Pearl Jam took over the legendary Showbox theater in Seattle earlier this week to film what’s being called a commercial for Target- a strange development, considering the band’s vehement refusal to align with major brands in the past, but one we’ll set aside for the moment, because… well, because we’ve got a new Pearl Jam song for you, and around these parts, that trumps just about everything on the table, sight unseen.
According to eyewitnesses, the band took to the stage and played what’s being called Something’s Going On several times, as well as a live-staple cover of Sonic Reducer by the Dead Boys and an unnamed (likely new) slow jam. Check out an audience recording of Something’s Going On:
[AUDIO REMOVED AT REQUEST OF ARTIST]
The song, which likely has a different title than this, is an impassioned, pogoing rocker very much in the vein of Pearl Jam’s 2000 gem Binaural, which many consider the band’s second-act high watermark. Vedder’s voice revs like an engine and hits overdrive at the chorus with a series of Yeaaaah yeaaah yeaaaahs, before earnestly promising “I’ll take your place / I’ll take your side…” With similar guitar effects to those of Save You off 2004’s Riot Act, there’s a lot to be said for the energy and ambition behind the track. It’s very much a Pearl Jam song- there are no stylistic hard lefts to be found, though in this song alone there’s a good amount of the trap-door stop-starts the band has come to perfect over the years.
According to our source, about 300 extras were hired to be in the crowd for the taping, a large number of whom were reportedly laid-off workers from the area- a very cool bit of info, given that the band could’ve filled the Showbox to capacity with hysterically enthusiastic fans with a mere Twitter posting or message board hint.
Don’t forget to watch the kickoff episode of the Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien on Monday (June 1st)- Pearl Jam is the show’s very first musical guest. Bassist Jeff Ament also did a recent interview in which he discusses the band’s upcoming (but yet-untitled) new album. Check it out here.
Massive, undying gratitude to Seth for the hookup!
UPDATE: The Target deal has been confirmed by Pearl Jam. Read more, including song titles, a possible album title, extensive quotes from Pearl Jam manager Kelly Curtis on motives behind the new arrangement and more here.
About Johnny Firecloud
Johnny Firecloud's been kickin' names and takin' ass since his first interview in 2001 with A Perfect Circle. You can find more of his rantings over at CraveOnline, where he's the music editor.
May 29th, 2009 at 6:41 PM
Sounds nice! Let’s wait for the rest its little brothers and sisters to show up…
May 29th, 2009 at 8:22 PM
The song is called “shift”
May 30th, 2009 at 12:45 AM
Hopefully they’ll play it on Conan!
May 30th, 2009 at 3:17 AM
The original title is NOT shift!
May 30th, 2009 at 4:52 AM
i just jizzed in my pants
May 30th, 2009 at 5:33 AM
YEAH YEAH YEAH
May 30th, 2009 at 8:41 AM
Unreal that there are so many diehard fans that would have filled the room (and video) with genuine electricity… and yet they hired ‘extras’…
Like so many things surrounding Pearl Jam… I just don’t get it :|
I love the music… I just can’t stand the racket…
May 30th, 2009 at 11:16 AM
not to start a flamewar or anything, and i love pearl jam, but i’d rather enjoy an intimate performance with 300 random people that feel genuinely, electrically honored to be there than 300 die hard fans who feel genuinely, electrically entitled.
May 30th, 2009 at 1:24 PM
100% wholeheartedly agreed – speaking as a child who camped out next to said die hard fans (Skwerl was with me) on the street for 5 straight days in 2006 for front row action I’d spent 15 years waiting for. That’s where the pic in the piece came from.
May 30th, 2009 at 2:03 PM
JF – Thanks for the clip – Fuckin Can’t wait for more PJ!
May 30th, 2009 at 3:02 PM
The song is called “The Fixer.” Being played on Conan’s first Tonight Show episode on Monday night.
May 30th, 2009 at 3:53 PM
how do we know that this song is indeed “the fixer”?
May 30th, 2009 at 5:01 PM
More concerning then the 300 hired extras is the fact that Pearl Jam is filming a Target ad.
Target?!?!?
May 30th, 2009 at 5:12 PM
[...] response to our reporting yesterday of a new Pearl Jam song being unveiled at a video shoot, many fans are skeptical about the part of the story that claims the shoot was for a commercial for [...]
May 30th, 2009 at 6:52 PM
So what’s so concerning about them filming for a Target commercial which promotes their new album? Since they are not with any major label now, they have to find a way to distribute their album most efficiently. Nothing wrong in that.
May 31st, 2009 at 4:41 PM
To those upset that PJ went with hired workers to fill the Showbox for the taping instead of fans, relax. It’s a tough time for people to find jobs. They provided people a paid days’ work to listen to music. You cannot fault them for doing 300 people a favor.
May 31st, 2009 at 11:36 PM
Skwerl,Firecloud… I agree with that whole ‘entitlement’ thing. Just because we pay 20 bucks a year does not mean we are entitled to anything other that what the Ten/VHC states.
And year… that week in San Francisco was something i had been hoping to get since 1993. A little self-sacrifice (and a couple of missed showers) goes a long way.
peace, my friends.
