Our predictions for the shows in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, which are taking place this week
After four successful tours in Brazil, it's clear that Pearl Jam is the kind of band that draws huge crowds to the country. Nothing seems to be an obstacle for the group formed by Eddie Vedder (vocals/guitar), Jeff Ament (bass), Stone Gossard (guitar), Mike McCready (guitar), and Matt Cameron (drums), who even in the midst of a storm managed to gather 65,000 people at their most recent show in São Paulo, at the Cícero Pompeu de Toledo Stadium, Morumbi, in 2015.
And this year will be no different. The Americans have been chosen to be one of the headliners of Lollapalooza Brazil (as in 2013). Vedder and his bandmates are responsible for closing the second night of the festival, on Saturday the 24th, with tickets sold out.
To reinforce the event's importance, the performance will be preceded by a show at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, March 21. Vedder will also give three solo performances in São Paulo, at Citibank Hall, on March 28, 29, and 30, closing his fifth visit to the country in grand style.
In preparation for the performances, we highlighted five characteristics that can be expected at Pearl Jam shows. See below:
01. Setlists full of surprises.
One of the things that makes fans never tire of going to Pearl Jam shows is the setlists, which rarely repeat themselves. The most dedicated try to guess what awaits them on stage, but it's a difficult task. In an interview published in 2011 by the Folha de S.Paulo , guitarist Mike McCready stated that the band had 200 songs rehearsed. It's possible that the already impressive number has increased in seven years, so surprises can certainly be expected.
02. Classics from the band's discography
Despite their concern for variety, Pearl Jam knows that there are some tracks that are indispensable for the happiness of their fans. "Even Flow," "Jeremy," "Do the Evolution," "Alive," and "Daughter" are examples of songs that are never missing from their setlists. It's time to let loose and sing along with Vedder!
03. Grunge Nostalgia
Besides being one of the greatest representatives of contemporary Rock, Pearl Jam is the last survivor of Grunge, a phenomenon of the genre that exploded in the 1990s. The band earned the title in 2017, after the tragic death of Chris Cornell , former vocalist of Soundgarden and Audioslave, and a close friend of Vedder. Therefore, tributes are possible during the performance and, even if not, the Grunge atmosphere will dominate the show to the delight of the most nostalgic fans.
4. Rock Anthem Covers
The band led by Vedder is also known for its numerous live versions of rock classics. There are so many that there's a YouTube channel that compiles covers performed by the vocalist, categorized by artist, ranging from the Beatles to the Ramones. In their most recent performance in Latin America, which took place on the 16th at Lollapalooza Chile, the band opted for covers that always win over the crowd: "Last Kiss" by Wayne Cochran, "Rockin' in the Free World" by Neil Young, and "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd.
5. News about the upcoming album:
Recently, Pearl Jam released their first new song in five years, "Can't Deny Me." The band also announced that it's the first single from their upcoming album , the successor to Lightning Bolt , but hasn't yet given any further information about the LP. Maybe Eddie Vedder will get carried away by the excitement of the Brazilian audience and reveal some news about the project?
