Bridge School Benefit Concerts - 2007

"No Hidden Path" - 10-28-2007
Photo by Roel van Dijk - Rust Radio

Day #1 - 10-27-2007

From Expecting to Fly posting on rust "BSB 2007 (Saturday) impressions":

"Neil was more than great. He ripped through the acoustic (with band) version of No Hidden Path with fury and an intensity I can't fully describe. The entire set was performed very well. I like the version of The Way on CDII but I must admit that sans choir it was also excellent. The setlist was varied and interesting and if you include the Beautiful Bluebird in the short opening set, included more songs from the new album than he does in the tour shows. The acoustic arrangements provided a great contrast to the electric tour. It was wonderful to be able to see a show from this tour plus this incredible BSB performance."

From San Jose Mercury News, Paulie VB says:

This was my first Bridge School Benefit and I have to say I was quite impressed with the day’s music. Besides the cause itself, it’s about the music. My favorite of the day has got to be the Tom Waites/Kronos Quartet. I literally felt like I was in the middle of a Tim Burton movie… without any chemical enhancements!!! What a treat it was. Next, My Morning Jacket, what an impressive selection of songs, talk about emoting through music. Fantastic!! Loved Neil’s new stuff, he’ legend. Metallica, great job on the covers, very interesting, but being a fan for 24 years, this was just a fun little night out for the boys. They are not an acoustic band. They are a Hard Rock band through and through. So yes I was dissapointed in the set, but what other songs could they have done? I guess Unforgiven and Mama Said? If you enjoy music, GO TODAY!!!

From Kava's Radio Soup:

Young played a set that drew largely from his new disc, "Chrome Dreams II," released this week, and was a throwback to the long jamming days of 1971 songs like "Down by the River." He, drummer Ralph Molina, guitarist Ben Keith, bassist Rick Rosas and guitarist Frank Sampedro tore the place up for almost a quarter of an hour on "Hidden Path," a wonderful return to the old jamming days.

"I'm not doing any songs you know, probably," Neil said, by way of apology. At least he threw in "Oh, Lonesome Me," the Don Gibson cover from 1970's "After the Goldrush." But the set was one of the best by Young in years, because the new material was melodic and tight.

Tom Waits....what can you say? Looking like a dark Fantasia cartoon character come to life he sang from "Hello Dalai," a religious-one-man musical, backed by the cellos and violins of the Kronos Quartet and a bass player. He performed it first in 2003 at a New York Avery Fisher hall show for the Dalai Lama.

Laced with cynicism and despair, and sung with his carnival barker voice, the songs included "God's Away on Business," "Cold, Cold Ground," "Way Down in a Hole," and "The Part you Throw Away." It was a tour de force for the Bridge, an artist using an acoustic forum before 20,000 people to really try something adventurous.

From Sugar Mountain setlists:
Sugar Mountain / Beautiful Bluebird // The Way / Winterlong / Spirit Road / Oh, Lonesome Me / The Believer / No Hidden Path


Neil & Pegi Say "Goodnight" - 10-28-2007
Photo by Roel van Dijk - Rust Radio

Thanks Roel!

Also, see Jim
"Memory to Spare"'s photo gallery.

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This weekend is the 21st Annual Bridge School Benefit.

Here's the revised Lineup:

Neil Young
Metallica
Jerry Lee Lewis
Tom Waits with Kronos Quartet
John Mayer
My Morning Jacket
Tegan & Sara
Regina Spektor

Saturday, October 27th at 5pm
Sunday, October 28th at 2pm
Shoreline Amphitheatre

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - October 16, 2007 - Eddie Vedder's performances with Jack Irons and Flea at next week's Bridge School Benefit concerts have unfortunately been canceled due to a personal family matter with one of the band's members. The band apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.

My Morning Jacket has just announced that they will now be performing at both Bridge School Benefit concerts at Shoreline Amphitheatre.

For setlist updates, check Sugar Mountain setlists.


Dave Matthews Band & Neil Young at Bridge 2006 Concert
photo by Craig Abaya

More on last year's Bridge School Benefit Concerts - 2006.



More on previous years Bridge School Benefit Concerts - photos, reviews, & setlists.