It's been one or two weeks since the event, so I decided it was time to write up a quick, personal review for this thing before it doesn't concern anyone anymore.
Saturday, 4 April 2009, Radio City Music Hall in New York City
Change Begins Within
Headlining the evening: Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr of The Beatles
Along with:
Moby
Bettye LaVette
Sheryl Crow
Ben Harper
Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam
Jim James
Donovan
Paul Horn
Hosting the event: David Lynch and actress Laura Dern
With appearances by:
Jerry Seinfeld
Mike Love of The Beach Boys
Howard Stern
and some other crazy people of Lynch's.
Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison were also in the audience.
The concert was actually a benefit for the David Lynch Foundation, which sets out to bring Transcendental Meditation to 'at-risk children' of the world (I know). Obviously most people for the night were there for the two fabs, but we were able to raise $3 million for the foundation.
My seat was pretty good considering the attention towards the event (I was told they were sold out in less than a minute on Ticketmaster, the guy in front of me at the show even claimed they were sold out in 7 seconds). I sat on the 1st Mezzanine, in the fourth row on an end seat (which I was initially worried about, but it actually happened that the viewing was better there). This was my second time seeing Ringo, and my first time for all the others, so I had butterflies floating in my stomach while I sat and waited for the curtain to go up for about 1 1/2 hours. Only in my wildest dreams would I imagine that I'd see two Beatles in concert (at the same time), as well as Donovan (thought that day would never come!)...
Lynch came out immediately, said something about wind and water, then introduced a piano player (whose name I forgot, sorry), and after two songs, Bettye LaVette came out with Moby. I've grown up hating Moby (don't ask why), but he was actually quite pleasant. And I didn't know who LaVette was, but the last song she sang (
Close As I'll Get to Heaven) was sung with so much passion she was in tears, I believe. She meant every word she said, I loved it.
Not a fan of Crow, but she did a cover of George Harrison'sMy Sweet Lord, and I think I shed a teensy tear! I would have rather seen George down there, but when the song started out, I just pretended it was him, rather than Sheryl. (:
Now somewhere in here we were given a 'Change Begins Within' propaganda film to watch, and I believe this is where Jerry Seinfeld came out! I was surprised, because I didn't expect him to be there, but he was great. He didn't speak much of TM, so that was a relief, he just did some stand-up or whatever you call it, I don't know. I'm actually not a fan of him, but he's actually quite hilarious. He said stuff about movie theatres and public restrooms and psycho wives/girlfriends, I prob peed in my pants just a lil bit.
Then the music resumed with Eddie Vedder, who first told a story about how he used to work at a movie rental (I believe?), and he'd sit and watch Eraserhead all day, everyday, then drive home and start seeing stuff, I don't know but it was amusing, whatever he said. So Eddie finished up his set, along with Ben Harper who joined in with him for one of my favorite performances of the night: Under Pressure!!!! So righteous. When the song started out, some idiots started laughing 'cause they thought it wasIce Ice Baby.
Then, at some point, Mike Love came out, and I was all whaaaaaaaaa!!!!! I can't remember what he was talking about, because I think I was still just a little shocked that he was there, but I'm sure it was something along the lines of: "TM has saved my life and so many others' *holds applause* *starts tearing up*, and now it's time to save the children". Lynch and Dern seemed in a daze all night long, especially when doing some question and answer thing, which was just weird. Not to knock 'em, though, 'cause I like them both, but the cause just seems a bit silly to me. I prevented myself from the eyes rolling, though, I promise.
Finally, Donovan came out (after a weird TM-inspired introduction video) with his hair this-way-and-that, sporting some groovy purple shirt! He sangHurdy Gurdy Man with Jim James, which was simply great. I like the guy's voice better now than it was way back when. Then he sang Wear Your Love Like Heaven and Season Of The Witch (!!), and danced around the stage with Sheryl Crow for a little while. Finally, Paul Horn came out and joined Donovan on the flute for Isle Of Islay. I wished he would have done a few more songs, especially Atlantis, but I understand that there were so many guests, and so many propaganda/brainwashing videos to watch in a limited amount of time.
