Pearl Jam and Uncle Neil in Winnipeg

Pearl Jam in Saskatoon, Canada performing "Given To Fly" on MTV's ReACT Now
Jeff H. writes that he saw Pearl Jam on Sept. 8, 2005 in Winnipeg, Canada and reports what Eddie Vedder said during the encore:

Eddie: "So there's a guy that you probably know of, and uh, well I know you know of him, and we not only know of him but we know him really well, and he's had a big influence on this band, and he's been a big part of our growing up. And rumor has it he's from here.

We've known him long enough that he lets us call him Uncle Neil, and we're in his area you know. Now, well, you know he's, well he's a land baron (laughs), that's what he is down in California.

Neil's lived a life that's like, really something to aspire too. He's an incredible human being and an incredible musician and what he gives to the world around him, and his family and his kids and his friends.

So he spends a lot of time in northern California now, and that's where we recorded this next song. I guess we kind of had him in mind, but we'll just play it thinking about him tonite..."

Jeff reports that PJ then ripped into a killer "Small Town", then played "Fuckin Up". Eddie introduces by saying: "All right here's one by Uncle Neil, it's George Bush's favourite song". PJ finished the show with RITFW. Jeff writes that: "Needless to say the tunes kicked ass and the crowd were really digging it (set an attendance record at the MTS centre, which will likely stand until Uncle Neil comes back home!)."

Thanks Jeff for the report!

More on Neil Young's influence on Pearl Jam's music and vice-versa.