Pearl Jam, on tour to popular preview

To some people who recall Seattle's early 90s awoke scene, it will always be Nirvana v Pearl Jam, and that's a super commiseration. A band anteriored by a breaker dude who smokes so much pot he recently installed a fireman's pole in his home so he can get to his studio before he forgets anything - c'mon, these are now pretty fun friends. Never was this more apparent than on the band's new one, Backspacer. Less downfall in big shorts, more sharp new wavey compositions, the group look to be reconnecting with their past in an greatly advantageous way. This doesn't mean PJ are total dreamer though. Still adept of an affectional ballad, Eddie Vedder and company have found a way to refreash their game while quality fortysomething balladry, the better to get up there in the pantheon with Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young.
• Manchester Evening News Arena, Mon 17 Aug; O2 Arena, SE10, Tue 18 Aug