Seattle grunge-rock pioneers Pearl Jam haven't rocked South Florida in five years -- nor have they released a new studio album since 2006. So logic would suggest that the greatest American rock band of all time (according to a 2005 USA Today reader's poll) would treat fans to their greatest hits, the songs that truly put the group on the rock 'n' roll map.

Instead, over their two-hour set Wednesday night at a sold-out Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Pearl Jam chose to offer a semi-obscure selection of songs that excluded many massive hits. Fans cheered predictably throughout the night, but many ended up grumbling afterward, frustrated that favorites such as Jeremy, Black, Daughter, Elderly Woman Behind the Counter In a Small Town, I Got Id and Release were passed over for songs some struggled to identify.

Lead singer Eddie Vedder, looking appropriately grungy with long, unkempt hair, white jeans and flannel shirt, took the stage with the rest of the band just before 9 p.m. to perform Oceans, from 1991's Ten, Pearl Jam's first album -- and clear crowning achievement. That primal-scream song was followed by Severed Hand, a track from the group's 2006 self-titled album that's reminiscent of Guns 'N Roses' Welcome to the Jungle. But other than the fifth song, Given To Fly, which sounds like a more rocking version of Led Zeppelin's Going to California, and the ninth, Dissident, no one but the most ardent fans had much to truly howl about.

Until Even Flow, from Ten, which drew absolutely deafening cheers that should have steered Pearl Jam toward their biggest hits.

Gone, Do the Evolution and Why Go highlighted the back-end of the set and were politely appreciated, but they couldn't match the rabid reception for Better Man and Rearviewmirror, which led into the encore.

Initially, the encore was disappointing, with Vedder performing solo, Springsteen-like Americana anthems with an acoustic guitar while joking that he looked like Larry the Cable Guy, because he was wearing a baseball cap. But then the full band appeared and ripped into Pearl Jam's signature hit Alive, inspiring the crowd to sway their arms in unison (but not crowd-surf -- is that passé now?). Yellow Ledbetter followed, with guitarist Mike McCready nailing its signature Red Hot Chili Peppers-like guitar riff.

Unfortunately, Pearl Jam decided to end its night 10 minutes before curfew with McCready performing The Star-Spangled Banner on guitar, Hendrix-style, leaving many to wonder why the band didn't deliver a few of its biggest hits instead.

Opening act Kings of Leon -- a quartet of siblings from Tennessee -- kicked the night off with progressive Southern-rock tunes, including Crawl, Fans, Molly's Chambers, On Call and Charmer, which layers a Sting bassline over Pixies-like screeching.

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