Throughout their entire career, Pearl Jam have always paid tribute to the classic rock that inspired them, from covering the Who and Neil Young to lead singer Eddie Vedder joining Bruce Springsteen onstage at Wrigley Field last summer. Last night (Oct. 26) at the XL Center in Hartford, Ct., the group pulled out a couple of less-likely songs from their childhood record collection, Van Halen’s ‘Eruption’ and ‘Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love.’

Pearl Jam has only performed ‘Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love’ once before, on May 15, 2010, at the same venue. Before they started, Vedder told the crowd that it was not a coincidence, and that they decided to up the ante a bit this time around.

“The last time we played here, in 2010, we played a song and we said it was the only time we would ever play this song,” he said. “And it was the only time we ever played this song. But as soon as we walked into the back room tonight…I was like, ‘This is where we played that song! And, for some reason, I just really need to play that song again.’ But before we play that song, [lead guitarist Mike McCready]’s going to play this song.”

From there, McCready played the instrumental ‘Eruption’ and the band immediately launched into ‘Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love.’

Pearl Jam played a few other covers on the night. Their 34-song set contained their takes on ‘Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns’ by Mother Love Bone (the group Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard were in before Pearl Jam’s formation), ‘Crazy Mary’ by Victoria Williams (which they recorded for a Williams tribute album in 1993) and Neil Young’s ‘F—in’ Up.’

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