by: Matt Lambert
As someone who is a self-proclaimed superfan of 90s rock band Pearl Jam, I am very grateful when I get to see them in front of my canon lenses. I've seen them over 50 times over the past 26 years, and they never cease to put on an amazing performance. After releasing their 12th studio album Dark Matter on April 19th, 2024, they have been touring the album over the past 12 months, with the final show on the tour being May 18th 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Here are photos from night one in Nashville, TN, "music city" at the Bridgestone Arena in the heart of Broadway and where most if not all the action is. Pearl Jam fans took over the city right as Metallica was leaving as they played the weekend before.
Pearl Jam makes every show unique and special and this was no different. They started off subdued with "Indifference," from 1993's Vs. into "Low Light" from 1998's Yield. They continued to play songs from 7 of the albums, many from the new album, but it also included some rare cover songs like Warren Zevon's "Keep me In your Heart" and Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower."
They are a band that is not afraid to play old and new songs, they have mastered the art of playing a wide variety of songs throughout their tours, usually only repeating a handful of songs in each city they play in. I hope to see them again sooner rather than later, but for now the Dark Matter chapter of their touring history has closed.
Opening the later half of the 2025 spring tour starting in Nashville, were Australia's Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers. The all girl band brought riot grrl, punk and post grunge vibes to the show. The band was very tight musically and they were a great fit for the tour.