At this point, I believe Lynch spoke a bit more, and Howard Stern (still don't like, sorry!) chose to talk about his mother's experience with TM.
Then, much to the crowd's pleasure, Ringo came out, flashin' peace signs this way and that. He looked a lot happier than the last time I saw him... he was probably tired from touring around, and he had just released a grumpy video on his website stating NO MORE AUTOGRAPHS (warning you with peace and love, of course). Of course, he is always charismatic onstage, crackin' jokes and runnin' around. I love hearing that Liverpudlian talk. I think at one point he said something about "playin' on me drums", lol, I laughed. He only played three songs in his set, alone:It Don't Come Easy, Boys (on drums!), and Yellow Submarine. But EVERYONE was up, clapping, singing for Yellow Submarine, even the big, scary black lady/usher. And it realllyyy got me (and everyone else, I'm sure) ready for Paul.
Of course, David Lynch had to make us wait and listen to some physicist (or something) blab about TM for awhile. I'm sure that guy was talkin' as fast as he could. It looked like he couldn't wait to get off the stage, lol. Then there was a long Beatles video to get us pumped up...
And finally, Paul came out to woos, and oohs, and claps, and whistles, and, of course, the good old-fashioned screamers (I was one of them, I admit... I don't know what came over me... oh wait, a Beatle). He opened with Drive My Car (with his Hofner and in a class suit!) which was great, 'cause I didn't expect that one. Then there was Jet, Got to Get You Into My Life, then I remember he said something about hitting people with his big stick, then Let It Be on piano. He sounded really good, actually. In fact, I heard some real great McCartney grunts and growls in the songs that I really appreciated, he's still got it. After Let It Be, he sang Lady Madonna, which I've never fancied for some reason, but I was on my feet the whole time, anyway. But then Sir Paul grabbed the acoustic for Blackbird, which was quite pleasant.
Then came the point when Paul gets a little misty-eyed and he singsHere Today for John. I don't think he really teared up this time (maybe, wasn't close enough), but he heaved a great sigh when the song finished. I was glad he played it, though, it made me sad because John should have been there, but then it made me smile, too. He played another Wings tune, Band on the Run, and finally, my [second] favorite song of the night-- Can't Buy Me Love!! A small case of Beatlemania (see below) broke out through me for this one, and a lot of the crowd, as well. And, of course, at this point my camera ran out of batteries, but it's okay, I grooved on, anyway.
After that one, Paul introduced "Billy Shears" (!!) for With a Little Help From My Friends. That is just, wow. Wow... how cool. Paul and Ringo looked so cute together, I can't even tell you. Then Paul and Ringo left the stage for... I dunno, 5 minutes? Until they came back for the encore (along with most of the other performers), joining in for Cosmically Conscious. And finally, the moment I, personally, had been waiting for even longer than I had been at the show. Anyone who really knows me KNOWS that my lifelong wish had been to see I Saw Her Standing There performed live before I turned 18. It's really, really cheesy, but all I wanted to hear was she was just seventeen, you know what I mean... it's a long story, I'll save it.
ANYWAY, so as you may guess, the final song of the evening was I Saw Her Standing There, and I just about went insane. (: Everyone was up and grooving for this one, too. wowowowowowoowowoowowoowoww, that's all I will say. And I went crazy nuts and waved like a maniac to Paul and Ringo as everyone was taking their bows and whatnot, and I'm pretty absolutely positively sure that Paul saw me and waved back. (; Probably love at first sight, too, but I'm just not looking for a relationship right now, you know.
And I've just realized how incredibly long this is, and how boring it would be to read. I really do apologize if you have read it, I'm not the best concert-reviewer. I guess I just write this stuff down for my own personal benefit? Not sure. It was just a great night. And I'm so thankful to have been there and experienced this, it's nearly overwhelming to even think about. Sorry I couldn't do the show any justice. I'm hoping they'll release a DVD or televise it soon... I mean, they were taping, so...
Kay, so, now all I need to see are John and George.
