The first annual Love Rocks NYC—“A Change is Gonna Come,” a benefit concert “celebrating songs of peace, love and hope,” took place at New York’s Beacon Theater last night (March 9). The sold-out event was hosted by designer John Varvatos and real estate exec Greg Williamson.
All proceeds from the four-hour all-star concert will benefit God’s Love We Deliver, which will cook and home-deliver over 1.6 million nutritious meals this year to New Yorkers in need, and living with severe illness. Begun as an HIV/AIDS service organization in 1985, today God’s Love We Deliver serves people living with 200 different diagnoses. God’s Love is a non-sectarian organization.
Among those who made appearances during the course of the evening were Bruce Willis, Amy Helm, Jackie Greene, Mavis Staples, Keb Mo, Tash Neal, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Anthony Hamilton, Catherine Russell, Cece Winans, Gary Clark Jr., William Bell, Warren Haynes, Marcus King, Marc Cohn, Patty Smyth, John McEnroe, Michael McDonald, Sam Moore, Joe Walsh, Lisa Fischer, Bill Murray, Jackson Browne, Blind Boys Of Alabama, Aaron Neville, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and Dr. John.
The house band included musical director Will Lee (The CBS Orchestra), plus Paul Shaffer (The CBS Orchestra), Steve Gadd (James Taylor, Eric Clapton), Shawn Pelton (Saturday Night Live), Eric Krasno (Soulive, Phil Lesh & Friends), Larry Campbell (Levon Helm, Bob Dylan) and Jeff Young (Jackson Browne).
Related: The first major rock benefit event in NYC was George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh
Among the highlights was Allman Brothers Band alumni Trucks and Haynes, joined by Susan Tedeschi, performing “Space Captain” (watch the video below).
Dr. John sang “Such a Night”
And here is Jackson Browne performing “Running on Empty” at the Love Rocks NYC concert
Tedeschi and Trucks doing “Turn on Your Lovelight”
Here are Joe Walsh and Sam Moore performing Sam and Dave’s “Soul Man”
And finally, Mavis Staples brings down the house with her take on the Staple Singers’ hit “I’ll Take You There”
Set List
Bruce Willis, “Tenth Avenue Tango”
Amy Helm and Jackie Greene, “Yes We Can”
Mavis Staples and Amy Helm, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”
Mavis Staples, “I’ll Take You There”
Keb Mo, “In My Life”
Keb Mo, Tash Neal and Billy Gibbons, “The Thrill is Gone”
Anthony Hamilton and Catherine Russell, “Night Time Is the Right Time”
CeCe Winans, “Hey Devil”
Gary Clark Jr. and William Bell, “Born Under a Bad Sign”
Warren Haynes, “Soulshine”
Warren Haynes, Marcus King and Bruce Willis, “Bring It On Home”
Marc Cohn, “Crazy Love”
Patty Smythe, John McEnroe, “Whole Lotta Love”
Michael McDonald, Catherine Russell, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
Sam Moore, Joe Walsh and Bruce Willis, “Soul Man”
Lisa Fischer, “Gimme Shelter”
Gary Clark Jr. and band, “The Healing”
Gary Clark Jr. and band, “When My Train Pulls In”
Jackson Browne, “Runnin’ on Empty”
Jackson Browne, Michael McDonald and Blind Boys of Alabama, “I Shall Be Released”
Blind Boys of Alabama, Aaron Neville, “People Get Ready”
Aaron Neville, “A Change Is Gonna Come”
Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, “Loving You is Sweeter”
Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes, “Space Captain”
Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Sam Moore and Jackie Greene, “Lovelight”
Will Lee and Billy Gibbons, “Get Out of My Life Woman”
Billy Gibbons, “La Grange”
Joe Walsh, “Life’s Been Good”
Dr. John, “Such a Night”
Ensemble, “With a Little Help From My Friends”
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1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationWow I wish I could have afforded to be there. So many greats under one roof and at four hours long..that’s the way to do it right. Jeez what a backing band too..Will Lee, Steve Gadd and Kraz along with Paul Schaefer..doesn’t get much better than that! They probably could have sold out MSG with that lineup but the Beacon is Def the better place to witness all that. Incredible set list!