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MY PHOTOS NOW POSTED (see bottom)

Last night in Portland showed two stripped down musicians, parting ways from their “main gig” and creating some delightful energy despite the solo nature of it all.  First up was Glen Hansard of The Swell Season (see the Once movie) and The Frames (who essentially became the backing band for the Swell Season)…

(not from GH’s July 2011 Portland gig – this shot from Nov 2009)

Glen played a 45 or so minute set.  Among stories of getting drunk and staying out until 5am viewing women only wearing feathers, he played some tunes that featured his powerful voice.

Glen’s Setlist: 45 minutes

• Pennies in the Fountain
• Leave
• Lucia
• You Will Become
• Love Don’t Keep Me Waiting (with “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” tag)
• In These Arms
• Astral Weeks [Van Morrison] (with “Death Metal” solo)
• Song of Good Hope

After a short set change, Pearl Jam front-man Eddie Vedder came out.  He was dressed as expected… Seattle casual – complete with flannel.  Shocking, I know…

The stage was set up with a sparse bungalow living room feel.  Some chairs, a reel to reel, antique lamps, guitars and shelving strewn about.  While this was billed as the Ukulele Songs tour, Eddie started out on acoustic.  He played a wandering and energy filled set: some stripped down Pearl Jam tunes, some Into the Wild tunes, some ukulele numbers, some covers.  While his casual flannel may make him seem like stuck in the 90s slacker movement, Eddie is anything but a slacker.  He delivered 2 hours of music…

Eddie’s Set: 2 hours

• Walking The Cow [Daniel Johnston]
• Can’t Keep
• Sleeping By Myself
• Without You
• Goodbye
• Blue, Red And Grey [The Who]
• I Am Mine
• Thumbing My Way
• Just Breathe
• Far Behind
• Long Nights (with Glen Hansard)
• Setting Forth
• Guaranteed
• Rise (dedicated to Gerry Lopez)
• Immortality
• Unthought Known
• The End
• Arc
• Encore 1: If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out [Cat Stevens]
• You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away [The Beatles]
• Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
• The Golden State (with Corin Tucker) [John Doe]
• Tonight You Belong To Me (with Janet Weiss) [Billy Rose & Lee David]
• Sleepless Nights (with Glen, off mic, a cappella, gorgeous) [Gram Parsons]
• Society (with Glen) [Jerry Hannan]
• Falling Slowly (with Glen on lead vocals) [The Swell Season]
• Porch
• Encore 2: Hard Sun (with Glen, Corin & Janet) [Gordon Peterson]
• Dream A Little Dream [The Mamas & the Papas]

Eddie has such passion for what he does.  He doesn’t do things half-assed.  While I’d say he isn’t in my short list for “best singers,” he is on the short list for “most passionate singers.”  He’s a gritty and emotive rockstar, definitely – all while being down to earth.  I also find his voice to be distinct, despite the copycats of the 90s.

Eddie shared a funny story about a party with Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell trying to help Eddie create the perfect “evil ukulele” sound.  Too much wine brought on Chris hurling over the balcony… “the ukulele won.”

The session of duets Corin Tucker (from Sleater-Kinney/CT Band) and Janet Weiss (from Sleater-Kinney/Quasi/etc) was fantastic.  The absolute highlight for me was when Glen came back on for the encore and played three songs with Eddie… the first being a stunning off-mic, a cappella version of “Sleepless Nights” and the third being “Falling Slowly” (from Glen’s band The Swell Season).

This tour ends tonight in Seattle…

One question of note: why were the roadies dressed in white lab coats?

more EV photos below

The Appropriate Linkage:

• Eddie Vedder/Pearl Jam Site
• EV/PJ’s Social Media Links (see below)
  
• Glen Hansard’s Swell Season Site
• Glen Hansard’s Facebook / MySpace / Twitter
• Other Related Reviews~
  • The Swell Season @ McDonald Theatre (Eugene – Nov 2009)

The tour dates below… all done tonight in Seattle.

~Dan – np: Garage A Trois – Always Be Happy, But Stay Evil

EDDIE VEDDER PHOTOS
all pictures (cc) 2011 Daniel Temmesfeld,
you may use freely under a creative commons attribution

(click for larger)

Eddie Vedder & Glen Hansard – Summer 2011 Tour Dates

June 15: Providence, R.I. (Providence Performing Arts Center)
June 16: Boston, Mass. (The Wang Theatre)
June 18: Hartford, Conn. (The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts)
June 21: New York, N.Y. (Beacon Theatre)
June 22: New York, N.Y. (Beacon Theatre)
June 25: Philadelphia, Pa. (Tower Theatre)
June 26: Detroit, Mich. (Fox Theatre)
June 28: Chicago, Ill. (The Chicago Theatre)
July 1: St. Louis, Mo. (Fox Theatre)
July 2: Minneapolis, Minn. (Orpheum Theatre )
July 5: San Diego, Calif. (Copley Symphony Hall)
July 6: Long Beach, Calif. (Terrace Theater)
July 8: Los Angeles (The Wiltern)
July 9: Santa Barbara, Calif. (Santa Barbara Bowl)
July 11: Oakland, Calif. (The Paramount Theatre)
July 14: Portland, Ore. (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall)
July 15: Seattle, Wash. (Benaroya Hall)