Eddie Vedder to perform at Concert For Sandy Relief

^^^^ Yay honey! I'm so glad you had a great time & it was a great experience for you!!

Has anyone heard how much money they think they've raised yet? I haven't seen anything about that anywhere. I hope it did well.

I just watched Chris Martin & Michael Stipe doing Losing My Religion before(I missed that when I was wathcing it live) & WOW!!

My first chance to comment on the show.

Waters cant even sing anymore he talks the lyrics. He looked like such a tool pounding his chest, waving his arms etc.

So much potential for vedder to sit in with the who or the stones or gasp, grohl and novoselic-that would have been something.

I was so disappointed with comfortably numb it was not very good IMHO.

I thought Billy Joel, McCartney and the Who killed it. The Chris martin stipe thing was cool, but stipe was flat.

Seeing all those acts in one place must have been very cool, but it seems clear to me that the show was more about getting names on stage, which is all good because it was for charity.

But I cant help thinking how great it is when Eddie and Pete are on stage together.

My opinion on the night after having a day to "sleep it off" and watch it again on my DVR. It turned out long. I like to hear myself "talk." Great night. Great cause, great crowd, great show. Glad I was one of the lucky ones.

First, the crowd did not come through on TV as much as I would have liked. Being there was (beyond the obvious) a completey different experience, and my thoughts reflect that somewhat. From best to worst (in my opinion):

1. The Who - First as always. They are killer. They have stuff other artists wish they could pull out. Pete is still great and Roger sounds great. Can he hit every note? Of course not. To those thinking they should just stop haven't really been paying attention. And, to the guys criticizing Roger's open shirt - we should all hope to look like that now let alone when we're 67. Top notch, the clear winner to me. Glad they pulled out Bell Boy. This became the theme of the night with folks going deep into their catalogs and not just playing hit after hit. And the crowd was more than up for it.

2. Roger Waters - not just for Eddie Vedder, though that was clearly one of the top guest appearance of the night. His whole set blew the crowd away. When EV was standing with him at the end, and the crowd was all arms raised in the bright lights of the Garden, you could almost see Roger say - you may have Betterman, but this is how it feels. The kids from the dance school were great. Glad he returned with them as they were equally fantastic at Yankee Stadium. EV was great, and I believe got one of the best receptions of the night (surely of any guest appearance, but I'm actually saying OVERALL).

3. Billy Joel - simply killed it. Glad he dug into his repitoire and pulled out River of Dreams. Might have seemed like odd placement of his set, but it was perfect, as was he. He is such a great entertainer, and proved it once again. (And what's better than someone Jewish singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas?)

4. Paul McCartney - Was looking most forward to seeing him as I have never seen him live, and he did not disappoint. Great show. Helter Skelter!!!! - Wow!!!! Another guy that knows how to do it. Disappointed the crowd did not come through on TV on Blackbird. That turned into a massive sing along, and it did not seem to come through on TV at all. One of the highlights of the night was the ending - Alicia Keys was awesome, perfect song, perfect timing, perfect ending. We're all thinking everyone's going to come out, and this was better. Paul standing with the first responders. Just a great show, and a great ending. Glad he's adopted NY (As much as we've adopted him).

As for the "Nirvana" thing - meh. Great to see Grohl on the drums. He was a madman and fantastic. Pat seemed thrilled to be there, but what's up with Krist? Green pants and a dour look? Is that how he's always been? Anyway - decent song, but nothing terribly memorable. Alicia Key's "guest spot" with Paul was clearly the memorable "guest" performance in this set.

5. Eric Clapton - Great set, and probably would be higher if it was longer. Great song choice going deep into his catalog with Nobody Knows and Gotta Get Better. Showed his licks. Put on a great show. The one set I'd say needed to be longer.

6. Bon Jovi - Not the biggest fan of theirs, but they know how to put on a show. Crowd really into it. Solid appearance by Bruce.

7. Chris Martin - Michael Stipe was a great guest appearance. I am not an REM fan, but Losing My Religion was one of the highlights of the night. Especially liked Chris saying something like - "this is really happening" - as they are starting the song. Nothing like getting one of you (apparent) heroes to come up and sing with you. One of the top guests of the night. The other 2 songs were ok, but quite frankly, placing him above the Stones and Keys solely on this.

