On a Sunday evening in 2023, Pearl Jam pulled into the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, IN to prepare for a sold out show. Â However, a few band members fell ill and were forced to postpone the show shortly before doors opened. Â Now a year later, Â fans returned to fill up the large amphitheater to capacity to welcome back a now healthy and ready to go Pearl Jam.
The patient fans waited nearly a full year to scan their tickets as well as brave an afternoon and evening in the mid 90 degrees heat. Â Glen Hansard kicked off the evening with a short set while fans filled in the pavilion and massive lawn.
Walking on the stage just as the sun is setting, the band ripped through 6 straight tunes from the early to mid 90’s. Â With no visible front lighting, the band was completely silhouetted for the first few songs. Â Frontman Eddie Vedder mentioned that the show opener, “Wash”, was also the first song they ever played in Indiana back in 1991. Â A nice surprise for the longtime fans as the band is touring in support of their newest release, this year’s Dark Matter. Â
The next string of songs featured several tracks from Dark Matter as well as touring staples such as “Even Flow” and “Daughter”.  Touring for the first time with a large LED video wall brought even more life into the already polished and tour ready newer tunes.  A highlight of the new touring tech was a graphic comic during another staple, “Do The Evolution”.
After a brief encore, Vedder returned to the stage with just Hansard for a duet of Hansard’s song “Song of Good Hope”. Â Vedder noted that the song was dedicated to a friend of the band that was going through a struggling time. The song was perfect for her. Â A common occurrence at a Pearl Jam show with Vedder dedicating songs to friends and fans. Â He would follow that up with a wedding anniversary request, as well as a shoutout to local basketball star Caitlin Clark before the band played the title track of their 2013 release Lightning Bolt.
With the show stretching just beyond 2 hours and 20 minutes and songs covering a 33 year period, there was an excited buzz leaving the venue. The show was indeed worth the wait.
