Pearl Jam's Bellingham concert included songs from `Binaural'

BELLINGHAM - Pearl Jam's Northwest debut of songs from its new release "Binaural" drew a small but highly appreciative crowd - including one college student who danced naked to win a ticket.

"It was awesome. It rocked," said Yuki Sodos, 26, of Seattle after the group's Wednesday night performance. "They played such a long show and you could tell they were so happy. I think it's going to be a great tour."

The multiplatinum group, which emerged with Nirvana and other Seattle "grunge rock" bands in the early 1990s, was scheduled to play last night at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, B.C. Then the group heads to Europe for a tour.

Pearl Jam returns to the United States in August for a series of concerts wrapping up Nov. 5 in Seattle.

Pearl Jam played a hefty 23-song, two-encore set for the crowd of 1,509 at Bellingham's intimate Mount Baker Theater, offering several songs from "Binaural," due in stores Tuesday.

Well received was the first single, "Nothing as it Seems," written by bass player Jeff Ament, who actually played cello for the song.

Sean Cook, a Western Washington University student who won a free ticket from a radio station by dancing naked on a busy street, said the stunt was worth it.

"It was a beautiful show. I loved it," Cook said.