8. Rolling Stones - I guess this set could have been longer, too. 2 songs? Entertaining, but weird song choice. Glad they showed up. Mick's haircut was distracting. Ron and Keith sounded good. They were good, as always, but the shortness with no real terrific highlights or surprises (I mean - they couldn't get Alicia to help them out on Shelter?) costs them a notch.

9. Adam Sandler/Paul Schaeffer - had to slip them in. Loved it. I'm sure some folks didn't, but it was the funniest appearance of the night. And, who isn't glad that Sanchez's Butt Fumble now lives on in infamy?!!!! Sandy, screw ya!!!!!! (Also glad for the Isiah Thomas reference - hoping the fact that he allowed someone to make fun of him on his stage means Dolan is finally over his man crush).

10. Alicia Keys - Ok. Mellow. She has a terrific voice, but nothing special otherwise. Could not see sitting through an hour of her based on this. Not including the closing here which was spot on perfect from song choice to her performance. Maybe, she knew she was saving the best for last. If you want to include that as part of her set, move her up above Bon Jovi.

11. Bruce - sorry. Full disclosure - I don't like him. But, I did try. I stood through the entire performance. The best part was JBJ coming out. How NJ has adopted Bruce as their favorite with JBJ playing 2nd fiddle is beyond me. Bon Jovi's own set blew this away and his guest appearance was the most entertaining part of the performance (and the very brief People Get Ready). This is my impression of Bruce - growl, say something like balls, growl, Jersey Shore, growl, end song, 1, 2, 3 - restart song for a reprise!!!! Jersey Shore. Good god. His band should lose him. They were great when they were allowed to "breath." And maybe it was just me, but he really only had half the crowd into it (despite the place being filled the entire time) until JBJ came out for Born to Run. He placed himself perfectly in the line-up, as he was long forgotten by the time Waters hit his 3rd note.














If there were more space, I'd add it, but there's not enough to bottom out:

7,326. Kanye West - the wtf? was that performance of the year. Hopefully, they achieved their goal of getting some donations they would not have otherwise. A leather skirt with leather leggings and sweatshirt cut down the sides? Let's just move on. (one other funny note to add, though - on the bid site for items his "game worn" sweatshirt is on the block - until last night it was the only thing there was no bid on. The original minimum bid was $3,000 - similar to Bruce's "game worn" shirt. - Last night a bid finally appeared at the $1,000 level they lowered the minimum to. Why do I have a feeling the bidder is Kim? ).

Best Guest appearances:
1. Alicia Keys with Paul
2. EV with Waters
3. Stipe with Martin

Best NY performers:
1. Billy Joel
2. Alicia Keys with Paul finale
3. The Crowd (knew we were into it, when we picked up on the countdown before the start of the show. Assume they did that for TV. It was kind of cool.)

Best NJ performers:
1. Bon Jovi
2. Jon Stewart
3. Bruce

Best Lines (Paraphrased):
1. Mick - This is the biggest collection of old English musicians at the Garden. If it rains in London, you've gotta come help us.
2. Jon Stewart - This may be the greatest Hannukah show ever!
3. Adam Sandler - Sandy, screw ya!!!!!
4. Chris Martin - this is really happening (probably what Ed was thinking).
5. Jon Stewart - When Roger Waters was out here, how many of you remembered where you hid your pot in 9th grade?
EDIT: 6. Pete Townshend - Have a fuckin' beer (I'm ashamed I forgot to put this in originally).


I'm sure I'll get a lot of disagreement, especially on Bruce. Just one man's opinion (And being 11th on THAT list ain't bad.)

So....Paul McCartney played Blackbird. It was a good night.

I had zero expectation that Vedder would have his own set, so I wasn't dissappointed about that. Was a little distracted during the Who set when Eddie was not being brought. But I gotta over it.

Get_Right wrote:

My first chance to comment on the show.

Waters cant even sing anymore he talks the lyrics. He looked like such a tool pounding his chest, waving his arms etc.

So much potential for vedder to sit in with the who or the stones or gasp, grohl and novoselic-that would have been something.

I was so disappointed with comfortably numb it was not very good IMHO.

I thought Billy Joel, McCartney and the Who killed it. The Chris martin stipe thing was cool, but stipe was flat.

Seeing all those acts in one place must have been very cool, but it seems clear to me that the show was more about getting names on stage, which is all good because it was for charity.

But I cant help thinking how great it is when Eddie and Pete are on stage together.

