Contemplating that Conan O’Brien made a reputation for himself by subverting TV comedy tropes within the ‘90s, individuals have been prepared for one thing bizarre when the comic kicked off the eighth annual Love Rocks NYC profit live performance at Manhattan’s Beacon Theatre on Thursday (March 7). But it surely’s protected to say few individuals anticipated him to seize a guitar and ship a full rock band efficiency of Elvis Presley’s ultimate Scorching 100 No. 1, “Suspicious Minds” – and actually, he killed it. He hammed it up on the bridge, however the ginger big delivered a largely straight-faced tackle the tune and proved he’s acquired a stable set of pipes. You may not flip a crimson chair for him on The Voice, however he’s ok to be a ringer at a karaoke bar (plus, it’s enjoyable to see that orange pompadour undulating as he headbangs).
That was one of many many surprising delights at Love Rocks NYC, a fundraising present for the New York Metropolis nonprofit God’s Love We Ship, which hand delivers 10,000 medically tailor-made meals to New Yorkers dwelling with HIV/AIDS, most cancers and different critical diseases each weekday. It’s an inarguably improbable trigger, and everybody concerned – rock royalty, comedy legends and rising skills – introduced their A-game to the Beacon Theatre.
Eagles’ Don Felder performed “Resort California” on his signature double-neck guitar; Dave Grohl rocked out “Everlong”; Hozier belted “Take Me to Church”; Nile Rodgers introduced the “Good Instances”; and the Black Keys trotted out “Lonely Boy.”
Even so, many of the standout moments got here courtesy of artists banding collectively for surprising covers. As an example, who knew that Prince’s “Let’s Go Loopy” wanted a trombone solo? However when Trombone Shorty, Joss Stone and Ivan Neville teamed as much as cowl the late, nice Purple One, it introduced a recent New Orleans taste to the Minneapolis sound. Talking of Stone, the British soul singer had jaws on the ground with a fervent cowl of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Obtained to Do With It,” which had Tracy Morgan dancing facet stage, arms within the air. Other than Morgan and O’Brien, Martin Quick, Invoice Murray and Jim Gaffigan saved the night time transferring between units, managing to make “donate now!” exhortations funnier than they need to be. (Quick’s quip that it’s a “rule of present enterprise” to by no means ask Nick Cannon what he’s doing on Father’s Day was a chef’s-kiss second.)
“Love Rocks is its personal factor. We designed this live performance to really feel like an actual rock n’ roll live performance. Whereas we do a text-to-give and message the charity all through the present, we by no means needed this to really feel like a profit or a gala. We do nearly all of the fundraising previous to the present, in order that when individuals come to the live performance it’s all in regards to the music and leisure,” Love Rocks NYC co-executive producer Greg Williamson tells Billboard. “And for the artists it’s a very particular expertise the place they get to see their buddies and have a reunion with so many fellow artists that they love and respect. It’s a real lovefest and Love actually does rock.”
It was a testomony to the standard of the lineup (to not point out the flawless home band led by Will Lee) that the four-hour affair flew by. Bettye LaVette introduced soul and perspective to a canopy of Bob Dylan’s “Issues Have Modified”; Tom Morello steered a sing-along to Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land,” full with the oft-excised verse about hungry individuals ready for aid; The Struts’ Luke Spiller led a crowd-pleasing tackle Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”; and Allison Russell and Hozier traded vocals on a model of Stevie Surprise’s “Residing for the Metropolis” that was so good one hopes they file a studio model.
The night closed with an all-star jam to David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance,” led by the Stylish frontman who co-produced the Scorching 100 No. 1 for the Skinny White Duke – with Grohl on the drums, no much less. “Is it attainable that your entire night was a favourite second?” asks Love Rocks NYC co-executive producer Nicole Rechter. “Love Rocks 2024 was riveting from the opening act with Conan to the finale with Dave Grohl on drums. The night time by no means let up with extraordinary performances from all of the artists and comedians.”
Identical to God’s Love We Ship feeds 1000’s of New Yorkers in want day-after-day, the viewers on the 2024 Love Rocks NYC present left the Beacon Theatre nicely fed – and prepared for the following one.
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