Pearl Jam raised more than $11 million from Home Shows
From all accounts, the two sold-out Home Shows Pearl Jam performed in Seattle were singular moments in time. Fans lined up for hours before the opener to buy gear, to sort through some of Danny Clinch’s photos, vinyl crate-digging style, and the guys themselves had been working toward the shows for nearly a year.
It all went off without a hitch.
In a message to fans, Eddie, Mike, Matt, Stone, Jeff and Boom expressed their deeply heartfelt appreciation, saying this was just the beginning.
“We got together and started having conversations and elevating the discussion. Empathy became action, and in a very short amount of time, we were able to raise $11 million — as a starting point — to eradicate what is a complex issue,” they said.
More than 160 businesses across Seattle, from mom-and-pop coffee shops to behemoths like Starbucks (which originated in Seattle), joined with the band in their efforts.
Pearl Jam is calling on fans to keep the momentum going.
“Tens of thousands of you have taken action by signing up for the Home Shows mailing list, watching stories of our neighbors with lived experience with homelessness, volunteering, getting registered to vote — and voting. And this is just the beginning. You have more influence than you think — and now is the time to use it.”
They’re encouraging letter writing campaigns, calls to elected officials and simple statements of support and action: “Ask your employers what they’re doing on this issue. Support businesses committed to ending homelessness. Go out of your way to say ‘hello’ and ‘how can I help you?’ when you see a neighbor experiencing homelessness. Then, keep learning, donating, volunteering, paying attention and believing. The more than 12,000 people living on the streets of our city need us to.”
Following the Home Shows and a stop in Missoula, Montana, for the band’s third concert in support of Sen. Jon Tester (Missoula is native Montana Jeff Ament’s adopted home town; Tester is a childhood friend), they switched focus to the second half of their Home and Away series.
A flawless and emotion first of two nights at Wrigley Field in Chicago had the band back at the site of their “Let’s Play Two” shows from 2016. In a sense, history repeated itself: The band’s second show, on Monday night, had to take a long pause in the middle due to bad weather, the same thing that happened two years ago on the same date.
A night to remember. #LetsPlayTwo started 2 years ago today at Wrigley Field. Who's back for Night 2 of #TheAwayShows tonight? pic.twitter.com/i2QprC63F0
— Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) August 20, 2018
Due to impending inclement weather, we are forced to clear the field and lower bowl seating area for tonight’s show. Please take shelter in a calm and orderly fashion and we will get you back to your seats once the coast is clear. Your safety is our utmost concern. Thank you.
— Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) August 21, 2018
Next up are two shows in Boston, at Fenway Park on Sept. 2 and 4. Right now, both shows are sold out, but the band almost always seems to release an extra batch of tickets a day or two before a concert, especially in bigger venues.
They’ve twice now played “Missing,” a Chris Cornell/Soundgarden track from the Poncier EP. Will that come out again in Boston?
