Rusted Root, Donnie Iris, The Clarks, Joe Grushecky, Bill Deasy, Poverty Neck Hillbillies, Good Brother Earl, B.E. Taylor, Margot B., Crave
The P.L.E.A.S.E. Benefit concert for Hurricane Katrina relief.
Many of the region’s leading names in multiple music genres came together several weeks after the Louisiana flooding, bringing out around 8,000 people for this unique show. Not only was the crowd entertained by the musical acts, but current and former Steelers players made appearances, including Franco Harris, Louis Lipps, Andy Russell, Craig Bingham, and Jeff Reed. (All the Steelers players whipped up the crowd talking up the team's game against the Patriots the following day. The 2-0 Steelers ended up losing a close one, 23-20 on a last-minute Patriots field goal.) Personalities from multiple radio and TV stations served as M.C.s and onstage announcers, including yours truly.
Many of the musicians collaborated, like Scott Blasey of The Clarks joining Bill Deasy on "Lost in America," Deasy's signature song with his band The Gathering Field. Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root joined Joe Grushecky for "All Along the Watchtower." Rob James, guitarist for The Clarks, joined Rusted Root for "Ecstacy."
I was happy to see Donnie Iris playing some of his iconic hits including "Ah! Leah!" and "Love Is Like a Rock." (Still the only time I've seen him live.)
The Clarks closed out the night playing "Better Off Without You," "Shimmy Low," "Penny on the Floor," and "Cigarette," and then brought out all the performers from the show to sing Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" and "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield.
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