Abe Laboriel Jr. Joins Pearl Jam for Surprise Ohana Set

Pearl Jam delivered an unexpected opening-night moment at Ohana Festival when the band joined Eddie Vedder’s Friday set with Abe Laboriel Jr. behind the drums. The appearance in Dana Point, California, gave fans their clearest look yet at how the group is handling its first shows since Matt Cameron’s departure.

The surprise set had originally been billed as “Eddie Vedder and Friends.” After Vedder’s opening songs, the rest of Pearl Jam arrived and launched the Laboriel portion of the performance with “Corduroy.” The band followed with favorites including “Hail Hail,” “Scared of Fear,” “Wishlist” and “Dark Matter.”

A celebrated drummer steps into a closely watched role

Laboriel is best known as the drummer in Paul McCartney’s touring band, a role he has held for more than two decades. His résumé also includes work with Sting, Eric Clapton and Steve Vai, along with a previous collaboration on Vedder’s 2022 solo album Earthling.

The pairing was not entirely new. Laboriel had previously performed with Vedder at the 2023 Ohana Festival when he filled in during an Earthlings set. Friday’s show was different because it placed him behind one of rock’s most recognizable bands at a moment of major transition.

Cameron left Pearl Jam in July 2025 after 27 years with the group. Since then, speculation about his successor has followed every hint from the band. The Ohana appearance gave that discussion a new focal point, but the language from the stage was deliberately limited.

No permanent appointment yet

Vedder introduced Laboriel as “filling in,” and Pearl Jam had not issued a statement naming him as a permanent member after the performance. That distinction matters: the show confirmed who was playing the festival set, not who will hold the job indefinitely.

Pearl Jam is scheduled to return as an official Ohana headliner on Sunday, its only other announced concert of 2026. That second performance will give the audience another chance to hear how Laboriel approaches the catalog, from the explosive early songs to the more textured material the band has developed over the years.

For now, the festival reveal works best as a live debut rather than a formal hiring announcement. Laboriel brought deep touring experience and an existing musical relationship with Vedder to the stage, while Pearl Jam preserved some mystery around its longer-term plans.