(from City Paper contributor Caitlin Baker):
Pearl Jam rocks The Colonial Center
“Well, it’s been over a decade since we’ve played in this state. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.” Vocalist Eddie Vedder has it right. The last time Pearl Jam played in our state’s capital was 1996. The show on Monday at the Colonial Center in downtown Columbia on Monday was the bands’ only stop in the Carolinas. Needless to say, three hours of rocking out was very much appreciated. Tennessee indie-rock band The Kings of Leon opened. Vedder joined the quintet for their final song just before the main act took the stage. Pearl Jam played more than 20 songs, including everything fans love from the ’90s. The band even played a few request songs at the conclusion of the show. It was definitely a non-stop evening as the band only took a few short breaks. That is, until Vedder hit his soap box.
As always, when he has a moment to shed the light of his opinion on things, Vedder mentioned the war in Iraq and the rising gas prices. He encouraged the people to speak up about what is going wrong in this country today. And after receiving a few hoorays and a handful of boos, he ended his speech with a witty quote: “I won’t apologize for what I’ve said, but I will thank you for listening.” Then he continued to rock out until the event staff was ready to call it quits and brought up the house lights, only for the crowd to continue singing along. You couldn’t have asked for better energy from Pearl Jam or the crowd. I can guarantee that after the display of southern hospitality in Columbia Monday night, Pearl Jam will not wait another decade to return.
3 Comments
though the concert was the one best i’ve seen, i would hope if they come back, they would choose another venue. the Colonial Center was an embarrestment. It look like the first time a concert was held there! Who ever was in charge of concessions should be fired!!!Running out of beer at 80% of its oulets before the second pearl jam song is unexceptable. Employees were under trained and ready for the number of people at this concert.
…of course Heath probably didn’t take the time to actaully talk to the ‘employees’ serving him his beer. If he had he would have found out that many of these ‘under trained’ folks were unpaid volunteers. Stop being so arrogant dude.
Second: …’ran out of beer at 80% of its outlets…is UNEXCEPTABLE.’ Wtf? Dude! ‘Unexceptable?’ Really? What are you, the beer service Queen? Can you be anymore overdramatic!? Maybe you should’ve drank whine!
I drank a lot - a lot - and other than having to wait (usual arena BS) there was no problem finding beer.
Oh - and the band was real good to! Of course if your primary concern was evaluating (i.e. complaining about) the beer service then you may not have caught much of the show. What a waste of $60. You could’ve just stayed home and got drunk.
What a show…Diversified. Seems like they played one song from album… WMA rocked. What a show - fuck the beer -