Pearl Jam will kick out the jams in final Spectrum shows this week (photo by Karen Loria)
Spectrum
3601 South Broad St., Philadelphia
October 27-31
Tickets: $77
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Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band recently said farewell to Giants Stadium with five shows that welcomed the wrecking ball to do its thing. Now Pearl Jam gets to do the same with the Spectrum, performing the last concerts ever at the famous Philly arena. But Eddie Vedder – himself a big Bruce fan – and the band have their work cut out for them, as the Boss just finished four spectacular shows at the Spectrum as well. But Vedder, guitarists Stone Gossard and Mike McCready, bassist Jeff Ament, and drummer Matt Cameron should be up to the task, touring behind their solid new album, BACKSPACER, which features such choice cuts as the classic-sounding “Johnny Guitar,” the propulsive “Supersonic,” the gorgeous “Amongst the Waves,” and the emotionally gripping finale, “The End.” As always, Pearl Jam has been mixing up their setlists plenty, including such classic covers as “So You Want to Be a Rock and Roll Star,” “Little Wing,” “Kick Out the Jams,” “I Believe in Miracles,” and, of course, Who and Neil Young tunes, in addition to longtime PJ favorites, rarities, and old stand-bys. If you’ve never seen Pearl Jam before, you’re in for a real treat; their shows are three-hour marathons filled with raucous noise, bittersweet lyrics, and intense fan worship. Yeah, we know we’re called This Week in New York and generally don’t leave the NY/NJ area, but since there are no local shows scheduled (yet?), this is the closest you’re going to come, and it’s really not that far anyway. The great Social Distortion opens the festivities on October 27 & 28, with the great Bad Religion kicking things off on October 30 & 31.