Eddie Vedder Joined by Chicago Cubs Players at Benefit Show
If you know anything about Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, you're aware that he's a huge Chicago Cubs fan. So on Thursday night he got to live out a bit of a dream, while some of the Chicago Cub players likely enjoyed a rock star moment of their own, appearing at the Hot Stove Cool Music benefit show for the Foundation to Be Named Later at Chicago's Metro.
The event was backed by baseball analyst and rock enthusiast Peter Gammons, who annually hosts a Foundation to Be Named Later benefit for his organization that provides scholarships to urban youths and families.
Aside from Vedder, the benefit featured several Chicago celebrities including actors Joel Murray and Mike O'Malley, Cheap Trick drummer Daxx Nielsen, Cubs GM Theo Epstein and Gammons, with the latter two getting up to jam with Vedder.
The performance also included musical cameos from such Cubs players as Travis Wood, Jason Motte, Jon Lester and Jason Hammel, coach Jose Cardenal and other Cubbies in attendance.
The singer worked through a mixture of Pearl Jam favorites and cover songs. Among the covers were The Beatles' "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," the J. Geils Band's "Love Stinks" (with an awesome assist by Cardenal), The Who's "The Kids Are Alright," The Band's "The Weight," Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" and Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World."
As for the Pearl Jam favorites, Vedder trotted out "Love Boat Captain," "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town" and a saxophone-infused "Corduroy." Before "Corduroy," he also took a moment to wish a happy 40th birthday to his pal Jack White, even though the singer wasn't in attendance.
Finishing out the night, the Cubs team joined Vedder in a huddle and an "Eddie" chant showing their love for the singer as he finished out the night with "All the Way." Check out fan-shot video from the show above and below.
Watch Eddie Vedder Perform "I Am a Patriot"
Watch Eddie Vedder Perform "Love Boat Captain"
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