RIFF’s best albums of 2024 include Ariana Grande, Zach Bryan, Suki Waterhouse, Rosali, Doechii, Johnny Blue Skies (Sturgill Simpson), Father John Misty, A.G. Cook, Fontaines D.C., Remi Wolf, Norah Jones, Pearl Jam, Maggie Rogers, Nilüfer Yanya and Ray Lamontagne. Never before has the music landscape been so fragmented. But…

Pearl Jam performs during BottleRock Napa Valley at the Napa Valley Expo on May 25, 2024. Photos by Matt Pang/STAFF and Sean Liming/STAFF. NAPA — It may not have been Sunday, but the Church of Pearl Jam was in session as dusk fell over the Napa Valley Expo. It’s…

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland at a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. on May 23, 2024. In a lawsuit, the Department of Justice seeks to break up Live Nation, alleging that the parent company of Ticketmaster has hurt consumers and violated antitrust laws by…

Pearl Jam, “Dark Matter.” Pearl Jam is easily America’s most reliable rock band. Dark Matter  Pearl Jam Republic, April 19 8/10 Get the album on Amazon Music. The last survivors of the early ’90s golden age in the Pacific Northwest have nothing to prove after 33 years. Yet they…

Pearl Jam performs at Oakland Arena in Oakland on May 12, 2022. Steve Carlson/STAFF. Pearl Jam has announced a new album and tour to go along with the Seattle band’s previously announced gig at BottleRock Napa. The rockers will release Dark Matter, their 12th studio LP, on their Monkeywrench…

The Offspring performs at Aftershock Fest in Sacramento on Oct. 9, 2021. They play at BottleRock Napa this May. Courtesy. BottleRock Napa Valley announced its lineup this week. Odds are, I’ll once again be covering at least one day. Every year I swear it’s my last because of my…

Kai Neukermans of The Alive performs with Pearl Jam at Oakland Arena in Oakland on May 13, 2022. Photos courtesy Melissa Lampe. Editor’s note: The Alive consists of three teens still in high school, yet the Bay Area trio has been playing to large crowds for the better part…

Pearl Jam performs at Oakland Arena in Oakland on May 12, 2022. Steve Carlson/STAFF. OAKLAND — Pearl Jam finally made its way to Oakland on Thursday night, but it wasn’t exactly the show that most fans had been waiting patiently for—once again due to COVID-19. Pearl Jam Josh Klinghoffer…

Pearl Jam 2022 tour. Pearl Jam on Monday announced make-up dates to its postponed 2020 tour, along with two shows at Oakland Arena on May 12 and 13, in less than two short months. Pearl Jam was among the first arena act to postpone a 2020 tour, which was…

Eddie Vedder, “Earthling.” It could easily be said that Eddie Vedder is one lucky man, even if he likely makes his own luck. Earthling Eddie Vedder Seattle Surf/Republic, Feb. 11 8/10 He’s one of the last living frontmen of the great Pacific Northwest rock bands of the early ’90s, in…