still swells up a lot of emotion for me and remains one of my favourite Pearl Jam songs.
I've seen them live once and hope to see them again on this tour. They put on a hell of a show, lots of jamming and McCready breaks the house down a number of times. Sadly Ed's solo tour is nowhere near me, but sometimes he likes to open a PJ show with a couple of songs on the uke so we'll see.
I understand having to pick and choose shows, but Ed puts on a damn fine theater show. Saw the tour before the uke and was very glad I did. Wrote a review for a certain site. Brewster might have a link to the tour I saw on his bootleg blog.
I'd dearly love to see Ed solo in a theater, although I'm pretty sure I'd enjoy a solo acoustic show of PJ songs a little more than ukefest. Either way, this 13-date run isn't coming as close to me as it is Bro. Gibson so I'll just have to hold on to some cash and catch him with his full band.
Jordan, I've gotten a lot of the 'live experience' courtesy of 2-dozenish bootleg recordings from the band but like all of us have seen enough shows to know I'm missing much by not being in the middle of it. I'm glad you got a lot out of Backspacer. I like it but didn't love it but maybe it's about time for me to revisit it and see. Sometimes you just have to be in the right time and space.