The Bridge School Benefit 10/20
Oct. 25th, 2001 05:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cassidyroseSo, last Saturday night M. and I attended the 15th annual Bridge School Benefit. The yearly concerts which I have been attending since 1994 (with the exception of '95) are always wonderful, and this year was no exception. I am always amazed at the line-up Neil Young manages to pull together and that he convinces so many artists to not only donate their time and performances, but that he also convinces them all to play acoustic. It is always such a treat to see bands and performers play this way and I admire the effort many put forth to re-arraneg their music for an acoustic show.
Anyhow, on to this year's show. This was M.'s first Bridge concert (last year we showed up put it was raining so hard and we became so wet and uncomforatble we had to leave after an hour) and I was happy that he enjoyed it almost as much as I did. We showed up around 3:15 to Shoreline and made out way in and found that the lawn seating was already almost full. We caught the tail end of Neil Young opening solo, with two songds, one of which was Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind". We roamed the lawn for a place to sit for some time and finally found a decent spot and settled in for the 9 hour show.
Jill Solbule was first up and she played solo...just her and her guitar. She did her hit from a few years back "I Kissed a Girl", commenting before she played it that it had been banned on some southern radio stations As she started to sing the first chorus she quipped, "I don't know why they got so upset--It's not like I said I strapped it on or anything". Needless to say I was quite amused. I was even more amused (and impressed) when she performed a stellar cover of Destiny Child's "Survior". I really respect anyone who can take a hip-hop song like "Survivor" and make it sound great played on a acoustic guitar.
Ben Harper played second. He was solo, without his bad or stage crew. I've seen Ben Harper at least five times before and I always enjoy him. He did some of his standards, including "I Shall Not Walk Alone", and one of favorites, "Mama's Got a Girlfriend Now". I suddenly felt like it was dyke pride night at Shoreline (OK, not really...but I had a moment). He did a great cover of "Sexual Healing" as well.
So, I will admit, I was not looking forward to the next act which was Billy Idol. I mean, come on, the guy was popular when I was in grammar school and even then was a cheesy punk-dude. Well, I've got to give him and his band credit--they really pulled it off. Who knew "White Wedding" could be played acoustic?? He played all his hits except "Dancing with Myself" and the crowd loved him. He jumped around the stage clad all in black leather like no one (or maybe everyone) was watching. I was pleased. He covered Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth", which was a bit cheesy coming from him, but I liked the sentiment. I was happy that by this time M. had scored us some lawn chairs, so we were able to sit more comfortably.
Up next was Tracy Chapman, but I had to spend a lot of her set waiting in line for the bathroom. Did I mention it was soooooo friikin' crowded at Shoreline on Saturday night?? Well, it was. Anyhow, I caught some of her set and it was enjoyable.
REM was on next and this was the best I have seen them perfom (I saw them as headliners in '95 and at Bridge a few years ago) and I thoroughly enjoyed their performance. Michael Stipe was in great form wiggling about the stage. I was happy to hear "Cuyahoga" from Life's Rich Pagent as I usually don't hear of them doing stuff that old. "Man on the Moon" was really fun and I was incredibly impressed with the re-work they did of "Let Me In" from Monster.
Next for me was another bathroom trip so I missed a bit of Dave Matthews, but what I saw I enjoyed. Despite the fact he was obviously stoned out of his gourd, he gave a good performance and closed with "All Along the Watchtower".
Pearl Jam was up next and this was their 5th Bridge performance and my 9th time seeing them. Yeah, I'm a fan. They played a great set, the highlight of which was the performance of "Indifference" (one of my all-time favorite songs) when Ben Harper came out and sang half the vocals--it was incredible. "Elderly Woman...." was really awesome as well, as it tends to be live. A particularly heartwarming moment came when Eddie Vedder turned the attention to the Bridge School students and commented that since he had been here last in '99 one of the students had graduated and was now a sophmore at Berkeley. He played her favorite song, "Last Kiss" for her and she seemed beyond pleased. I always like that Eddie Vedder turns some attention towards the students (who have prime seats on the stage).
Sometime after 11pm, Neil Young and Crazy Horse came out and opened with a wonderful rendition of "Long May you Run". The performed "Blowin' in the Wind" and a politcally charged "Mideast Vacation" which was followed by the Beatles' "All you Need is Love". I never thought I'd see the day when ol' Neil would play that song...It was priceless. They preformed a touching "Mother Earth" which was followed by an unusual finale. Neil et al played an instrumental version of Lennon's "Imagine" while the words were projected onto the screens and what remained of the audienced sang to the performers and students. It was a perfect closing to a wonderful night, which was peaceful and happy.
I love the Bridge School shows. They are so special to me and I have seen so many incredible performances at them over the past 7 years. I am really glad that this year's show did not lose it's focus in light of recent events, and I am even happier to see that some people still feel the need to sing "Imagine" when everyone else is shouting "America will prevail!!!". My happiest moment came when I saw one of the concert shirts and was so happy someone, somewhere thought to do this--There was a picture of the American flag with the Bridge logo and underneath the picture it read "Freedom of Speech"--not "America will prevail", not "United we Stand", but "Freedom of Speech". I was and remain very pleased that someone thought to do that.
