Now that was a fucking show
I’ve just come from watching the Vote For Change tour finale as broadcast by Sundance in a special six-hour (!) presentation. Oh my god. You guys know that there wasn’t an a musican on that stage who would make it on any list of my favorites–I’m Mr. Pet Shop Boys, for crying out loud. So listen to me when I tell you: Oh my god. By and large, that was one of the bext concerts I have ever seen (on TV) in my life.
Meanwhile, outside the hall, according to the Washington Post story linked above…
“The D.C. chapter of the pro-Bush organization Free Republic, led by Kristinn Taylor, waved signs that read “Saddam-Aid 2004,” “Tunes for Terrorists” and “Shut Up and Sing.”
Ah, the vigilant, informed public. But enough about them. Highlights from where I was sitting included R.E.M., though I don’t quite understand why some people were bopping along to “Losing My Religion” like it was “Shiny Happy People.” I love “Losing,” but it’s not one I’d even do the businessman’s bounce to. Of course to me it’s forever associated with Ginger’s wedding. That may have something to do with it. And it’s not like no one’s ever misinterpreted an R.E.M. song before–witness the many people who still think “The One I Love” is a love song. Bruce Springsteen came out and joined them for a killer version of “Man on the Moon.”
Of course, it wasn’t all joy–I still have no use for Pearl Jam and less for the Dave Matthews Band. But James Taylor–who I generally find too loose for my tastes–was pumped up considerably when he invited the Dixie Chicks on stage to sing a couple numbers. After backing him on a couple of his best known (meaning even I’d heard of them) songs, they were left to do a couple on their own. You know, since “the incident” I’ve joked that the Chicks were my favorite band of whose I couldn’t name a single song or sing a note. I may have to correct that. Natalie Maines can sing.
And then Bruce opened his set with this jingling, steel-string guitar version of the national anthem, and as the last note was dying away, you heard the beat come down, and the synth riff start: Born…in the USA…Born…in the USA…
Now that’s an opening. It didn’t even matter that his voice didn’t seem to be at it’s strongest. Showmanship carried the day (and, oh yeah, the band was kinda good too).
John Fogerty came on–amazing how distinctive that voice still is–to do his new song “Deja Vu,” (which needs a better chorus) and his old song “Fortunate Son,” which kicked ass. Michael Stipe came out to sing “Because the Night” with Springsteen, and was openly ecstatic to be on the same stage with him.
And then the big finale was all the acts coming on for one big group sing-along, and just as you were wondering what song they could possibly do to encompass all of this, the words came ringing out:
“As I walk through…this wicked world…”
Well, of course.
With luck, this’ll be rebroadcast so those of you who missed it can see it, or released on CD or DVD (all proceeds going to charity, natch). It needs to be seen, appreciated, and heard.