May 31st, 2009 at 11:50 PM
yo man! yeah, that perspective and maturity is why you’re one of the coolest pearl jam fans… no, music fans… we’ve ever had the pleasure of sharing a show experience with. and it’s been many man, i see you everywhere!
after those san fran shows, i was like… alright, i don’t have to see pearl jam again for awhile. haven’t seen them since. but looking forward to austin city limits. our flights are booked, as is our hotel. you planning on heading out there by any chance?
June 1st, 2009 at 12:35 AM
I’m heading to Hawaii for the Vedder shows on Maui and Waikiki. Dani lives in Hawaii, now. I’m gonna wait and see if the West Coast pans out.
Eagles Of Death Metal at Pomona on the 6th… I’m thinking Josh will fill in.
Have fun in Texas.
June 1st, 2009 at 3:23 AM
How would all of you like your TenClub privileges revokes?
You fuckers better tow the company line .
June 1st, 2009 at 3:40 AM
Peace Cosmo/Alan! Great to see you around these parts. That week in SF was a high point for every fan involved – how do you top that? Here’s to trying in ACL – let us know if you’re headed out too!
June 1st, 2009 at 6:06 AM
[...] to Antiquiet, Crowe shot some footage of the band last week at Seattle’s legendary Showbox Theater. The [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 6:15 AM
Great heads up on the new song. Looking forward to hearing it (and/or another song) on the new Conan show tonight!
I feel like we as fans get SOOOOO much for our TC fees of $20 per year. Other bands charge WAY more than $20 and give far less. Props to PJ for keeping this cost at $20. And biggers props for hire those 300 extras. You figure they probably paid roughly $20K for those extras. They could have easily had fans show up and not paid a thing. But they shpwed they have big hearts- one of the reasons I love this bad so much.
June 1st, 2009 at 7:46 AM
[...] se estrenará esta noche, en el Late Show de Conan O’Brien. Y si no peden esperar, Antiquete tiene una grabación de medianamente buena calidad, de alguno de esos 300 afortunados entre el [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 8:03 AM
[...] recording of new Pearl Jam song from the taping of a Target commercial in Seattle. Share and [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Seems like they are trying to steal some of the spotlight away from the Dave Matthews Band
June 1st, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Yes – a lot of people don’t know this, but Pearl Jam actually got together for the specific purpose of offsetting Dave Matthews’ career trajectory. Sure, they beat him to the hits by a full 3 years, but when rumors were swirling that some South African dude was making weird faces with an acoustic guitar – and people were digging it, PJ went into full-on overdrive. They killed LeRoi, thinking that would be the end of it, but then DMB had to go make a tribute album to the guy. So what do you expect PJ to do? Play Conan, of course! That’ll show ‘em.
June 1st, 2009 at 12:54 PM
[...] it tonight (June 1) on the Tonight Show. For more on the totally secret show at the Showbox, check Antiquiet here: Share and [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Damn! I knew I shoulda checked that audio link earlier when it was up. Now it’s gone! :( As a fan, I’m kinda surprised about the Target thing, but damn excited about new music coming out. I know they want to get their music heard, and it’s not like they don’t already sell their albums at Target, but to be exclusive? Are they trying to get one over on Walmart or something?……… And wasn’t this the same band that refused to play the Greek Theater until they took down the big side stage car ads……
June 1st, 2009 at 2:36 PM
[...] Target as the “big box” retail partner.” This news broke after music blog antiquiet broke a story about Pearl Jam shooting a Cameron Crowe directed commercial where the band played a [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 3:33 PM
[...] performance, which featured a new song called “The Fixer,” had been posted online at Antiquiet, who first broke news of the private gig, but the song has been pulled down “at request of [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 6:32 PM
[...] performance, which featured a new song called “The Fixer,” had been posted online at Antiquiet, who first broke news of the private gig, but the song has been pulled down “at request of [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 10:09 PM
as always JF, you do not disappoint.
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:20 AM
[...] performance, which featured a new song called “The Fixer,” had been posted online at Antiquiet, who first broke news of the private gig, but the song has been pulled down “at request of [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:13 AM
I’m not bothered by a Target ad by PJ. They’re releasing independantly now and doing what they want. They’re making Target give them the rights they want. Besides, how much smaller is Target compared to Sony, the recording giant they were tied to for 19 years.
I rest my case.
June 9th, 2009 at 11:57 AM
[...] an artist butt-ass naked are perfectly fine. Last week, we get a scary cease & desist order for posting a fan recording of a band that fucking “welcomes” fan [...]
June 12th, 2009 at 10:05 AM
[...] melodic, tightly-wound, and fiercely rocking — color me pleased. Read more details here. Now maybe we know what they will play tomorrow night on the Conan Tonight Show [...]
June 30th, 2009 at 6:28 PM
[...] tijd om een reclamespotje in elkaar te vlammen voor Target, zo bleek vorige week uit een artikel op antiquiet.com, waar ook een bootleg opname streamde van een nieuw nummer genaamd ‘The Fixer’. De [...]
August 24th, 2009 at 1:02 PM
[...] we reported in May, Pearl Jam took over the Showbox in Seattle to shoot a live video of their new single The [...]
January 7th, 2010 at 8:41 AM
[...] to the website Antiquiet, most famous for leaking Chinese Democracy , Pearl Jam played a new song from their yet untitled [...]