The six-hour Fire Aid benefit concert this week raised more than $60 million (and counting) in emergency funds to help those who lost their homes or suffered other incalculable losses as a result of the massive destruction from the recent L.A. wildfires. The money will be used to begin to rebuild, or at least help steady lives and communities, and begin to figure out ways to prevent future fires. The entire live event on Thursday is currently streaming on Netflix and Max – or can be watched in its entirety on YouTube.
Dozens of some of the most iconic names in music performed, many of whom now live, or have lived, in Los Angeles. Sure, it wasn’t everybody. But the cross-generational level of superstar talent mixed with personal stories of perseverance and survival by many of those who lost so much, was quite a singular evening. A somewhat unexpected musical event that is hard to describe in any other way than listing some of the talent.
Billie Eilish and Finneas, Olivia Rodrigo and Gracie Abrams, Dr. Dre, L’il Baby, Shiela E., Jellyroll and Anderson.Paak. Green Day, the Black Crowes, a Nirvana reunion of Dave Grohl and his two original bandmates, with the singers St. Vincent, Kim Gordon, Joan Jett (!) and Grohl’s daughter, Violet, performing the bands’ songs.
There was P!nk, nearly stealing the show channeling her inner Janis Joplin and Led Zeppelin, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash reuniting, Stevie Wonder still wondrous and Joni Mitchell as the ultimate sixties survivor and sage.
Not to be outdone by Alanis Morisette, Gwen Stefani and No Doubt, Steve Nicks, John Fogerty and Rod Stewart.
Oh, and Katy Perry, Dawes, John Mayer, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sting and for gosh sakes, Earth Wind and Fire.
Lady Gaga closed the show with a few of her hits and then performed an original tune she co-wrote for the event that she hoped would evoke hope – a bouncy late sixties/early seventies throwback called All I Need Is Time.
Speaking of hits, every artists’ mini-sets included at least one or two of the songs they are best known for. These performances most especially did NOT seem like an expectation or a chore, as is sometimes the case. But rather a gift being given to the survivors, the city and a national (Note: International?) audience, many of whom don’t live in Los Angeles but are nevertheless trying to survive a fairly bleak last few months and an uncertain future.
It was as if there was an unspoken message of, maybe we can feel better for a few minutes by at least sharing this again. It’s not a solution or a cure but at least it’s something more positive than crying or doom scrolling.
Not that the latter two don’t serve some function.
At least for me.
It’s easy to be cynical about the intentions of anyone in the entertainment industry but Fire Aid felt like one of those rare, almost non-existent events where sincerity was on the table across-the-board. I had heard it was happening days ago but with so much in the news to look forward to… NOT!… it had slipped my mind until my much more optimistic other-half texted me while I was teaching that evening to tell me it was incredible and he was DVRing it, which was followed by another text from my sister that simply read, P!NK! (Note: Yes, I’m a fan).
It’s true that $60 million is a relatively small number of the several billion estimate needed to rebuild what the fires have wrought.
And sure money is important.
But for me what the concert did better than anything I’ve seen or experienced recently, was to unite people and communities that might not ordinarily join together for a common cause. And make them feel a little less… devastated.
That doesn’t happen much anymore, if ever, and certainly not without a dash of vitriol directed at someone or some group.
Yet this is a fleeting example of what’s possible, albeit thus far improbable, more than a month in to 2025.
But I’m all in for more.
P!nk – Full Performance – FireAid
notes from a chair 