2009 Bridge School Benefit Concert Reviews

UPDATE - 10/29/09: Video Highlights of Bridge School Benefit Concerts - 2009 and Thoughts on Bridge School Benefit Weekend 2009




"Comes A Time" - All Bridge Performers Finale:
Neil Young, No Doubt, Jimmy Buffett, Chris Martin, Sheryl Crow, Fleet Foxes, Monsters of Folk, Wolfmother, Gavin Rossdale


Photo by Steve Jennings/WireImage


Neil Young performs "Daddy Went Walking" with Sheryl Crow at the Bridge School Benefit 10/25/09

Thanks Tweet, tweet, tweet!


Photo Gallery by John Shearer on Getty Images


"Powderfinger" - Adam Sandler and Neil Young
Photo by Christopher Victorio


No Doubt's Gwen Stefani


Coldplay's Chris Martin
Photo Gallery by Tim Mosenfelder/LiveDaily


Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother
Photo by John Shearer/WireImage


Photo by John Shearer/WireImage


The Great Pumpkin








Photos by Thrasher

Setlist 10/24/09

Comes A Time
(break)
I Am A Child
Sugar Mountain
Out On The Weekend
Already One
From Hank To Hendrix
Old King
Harvest Moon
Comes A Time

Reviews

From Review: Bridge School Benefit 2009 | A+E Interactive By Jim Harrington:

"What those at Shoreline saw was, by far, one of the most adventurous and eclectic lineups in recent Bridge history. It boasted a mix of hip young bands (indie-folk acts the Fleet Foxes and Monsters of Folk) and mega-star acts (Chris Martin of Coldplay, Jimmy Buffett and No Doubt), most of which were making their Bridge debuts. To go with that influx of new blood, these shows featured a few Bridge vets, notably Sheryl Crow, Monsters of Folk’s Conor Oberst and, of course, Young."

From Bridge benefit: No Doubt's Gwen Stefani tears up; Neil Young wraps up | Pop & Hiss | Los Angeles Times by Randy Lewis:

During No Doubt's set, singer Gwen Stefani had to reach for a tissue after singing "Simple Kind of Life," the song she wrote shortly before having the first of her two kids with husband Gavin Rossdale, who played his own set earlier in the evening. In that song, she wrestled with conflicting drives of career and motherhood, and looking into the faces of the children for whom the yearly fundraiser was launched back in 1986 -- right about the time No Doubt got started -- Stefani choked up.

"This is very emotional," she said. The acoustic arrangements the band used -- including a string quartet for about half the set -- brought out the sweetness and vulnerability of that song, "Don't Speak" and even the usually feisty "Just a Girl." Apparently big girls do cry.

The all-star encore finale performance was 'Comes a Time' -- sort of Neil's version of the 'a time for everything' passage in Ecclesiastes that Pete Seeger long ago transformed into 'Turn! Turn! Turn!' The performance spoke to the genuine sense of community Neil and wife Pegi have created in their efforts to provide help where it's needed.

It's not that Neil is planning to ride off into the sunset anytime soon. But he seems to be taking the requisite steps so that, when he does, he can feel secure in knowing that the work he's begun will continue on.

From Last Night: Neil Young's Bridge School Benefit - San Francisco Music - All Shook Down by Anna McCarthy:

Only the die-hard Young fans stuck around for his set, the final act of the night. But they were rewarded with an impressive show by a performer who proved he can still rock in the free world like no other. Although Young veered away from the song everyone in the crowd was shouting out for him to play ('Old Man'), he has a big enough repertoire of hits to please nearly every fan out there. From 'Daddy Went Walkin' to 'Harvest Moon' to 'Down by the River,' Young had fans out of their seats and stomping out the tunes in unison.

From Rolling Stone: Neil Young Brings Chris Martin, No Doubt to Bridge School Benefit by Marc Hawthorne:

Despite a couple of flubs, Chris Martin from Coldplay sat behind a piano and knocked out what was arguably the finest 30 minutes of the night. Along with a joke about hiding the balloon boy in his cap and getting violinist Davide Rossi (who did the strings on Coldplay’s latest album) to impersonate a horse with his instrument, Martin delivered excellent versions of “Clocks,” “Lost!” (technically called “Lost?” when performed on solo piano), and, most notably, “Viva La Vida,” which swelled the way it was intended despite only having two instruments backing it up. The reason for the “arguably” caveat is because No Doubt fans wouldn’t be wrong in pointing out that Stefani—who, following a day of dudes dressed for comfort, looked stunning in her little black dress—and her men (not to mention the string quartet) had the entire place transfixed. “Don’t Speak,” “It’s My Life,” and “Magic’s In The Makeup” sounded great, and when Stefani mingled with the excited students during “Just A Girl,” it looked like everyone was having the best time ever. Stefani confirmed the suspicion at the end of the song by stating, “I can’t believe this is my life,” and later talked about how inspiring the entire weekend had been and how it was good timing since No Doubt is about to write their next record.

Not surprisingly, things died down quite a bit by the time Neil Young closed the show, but he and Pegi plowed through and ended the show where it began, with “Comes A Time,” though this time it got a triumphant, we’re-all-in-this-together boost from most of the day’s participants.

From San Francisco Chronicle - Edgy lineup energizes Bridge School concertby Aidin Vaziri:

"Still, it was hard to complain when Young finally appeared onstage again some seven hours after his welcoming tune. 'I'd be surprised if most of us onstage didn't get into what we're doing because of Neil Young,' Crow said earlier. Watching Young clench his eyes shut, drop his shoulder down and dig into majestic ballads like 'I Am a Child' and 'Sugar Mountain,' it was easy to see why. Even on an all-star bill like this, the host remained untouchable, if slightly aloof.

With wife Pegi at his side, Young played for a little over 40 minutes before closing the night out the same way he started the day - another rendition of 'Comes a Time,' only this time with all his disciples.

Live Show Review: Bridge School Benefit at the Shoreline Amphitheater, 10/25/09

Thanks J-E on Purple Words on a Grey Background!

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This weekend is the annual benefit concert for the Bridge School at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, 2009.

Here's the lineup listing of performers for this year's Bridge School Concert Lineup for 2009:

* Neil Young
* No Doubt
* Jimmy Buffett (Saturday only)
* Chris Martin
* Sheryl Crow
* Fleet Foxes
* Monsters of Folk
* Wolfmother
* Gavin Rossdale
* Adam Sandler (Sunday only)

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More on 2008 Bridge School 22nd Annual Benefit Concert.

And here's a look back at previous year's Bridge School Benefit Concert Reviews.

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