Local lovers of ’90s band Pearl Jam may soon have the opportunity of a lifetime — to see the rockers play a concert in Queens — thanks to some devoted Forest Hills fans.
A dedicated group of fans is trying to entice Pearl Jam to play at Forest Hills Stadium with a crowdfunded campaign that aims to raise $100,000.
And it looks like the famous quintet, led by vocalist Eddie Vedder, may indeed be on their way to Queens. The group, which is aptly named Pearl Jam Forest Hills, has already raised $20,000 and is getting a lot of attention on social media.
Forest Hills Stadium has held many high-profile music shows over the years, including the Talking Heads and The Beatles. The Who is slated to play in 2015. But unlike most of these shows, efforts to raise money to bring in Pearl Jam aren’t backed by any corporate sponsors.
“We’re trying to keep it as pure as possible,” said Daniel Sheffer, one of the fans. “I’m not a concert promoter, but I have the tenacity to learn it as I go along. It’s organic.”
“We’re going strong. We loved Forest Hills. We love Queens,” said Sheffer, who grew up in Forest Hills listening to Pearl Jam.
As part of the crowdfunding campaign, which seeks donations from the public, fans get a seat if they give $80 or more. Those who give $1000 can expect four tickets, plus what the group calls a “mystery bunch of Pearl Jam goodies.”
Pearl Jam is known for songs like “Daughter,” “Corduroy” and “I Got Id.” Sheffer hasn’t yet heard from the band about being open to playing in Forest Hills Stadium, but he’s hopeful that if they raise enough money, the band will come.
Along with Sheffer’s close friends and family, the crowdfunding group is working hard to spread the word through social media sites and raise more money. They are also contacting local politicians and community advocates, who’d love to see Queens getting concerts like Brooklyn does with the Barclays Center.
Sheffer thought of the idea after he heard that the band Foo Fighters played a crowdfunded set in Richmond, Virginia, in September.
“I might not be the best guy for the job, but I’ll give it a thousand percent, ” Sheffer said. “And if they give us a hard ‘no’ that’s cool, too. At least we gave it a shot.”
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