Pearl Jam Formally Announce Abe Laboriel Jr. as New Drummer at Ohana Festival

Before Abe Laboriel Jr. could take his seat behind the kit during Pearl Jam’s headlining set at Ohana Festival on Sunday, the crowd was already chanting his name. The longtime Paul McCartney collaborator smiled and nodded, soaking in the moment during the final night of Eddie Vedder’s annual Southern California festival.

Laboriel had made a surprise appearance two days earlier, debuting with the band during a set billed as “Eddie Vedder and Friends.” At that point, many fans were unsure whether he would become a permanent member and return for the weekend.

On Sunday night, Vedder signaled that Laboriel would likely be a lasting addition. “We’re honored that a Beatle, no less—Paul McCartney—would allow us to borrow him,” Vedder said from the stage. “There’s an old musical adage: you cannot be a great band without a great drummer. We thank Abe for keeping us in the running.”

Vedder then dedicated the chorus of “Better Man” to their new drummer. “I’d like to dedicate just the chorus line to Mr. Abe—the one that says, ‘Can’t find a better man,'” Vedder said. Laboriel appeared caught off guard, pressing his hand to his chest and wiping his eyes.

The position had been vacant since Matt Cameron’s amicable departure in July 2025. The band had confirmed a new member but kept details under wraps. While it remains unclear whether Laboriel will continue splitting time between Pearl Jam and McCartney, Sunday marked the first time Vedder officially introduced him as part of the band.

Throughout the night, the band played 18 songs as Vedder energized the crowd of thousands gathered on Doheny Beach. Mike McCready delivered his signature searing live performance, while Laboriel pounded through a nearly nonstop set spanning heavy hitters like “Alive,” “Daughter,” and “Why Go,” alongside newer tracks such as “Setting Sun,” “Wreckage,” and “Running” from their 2024 album Dark Matter.

Billy Strings, who had played at the Kia Forum the night before, made a surprise appearance to sing “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town” with Vedder—an artist who has cited Pearl Jam as a major influence. Strings also joined McCready for a cover of Neil Young’s “Throw Your Hatred Down.”

Vedder opened the show with an emotional tribute to Glen Hansard, a close friend who had performed at Ohana multiple times and died July 29 at age 56 following a motorcycle crash. “A great friend, a great musician, a great human—there was really no one like him,” Vedder said. “We wanted him to be here again, so we’re going to let Mr. Glen Hansard open the show.”

Toward the end, Vedder addressed the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s tour after advocating for Palestinians in Gaza. “All bands that played at Ohana were allowed to say whatever they wanted about any issue,” Vedder said. “This is part of free speech, and it’s even more important now that they’re trying to shut down part of the press. You’re welcome to use these microphones to start a conversation. This is all because we trust you.”

Pearl Jam closed their set with the anti-war song “Yellow Ledbetter,” with Vedder sitting on the edge of the stage as the vast crowd sang along, bringing Ohana Festival to a thunderous close.

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