Jersey boy Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band got 12.12.12: The Concert for Sandy Relief off to a rollicking start Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden with a poignant opening set that included "Land of Hopes and Dreams," "Wrecking Ball" and "My City of Ruins."
The concert donated 100 percent of its proceeds to the Robin Hood Relief Fund, a large-scale relief effort launched specifically to aid people in the tri-state area whose lives were impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The concert was telecast commercial-free on 37 television networks in the U.S., as well as on radio stations and streaming sites around the country and...read more
After last week's dismal performances, I feared that rock really was dead. Fortunately, last night's show kick-started my heart and renewed my faith in the singers, who finally have me believing that one of them can front INXS. Still, they're not there yet. As another Australian band once sang, it's a long way to the top if they want to rock and roll. Here's the recap:
Jordis: This dreadlocked damsel was clearly not in distress. Au contraire, she totally took control and made the shopworn "Gimme Some Lovin'" sound fresher than it has on classic-rock radio in years. Suzie: While her stage presence during Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" might not have had Stevie wishing he could see Suzie Q's performance for himself, she did hit the notes, both with her voice and with her harmonica. Sure, she didn't invoke John Popper, or even Elwood Blues, but she knew how to handle her harp. Jessica: Her most subdued — and clothed — peread more