The Stars Align For Robert Zimmerman
Much as we try, we just can't be everywhere at once, so we love it when you guys write in with your concert experiences. This one comes from Stereogum reader Steven, who hit the Music For Youth tribute last night at NYC's Avery Fisher Hall. The show featured 22 artists who appeared in reverent tribute to Bob Dylan (including Patti Smith, Dylan's old sideman Al Kooper, Tom Verlaine, Cat Power, Ryan Adams, CYHSY, et al), performing the Modern Times man's classics to a charitable crowd; most tickets to the tribute clocked in at $125, but there will be no complaining when the dollars go to such a good cause (i.e. supporting music programs for underpivileged kids). Steven writes:
I attended the Music For Youth Dylan tribute/benefit last night at Avery Fisher Hall, it was insane. Sadly, I don't have any pictures, but there were some amazing moments. Lee Renaldo covered "Positively 4th Street" with John Medeski on organ, Cat Power meandered around the stage while barely singing "house of the rising sun". I didnt know the tune CYHSY played- The crowd was not too into either them or Cat Power. They were admittedly different from the rest of the night- Joan Osborne, Natalie Merchant, Phil Lesh.
Ryan Adams did in fact bring down the house though, covering "Isis" into "Love Sick" then back into Isis- giving it a very heavy 70's stones ish feel. Some jackass in the crowd had to yell "summer of 69" but I don't think he was heard. Adams went way over his time limit of- 1 song per artist- and the stage hands seemed to rush him off. Patti Smith was amazing, closing the show- she had Tom Verlane in her band, then returned with Ramblin Jack Elliot for "Knockin on Heavens Door".Ryan doing "Isis"? We need to hear that like NOW! Did he rap it? Definitely a special night, though the tribute may well have served as a celebration for that horrid musical being put out of its misery.The night was filled with highlights, Cindy Lauper sang backup vocals unannounced for Jill Sobule on "Ring Them Bells", and Allan Tousant did an amazing solo version of "mama you've been on my mind" just an incredibly great show, the place was completely packed.
Posted at 3:04 PM
Tags: Bob Dylan | Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Ryan went WAY WAY over his limited. I managed to stubbed down to the 5th row for most of the show and it was pretty hilarious to watch the side of stage freaking out as Ryan stretched his 6 minutes (1 song) on stage into somewhere around 15-20 (basically 3 songs) with extended outro!
The producers were giving him the cut sign for a long time and Ryan wasn't looking their way at all.
That's what you get for booking Ryan...you know he is going to pull something...I am looking forward to his 3 night run at Town Hall.
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Anyone know if/when this is airing somewhere?
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i wasnt there, so this is just a guess, but perhaps ryan adams is covering the white stripes covering bob dylan? isis and love sick are jack white staples.
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Any way we can get a setlist of who played what?
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from what I remember-
Bob Mould- If Not For You
Natalie Merchant + Philip Glass- Lonesome death of haddie mcarrol
Joan Osborne- To make you feel my love
Al Kooper- It takes a lot to laugh it takes a train to cry
Lee Renaldo- Positively 4th street
Medeski Martin Wood- Buckets of Rain
Warren Haynes- I shall be released
Sandra Bernhard- Like a Rolling Stone
Jill Sobule- Ring Them Bells
phil lesh- that Alicia Keys new song
the roots - Masters of war (this was amazing)
Jamie Saft- Ballad of a thin man
The roots played Masters of War to the tune of "star spangled banner" and "Machine Gun" by hendrix, my dad who is 56, absolutely loved it
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A few additons to the set list:
-Jay Farrar (w/Anders Parker) played Going Going Gone off Planet Waves (great choice for his voice/manner)
-Roseanne Cash (w/john leventhal on guitar) played License to Kill
-Warren Haynes accompanied an 18 y/o girl (who sounded a bit like Iris Dement) on "ain't no use to sit and wonder why babe, if'n you don't know by now." 'Twas beautiful.
I was looking forward to seeing CYHSY, but I was very disappointed by their energy. They bored.
The Roots absolutely killed. Furcking incredible.
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Ryan Adams - if nothing else - was rude. Average voice, predictable textbook posturing, and the arrogance to take much more time than was allotted to him. For the 12 Ryan Adams fans in the audience it must have been the thrill of a lifetime - they were the only ones who rose to their feet at the end of his set. I got the strong sense that Adams has no sense of his place in the music world and what is even more disturbing - Thursday night he had no idea who he was sharing the stage with and why they were all there. For Bryan it was just another chance to pose.
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The song that Warren Haynes played is Don't Think Twice, It's Alright. CYHSY might have played Love Minus Zero/No Limit. They covered it at their Summerstage show in September. I wasn't there so that's just a guess.
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Sandra Bernhard?
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It's Haddie Carol....... No Mc
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"The roots played Masters of War to the tune of "star spangled banner""
That's actually the way Leon Russell played it on his self-titled album from 1970. Its not brilliant, but the rest of the record is. There were some pressings for a while that didn't have it on them.
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oops, link here:
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ak8gtq1ztu48
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Actually, it's Hattie Carroll. (All together now, under your breaths -- "fuckin' Dylan geek".)
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