David Bowie Queen Freddie Mercury Vanilla Ice John Lennon
P.S. Sorry for errors of any kind, especially in tagging... I don't know what the heck is goin' on there. And decided not to post the setlist, 'cause it's too large, but if you're curious:
http://mog.com/blog_post/content/723/1268385
Saturday, 4 April 2009, Radio City Music Hall in New York City
Change Begins Within
Headlining the evening: Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr of The Beatles
Along with:
Moby
Bettye LaVette
Sheryl Crow
Ben Harper
Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam
Jim James
Donovan
Paul Horn
Hosting the event: David Lynch and actress Laura Dern
With appearances by:
Jerry Seinfeld
Mike Love of The Beach Boys
Howard Stern
and some other crazy people of Lynch's.
Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison were also in the audience.
The concert was actually a benefit for the David Lynch Foundation, which sets out to bring Transcendental Meditation to 'at-risk children' of the world (I know). Obviously most people for the night were there for the two fabs, but we were able to raise $3 million for the foundation.
My seat was pretty good considering the attention towards the event (I was told they were sold out in less than a minute on Ticketmaster, the guy in front of me at the show even claimed they were sold out in 7 seconds). I sat on the 1st Mezzanine, in the fourth row on an end seat (which I was initially worried about, but it actually happened that the viewing was better there). This was my second time seeing Ringo, and my first time for all the others, so I had butterflies floating in my stomach while I sat and waited for the curtain to go up for about 1 1/2 hours. Only in my wildest dreams would I imagine that I'd see two Beatles in concert (at the same time), as well as Donovan (thought that day would never come!)...
Lynch came out immediately, said something about wind and water, then introduced a piano player (whose name I forgot, sorry), and after two songs, Bettye LaVette came out with Moby. I've grown up hating Moby (don't ask why), but he was actually quite pleasant. And I didn't know who LaVette was, but the last song she sang (
Close As I'll Get to Heaven) was sung with so much passion she was in tears, I believe. She meant every word she said, I loved it.Not a fan of Crow, but she did a cover of George Harrison's
My Sweet Lord, and I think I shed a teensy tear! I would have rather seen George down there, but when the song started out, I just pretended it was him, rather than Sheryl. (:Now somewhere in here we were given a 'Change Begins Within' propaganda film to watch, and I believe this is where Jerry Seinfeld came out! I was surprised, because I didn't expect him to be there, but he was great. He didn't speak much of TM, so that was a relief, he just did some stand-up or whatever you call it, I don't know. I'm actually not a fan of him, but he's actually quite hilarious. He said stuff about movie theatres and public restrooms and psycho wives/girlfriends, I prob peed in my pants just a lil bit.
Then the music resumed with Eddie Vedder, who first told a story about how he used to work at a movie rental (I believe?), and he'd sit and watch Eraserhead all day, everyday, then drive home and start seeing stuff, I don't know but it was amusing, whatever he said. So Eddie finished up his set, along with Ben Harper who joined in with him for one of my favorite performances of the night: Under Pressure!!!! So righteous. When the song started out, some idiots started laughing 'cause they thought it was
Ice Ice Baby.Then, at some point, Mike Love came out, and I was all whaaaaaaaaa!!!!! I can't remember what he was talking about, because I think I was still just a little shocked that he was there, but I'm sure it was something along the lines of: "TM has saved my life and so many others' *holds applause* *starts tearing up*, and now it's time to save the children". Lynch and Dern seemed in a daze all night long, especially when doing some question and answer thing, which was just weird. Not to knock 'em, though, 'cause I like them both, but the cause just seems a bit silly to me. I prevented myself from the eyes rolling, though, I promise.
Finally, Donovan came out (after a weird TM-inspired introduction video) with his hair this-way-and-that, sporting some groovy purple shirt! He sang
Hurdy Gurdy Man with Jim James, which was simply great. I like the guy's voice better now than it was way back when. Then he sang Wear Your Love Like Heaven and Season Of The Witch (!!), and danced around the stage with Sheryl Crow for a little while. Finally, Paul Horn came out and joined Donovan on the flute for Isle Of Islay. I wished he would have done a few more songs, especially Atlantis, but I understand that there were so many guests, and so many propaganda/brainwashing videos to watch in a limited amount of time.At this point, I believe Lynch spoke a bit more, and Howard Stern (still don't like, sorry!) chose to talk about his mother's experience with TM.
