Antony, Bono, Courtney, Scarlett, Rufus & Friends @ Carnegie Hall, NYC 10/4/09

Jessica Amaya

(RED)NIGHTS

Last night Carnegie Hall hosted the biggest assortment of megastars this side of the Orpheum for a (RED)NIGHTS charity show, benefiting the Global Fund's efforts against the African AIDS epidemic. The night was billed as "Hal Willner Presents: An Evening With Gavin Friday and Friends," and it turns out that the erstwhile Virgin Prunes frontman Friday has a great friend in Bono, and by extension, some of the music world's most iconic faces. It was the night of a thousand collaborations, some likely (Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson), some not so much (Rufus Wainwright, Scarlett Johansson, and Prince-imposter Fred Armisen). Others pitching in to the superjams included Courtney Love, Lady Gaga, Antony Hegarty, Shane MacGowan, Jim White, Lydia Lunch, the rest of the U2 guys, etc. We offer three ways to relive it: your imagination (get with the program), still photos (courtesy of photographer Jessica Amaya), or this video of Gavin, Bono, Courtney, Scarlett, Shane, et al taking on Bowie's "The Jean Genie." Courtney and Scarlett are a study in stage-shimmy contrasts.

Posted at 1:23 PM by amrit in Concert, Photo
Tags: Bono | Courtney Love | David Bowie | Fred Armisen | Gavin Friday | Jim White | Lady Gaga | Laurie Anderson | Lou Reed | Lydia Lunch | Rufus Wainwright | Scarlett Johansson | Shane MacGowan | U2

7 Comments

Bono is a busy, busy man. Last night, he was video chatting with Matt Damon and calling Vince a stiff for not giving money "for the kids". Because 1 in 6 american children do not have a secured meal.

(Come back from California, Gabe!)

Posted by: d33r at 10/05/09 2:22 PM  | Reply
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Who played piano/keyboards for gavin?

Posted by: pjfoagrty at 10/06/09 7:40 AM  | Reply
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Friday's keyboardist was his longtime collaborator Maurice Seezer.

Posted by: Maldo at 10/06/09 11:51 AM  | Reply
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Is this really the kind of thing Stereogum should be covering? I mean, Bono's birthday party for his loser friend?

Posted by: James at 10/06/09 9:57 PM  | Reply
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I agree. And also, why is Scarlett Johannsenn still taken seriously as a musician?

Posted by: Dara at 10/06/09 11:06 PM  | Reply
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And another question, why do James and Dara consider themselves "too cool for school" when they spend their evenings alone reading Stereogum reviews questioning editorial decisions?

Posted by: F. Marek at 10/07/09 7:02 AM  | Reply
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...LOL...'F.Marek'...I would diss you but being named F. Marek is punishment enough

Posted by: James at 10/09/09 12:50 PM  | Reply
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