Pearl Jam Kicks Off North American Tour 2022 In San Diego

Pearl Jam finally launched a U.S. tour originally scheduled for 2020 last night in San Diego. The Seattle-based rockers delivered a 23-song performance at Viejas Arena that went heavy on songs from their 2020 studio album, Gigaton.

The tour in support of Gigaton was among the first postponed due to the pandemic in March 2020. While Pearl Jam played a handful of concerts in 2021, they rescheduled the 2020 dates for a leg that started last night and continues through May 20 along with a leg spanning September 1 – 22.

Pearl Jam will be joined by former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer as a touring member for the trek. Klinghoffer’s Pluralone project will open each concert. Eddie Vedder started last night’s concert with a solo cover of Warren Zevon’s “Keep Me In Your Heart” before introducing Klinghoffer/Pluralone.

Tuesday’s Pearl Jam performance was split into a 16-song main set and seven-song encore. The band took the stage at 8:50 with “Oceans,” one of six tracks off the band’s 1991 debut album Ten to make the setlist in San Diego. The LP was also represented by “Even Flow,” “Jeremy,” “Porch,” “Once” and “Alive.”

“Oceans” was followed by Gigaton cut “Retrograde.” Pearl Jam went on to play “Never Destination,” “Dance Of The Clairvoyants,” “Who Ever Said,” “Quick Escape,” “Superblood Wolfmoon,” “Seven O’Clock” and “River Cross” from their latest LP. The latter saw a Ukraine flag displayed on video screens towards its conclusion. Eddie Vedder mentioned the tragic death of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins during “Who Ever Said” and noted Hawkins’ close friendship with Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron.

Pearl Jam stuck to originals throughout the show in San Diego. The concert ended just after 11:30 p.m. following the lengthy encore that included such staples as “Better Man,” “Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town,” “Once” and “Alive.”

Watch fan-shot video footage from last night’s concert below: