But because the band records for Epic Records and its parent company, Sony Music, the albums had to be sold through retail. By the very nature of retail, they re going to start advertising it and making a big deal about it, which has its down side because they re raw CDs, Gossard said. You really have to like the band to buy them. They re not out there because we feel a need to put out every piece of music we ve ever played. Pearl Jam began touring after launching its current studio album, Binaural, last spring.
American crowds are more subdued, to an extent.
As far as going back to that feverish energy, we ve been kind of over that for years. Now we re all about musical quality, Vedder said with a hearty laugh. The band has also been adding an occasional golden oldie to the song list. Pearl Jam performed Everyday as a tribute to hometown rock hero Buddy Holly. The older songs add a wistful touch to live shows that not might have been possible in the mid- 90s when Pearl Jam found itself in the grip of worldwide grunge mania.