Then, much to the crowd's pleasure, Ringo came out, flashin' peace signs this way and that. He looked a lot happier than the last time I saw him... he was probably tired from touring around, and he had just released a grumpy video on his website stating NO MORE AUTOGRAPHS (warning you with peace and love, of course). Of course, he is always charismatic onstage, crackin' jokes and runnin' around. I love hearing that Liverpudlian talk. I think at one point he said something about "playin' on me drums", lol, I laughed. He only played three songs in his set, alone:
It Don't Come Easy, Boys (on drums!), and Yellow Submarine. But EVERYONE was up, clapping, singing for Yellow Submarine, even the big, scary black lady/usher. And it realllyyy got me (and everyone else, I'm sure) ready for Paul.Of course, David Lynch had to make us wait and listen to some physicist (or something) blab about TM for awhile. I'm sure that guy was talkin' as fast as he could. It looked like he couldn't wait to get off the stage, lol. Then there was a long Beatles video to get us pumped up...
And finally, Paul came out to woos, and oohs, and claps, and whistles, and, of course, the good old-fashioned screamers (I was one of them, I admit... I don't know what came over me... oh wait, a Beatle). He opened with Drive My Car (with his Hofner and in a class suit!) which was great, 'cause I didn't expect that one. Then there was Jet, Got to Get You Into My Life, then I remember he said something about hitting people with his big stick, then Let It Be on piano. He sounded really good, actually. In fact, I heard some real great McCartney grunts and growls in the songs that I really appreciated, he's still got it. After Let It Be, he sang Lady Madonna, which I've never fancied for some reason, but I was on my feet the whole time, anyway. But then Sir Paul grabbed the acoustic for Blackbird, which was quite pleasant.
Then came the point when Paul gets a little misty-eyed and he sings
Here Today for John. I don't think he really teared up this time (maybe, wasn't close enough), but he heaved a great sigh when the song finished. I was glad he played it, though, it made me sad because John should have been there, but then it made me smile, too. He played another Wings tune, Band on the Run, and finally, my [second] favorite song of the night-- Can't Buy Me Love!! A small case of Beatlemania (see below) broke out through me for this one, and a lot of the crowd, as well. And, of course, at this point my camera ran out of batteries, but it's okay, I grooved on, anyway.After that one, Paul introduced "Billy Shears" (!!) for With a Little Help From My Friends. That is just, wow. Wow... how cool. Paul and Ringo looked so cute together, I can't even tell you. Then Paul and Ringo left the stage for... I dunno, 5 minutes? Until they came back for the encore (along with most of the other performers), joining in for Cosmically Conscious. And finally, the moment I, personally, had been waiting for even longer than I had been at the show. Anyone who really knows me KNOWS that my lifelong wish had been to see I Saw Her Standing There performed live before I turned 18. It's really, really cheesy, but all I wanted to hear was she was just seventeen, you know what I mean... it's a long story, I'll save it.
ANYWAY, so as you may guess, the final song of the evening was I Saw Her Standing There, and I just about went insane. (: Everyone was up and grooving for this one, too. wowowowowowoowowoowowoowoww, that's all I will say. And I went crazy nuts and waved like a maniac to Paul and Ringo as everyone was taking their bows and whatnot, and I'm pretty absolutely positively sure that Paul saw me and waved back. (; Probably love at first sight, too, but I'm just not looking for a relationship right now, you know.
And I've just realized how incredibly long this is, and how boring it would be to read. I really do apologize if you have read it, I'm not the best concert-reviewer. I guess I just write this stuff down for my own personal benefit? Not sure. It was just a great night. And I'm so thankful to have been there and experienced this, it's nearly overwhelming to even think about. Sorry I couldn't do the show any justice. I'm hoping they'll release a DVD or televise it soon... I mean, they were taping, so...
Kay, so, now all I need to see are John and George.
David Bowie Queen Freddie Mercury Vanilla Ice John Lennon
P.S. Sorry for errors of any kind, especially in tagging... I don't know what the heck is goin' on there. And decided not to post the setlist, 'cause it's too large, but if you're curious:
http://mog.com/blog_post/content/723/1268385
