With those words Bruce Springsteen entered the Carnegie Hall stage last night during the benefit concert which honored his music. The event (which raised $150,000 for Music For Youth‘s music education programs), was full of highlights, including Patti Smith (a late minute addition) singing «Because The Night», Steve Earle doing «Nebraska» to open the night, Marah with their version of «The Rising», The Holmes Brothers and a choir of 35 young voices singing «My City of Ruins», the legendary Odetta doing «57 Channels» or The Hold Steady nailing «Atlantic City». (check out the full set list at our Concerts page).
After 10pm the announcer said «If I was a genie in a bottle and could grant you one wish, what would it be? How about Bruce Springsteen!». The crowd cheered as Bruce walked onstage and said: «The good news is I’m still alive! It’s like I’m invisible and floating high above the room and hearing all these people talking about you. It’s like a funeral. Thank you to all the artists for showing up». Then proceeded to perform acoustic versions of «The Promised Land» and «Rosalita».
The evening finished with all musicians onstage for yet another version of «Rosalita», only this time if was a full band version (with the Elysian Fields) with lead vocals from Craig Finn (of The Hold Steady), Badly Drawn Boy, Jesse Malin, Steve Earle and of course Bruce Springsteen.
Watch the video from that performances, courtesy of «rring» at Youtube:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtjPO47XIbs]