Politics & Music

Pearl Jam Rocks for Senate Candidate Tester

By Jonathan Weber, 8-30-05

	Pearl Jam posted this photo this morning on the band's Web site. Tester only spoke for a few moments, but long enough to say of Ament and himself, "We're just a couple of Montana boys trying to have a good time."

It's always a bit tricky for a big-time band like Pearl Jam to take on a political cause, for the simple reason that fans, regardless of their political sympathies, are paying their $50 to hear music, not speeches or policy analysis. On the other hand, Pearl Jam has often been more willing to take a stand than most bands - remember its war with Ticketmaster in the early 1990s? - and last night at the Adams Center it showed just the right touch. Front man and new father Eddie Vedder had some sympathetic words for anti-war mom Cindy Sheehan, and assured the audience that the band wouldn't "steer you wrong" with its backing of Jon Tester for U.S. Senate, but mostly he rocked out.



Bass player Jeff Ament, the Big Sandy native and Missoula resident who made the event happen, was even more demur on the political comments, but he received hearty, even raucus appreciation from the crowd, and seemed especially animated on stage. I'm no afficionado of rock concerts but I thought it was a great show, the band relaxed and enjoying itself even as it missed a few beats. I'm sure Jon Tester - and the legions of young, blue-shirted volunteers he recruited to raise the political consciousness of the crowd, or at least register them to vote - would agree. [End of article]

My favorite moment of the night was the long monologue Vedder gave praising Jeff. Jeff seemed just a tad embarassed (he's a pretty humble guy) and as the crowd chanted his name, instead of stepping to the mic to talk, he wiped his forhead with his red, white and blue wrist band and took a swig of Eddie's bottle.

The coolest quote about Jeff from Eddie: "When Jeff got a bit of money from our band in Seattle, the first thing he did was move back here."

They always seem to love playing in Missoula -- I think it's a comfortable place for them to open because they know we'll love them even if they accidently wrap their mic cord around a speaker or flub up a few set beginnings.

And they'll return to Missoula, it seems.

"We'll see you next tour for sure," Vedder said.

I must say, it was a great show! Another thing to remember is the last time they came to Missoula, they were giving a portion of their ticket sales to the Missoula Skatepark. Every tour they do, they seem to be giving back.

I can't quote it exactly, but it was also great when Vedder said that the band doesn't just back anyone. Tester's a lucky guy, how many other Senate candidates have a big rock band play for their campaign?

And, just a tidbit ... you know thos super cool posters and T-Shirts roaming around (including on Jeff Ament)? Jeff designed those ... he's also a bit of a graphic designer. I'll wager those will be worth some money some day.

C