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Patti Smith Tribute, With Bruce Springsteen, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Stipe, Karen O and Patti Herself, Lights Up Carnegie Hall: Concert Review
Bruce Springsteen, Michael Stipe, Karen O, Scarlett Johansen and Sean Penn were just a few of the artists at Thursday's Patti Smith tribute concert.
Glen Hansard brought only himself and some sheets of white bond paper and transformed 1996’s “Beneath the Southern Cross” — a literal vehicle of transubstantiation, and a brave choice, as it’s possibly the greatest songs from the second half of Smith’s career. Angel Olsen’s careful exploration of “Easter” (accompanied by a recitation from handwritten notes in her notebook) was unexpected, Susanna Hoffs’ pop-influenced interpretation of “Kimberly” was joyful, Courtney Barnett provided a no-nonsense rendition of “Redondo Beach” and the Kronos Quartet’s gave a stunning presentation of “Elegie.” Interpol’s Paul Banks pulled the most obscure choice of the night, a quiet duet on “Mother Rose” from 2004’s “Trampin’.” And the most curious addition to the lineup, Johnny Depp, delivered “Dancing Barefoot” with assistance from Mosshart and Shanahan. Led by Tony Shanahan, who’s been part of Patti’s band since her return to music in the mid-‘90s, starring himself, Flea and Tench along with studio veteran/current Rolling Stones drummer Steve Jordan and guitarist Charlie Sexton (Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello).
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