After performing with drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. during a surprise set at Eddie Vedder’s Ohana Festival on Friday, Pearl Jam returned Sunday for a headlining set, again with Laboriel behind the kit. The gig also saw Billy Strings joining the band for several songs.
Pearl Jam played an 18-song set, with Strings joining for “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town” and a cover of Neil Young’s “Throw our Hatred Down” during the main set, and again for a rendition of Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” during the encore.
The night also featured a tribute to Glen Hansard with a performance of “Long Road,” plus performances of “Given to Fly,” “Daughter,” “Why Go,” “React, Respond,” “Dissident,” “Even Flow,” “Wreckage,” “Running,” “Jeremy,” “Black,” and “Alive.” The encore also included “Setting Sun” and “Yellow Ledbetter.”
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The Friday and Sunday sets marked Pearl Jam’s first shows since drummer Matt Cameron amicably left the band last year. While longtime Paul McCartney stickman Laboriel manned the kit for both Ohana sets, on Monday, Vedder appeared to clarify in a social media post that Laboriel is not the band’s permanent new drummer:
“Hello good humans,
Just a quick note on this Monday morning to thank each and everyone who came out to Ohana Fest this year. Three days of great groups, all of whom were further energized by the pumped up vibes from a perfect crowd. You all made our tenth year so special and we are GRATEFUL.
Also wanted to extend our further appreciation to Abe Laboriel Jr. sitting in on drums for PJ. It was a joy to play with him, and he’s obviously extraordinary at his craft. The man works and PLAYS hard.
It is no wonder he’s been with the ultimate Maestro Paul McCartney and his mind blowing band for decades. Thank you so much for this weekend Abe. And thank YOU Paul. We owe you big time.
— Eddie”
During the show, Vedder told the audience, “We’re very honored that a Beatle no less, Paul McCartney, would allow us to borrow [Abe] to help us. Well, because here’s the thing. There’s an old musical adage that I do believe, and that is that you cannot be — and we’ve had the best — but you cannot be a great band without a great drummer. So, we thank Abe for keeping us in the running.”
Vedder then dedicated “Better Man” to Laboriel, saying, “So, I would like to dedicate, not the whole song, but just the chorus line to Mr. Abe — the chorus that says, ‘Can’t find a better man.’”
According to Rolling Stone, Laboriel appeared touched by Vedder’s words, holding his hand to his chest and wiping his eyes.
In an interview with Rolling Stone just prior to Ohana Fest, Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament said of the band’s yet-to-be-revealed new drummer, “It was the first name that came up. … In our minds, let’s start at the top. And all of us have, like, really good friends who are drummers. … The hardest part was, like, telling … my friends who are, like, killer drummers that we had a guy.”
See video of Pearl Jam’s Sunday set at Ohana Festival in Dana Point, California, as well as the setlist and Vedder’s note about Abe Laboriel Jr., below.
Setlist:
Long Road (preceded by a Glen Hansard memorial video)
Given to Fly
Daughter (with U2’s “Bad” & Glen Hansard’s “Down On Our Knees”)
Why Go
React, Respond
Dissident
Even Flow
Wreckage
Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town (with Billy Strings)
Throw Your Hatred Down (Neil Young cover, with Billy Strings)
Running
Jeremy
Black
Better Man (chorus dedicated to Abe Laboriel Jr. with introduction)
Alive
Encore:
Setting Sun
Rockin’ in the Free World (Neil Young cover, with Billy Strings)
Yellow Ledbetter (shortened)
— Eddie Vedder (@eddievedder) September 28, 2026