Despite the recent love affair between the Miami Heat and Pearl Jam, it’s entirely fair to say that the Seattle rockers have a bit of a sordid past with the Sunshine State. The fact remains that Florida is still a bit of foreign territory to the group who have played nearly every corner of the globe. Which is what makes their return to Florida tonight to kick off their North American tour all the more significant. Tonight in Ft. Lauderdale marks their first show in the state since 2012 (the band’s Lightning Bolt tour never made it to Florida) and the first in the southern part of the state since 2008. 

Pearl Jam’s story with South Florida began in April of 1992, when the band visited the Cameo Theatre, a rare punk rock bunker in the art deco area of Miami Beach, prior to Lollapalooza’s August visit later in the year. The Cameo played host to nearly every pillar of the punk and hardcore community, welcoming Black Flag, Bad Brains, Dead Kennedys and the Ramones, among many others. It made sense for a band like Pearl Jam to seek refuge as they made their debut in the 305 as Ten was climbing the charts. 

Below, watch the band’s first show in Miami at the Cameo peppered with material from Ten along with covers of Fugazi and Neil Young.