SilverCity London Cinemas, in London, Ontario, was one of 500+ theaters worldwide to host ‘Dark Matter – One Night Only’, on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
The global theatrical experience celebrated the release of Pearl Jam’s new album, Dark Matter.
SWOMP was among the attendees to hear Dark Matter in its entirety twice, before its available everywhere on Friday, April 19, 2024.
The first listen was in the dark cinema, with just the music playing.
The second time through, added visuals were on screen during playback, including lyrics.
After the Dark Matter image was displayed on screen at 7 p.m., a video message from Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament was shown, welcoming fans to the event.
He expressed appreciation to the fans for their support and wished everyone “much love” before the screen went dark and the new album began to play.
SWOMP had a notebook in hand during the first playing of the album.
After scouring through the chicken scratch notes we blindly recorded, we managed to transcribe and translate our immediate thoughts and hot takes. Below, you’ll see the title of the song and our thoughts on each. Enjoy!
1 – Scared Of Fear
“Eddie’s lyrics “We used to laugh… we used to believe” jump out, very on point in these times. Beautiful harmonies, epic Mike McCready solo, powerful Matt Cameron drums.”
2 – React, Respond
Dirty guitar intro, very grungy. Reminds us of Vs. or Vitalogy-era Pearl Jam.
3 – Wreckage
“Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers vibes. Ed’s mature voice and vocals on display. Slowed down intro with guitar, reminds us of Let Me Sleep (It’s Christmas Time) from Lost Dogs, even a bit of Retrograde from Gigaton.”
4 – Dark Matter
“Felt a cool sense of familiarity with the album’s first single. Already feels like a fixture for the band. It’ll be a banger LIVE.”
5 – Won’t Tell
“Poppy ballad, hints of Sirens from Lightning Bolt. Ed’s telling a story with his lyrics. Perhaps a bit of a love song?”
6 – Upper Hand
“Organs to start… maybe a Boom Gaspar appearance? Quiet, but fast guitar riffs start building into the tune. The intensity rises throughout, as all of the band members begin showcasing their talents. Big time Immortality or Present Tense feel. Will undoubtedly be a peak, climactic point in the Dark Matter tour sets, perhaps a set closer, before the encore. Wow factor with this one.”
7 – Waiting For Stevie
“Ed’s lyrics again are reaching out and poking you on the forehead, “you can be liked by everyone… but still not feel love” plus “this God forsaken town” doesn’t deserve you anyway, will have to read the liner notes when the album drops! More ripping Mikey guitar. This song will be another that translates incredibly well LIVE.”
8 – Running
“Another banger, and similar to Dark Matter, felt an assuring familiarity hearing their second single in the dark theater. Will drop into the setlists seamlessly where Mind Your Manners or Lukin have been placed in the past.”
9 – Something Special
“As parents to daughters, Eddie’s lyrics got us right in the feels. A Jack Johnson vibe with the song itself, with a rhythm similar to Sleeping By Myself from Lightning Bolt. Dads will be reaching into their cargo shorts during the shows to dry their eyes with a tissue.”
10 – Got To Give
“Matt’s drumming jumps out initially with a cool opening. Turns into a full-scale band jam.”
11 – Setting Sun
“Unique percussion to start, combined with deep baritone, Ed vocals. Hearing some Violent Femmes-esque guitar parts. Can picture the band seated on stools for this song, perhaps a show opener? Similar to the frequent Pendulum opener on the Lightning Bolt tour. Our bold prediction, this will be the first song ever played LIVE from the album, debuting on May 4, 2024 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver!”
The second playing of the album featured light painting art by Alexandr Gnezdilov on screen.
The artists’ work is displayed in the album packaging for Dark Matter and throughout the Dark Matter campaign.
Learn more, here, and on his official website https://alex-gnezdilov.com/.
Pearl Jam will release their twelfth studio album, Dark Matter, on Monkeywrench Records/Republic Records on April 19, 2024 and launch a 35-date worldwide tour this May.
Produced by multi-GRAMMY® award winning producer Andrew Watt, Dark Matter, marks the band’s first release since critically-acclaimed Gigaton (2020).
Full details are available at https://pearljam.com/.