Pearl Jam Electrifies Philadelphia: A Night of Nostalgia, Dedications, and Rock at the Wells Fargo Center - i99Radio, Philadelphia's Alternative Rock!

Bayside returned to Philly this past week for a two night stand celebrating their music both old and new. i99Radio was on the scene to capture night one of two. For the first night, Bayside brought songs from their early years, 2004 to 2008. For many of us, it takes us back instantly to the songs of our childhood, middle and high school years, and the audience spanning Gen X to Gen Alpha came ready to rock.

Long Island, NY’s The Sleeping started the night off and brought their unique blend of post-hardcore and raw energy to the stage that really got the audience going. People thrashed around and sang along, and even a toddler hopping up on his dad’s shoulders to get a better view of frontman Doug Robinson, who climbed up to the barrier, putting his microphone up to fans to sing along with them, and eventually even crowdsurfing above their heads at one point. The band has been experiencing a revival since their reunion in 2022 and their fantastic newest album, “I Feel Like I’m Becoming a Ghost”, dropping in 2023.

Bayside then took the stage, kicking off their set with the classic track, “Montauk”, from their second self-titled album. Frontman Anthony Ranieri commented how their idea for the “Errors Tour” came about when they wanted to play 44 songs in each city, instead of just 22. He talked about how the band has so many songs that fans love from all across their career, but not enough time to play them all, so they thought, “why not just play 2 nights in every city?”

The night of classic nostalgia continued on, with the band delivering high-energy versions of much loved tracks from their third album, 2007’s “The Walking Wounded”, like “Duality”, “I and I”, and the ballad “Landing Feet First” (of which started a massive audience singalong). The band also reached far back in their discography, playing tracks from their first years as a band, like “Masterpiece”, “Guardrail” and “Kellum”, off of the first album, 2004’s “Sirens and Condolences.” The audience was audibly excited by this, as these tracks are very rarely played live. The audience cheered loudly and unleashed a constant stream of crowd-surfers to the front of stage as they ripped through these classic tracks. The “newest” songs they played for night 1 were tracks from 2008’s classic album, “Shudder”, like “Boy”, “No One Understands” and “The Ghost of St. Valentine”. Again, many of these tracks haven’t been played since the Shudder Tour in 2008 so hearing these songs was certainly a treat for the audience.

Bayside’s show at Brooklyn Bowl was a testament to how the songs we grew up with are forever engrained in our DNA, the music grows with us and becomes a part of us as we grow older, but we never forget the songs that influenced us almost two decades ago. The 1,000 people in the audience who turned up to sing every word of these songs that are almost 20 years old now proves this to be true and Bayside to be a band close to so many people’s hearts.

Photos by Dave Avidan

Philadelphia became a hotspot of energy and emotion as Pearl Jam returned to the sold-out Wells Fargo Center on Sunday night. With a 25-song setlist that spanned decades, Eddie Vedder and the band reminded the crowd why this city holds a special place in their hearts. From heartfelt dedications to old-school anecdotes, the night was a rollercoaster of nostalgia and raw rock power.

Pearl Jam kicked off the night with Long Road, performed in near-complete darkness, signaling that the audience was in for an emotional journey. Despite the subdued lighting, the fans responded with full energy, matching the intensity of the band’s opening. The slow-burning mood continued with Low Light, as the lights dimmed even further, deepening the atmosphere. The pace then ramped up with Why Go, as the crowd exploded with energy, and the arena seemed to shake during the song’s powerful chorus “Why go home?“

The emotional tone was set early when Vedder dedicated “Given to Fly” to the Gaudreau brothers—Matthew and Jordan—who tragically lost their lives in a car accident on August 30th. As Vedder’s voice echoed through the arena, he shared that the brothers’ funeral would be held Monday at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Media, PA. The dedication struck a chord with the audience, showcasing the Pearl Jam’s ability to still connect deeply with fans, especially on such personal and tragic matters happening here locally.

Vedder’s connection to the crowd only grew stronger throughout the night. At one point, he scanned the sea of faces, recognizing dedicated fans from New York, Chicago, and even Australia. “If you heard this show on Pearl Jam Radio, you’d say to yourself, ‘Now that was a fucking show I wish I was at!’” Vedder shouted. The Wells Fargo Center erupted, proving once again why Pearl Jam and Philadelphia are a match made in rock-and-roll heaven.

The band’s return to the Wells Fargo Center was a reminder of their history with the city. Vedder reminisced about playing at JC Legendary Dobbs on South Street, a venue that barely held 100 people. “If I asked how many people were at that show, 300 would raise their hand!” he joked, adding another layer of nostalgia to an already unforgettable evening.

Humor found its way into the night when Vedder spotted a couple holding up a sign that read, “Getting married March 25th – Are you available?” With a playful smile, he pretended to flip through a book, checking his availability. “How about the 26th?” he teased, sending laughter through the crowd.

The setlist was a mix of classics and rarities, with highlights including the tour debut of Brain of J. and powerful renditions of “Even Flow,” “Black,” and “Rearviewmirror.” The encore kicked off with a touching cover of Tom Petty’s I Won’t Back Down, and the energy peaked with Alive before the crowd roared along to Baba O’Riley. As the final notes of Indifference filled the arena, Vedder threw tambourines into the audience, leaving fans with a tangible piece of the night to take home.

For a night filled with heart, humor, and rock anthems, Pearl Jam’s performance in Philadelphia was a reminder that some bands never lose their spark. Whether through honoring lost lives or celebrating their storied past, Pearl Jam once again showed why they continue to fill arenas after all these years.