Everyone needs a helping hand — including, as it turns out, the rock superstars who played the massive 12/12/12 concert at Madison Square Garden last night.
Several of the featured performers at the event guested on one another’s songs. Diehard Jersey boys Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi each took vocal turns during the other’s set, while Eddie Vedder showed up for a spot on ex-Pink Floyd leader Roger Waters’ appearance.
Introducing Bon Jovi as “my great friend and neighbor,” Springsteen brought the ’80s metal superstar on for a spry run-through of the Boss’ classic “Born to Run.” When it was Bon Jovi’s turn to play, Bruce returned the favor by helping with that band’s “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.” Vedder, of Pearl Jam, sang a swooning version of “Comfortably Numb,” to cap off Waters’ classics-heavy set.
The novelty of seeing such matchups — something like a comic-book crossover, as when Superman teams up with Batman — was the night’s biggest draw. The performances were generally polished, but they weren’t very inspired.
The Who, for example, has been flogging oldies in concert in less-than-enthralling fashion for almost twice as long as they spent making them. Their “Won’t Get Fooled Again” was highlighted by Roger Daltrey’s harmonica playing. No one listens to that song for the harmonica.
The Who played six songs. By contrast, the Rolling Stones and Alicia Keys did just two each. The Stones surprised by leading with “You Got Me Rocking,” from 1994’s not-much-loved album “Voodoo Lounge,” with spry frontman Mick Jagger crowing, “This has got to be the biggest collection of old English musicians ever gathered at Madison Square Garden,” before exiting with “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.”
Keys, on the other hand, sounded polished as a pearl but empty as a shell, cooing “No One.”
Eric Clapton was nearly as subdued early on, performing an acoustic version of “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” before plugging in for two more, his vocals surprisingly sharp.
The most attention-grabbing outfit undoubtedly belonged to Kanye West, who prowled the stage performing a passel of his best-known hits (including “Gold Digger,” “Power,” and “Good Life”) in a black leather high-school-cheerleader pleated skirt, over leather pants and with a leather jacket. He threw his mike down at the end and stalked off, presumably to find his stylist.
Billy Joel followed West, his old showbiz schmaltz a contrast to Kanye’s edgier material and persona. “Movin’ Out” was always one of his best and shone here, and if “New York State of Mind” was always a big bushel of corn, on this night, it fit the mood and the event.
Still, maybe the most impassioned performance was also the funniest. Adam Sandler, accompanied by Paul Shaffer, did a new version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” Sing along now: “Sandy, screw ya/We’ll get through ya/’Cause we’re Neeewww Yorkers.”