New York: Watch Pearl Jam Play On ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ [Video]

Seattle rock legends Pearl Jam appeared in New York to talk with Stephen Colbert and play on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert last night.

Stephen Colbert welcomed Pearl Jam members Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament, and Matt Cameron to the New York stage and talk quickly turned to the band’s involvement in “activist” projects. Eddie Vedder mentioned Pearl Jam’s participation with Australian Hugh Evans. Vedder referred to Evans as an “incredible activist” who worked with people with “intelligence” in their approach to dealing with issues.

Hugh Evans has been instrumental in projects like The Global Poverty Project and The Oaktree Foundation, both of which are concerned with addressing poverty on a global scale, as reported by The Australian.

Drawing giggles from the New York audience, Colbert pointed out that the 1990s were a “pretty good” time and questioned what type of activist causes Pearl Jam members could possibly have been drawn to.

“I think it goes back to when we were young kids,” Eddie Vedder said with a serious face. “And punk rock music teaching us about certain issues. I mean, we heard about Amnesty International through people like Peter Gabriel… Sting and U2. Then you find yourself in a situation where you can, perhaps, use your music to affect change.”

Stephen Colbert then discussed Pearl Jam’s work to remove Ticketmaster surcharges and the 2015 Global Citizen Festival being held in Central Park in New York this weekend, for which attendees must perform “good deeds” toward ending global poverty.

“Is that the kind of surcharge you’re in favor of?” Colbert asked jokingly. Vedder and bandmates laughed with the audience at Colbert’s wit.

Colbert then pointed out that Pearl Jam has been together for 25 years and questioned how the band has made it so long and how they are able to stay “fresh.”

The line of questioning caused the Pearl Jam members to crack up; Eddie Vedder stood and directed Mike McCready to take the chair next to Colbert where McCready then answers him. McCready discussed “balance” and the fact that when they’re at home the band mates allow for “space,” but when touring they’re “happy” to be together.

Colbert pointed out that the band is quite down to earth and that the weekend festival in New York will be host to Beyonce. Colbert questioned whether the band will be “stepping up their glam” to reflect this, causing the band members to squirm uncomfortably. Colbert then stated that Stone Gossard could be a “made up” name, causing the Pearl Jam members to applaud and laugh along with the audience.

Pearl Jam then took to the New York Ed Sullivan Theater stage and performed “Mind Your Manners” and Neil Young’s “Keep On Rockin In The Free World,” marking the first time the band has played live in 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwA92KerUV4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K_LFVFKZKw

[Photo by Jason Oxenham / Getty Images]