Pearl Jam Plays Surprise Ohana Festival Set With Abe Laboriel Jr.

Surprise Appearance and Performance Details

The performance took place at Doheny State Beach during a headlining slot originally billed as "Eddie Vedder & Friends." Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder began the proceedings with five acoustic songs, including a cover of The Who’s "I’m One" featuring Billy Idol and a tribute to the late Glen Hansard. The full band surprise occurred after Vedder began strumming the song "Corduroy" on an electric guitar, at which point a curtain dropped to reveal his bandmates, Mike McCready, Stone Gossard, and Jeff Ament.

Joining the group on drums was Abe Laboriel Jr., whose kick drum head featured a large question mark. Before the reveal, Vedder addressed the audience regarding his need for accompaniment:

"You know, I feel like I would need some friends to join me on that. Like, I would need, like, a whole – like, some really good friends. Do I got any extra friends back there? Are there more friends back there?"

— Eddie Vedder

This appearance marked the first time the band has performed since their "Dark Matter" world tour concluded in Pittsburgh on May 18, 2025. It also follows the departure of their fifth drummer, Matt Cameron, who left the group amicably in July 2025.

Setlist and Musical Highlights

The surprise set consisted of 15 songs, featuring a mix of hits, deep cuts, and covers. The performance included "Even Flow," "Better Man," and "Porch," alongside "Hail, Hail" and "Do the Evolution." Several tracks featured specific musical "tags," such as Neil Young’s "Cinnamon Girl" at the end of "I Got Id" and The English Beat’s "Save It for Later" during "Better Man." The band also covered the Dead Boys’ "Sonic Reducer" and The Who’s "Baba O’Riley."

During the show, Vedder expressed the band's enthusiasm for returning to the stage:

"I’m feeling pretty damned good myself. And I do believe I’m speaking on behalf of the band and the crew, and we’re excited to be on the stage together once again. Thank you for giving us such a perfect wave to surf. We’ve still got time to get barreled."

— Eddie Vedder

The set featured several dedications, including "Won’t Tell" for Neil Young, "Green Disease" for Captain Paul Watson, and "Sonic Reducer" for Cheetah Chrome. Laboriel, who also provided background vocals, was described as a "ferocious" musician during the set.

The Mystery of the Sixth Drummer

While Laboriel performed the full set, his permanent status with the Grunge icons remains unconfirmed. Vedder introduced him to the crowd as "helping us out on drums tonight" and noted he was "filling in tonight." The band had previously alluded to the mystery of their new drummer earlier this year. In May 2026, guitarist Stone Gossard spoke about the vacancy on SiriusXM’s Pearl Jam Radio:

"I love the mystery of it all. It’s so exciting. There’s not enough mystery in the world. . . . The fact that nobody knows who’s going to play drums with us even makes it triply exciting. So, it’s our mystery wrapped in an enigma and we’re relishing in it right now."

— Stone Gossard

Laboriel has a history with the band's frontman, having played on Vedder’s 2022 solo album, Earthling, and performing at the 2023 Ohana Festival. Speculation regarding his status increased earlier this week when Rolling Stone named him a top pick for the role, and fans noted his absence from Paul McCartney’s Saturday Night Live performance during the 51st finale, where Chad Smith filled in.

Abe Laboriel Jr.’s Musical Background

Abe Laboriel Jr. is a highly sought-after session drummer who has been Paul McCartney’s primary drummer since approximately 2002. He has performed on major stages ranging from Super Bowl halftime shows to concerts for Queen Elizabeth. According to Spectrasonics, Laboriel began drumming as a child after failed attempts at melodic instruments and was mentored by Jeff Porcaro, Chester Thompson, and Alex Acuña, as well as his father, a "Bass Legend."

His extensive resume includes live and recorded work with a wide array of artists, including:

• Lady Gaga

• Eric Clapton

• Sting

• B.B. King

• Kelly Clarkson

• Jerry Cantrell

• Fiona Apple

• Steve Winwood

• Duran Duran

• Ringo Starr

• Jeff Beck

• Sheryl Crow

Pearl Jam, which formed in 1990, has seen several drummers throughout its history. The lineage began with Dave Krusen, followed by Matt Chamberlain, Dave Abbruzzese, and Jack Irons, before Matt Cameron joined as the fifth drummer. The band is scheduled to perform again at the Ohana Festival on Sunday, Sept. 27.