Pearl Jam made a surprise appearance on Friday night at the Ohana Festival in California, introducing Abe Laboriel Jr. behind the drums. The band’s performance marked their first show since the departure of longtime drummer Matt Cameron in 2025 after 27 years with the group.
The surprise came during Eddie Vedder’s scheduled Eddie Vedder & Friends performance at the festival in Dana Point. Vedder began the evening with several songs before the rest of Pearl Jam appeared on stage.
Vedder began playing “Corduroy” before a curtain dropped to reveal Mike McCready, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament. Laboriel Jr. was seated behind the drum kit.
Laboriel Jr. played several songs including “Corduroy,” “Hail, Hail” and “Scared of Fear” during the set. The band also performed “Wishlist,” “Dark Matter,” “Do the Evolution,” “Better Man,” “Even Flow” and several other songs.
He is best known for his longtime work with Paul McCartney. Laboriel Jr. has been the drummer and backing vocalist in McCartney’s band since 2001.
He has also worked with artists including Eric Clapton, Sting, Lady Gaga, B.B. King, Seal and Steve Vai.
This is not the first time Laboriel Jr. has worked with Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder. He contributed to Vedder’s 2022 solo album Earthling and also performed with him at the Ohana Festival in 2023.
Laboriel Jr. played on the Earthling track “Picture,” which also featured Elton John. He later filled in for Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith during Vedder’s 2023 Ohana performance.
During Friday’s show, Vedder presented Laboriel Jr. as someone who was filling in. It remains unclear if he will be the band’s permanent replacement or just a temporary addition.
Pearl Jam has not officially announced a permanent replacement for Cameron. Several music publications have described Laboriel Jr. as a possible new drummer for the band, but his long-term role has not been confirmed.
Cameron announced his departure from Pearl Jam in July 2025. He had joined the band in 1998 after the departure of Jack Irons and remained behind the drum kit for 27 years.
Pearl Jam’s final performances with Cameron took place in Pittsburgh in May 2025 at the end of the band’s Dark Matter tour. Friday’s surprise appearance was the first Pearl Jam performance since those shows.
Pearl Jam is scheduled to perform again at the Ohana Festival on Sunday evening as the closing-night headliner. It remains to be seen whether Laboriel Jr. will again be behind the drums.
As of Saturday, Pearl Jam had no additional confirmed concert dates scheduled beyond Sunday’s Ohana performance.
The Ohana Festival is an annual music event co-founded by Eddie Vedder and held at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, California. The 2026 festival marks its 10th anniversary.
This year’s festival runs from September 25 through September 27. Friday’s lineup included Vedder, Maná, Billy Idol, Bad Religion and Courtney Barnett.
Saturday’s performers include Tyler Childers, Alabama Shakes and Jon Batiste. Pearl Jam headlines Sunday on a lineup that also includes Fontaines D.C., Pixies, Rilo Kiley and Tom Odell.
The Friday performance offered Pearl Jam fans their first look at how the band might sound without Cameron. For now, however, Laboriel Jr.’s appearance should be considered a fill-in performance unless Pearl Jam announces a permanent change.
IMAGE: Abe Laboriel, Tel Aviv. Photo: DMY / Wikimedia, taken 2008-09-25, Attribution