REM Tribute at Carnegie Hall with REM!

A great night at Carnegie Hall honoring the music of REM and the added bonus of REM being in the house! That brought an electricity to the audience and I’m sure an extra dose of nerves to all the performers. Myself included, as I was the house announcer introducing all the bands and was kinda freaked that REM was hearing them all. But it was all good. I had quite the perch in the wings, side stage,  from which to take it all in. The camaraderie among the artists was beautiful to witness. Don Dixon talking to Marshall Crenshaw, Mike Mills praising the Calexico bass player, and EVERYONE grooving to The Feelies.

Carnegie Hall is pretty strict about cameras backstage so unfortunately I only have the pictures in my mind.

The after party at City Winery was awesome with all the artists, including REM hanging out. The Bongos played! Then many of the artists jumped on stage at City Winery. I had some pasta with Dar Williams, talked life with Rachel Yamagata, hugged Don Dixon and shared some laughs with Glen Hansard. Funny story about Glen---at Carnegie he asked to have a look at my intro and once he saw the Academy Award mention he asked me to take that out. He’s *that* humble. Doesn’t want to be known as the guy with an Oscar. Very cool.

There were many highlights in what was a great celebration of REM’s music. Here’s the set list:

REM Tribute at Carnegie Hall Set List

“Fall On Me” (the dB’s)

“The Apologist” (Fink)

“Man on the Moon” (Keren Ann with Calexico)

“Wendell Gee” (Calexico)

“The Great Beyond” (Rachael Yamagata with Calexico)

“Sitting Still” (Bob Mould with Calexico)

“Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)” (The Feelies)

“Nightswimming” (Ingrid Michaelson)

“Hairshirt” (Glen Hansard)

“South Central Rain” (Apples in Stereo)

“Shaking Through” (Guster)

“Supernatural Superserious” (Marshall Crenshaw with Calexico)

“Driver 8” (Rhett Miller with Calexico)

“World Leader Pretend” (Kimya Dawson)

“Everybody Hurts” (Vic Chesnutt with Elf Power)

“Perfect Circles” (Kristin Hersh and the Throwing Muses)

“At My Most Beautiful” (Dar Williams)

“(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville” (Jolie Holland with Calexico)

“I Believe” (Darius Rucker with Calexico)

“New Test Leper” (Patti Smith)

“E-Bow The Letter” (R.E.M.)