Bridge School Benefit Concert Memories: Paul McCartney and Neil Young - 2004

Paul McCartney and Neil Young
"Only Love Can Break Your Heart"
Bridge School Benefit Concert - October 23, 2004
Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, CA
Photo by Kim Komenich of San Francisco Chronicle
Recently, we posted the sad news that there will be No Bridge School Benefit Concert in 2017 .

In memory of all of the Bridge School Benefit Concerts we've attended over the years, here's a posting of our thoughts on Remembering The Warmth & Love of Bridge School Concerts . So in memory of the 30 years of Bridge School Benefit Concerts, readers have been submitting favorite memories. Let us know a favorite Bridge School Benefit Concerts and we'll try and post.

While there have been some pretty amazing acts and collaborations since the first benefit in 1986, the year 2004 probably ranks right up there at the top of the scale of concert memories. The 2004 Bridge School Benefit Concert featured Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, Eddie Vedder, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tegan & Sara, Los Lonely Boys, Sonic Youth, and Ben Harper along with Neil Young.

The concert's finale with Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett and other musicians left many with literally tears in their eyes.

  "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"  Paul McCartney and Neil Young - October 23, 2004  
 Also, see:
 - Bridge School Benefit Concert Reviews, Photos, Videos, etc.
 - The Charitable Mr. Neil Young Keeps On Giving & Giving & Giving

More on 25th Anniversary 2011 Bridge School Benefit Concert.

Also, see previous Bridge School Benefit Concert Reviews.

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Bridge School Benefit Concert Memories: Leon Russell, Elton John & Neil Young on "Gone To Shiloh" - 2010

"Gone To Shiloh": Leon Russell, Elton John & Neil Young with Speaking Clock Revue at 2010 Bridge School Benefit Concert 10/24/10 on YouTube.
 

Recently, we posted the sad news that there will be No Bridge School Benefit Concert in 2017 .
 

In memory of all of the Bridge School Benefit Concerts we've attended over the years, here's a posting of our thoughts on Remembering The Warmth & Love of Bridge School Concerts . So in memory of the 30 years of Bridge School Benefit Concerts, readers have been submitting favorite memories. Let us know a favorite Bridge School Benefit Concerts and we'll try and post.

Also, see complete reports on 2010 Bridge School Benefit Concert (24th Annual) with reviews, photos, YouTube videos and commentary.

Also, see The Triumphant Reunion of The Buffalo Springfield, Pearl Jam and Neil Young @ 2010 Bridge School Benefit Concerts.

More on 2010 Bridge School Concert Highlights: Pro Shot Video on YouTube.

More on 25th Anniversary 2011 Bridge School Benefit Concert.

Also, see previous Bridge School Benefit Concert Reviews.

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Bridge School Benefit Concert Memories: R.E.M. & Neil Young on "Country Feedback" - 1998

Recently, we posted the sad news that there will be No Bridge School Benefit Concert in 2017 .

In memory of all of the Bridge School Benefit Concerts we've attended over the years, here's a posting of our thoughts on Remembering The Warmth & Love of Bridge School Concerts .

So in memory of the 30 years of Bridge School Benefit Concerts, readers have been submitting favorite memories. Let us know a favorite Bridge School Benefit Concerts and we'll try and post.

Here's a favorite memory we've highlighted before -- R.E.M. & Neil Young on "Country Feedback" from Bridge School Benefit in 1998.

This performance is -- without a doubt -- one of R.E.M's finest of one their most loved songs.

Which -- naturally -- would also make this one of our favorite tracks on the Bridge School Concert 25th Anniversary package set.

Also, one of our all time favorite Bridge moments occurs at about ~1:10. Watch it and feel the sheer awe of Michael Stipe as he takes in the moment.

Magic.

Breathless.

Michael said it best, "I need this, I need this!"

Neil Young's acoustic lead on the song is just so simply stunning in his most achingly acoustic, hauntingly-beautiful-spook-in-the-muse transcendence.

The DVD playing through the ol' hi-fi stereo at "11" is well... in the parlance of our times... just freakin' awesome.

Also, don't you just love the smile from Peter Buck. Then the way Neil gives Pete a nice quick hug right at the end. And how about Neil's beard from back then? Grizzly. :)

Here's the backstory on the video above from rollingstone.com by Gavin Edwards:

The personnel at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, on October 18th, 1998 were somewhat different: With Berry having left R.E.M., Joey Waronker was playing percussion and Ken Stringfellow handled bass, while Scott McCaughey (on piano) hid in the shadows, like Mills. Lurching around the stage in sneakers and a fedora, with a thick mountain-man beard, was Neil Young, soloing on acoustic guitar. Young lost himself in the song, spending long minutes exploring its bittersweet tang, and playing a chiming, melancholy solo. Slightly over four minutes on record, here the song stretched on for nine glorious minutes.

As "Country Feedback" began, Stipe sat down on the stage, gazing up at Young, absorbed in the mood he was creating, chewing on his knuckle. When he stood up, he poured his heart out until his voice cracked, holding notes until he appeared to be in physical pain. "It's a love song, but it's certainly from the uglier side," Stipe has said. "It's pretty much about having given up on a relationship."

R.E.M. greatly revered Neil Young: Their final album, 2011's Collapse into Now, included the song "Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando and I," which was more about Neil Young's "Pocahontas" than it was about Brando. "It's about me going to Neil Young for advice," Stipe said – not that he ever actually had, but he was confident that if he ever had to, Young would have stepped up to the occasion.

During this performance of "Country Feedback," Young gave the best advice possible. He didn't say a word or sing a note, but he played guitar with such authority that it seemed to provide moral clarity. By the end, lost in the music, Stipe could only shake his head.

Bridge School Concert 25th Anniversary package set.

More on 25th Anniversary 2011 Bridge School Benefit Concert.

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Bridge School Benefit Concert Memories: Dave Matthews, Tim Reynolds, and Neil Young - 2011

Recently, we posted the sad news that there will be No Bridge School Benefit Concert in 2017 .

In memory of all of the Bridge School Benefit Concerts we've attended over the years, here's a posting of our thoughts on Remembering The Warmth & Love of Bridge School Concerts .

So in memory of the 30 years of Bridge School Benefit Concerts, readers have been submitting favorite memories. Let us know a favorite Bridge School Benefit Concerts and we'll try and post.

From the 2011 Bridge School benefit show, Dave Matthews, Tim Reynolds, and Neil Young perform "Oh Susanna". (Thanks SONY!)



Also, see:

- Bridge School Benefit Concert Reviews, Photos, Videos, etc.

- The Charitable Mr. Neil Young Keeps On Giving & Giving & Giving

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Bridge School Benefit Concert Memories: Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir & Neil Young - 1988

Recently, we posted the sad news that there will be No Bridge School Benefit Concert in 2017 .

In memory of all of the Bridge School Benefit Concerts we've attended over the years, here's a posting of our thoughts on Remembering The Warmth & Love of Bridge School Concerts .

From the second annual Bridge School benefit show in Oakland, CA in 1988, Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir played a 4 song acoustic set. (Thanks Dan!)

Neil Young joins on harmonica and Rob Wasserman on bass.

Recorded Live: 12/4/1988 Oakland Coliseum Arena (Oakland, CA)

Setlist:
0:00:00 - Wang Dang Doodle
0:08:03 - Friend Of The Devil
0:14:03 - Throwing Stones
0:22:39 - Ripple



Also, see:

- Bridge School Benefit Concert Reviews, Photos, Videos, etc.

- The Charitable Mr. Neil Young Keeps On Giving & Giving & Giving

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