Auditorium Theatre

Last night Eddie Vedder appeared at the Auditorium Theatre for the first of 2 nights. Not sure what to expect from a solo Mr. Vedder, it was one of the most amazing shows. Everything from the set to Vedder’s demeanor was totally unpredictable and thoroughly appreciated by the crowd. Vedder sat on a stool at center stage flanked by guitars and a few other props. He played an eclectic set including some Pearl Jam favorites but mostly obscure covers with a somewhat singer-songwriter overtone. His cover of Cat Steven’s “Trouble” was almost unrecognizable, but rang true to the original sentiment of the song. He interacted with the audience consistently throughout the show allowing a glimpse into the person behind the rock star.To say there was a highlight of this show is almost unfair to the myriad of what went on, but when Vedder brought Iraqi war vet, Thomas Young onto the stage, he made a direct and moving statement. Vedder’s views on war and our current state have certainly been voiced before, but this was more about a soldier, a person directly affected by the facts of war. It was visual and a sobering moment within the show, but a dose of reality is good for everyone once in a while.