FIREAID — advantage for Los Angeles all had from Nirvana to Stevie Wonder to Billie Eilish

When the first song at night contains record-breaking-popicon Billie Eilish out in front of Pop-Punk Royalty Green Day, you know you are in something special.

That’s how FireAid, a massive fundraiser for those influenced by this month’s California fire, started this afternoon Australian time.

This spirit of collaboration made one of the most impressive exhibitions of Star Power that a music fan could hope for, and was just the beginning of what became a cavalcade of surprise teams and tribute to the city of Los Angeles.

It was already set to be one of the greatest music events in the recent memory that boasts a one-time-in-life-up-up packed with a wealth of era-defining actions. But the surprises were almost as massive as the announced line-up.

Not long after Green Day was finished, reverent percussionist and pop star in his own right sheila E. connected to Los Angelino Anderson .paak for a few songs.

Paa’s biggest surprise, however, was still coming. Soon, dr. Dre, one of the architects of modern hip -hop and the sound of the 90s and 2000s Los Angeles, tightened on stage and blasted through versions of his 1999 Hit Still Dre and 2pac Collaboration California Love.

Dawes was one of the tapes that was heavily influenced by fires and their short sets brought a few of the great moments of the night. After performing one of their own songs, they brought Stephen Stills who sang Buffalo Springfield’s lasting classic for what it is worth.

After this, Stills’ old companion Graham Nash appeared and together they played the anthemical teaching of your children. It was the first time Stills and Nash have appeared together since 1983.

One of the completely unannounced and unexpected surprises was a kind of Nirvana gene association.

In similar scenes like what we saw by their induction in 2014 in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, St. Vincent (alias Annie Clark), took over Joan Jett, Kim Gordon (famous for Sonic Youth) and Dave Grohl’s daughter Violet Kurt Cobain.

Grohl belt the drums, Krist Novoselic knocked the bass (and played a small piano traffic), and Pat Smear made lots of noise in what was a brilliant unexpected surprise from some of the true greatness of rock ‘n’ roll of the past, present and present future.

Earlier, Black Crowes Creedence Clearwater Revival brought uphill John Fogerty up to a version of ‘Have you ever seen the Rain’, which was not entirely unexpected. Immediately afterwards, the unmistakable mop of curly hair and top hat belonging to Guns n ‘Roses -guitarist appeared, and the California audience went bananas.

Which songs were played on FireAid?

Since there were no surprising guests, artists chose songs that have an emotional resonance in the wake of fires.

Tribute to California was frequent: Gelérulle, torn through Bob Seger’s Hollywood Nights, the Black Crows and Slash took on Led Zeppelin’s Going to California, Gracie Abrams called her version of Counting Crows a long December “A Love Let to La”, and Mayer introduced Tom Petty’s free falls by saying that it was his first taste of the dream that Los Angeles represented to so many.

Lady Gaga performed a new song she had just written for the FireAid show. “It’s just for tonight,” she said, before starting in a Peppy pop song with a typical big choir.

Other songs were selected for their emotional resonance: Tate McRa’s version of Crowded House’s Don’t Dream, it’s over, P! NK’s takeover of Kris Kristofferson’s Me and Bobby McGee, Rod Stewart’s people are getting ready just a few examples of the emotional songs chosen.

An epic but seamless commitment

There was no bigger controversy, but a few things did not go to the plan.

John Mayer was impressive in solo, acoustic state, but that’s not what we were promised. The singer should join forces with Jam Band Demigod Dave Matthews for their first duo set ever, but Matthews withdrew at the last minute because of a “critical family emergency”.

Conversely, the legendary Stevie Nicks did not want to leave the stage, so they moved the stage with her standing on it. Her microphone was cut, just as she began to tackle the amount of the situation.

Given the short timeframe where it was put together, things seemed to run incredibly smooth. Awkward breaks were quickly fixed and the production quality for those who saw at home was top class: Leave it to Los Angeles to get a show properly.

Being a light streambar all over the world will hopefully ensure that the show is also a financial success as California continues what will be a long and difficult recovery.

Here are all setlists from the night:

Green day

Last night on Earth (with Billie Eilish)

Still breathe

When I get around

Alanis Morissette

Hand in the pocket

Thanks u

Anderson .paak

Put me through (with Sheila E.)

Come down (with sheila E.)

Still Dre (with Dr. Dre and Sheila E.)

California Love (with Dr. Dre and Sheila E.)

Joni Mitchell

Both sides now

Dawes

Time spent in Los Angeles

Stephen Stills

For what it is worth (with Dawes and Mike Campbell)

Stephen Stills & Graham Nash

Learn your children (with Dawes)

P! Nk

How about us

Me and Bobby McGee

Darling i’m leaving you

Rod Stewart

Forever young

Maggie May

People are getting ready

John Mayer

Neon

Seriousness

Free Fallin ‘

Earth, wind and fire

That is the world’s way

Shining Star

September

The black crows

Remedy

Going to California (with slash)

John Fogerty

Have you ever seen the rain (with Black Crowes)

Gracie Abrams

I love you I’m sorry (with Aaron Dessner)

A long December (with Aaron Dessner)

No doubt

Just a girl

Don’t talk

Spiderwebs

Tate McRae

You broke me first

Don’t dream it’s over

Jelly Roll

I’m not okay

Hollywood Nights (with Travis Barker)

Stevie Nicks

Stand back

Landslide

Edge of seventeen

Katy Perry

Ladder

Roar

California Gurls

Nirvana

Race (with St. Vincent)

School (with Kim Gordon)

Stay away (with Joan Jett)

All excuses (with Violet Grohl)

Lil baby

So sorry

Emotionally scared

Red hot chili peppers

Dani California

Californication

Black summer

Under the bridge

Olivia Rodrigo

Drivers License

Deja vu

Sticks

Message in a bottle

Driven to tears

Fragile

Peso Pluma

La Bebe

Billie Eilish

Wildflower

The biggest

Birds of a feather

Stevie Wonder

Love needs love today

Superstition (with stitches)

Higher soil (with stitches and flea)

Lady Gaga

Shallow

Remember us always this way

New named song