It’s a wonder where greatness comes from. Any given day you read a newspaper, or scan a website, you come across a throng of young journalists trying to discover a “movement.” But that’s the thing. These things just happen. There’s little rhyme or reason to their initial existence, nor their lasting power.

It’s all about timing, and talent. One without the other equals zero success, and an eventual back-door exit to menial day jobs cleaning the puke off of bar room floors, taking the trash out after a lunch shift, or punching away at a keyboard on the 55th floor of the Sears Tower.

Somehow, two very different talents have managed to fuse their relevance, talent, and have prolonged their irreverent existences much to the chagrin of their faithful followings.

As we reported last week, Pearl Jam will perform as the musical guest to Conan O’Brien’s debut as host of The Tonight Show, and each creative artist’s revolutionary paths to greatness will be united on late night’s most prestigious stage.

Finally.

Neither Conan nor Pearl Jam has ever seemed to bow to those who’d do things differently. For frontman Eddie Vedder, it’s always been an ethically solid display of selfless gusto. An utterly sincere allegiance to his fans, and his modest proclamation. Though O’Brien’s slanted comic edge is a far cry from Vedder’s look-you-in-the-eye-and-dare-you-to-blink-first howl, his aversion to simply delivering a standard monologue without his trademark goofy antics changed the way producers format late night talk shows.

Throughout a career that has mirrored the Seattle-based quintet’s in more than merely length, Conan O’Brien came dangerously close to being washed out as just another “young, hip, annoying” talk show host from the beginning. Since his 1993 debut, however, his star has risen to immense levels, and it’s ultimately led him to his dream gig: Hosting The Tonight Show. That’s about as “rock star” as a pale-faced talk show host could ever hope to be.

Frontman Eddie Vedder is about as admired a “rock star” can be by both fans, and colleagues, and his oft-stern complexion has weathered the storm of stardom to the point where he now actually appears to be having fun when utilizing his oft-mimicked baritone shrill to convey the difficulty of “not giving a damn.”

How fitting the two will share in the moment together.

Sure, it may have made sense to pair Conan and The White Stripes for his Tonight Show debut. They closed Late Night together in such a beatifically melancholy manner that forced us all to bite our lower lip and hold back the tears Conan ultimately couldn’t.

But you don’t christen a new experience with docile, deadpanned whispers. This isn’t the death of something we love, but the start of something new. Pearl Jam is unveiling new songs (which calls into question the format of Conan’s Tonight Show: Will the musical guests have multiple slots a la SNL? Exciting!) from its widely anticipated new studio album, and that’s about as much a reason to watch as to see how Conan fills Johnny Carson… er, Jay Leno’s considerable shoes for what hopes to be a long tenure.

*       *       *

Few rockers have aged as well as Pearl Jam. Since their perceptible debut nearly twenty years ago, their catalogue has matured into a readily cocked rifle of strident odes to both the disappointments we encounter, and the tiny victories we amass throughout life’s constantly befuddling path.

Though they were briefly able to hide behind the greater sun that was Nirvana, their career seemed to peak before it really began, and they could have easily become just another alt-rock band that the nineties swallowed up, and spit out in a slew of “90s compilation” discs sold at wee-hours of the night through a series of suicide-inspiring infomercials we watch when insomnia reigns on our sleep parade.

At the dawn of grunge, the music world was inundated with hair bands who largely gave us three-chord fluff with which we could escape the doldrums of our every day lives. Pearl Jam brought us closer to them with sorrowful dirges that reminded us pain can be beneficial if it’s addressed directly in order to inspire change.

Since “change” is the new “it word” amongst the majority of young Americans who will tune in for Conan’s Tonight Show debut the relevance of this moment is about as palpable a Brittney Spears’ litany of shortcomings as a parent.

*     *     *

Seattle would’ve been nothing more than the “Giant Coffee Bean of the Northwest” had Vedder and his mates not brought forth such an invigoratingly altering movement within it’s confines. Late Night television would’ve been nothing more than an opportunity for failed stand-up acts to saunter forth with their elderly quips about social security, standing in line at the pharmacist, or [gasp!] Viagra.

In a lot of ways, Leno has become the Def Leppard of late night television [sans the spandex, and groupies]. Likeable enough, but hardly delivering the carefully crafted, tip-of-your-tongue humor this country’s 18-35 set needs to fall asleep to. This is strikingly similar to what bands like Bon Jovi, Fine Young Cannibals, and Aerosmith had become towards the end of the 1980s and into the 90s. Two words: Decent filler.

If Conan O’Brien is anything as a late night host, he’s Eddie Vedder. Though his sense of humor gleams far brighter than the well-mane-tained crooner’s, his reluctance to fit into a proven mold has never been anything short of refreshing. Yes, his popularity has peaked, and dipped, but so has Pearl Jam’s. Despite these inevitabilities, true fans of each creative entity ALWAYS show up, and wear their unwavering support on their sleeves.

Though NBC caved to Jay Leno’s insistence to stay on the air, thereby creating the network’s “Night of Comedy,” and had even attempted to woo both Oprah and Letterman to their ranks to bolster the relevance of the prime time slots [sort of the “openers” for Conan], the most inventive, pioneering talk shot host since the rise of grunge has rightfully secured the genre’s most coveted seat.

Without Vedder and Co.’s inclusion on the show’s June 1st debut, the event would lack a hint of its landmark status. Thankfully, the two will be united to boost the highly anticipated affair.

Neither Conan, nor Eddie, could have found a “better man” to share the moment with.

Categories: Editorial, Features
Tags: Conan O'Brien, Pearl Jam