Pearl Jam, Pixies, The Murder Capital & Life, Hyde Park. 8th July 2022

I’ve come down to London to see Pearl Jam. In truth though, I’m more excited about The Murder Capital. I’ve wanted to see these Irish lads ever since becoming obsessed with their debut record. If you’ve not heard it, stop reading now and go listen. Welcome back, let me paint a picture. Hyde Park, sun scorched grass, posh dresses and the whiff of money. It is HOT. The Murder Capital are still here to warm us up though. The early slot is a tough one, there’s a couple in front of me playing cards, on a fucking picnic blanket. We ain’t in Manchester that’s for sure! I’d rather be watching them in a smaller, darker room, but their sound is massive and they sound amazing. Easily pulling a crowd to the pretty huge stage. Even if the immediate area around the stage is fenced in for those in the ‘Ten Club’ with deep pockets (£80 extra! I checked). ‘More is Less’ sounds monumental. As does ‘Green and Blue’. The pulverising drums locked in with the doom laden bass, it jars majestically with the weather. There’s a few great Irish bands around at the moment, but The Murder Capital are the best. I had very high expectations and was utterly blown away. Despite the heat, they’ve got everyone off their feet… well aside the card sharks and come the end of the set. I’m wondering if I’ve just seen the best band of the day.

Before we contest that, let’s talk about the tree. The great oak that gives the main stage wrapped around it it’s name. Honestly it looks… well, great! (I think it’s fake). This is essentially a festival site, a very corporate one. Seriously is ridiculous, like the V Festival (remember that) times ten. Everything is expensive. It’s for rich people and feels quite elitist. It’s an uncomfortable feeling if I’m honest, but I’m here for the bands… and I like the tree. There are a few stages and when I get bored by the basic bread and butter rock from a band call White Reaper, it’s time to explore. What I find are remarkably clean toilets and somewhere shady with phone chargers. See what I mean, it’s a bit fancy. Or should this just be the standard? There’s free bloody wifi too!! What I also find though is a wonderful surprise on the Bird Cage stage. As I’m walking past thinking ‘this sounds good’, only to realise it’s Life! They play poppy post punk, nestled in the mercifully shady trees. I catch about half a dozen songs including the brilliant ‘Friends Without Names’. I’m not saying it’s a better set than The Murder Capital, but the newer bands are setting the bar really fucking high.

Cat Power is a much calmer affair and I sit down with the sun worshippers back in front of the tree stage. I’m killing time though before the Pixies take the stage, looking surprisingly summery. I saw them play essentially the same set in Manchester a few days ago, so there’s not much point repeating myself. The set is mixed up a little, ‘Caribou’ gets a much earlier outing and Frank’s “REPENT!” is just as chilling. The sound too is awesome. Maybe I’ve found the sweet spot, but it’s the best outdoor live sound I’ve heard in a while. There’s a very excitable Spanish man in front of me who really enjoys ‘Isla de Encanta’ and that makes me very happy. Paz is all smiles and Joey gets to do his guitar lead party trick. The view isn’t great, but the screens are and I’m mesmerised every time there’s a close up on Dave. Is Mr Lovering the most underrated drummer around? I know he gets a lot of love, but he deserves more. He’s magnificent. There’s a few additions to the Manchester set, like ‘I’ve Been Tired’, but it’s a shorter set that closes with a raucous ‘Debaser’. There’s almost as many Pixies shirts in the crowd as there is Pearl Jam and it’s packed. Dare I say it, it’s almost as good as Manchester… almost.

Come Pearl Jam time, the sun is easing into the horizon. Sitting in the grass with a beer, it seems to quite suit the old grunge fella’s on stage. Pearl Jam we’re never really that edgy or alternative were they, honestly now. For me they represented the softer more melodic side of grunge. Don’t get me wrong, there’s songs in this set that grab you by the throat and shake you to your core, but as they take to the tree stage there’s not really any angst in the air. Just bliss. Pearl Jam are one of those bands that I lost interest in after the third record. I’m expecting to not know portions of the set. ‘Better Man’ certainly wouldn’t be on my wishlist, but it opens well. “I like what you’ve done with the place” Mr Vedder says as he starts to chat. He’s a ball of positivity and I’m all for it. Thanking the support bands and reminiscing about buying bootleg Pixies tapes in Camden. Let’s be honest, I’m here for songs off Ten, but even as I wait I’m captured by that voice. Vedder hasn’t lost anything of that power that propelled the band in the 90s.

He sounds…. they all sound brilliant. Even part way down the park. I can’t be arsed wrestling to the front where I was earlier. Keeping my powder dry for tomorrow night’s gig (you’ll have to check back to see who that’ll be). There’s no need to be down the front for this. In fact a little distance and perspective might even help. Vedder seems in a deep reflective mood. When he speaks, you listen. Quite a feat for a crowd that’s been drinking in the sun all day. They rock too. There’s new songs songs that I don’t know and can’t tell you the name of, but they make me want to give the latest record Gigaton a spin. Songs about lost friends, about the mess we’ve made of the planet. This band have grown up into a worldly inclusive behemoth. There’s even a woman on stage signing the lyrics, that’s relayed on the screens further back. For a band born in a scene that was all about self, they’ve really blown the doors off. Songs get dedicated to fans that have past away, huge photos displayed on screens. Considering where we are it’s very intimate and I can’t imagine how special those moments are for the family who are probably here, choking back tears and dancing wildly. ‘Retrograde’ is another new one, of which all seem to have their own video’s that project wonderfully across the entire stage, but I need a few more classics. Being from Manchester and reviewing most of my gigs there. I can’t help but muse whether this gig would be the same there or would even work. I’m not sure it would. It’s all very safe, nice, pleasant. It’s a refreshing change, but it’s lacking a bit of raw excitement. Manchester expects special, demands spectacular and although this feels very special, I’m not sure it touches spectacular. Not through fault of the band, they are superb, but the atmosphere…. well I was about to say it’s a bit vanilla, but as I type this they tear into ‘Even Flow’ and every fucker in the park wakes up! The band know this is a moment, McCreedy’s solos are extended, Vedder legs it around the stage. It goes off! It’s so good, it might even be enough for me. I know that sounds nuts, but this is my first time seeing them live and I’m instantly transported to head banging around my bedroom as a kid, wearing out that CD. Amazing! I remember being a bit sniffy when they released ‘Daughter’ but it sounds great live, but as the set ticks into the second hour, what I don’t need is PIL covers (even if they’re quite good). Thank fuck they’ve the sense to follow it with ‘Once’ and ‘Porch’ when Eddie goes off for a bit of tree hugging during the solo. We’re made to wait to the encore for ‘Jeremy’ where I’ve pitched myself back down the front. It. Is. Perfect. Everyone singing. Everyone hugging. Limbs are everywhere. It’s glorious. ‘Indifference’ follows and when they rip into ‘Alive’, well, I’m just… gone. It’s not the perfect set for me, but this is a moment that will etch into my gig psyche. It’s everything I hoped for when I bought the ticket. They wrap, as always with Young’s ‘Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World’, with John McEnroe taking a Wimbledon break to pretend he’s a rock star. It feels a fitting finale. Great, but a little bit sanitised. I know, I know I’m a harsh critic. Seriously though Pearl Jam were great, it was worth the trip, but if anyone’s read this far. Go buy a ticket to see The Murder Capital and Life. You won’t be disappointed.

*photos were tricky for Pearl Jam, but going with a shot that picked up the crowd seemed fitting for this band. I think they’d be happy with that choice.