I thought Comfortably Numb was really good, but it wasn't because of Roger Water's singing, but, rather, the feeling that Eddie put into it vocally, and both of them put into it in terms of vibe; they had a great chemistry on stage, and that's what I zeroed in on. But I do agree about Water's singing. He wasn't really singing so much as talking, and that did strike me as strange (came off a little like he wasn't trying). It kind of took the passion out of the lyrics. I was happy when Ed took over, who always has passion in his singing. But Waters still had an impressive presence on stage, which is also a talent of Eddie's, and that really made it a special moment IMO.

Get_Right wrote:

PJ_Soul wrote:

I thought Comfortably Numb was really good, but it wasn't because of Roger Water's singing, but, rather, the feeling that Eddie put into it vocally, and both of them put into it in terms of vibe; they had a great chemistry on stage, and that's what I zeroed in on. But I do agree about Water's singing. He wasn't really singing so much as talking, and that did strike me as strange (came off a little like he wasn't trying). It kind of took the passion out of the lyrics. I was happy when Ed took over, who always has passion in his singing. But Waters still had an impressive presence on stage, which is also a talent of Eddie's, and that really made it a special moment IMO.

It was a special moment because they were on stage together. But that is about it. This second coming of waters is a joke IMHO. I thought Ed looked awkward and the whole thing looked uncomfortable right up to hug at the end. What a shame Ed couldn't spread his wings a bit or speak a few words. Kudos to Ed for showing up, giving his all and letting waters have the spotlight.

Maybe I have just been spoiled by all the truly great performances Ed has done with other artists. Ed was billed as a performer and that number with waters felt like a bait and switch.

Well, fair enough. I didn't find it awkward personally, and I found the hug quire genuine and sweet, but not everyone feels the same about shit! I do agree that Waters should give it up. I mean, I went and saw Pink Floyd in '94 for that Division Bell tour, and even then, nearly 20 years ago, I thought he should probably throw in the towel!
Totally agree that it would have been nice if Ed could have "spread his wings" for this one, but it was a successful concert that raised tons, so no harm no foul!

JOEJOEJOE wrote:

PJ_Soul wrote:

Get_Right wrote:

It was a special moment because they were on stage together. But that is about it. This second coming of waters is a joke IMHO. I thought Ed looked awkward and the whole thing looked uncomfortable right up to hug at the end. What a shame Ed couldn't spread his wings a bit or speak a few words. Kudos to Ed for showing up, giving his all and letting waters have the spotlight.

Maybe I have just been spoiled by all the truly great performances Ed has done with other artists. Ed was billed as a performer and that number with waters felt like a bait and switch.

Well, fair enough. I didn't find it awkward personally, and I found the hug quire genuine and sweet, but not everyone feels the same about shit! I do agree that Waters should give it up. I mean, I went and saw Pink Floyd in '94 for that Division Bell tour, and even then, nearly 20 years ago, I thought he should probably throw in the towel!
Totally agree that it would have been nice if Ed could have "spread his wings" for this one, but it was a successful concert that raised tons, so no harm no foul!

Roger Waters quit Pink Floyd after "The Final Cut" in 1985...he wasn't part of the 1994 tour!
:?

Oh yeah. Long time ago. I forgot. Never mind that shitty Division Bell album then - not Water's fault.

This concert was so much more than a "concert". It was an outpouring of support for a catastrophic situation.The vibe inside the Garden was like a gathering of lottery winners with everyone sharing the story of how they scored a ticket. I am 49 and felt very young at this gig as the median age looked to be 63.

Eddie put his special vocal imprint on this event in the short time he was on stage. Watching Ed walk to the right side of the Garden stage, stop, look around like he always does and then raise his fists in a victory stance was priceless.

Bruce, Roger/Ed, Clapton, The Stones, The Who and McCartney were highlights for me. Very happy to have
scored a ticket. Well worth the Benny I gave up to be there.

Many Thanks to Suzie May for making this night happen for me.

Regards, Andrew

Adam Sandler is funny now? Roger Waters is terrible? Bruce has a bad vibe? Thumbing my way should have been played instead of Helter Skelter? These are things I have read and it appalls me. Considering most of us cream our shorts over one song on a setlist that PJ plays a as a band, we are griping that Ed did not play more. Really? Listen to Comfortably Numb again and tell me you would rather hear 4 songs off of Into the Wild (though they may be better), than that..... It was a great night and appreciate.