Pearl Jam Tour 2013: Pearl Jam Rocks Barclays Center With Epic Second-Night Set

Pearl Jam took the stage at the Barclays Center for the second of two nights on Saturday and absolutely brought down the house in what was basically a party with 17,000 guests. The band played an epic 34-song, three-hour set that kept going every time you thought it was about to end.

Eddie Vedder had his customary bottle of wine (or two) and he toasted the crowd throughout the show. The crowd interaction was frequent and fun. Vedder talks to the crowd often and went into the front row to sing a few bars. He tossed a tambourine directly to a girl a few rows back. He made sure to point out a woman up front with a shirt that said "Every Mother Counts" and told the crowd to celebrate the women in their lives. He swung on one of the multiple lights that hung on cables over the stage.

But Vedder wasn't the only one who played to the crowd. At one point toward the end of the show, Mike McCready took his guitar and climbed as high as he could into the 100 level of the Barclays Center. After more than 20 years, Pearl Jam has not lost a step in their energetic performances.

And speaking of McCready, the lead guitarist got plenty of chances to wail away throughout the night. From "Even Flow" to "Present Tense" to "Yellow Ledbetter," McCready took every moment and soaked it in with a constant look of ecstasy on his face. He even lied down on the floor and rolled around as he played.

These were all the little touches that made Saturday night such an epic show, but the set list was, of course, the real meat and potatoes. And, boy, what a set list it was. The band blended fan favorites, rarities and new Lightning Bolt tracks and never slowed down or lost the crowd at any point.

They opened with "Pendulum" and "Wash" and followed that up with the crowd-pleasing "Nothingman." "Lightning Bolt" and the single "Mind Your Manners" came after that, and while Lightning Bolt has had its share of detractors, there was no denying that Pearl Jam can bring any song to life and make the fans love it.

Then came one of the first great stretches of the show with "Last Exit," "Hail, Hail," "In Hiding" and "Down." Lightning Bolt was back again with "Sirens," and then came the always-amazing "Even Flow."

Vedder then dedicated the next song, "Infallible," to those in the financial district. "Present Tense" was next and then another financial dedication in "Rats."

Pearl Jam kicked in into high gear with the next stretch: "Unthought Known," "Immortality," "State of Love and Trust," "Once," "Given to Fly" and "Better Man." The band left the stage briefly because they, and the fans, needed a moment to catch their breaths.

The band reemerged with "Footsteps," "Yellow Moon," "All Those Yesterdays" and "Future Days." Eddie then remarked, "Yesterdays, future days, it's evolution, baby!" Which, of course, led to "Do the Evolution," followed by "Go" and an absolutely epic rendition of "Porch" that could have easily closed the show.

Pearl Jam took one more encore break and came back out with "Whipping," "Blood" and "Leaving Here." And then came the final, glorious stretch of "Black," "Alive," "Rockin' in the Free World" and "Yellow Ledbetter," during which the lights came on so everyone in the arena could see each other and celebrate together.

Any fan would have been hard pressed to complain about that set list, and the Barclays Center buzzed long after the show ended.