Photo via Ohana Festival’s Facebook page

Pearl Jam dramatically revealed their new drummer this past Friday during Dana Point, CA’s Ohana Festival, which is held at Doheny State Beach. The weekend’s eclectic lineup, as billed, featured Eddie Vedder & Friends, Maná, Billy Idol, Bad Religion, Courtney Barnett, the reunited Sugar, Midnight Generation, Otoboke Beaver, Mereba on Friday; Tyler Childers, Alabama Shakes, Jon Batiste, Men I Trust, Stephen Wilson Jr. and Jake Wesley Rogers on Saturday; and Pearl Jam, Fontaines D.C., Pixies, Rilo Kiley, The Format, The Front Bottoms, Tom Odell, Alice Phoebe Lou and Horsegirl on Sunday.

Vedder opened his “and friends” set with an acoustic segment, consisting of Pearl Jam’s “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town,” his solo number “Far Behind” and Glen Hansard’s “Song of Good Hope,” which was played as a tribute to the acclaimed musician, who died in a motorcycle accident this summer, and featured a guest turn by the recently departed songwriter’s close collaborator Simon Good. The singer, who curates the festival, then invited out Idol for a cover of The Who’s “I’m One” and Pearl Jam bassist/co-founder Jeff Ament for their band’s “Bee Girl.”

Soon after, Vedder played the intro to the Vitology track “Corduroy,” before a curtain behind him dropped to reveal the full Pearl Jam lineup, who finished the song and launched into a full set of music. Longtime Paul McCartney drummer Abe Laboriel Jr.—who recorded with Vedder on “Picture,” featuring Elton John, on 2022’s Earhtling—was seated behind the kit for the big moment and revealed to be Pearl Jam’s new touring drummer. The musicians then proceeded to offer a 15-song sequence, which included nods to The English Beat, The Jam and Neil Young, as well as takes on Dead Boys’ “Sonic Reducer” and The Who’s “Baba O’Riley.” The surprise appearance was Pearl Jam’s first gig since longtime drummer Matt Cameron amicably parted ways with the group last year, without a clear replacement in place.

The stealth Pearl Jam show highlighted a busy weekend of Ohana surprises. On Friday, Vedder warmed up the stage with a solo take on The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” and sat in with Bad Religion on “American Jesus.” Then, on Saturday, he emerged during Wilson’s spot for a number from the Temple of the Dog project he contributed to, “Hunger Strike.” And, on Sunday, he joined the Pixies for their “Wave of Mutilation.” He also introduced MANÁ Friday by saying, “We want to express our gratitude and what it means to us that they agreed to accept our invitation…the one, the only, MANÁ.”

Moreover, the singer had some surprises up his sleeve on Sunday when Pearl Jam turned in their official festival-closing show. Partway through the extended slot, the band invited out unannounced festival performer Billy Strings for both the Vs. number “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town” and Neil Young’s “Throw Your Hatred Down.” Strings, who won his 4th grade talent show by performing “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town,” first connected with Vedder at the festival in 2022 and was in the area for a string of California performances with his own band. (He got into the collaborative spirit at Los Angeles’ The Orpheum Theatre Friday as well when he brought out fiddler Jesse Wells and guitarist CJ Cain, who are members of Ohana headliner Childers’ The Food Stamps combo, for around-the-mic takes on “99 Years (Is Almost For Life),” his debut of the traditional “Worried Man Blues” and “Ridin’ That Midnight Train.”) During Pearl Jam’s encore, Strings returned once again for Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.”

Pearl Jam’s set featured a few other notable moments as well. The night kicked off with a video tribute to Hansard before the show-opening “Long Road” and the band tagged his “Down On Our Knees” and U2’s “Bad” during “Daughter.” While introducing the members of Pearl Jam, Vedder also thanked McCartney for letting them “borrow” Laboriel, leading to some uncertainty about the drummer’s future tenure with the alt-rock survivor as The Beatles icon is rumored to tour next year.  He also echoed that sentiment in a post shared below.

Pearl Jam does not currently have any announced shows on the books.