Mavis Staples led a rousing rendition of the Band’s “The Weight” on Thursday night with help from Elvis Costello, Hozier, and Warren Haynes at the Love Rocks NYC benefit concert. Each singer took turns at a verse, beginning with Haynes, then Staples and Hozier before Costello took Rick Danko’s “Crazy Chester” verse. The performance led to Staples’ rousing “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” at the end, one that left Hozier’s jaw dropped in awe.
The song was one of many highlights in a night filled with star-studded performances. Paul Simon, Mary J. Blige, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons (playing with John McEnroe), and the Goo Goo Dolls, among others, all performed, and comedians and actors including Whoopi Goldberg, Bill Murray, JB Smoove, and Juliane Moore made appearances. The event, which took place at New York’s Beacon Theatre, benefited God’s Love We Deliver, a New York nonprofit that prepares and home-delivers medically tailored meals for people affected by life-altering illnesses.
The evening began with Murray joining Jon Batiste and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for a rendition of “Second Line” (aka “Joe Avery’s Blues”) and “Iko Iko”; Murray also later sang a goofy rendition of “Werewolves of London,” getting the musicians backing him to howl during the choruses. Costello delivered a rousing “Pump It Up” and “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding,” while Linda Perry took on Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” and led the crowd in a singalong to 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up?” ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons performed “Sharp Dressed Man” with McEnroe on guitar and welcomed Joe Bonamassa to join him for a thrilling “Thrill Is Gone.”
The Goo Goo Dolls brought one of the concert’s emotional high point with “Iris,” which found lead singer John Rzeznik going into the crowd to sing the chorus with fans. Later, Jon Batiste and the Rolling Stones’ Steve Jordan performed Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” while Hozier doubled up with his “Take Me to Church” and a rendition of “Feelin’ Alright” with Nile Rodgers on guitar.
The final three acts of the night delivered the hits fans expected. Simon offered “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” “Still Crazy After All These Years,” and “The Boxer.” Blige delivered emphatic versions of “One” and “Family Affair,” and Rodgers and his band Chic performed “We Are Family” and welcomed Paul Shaffer to jam with them on “Good Times.” Everybody then reassembled onstage for a farewell performance of “With a Little Help From My Friends.”
When the event was announced, Greg Williamson, co-executive producer of Love Rocks NYC, reflected on what it meant to him to raise funds for a good cause via the benefit concert, which just celebrated its 10th year. “As a native New Yorker, it has been a privilege to create such a meaningful platform to raise both funds and awareness for an essential organization that supports our fellow New Yorkers,” he said.
