Posted on 09/21/2005 9:02:27 PM PDT by Big Guy and Rusty 99
Edited on 09/22/2005 4:56:50 PM PDT by Sidebar Moderator. [history]
New Orleans descended on New York for two concurrent concerts, dubbed From the Big Apple to the Big Easy, Tuesday night to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Big names such as Dave Matthews, Simon and Garfunkel, and Elton John filled the bills of the shows held at Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden, but New Orleans acts from the Meters to the Neville Brothers were the focus of the evening's entertainment. Piano player and studio whiz Allen Toussaint led the house band for the first segment of the MSG concert, alongside Late Show With David Letterman bandleader Paul Shaffer. Together they hosted a rotating panel of guests that included Lenny Kravitz, Elvis Costello, Paul Simon, Jimmy Buffett and New Orleans soul queen Irma Thomas, who performed her classic "Time Is on My Side," famously covered by the Rolling Stones in 1964. Aaron Neville joined Toussaint for a chilling take on Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," sung against a backdrop of horrific images from flood ravaged New Orleans.
Political chatter was kept to a minimum at both events, with performers mostly sticking to the program: championing aid for New Orleans. But a few artists angrily denounced government officials for their slow response to Katrina's devastation. "I Wish New Orleans was dry and Washington was underwater," said Tom Waits. Bette Midler had even stronger words: "I got a letter from the Republican Party the other day. I wrote back, 'Go #### yourself.'" She then added, "George Bush is a fan of mine -- he came to see me in the Seventies. His coke dealer brought him."
There was nothing but love for one former Oval Office resident, however: Bill Clinton's surprise appearances at both concerts were greeted with long standing ovations. He spoke of the urgent need to get money to the hurricane victims, and reminisced that "the first time I saw a building over two stories tall was in New Orleans, when I was three years old." He then introduced John Fogerty, who Clinton said "captured the soul of New Orleans," despite being born in Northern California.
The Dixie Cups, a Sixties girl group from New Orleans, were one of the Garden's best-received acts. Their brief set included their Number One hit "Chapel of Love," as well a forceful take on the classic Cresent City ditty "Iko Iko," on which they were joined by Cyndi Lauper. Other Garden highlights included Elton John's mournful rendition of "Funeral for a Friend (Love Lies Bleeding)"; Mississippi-born Buffett's lengthy set, which featured "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" and the obvious crowd favorite "Margaritaville"; and Fogerty's renditions of the all-to-appropriate Creedence Clearwater Revival tunes "Born on the Bayou" and "Have You Ever Seen the Rain." Scheduled guest Fats Domino was unable to make it into the city, but the Dirty Dozen Brass Band -- with help from Elvis Costello, Diana Krall and Fats' longtime collaborator Dave Bartholomew -- paid tribute to him with a rollicking take on the Domino classic "I'm Walking."
The Radio City show, hosted by comedian Harry Shearer, was aimed at a younger audience and featured Anastasio, the John Mayer Trio and Galactic. Matthews, the Neville Brothers and the Meters all took a page out of the Phil Collins Live Aid handbook and played at both events. Radio City's most anticipated guest was Waits, who rarely makes live appearances. His set, which was unfortunately marred by sound problems, included "Get Behind the Mule," "Murder in a Red Burn" and "House Where Nobody Lives." "There's so much music in New Orleans you can hold a trumpet above your head and it will play itself," he remarked. Matthews' solo acoustic set contained moving takes on "Gravedigger" and "Crush." Later, he joined Buffett at the Garden for a cover of Neil Young's "Heart of Gold."
Simon and Garfunkel, one of the final acts at the Garden, where introduced by actor Paul Newman. "As tonight proves, music has a power all its own," he said. "In our most trying times, music has a healing power like a bridge over troubled water." Minutes later, Garfunkel and Aaron Neville traded verses on the aforementioned tune. "As many times as I've sung that song, I don't think it's ever meant as much to me as it does tonight," said Garfunkel.
To end the five-hour show, the Meters and the Neville Brothers struck up "When the Saints Go Marching In," and a parade of children filled the aisles. In true New Orleans fashion, it was well past midnight
HI
1. It reinforces my belief that Bush is right man in the right place at the right time.
2. They're letting me know what products to avoid spending my hard-earned dollars on.
The bottom line is this: they're supposed to be musicians, entertainers, etc...reaching their audiences thru music and song. But when the lights go up and the music stops and they start their verbal diahrrea of curses, insults, and obscene gestures, one thing becomes crystal clear:
They're all Wizards of Oz, hiding behind their Curtain of Elitism...
bttt
I think the keywords here are: "shut up and sing!"
My earliest memory is from my third birthday.
Of course, I'm not a sociopath. ;)
This is like the Wellstone memorial for the entire country to see! What a gift. The left just keeps on giving (to us). Can't wait to use Midler in a campaign commercial against Hillary.
i suppose it is possible to have a memory from the age of 3. Especially if it is something special like a birthday party. But as we know Klintoon is notorious for making up memories. Recall the "burning black peoples churches" memories?
Can't argue with that.
Plus I've been a Waits fan for 30 years.
And it had nothing to do with a Clinton.
Tom Waits and his comments shows the morality they have. To say you wish Washington was underwater really pulls back the mask of evil to show how sick and pathetic they really are. Maybe we can all wish people like YOU Tom were the ones who drowned and suffered the most, not the poor and elderly who had to suffer in NOLA. It should be people like Midler and the likes instead of those in Mississippi and Alabama. I really wish someone who has a good and high soap box really lets these people have it, and not hold back.
Really. Are we to believe there were NO BUILDINGS in Little Rock with more than two stories where he grew up?
What an SOB.
Well, I wish New Orleans was dry and Hollywood was under water.
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