Anyhow, on to this year's show. This was M.'s first Bridge concert (last year we showed up put it was raining so hard and we became so wet and uncomforatble we had to leave after an hour) and I was happy that he enjoyed it almost as much as I did. We showed up around 3:15 to Shoreline and made out way in and found that the lawn seating was already almost full. We caught the tail end of Neil Young opening solo, with two songds, one of which was Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind". We roamed the lawn for a place to sit for some time and finally found a decent spot and settled in for the 9 hour show.
Jill Solbule was first up and she played solo...just her and her guitar. She did her hit from a few years back "I Kissed a Girl", commenting before she played it that it had been banned on some southern radio stations As she started to sing the first chorus she quipped, "I don't know why they got so upset--It's not like I said I strapped it on or anything". Needless to say I was quite amused. I was even more amused (and impressed) when she performed a stellar cover of Destiny Child's "Survior". I really respect anyone who can take a hip-hop song like "Survivor" and make it sound great played on a acoustic guitar.
Ben Harper played second. He was solo, without his bad or stage crew. I've seen Ben Harper at least five times before and I always enjoy him. He did some of his standards, including "I Shall Not Walk Alone", and one of favorites, "Mama's Got a Girlfriend Now". I suddenly felt like it was dyke pride night at Shoreline (OK, not really...but I had a moment). He did a great cover of "Sexual Healing" as well.
So, I will admit, I was not looking forward to the next act which was Billy Idol. I mean, come on, the guy was popular when I was in grammar school and even then was a cheesy punk-dude. Well, I've got to give him and his band credit--they really pulled it off. Who knew "White Wedding" could be played acoustic?? He played all his hits except "Dancing with Myself" and the crowd loved him. He jumped around the stage clad all in black leather like no one (or maybe everyone) was watching. I was pleased. He covered Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth", which was a bit cheesy coming from him, but I liked the sentiment. I was happy that by this time M. had scored us some lawn chairs, so we were able to sit more comfortably.
Up next was Tracy Chapman, but I had to spend a lot of her set waiting in line for the bathroom. Did I mention it was soooooo friikin' crowded at Shoreline on Saturday night?? Well, it was. Anyhow, I caught some of her set and it was enjoyable.
REM was on next and this was the best I have seen them perfom (I saw them as headliners in '95 and at Bridge a few years ago) and I thoroughly enjoyed their performance. Michael Stipe was in great form wiggling about the stage. I was happy to hear "Cuyahoga" from Life's Rich Pagent as I usually don't hear of them doing stuff that old. "Man on the Moon" was really fun and I was incredibly impressed with the re-work they did of "Let Me In" from Monster.
Next for me was another bathroom trip so I missed a bit of Dave Matthews, but what I saw I enjoyed. Despite the fact he was obviously stoned out of his gourd, he gave a good performance and closed with "All Along the Watchtower".
Pearl Jam was up next and this was their 5th Bridge performance and my 9th time seeing them. Yeah, I'm a fan. They played a great set, the highlight of which was the performance of "Indifference" (one of my all-time favorite songs) when Ben Harper came out and sang half the vocals--it was incredible. "Elderly Woman...." was really awesome as well, as it tends to be live. A particularly heartwarming moment came when Eddie Vedder turned the attention to the Bridge School students and commented that since he had been here last in '99 one of the students had graduated and was now a sophmore at Berkeley. He played her favorite song, "Last Kiss" for her and she seemed beyond pleased. I always like that Eddie Vedder turns some attention towards the students (who have prime seats on the stage).
Sometime after 11pm, Neil Young and Crazy Horse came out and opened with a wonderful rendition of "Long May you Run". The performed "Blowin' in the Wind" and a politcally charged "Mideast Vacation" which was followed by the Beatles' "All you Need is Love". I never thought I'd see the day when ol' Neil would play that song...It was priceless. They preformed a touching "Mother Earth" which was followed by an unusual finale. Neil et al played an instrumental version of Lennon's "Imagine" while the words were projected onto the screens and what remained of the audienced sang to the performers and students. It was a perfect closing to a wonderful night, which was peaceful and happy.
I love the Bridge School shows. They are so special to me and I have seen so many incredible performances at them over the past 7 years. I am really glad that this year's show did not lose it's focus in light of recent events, and I am even happier to see that some people still feel the need to sing "Imagine" when everyone else is shouting "America will prevail!!!". My happiest moment came when I saw one of the concert shirts and was so happy someone, somewhere thought to do this--There was a picture of the American flag with the Bridge logo and underneath the picture it read "Freedom of Speech"--not "America will prevail", not "United we Stand", but "Freedom of Speech". I was and remain very pleased that someone thought to do that.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2001-10-25 06:15 pm (UTC)Dani
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=o)
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Date: 2001-10-26 02:44 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2001-10-26 02:12 pm (UTC)http://HyperRust.org/Bridge/Benefit.html has line-ups and some set-lists from all the past shows (including this years if you're interested). And, if you ever need bay area concert info., just let me know :-)