With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continuing to force artists to cancel and postpone performances, it can feel like the music industry has ground to a halt. But, far from sitting on their hands, artists have gotten creative with their free time. Many have looked for a new approach to connect with their fans – livestreaming from the comfort of their own homes – while offering fans an exclusive and rare peek into their lives.
From Willie Nelson, to Ben Gibbard, to Yo-Yo Ma, here are some of the best moments and performances from the era of self-isolation.
Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion
For the last 7 years, the annual Luck Reunion has drawn around 4,000 people to Willie Nelson’s ranch in Texas. This year’s lineup was to include Nelson himself, Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Margo Price, Nathanial Rateliff, and more. As you might expect, those plans had to go – “I was concerned about 4,000 people coming to our backyard during a pandemic,” Willie’s son Lukas told Rolling Stone. After making the decision to cancel the event, the small team behind Luck Reunion knew they had to get creative, eventually deciding to revive the festival as a livestream.
Asleep at the Wheel’s front man, Ray Benson, hosted the event from Arlyn Studios in Austin, Texas, and artists broadcast live performances from around the world. Tami Nelson sang from a record store in New Zealand. Paul Simon, Edie Brickell, and their daughter Lulu were joined by their neighbor Woody Harrelson in Hawaii. Lucinda Williams sang from the comfort of her own home.
But the highlight of the evening was most certainly Willie and his sons, Lukas and Micah. They performed from the same place they grew up, playing music together the whole time – the family living room.
Neil Young’s Fireside Sessions
When Neil Young livestreamed a performance for the digital rally for Berner Sanders, he went with the crowd pleasing hit, “Heart of Gold.” But when he decided to start his Fireside Sessions concerts – directed by his wife Daryl Hannah at their home in Colorado – he went with a different feel. The intimate shows feature an incredible set of rarities, filmed throughout his home. His most-devoted fans will be excited to see and hear “Vampire Blues,” “Love Art Blues,” “Little Wing,” and more of his more obscure tunes.
Yo-Yo Ma’s Tribute to Healthcare Workers
Famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma has been posting short performances to Twitter, using #SongsOfComfort. The entire series is beautiful and uplifting, but the second instalment is a performance you shouldn’t miss. Featuring the Sarabande from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3, this song was especially special because he dedicated his performance to those fighting COVID-19 on the frontlines.
He tweeted “Your ability to balance human connection and scientific truth in service of us all give me home,” along with the video.
Brad Paisley’s Connections
As one of country music’s most well-connected performers, Brad Paisley pulled out all the stops for his first at-home concert. Bringing out the big guns, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, and Chris Young all joined in with FaceTime.
The entire affair was worth tuning in for, but the clear highlights included McGraw and Paisley’s cover of the George Strait classic “The Fireman,” and the clear friendship between Paisley and his virtual guests, and his camera-operator wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
Ben Gibbard’s Home Shows
Ben Gibbard, of Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie, has been livestreaming performances from his home studio practically on a daily basis. These performances have offered up a plethora of favourites for fans, from Postal Service hits like “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight,” Death Cab staples like “A Lack of Color,” and the odd unexpected cover, like New Order’s “Ceremony,” or “Fake Plastic Trees,” from Radiohead.
Fan should look forward to coming shows, and should expect the set lists to get even looser, with the promise of special upcoming guests.
Miley Cyrus’s Bright Minded
Never one to follow the same path as her peers, Miley Cyrus has decided to take a different route during the pandemic. Rather than go with DIY concerts, she’s taken it upon herself to step into the void left by talk show hosts that have either been forced to put their show on hold, or find a way to work remotely.
With that in mind, she launched Bright Minded, a daily talk show that airs Monday through Friday at 11:30 am PT/2:30 pm ET on IGTV, and later posted on YouTube. As you might expect from a character like Miley Cyrus, the attitude is laid-back, with an emphasis on well-being, mental health, and, as the pop star herself put it, trying to “stay lit in dark times.”
So far, Bright Minded has featured a stunning array of guests, including Demi Lovato, Rita Ora, Amy Schumer, designer Jeremy Scott, and the entire cast of Love is Blind. Cyrus has also offered her own workout tips and has taken the opportunity to use the show to raise money for a wide range of charities, including food banks and various housing organizations.
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen’s Improvised The Office Theme Song Lyrics
Less like a concert, and more like an intimate evening goofing off with friends, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen let us all into their home to share some love for one of their favourite sitcoms. At the behest of Mindy Kaling and Jenna Fisher – stars of the The Office – Legend played the piano while the pair improvised some lyrics for the famous instrumental theme song, and even shared some of their favourite lines from the show.
How are you keeping the music alive in your home during the pandemic?
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