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It has been a long 11 years since Pearl Jam played in Vancouver, so the first of two sold-out shows at Rogers Arena had an electric, almost buzzing atmosphere prior to showtime.

The lines at the many merch tables were busy and the selection was great, including an amazing tour poster created by Justin Erickson from Toronto. The patient and polite crowd sat through an entertaining opening set by Seattle indie band Deep Sea Diver, fronted by Jessica Dobson, but the building didn’t start its ascent until the first notes of Pearl Jam’s “Wash” emerged from the darkened stage. The crowd stood as one and rarely returned to a seated position throughout the nearly two-and-a-half hour performance.

The brand’s latest album, Dark Matter, was prominently displayed with seven cuts throughout the evening, showing that Pearl Jam can still produce relevant and brilliant music. Most of the band’s biggest hits were played and sung back to them with “pleasing BC voices,” as lead singer Eddie Vedder praised. Although “Jeremy” and “Evenflow” were not included on Friday’s setlist, the audience was treated to many favourites and a couple of rarely-played requests like “Leatherman”.

The show did not go off without a couple of minor glitches as the band had a false start with “Red Mosquito”, which Vedder jokingly blamed on soundboard master with his suck/no suck button. Lead guitarist Mike McCready slipped off the front of the stage during “Porch”—without missing a note of his solo. Vedder made several references to Canada in general and Vancouver specifically as he recalled the band’s history here, including a premiere at the Town Pump in Gastown back in 1991. McCready wore a Neil Young t-shirt and they covered his classic “Rockin’ in the Free World” during the eight-song encore.

All in all, an amazing evening for what looks to be a record-breaking tour for Pearl Jam.