Pearl Jam Open for Themselves, Cover Neil Young

Posted on Aug 24th 2009 11:00AM by John D. Luerssen
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Pearl Jam fans attending the band's gig at Toronto's Molson Amphitheatre on Friday night got an unexpected bonus when the band served as its own opening act. According to Canada's Globe and Mail, scheduled opener Ted Leo and the Pharmacists were unable to perform their set after Leo was grounded in New York because of bad weather, prompting Eddie Vedder to stroll out onto the stage to entertain the delighted crowd.

"Surprise, surprise," Vedder told the crowd before opening with a pair of Neil Young classics, 'Sugar Mountain' and 'The Needle and the Damage Done.' Bassist Jeff Ament next joined the frontman and guitarists Mike McCready and Stone Gossard soon followed, taking turns performing solo tunes. Later, the Leo-less members of Pharmacists joined in for a jam session.

During their formal set, Pearl Jam decided to pay homage to Young again, covering 'Rockin' in the Free World,' during their second encore. To see Vedder's rendition of 'The Needle and the Damage Done,' check out the video below.