Pearl Jam made an early appearance at Ohana Festival on Friday night. During Eddie Vedder’s headlining set in Dana Point, California, billed as “Eddie Vedder and Friends,” the band surprised the beachside crowd by taking the stage with longtime Paul McCartney collaborator Abe Laboriel Jr. behind the kit.
Pearl Jam performed “Corduroy” as their first song with Laboriel, followed by a swath of fan favorites including “Hail Hail,” “Scared of Fear,” and “Wishlist.” The reveal came as a big surprise to fans, who were given no hint that the band would take the stage with Laboriel tonight.
The slot for Pearl Jam’s sixth drummer has been open since Matt Cameron’s amicable departure from the band in July 2025, and the group previously confirmed that it had chosen a new member, but kept things under wraps. It’s still unclear if Laboriel has officially joined the band, and Pearl Jam hasn’t made any official statement on it.
Earlier this week, Rolling Stone listed Laboriel among its top picks for possible replacements, noting his ferocious skills, friendship with Vedder, and his guest feature on the frontman’s 2022 solo LP, Earthling.
Notably, Laboriel, who also does background vocals, has performed on some of the world’s biggest stages, from Super Bowl halftime shows to concerts held in front of Queen Elizabeth.
In May, fans began to speculate that something was up after Laboriel was missing from McCartney’s performance during Saturday Night Live‘s 51st finale and when Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith filled in.
Whether Laboriel has split from McCartney or will be pulling double duty with Pearl Jam has yet to be confirmed. For now, it looks like he might be on the West Coast with his new crew all weekend.
