New York Goes New Orleans

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 fuck 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.

ANDY GREENE AND AUSTIN SCAGGS

Source: Rolling Stone

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