When singer/songwriter Keller Williams began his career as an entertainer in restaurants, there was little he could do to get people to look up from their entrees and actually pay attention. Just one thing would get people turning his way: the music of Neil Young.
“Every time I would play a Neil Young song, that would get a reaction,” says Williams, who’ll perform Young’s “Comes a Time” at the “Music of Neil Young” tribute concert at Carnegie Hall on Thursday night.
Williams is one of 20 performers playing the music of the legendary songwriter at the show. He’ll be joined by Patti Smith, the Roots, Nada Surf, Aaron Neville, Bettye LaVette, Bebel Gilberto, Jakob Dylan and others.
The show, a benefit to raise money for music and arts programs for under-privileged kids, is the latest in an annual series that has paid tribute to The Who, Bob Dylan, R.E.M., Elton John, Joni Mitchell and Bruce Springsteen. In addition to the high profile lineup, the show benefits from the anticipation that the guest of honor may surprise the crowd and show up, as R.E.M. and Springsteen did for their tributes.
“That heightened sense of the honoree [possibly] being there pushes the artists to tighten their game,” says organizer Michael Dorf. “It makes it a little more intense.”
Of course, with an honoree whose songs are as beloved and revered as Young’s, musicians already feel pressure to ensure they’re doing them justice.
Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis, who’ll perform Young’s “Cortez the Killer,” recalls opening for him on tour. Young was friendly, but Mascis was almost too tense to speak.
“He’s got so many great songs that somehow touch me,” says Mascis. “So I was pretty nervous. He probably sensed that, and talked so I wouldn’t freak out.”
Neil Young fans will hear both faithful and interpretive versions of their favorite songs, including the Roots jamming on “Down by the River,” Neville lending his falsetto to “Helpless,” Dylan performing “Southern Man,” Smith singing “It’s a Dream” with her daughter Jesse, and LaVette’s soulful take on “Heart of Gold.”
Hearing such distinctive artists put their spin on classic songs is, says Dorf, what makes these concerts so special.
“The Roots did one of the highlights of the whole series when they did ‘Masters of War’ at the Dylan tribute in ’06. They took it to another level,” he says. “I heard the lyrics in the song differently from the way Bob did it. To me, that’s one of the gorgeous components of this series — to hear these songs sung in a way that gives you another view of the original song.”