A WHO FAN'S REVIEW OF KENNEDY HONORS
Who fan review of the Kennedy Center Honors by Jess Olsen who was working Wardrobe for the special event.....
It was a pretty cool evening. I thought all the tributes were fantastic, but of course, The Who's just had that extra special something that set it apart. I was stationed in wardrobe, which was located one floor beneath the stage and right next to the dressing rooms of the performers. There was a large area in front of the elevator with a CC TV where a few of the workers and performers were gathered to watch the event. Joss Stone, David Grohl watched the Morgan Freeman tribute there before they were summoned up on stage. Queen Latifa and Lily Tomlin also made appearances. The dancers that paid tribute to Twyla Tharp were also there. Caroline Kennedy kept poking her head in and out. Betty LaVette was here and there. I shared an elevator with Garth Brooks. I'm sure there were other famous people that I just didn't know. Jack Black decided to finish out the evening in this spot. He had used the phrase "ass kicking" a couple of times during his spiel, and on my way out I told him, "Congratulations on being the first person to use the word 'ass' at the Kennedy Center Honors." Smiling, he replied, "Really? Ya Think? Yeah, probably in that context. It will probably get cut." I replied, "Aww, that's too bad," and walked away. I kind of cool little moment for me.
One of the best moments of the evening (for me anyway) was during the Morgan Freeman tribute. They formed a Morgan Freeman All-star tribute band featuring Pinetop Perkins, David "honeyboy" Edwards, and fronted by the amazing Koko Taylor. There were others on stage, but for the life of me, I can't remember their names. In any case, the band went into Taylor's "I'm a Woman." Pete and Roger were totally rocking out! It was great ... Nobody else was moving, but you had Pete and Roger grinning ear to ear and bobbing their heads to the beat. Great stuff. The camera's didn't pick up any reactions when BB King went on the stage, but I'm sure they were stoked.
The Who's tribute was in the middle spot, after Freeman and Tharpe but before Jones and Streisand. Jack Black was the MC for this particular tribute. He was hilarious; dare I say, funnier than at the Rock Honors. They did show Pete and Rog a bit during Black's speech, and they were incredibly amused and entertained. As mentioned earlier, he said the word 'ass' a few times, which with the juxtaposition of black ties, shiny necklaces, polished shoes, and the fact that were were in a building dedicated to fine arts, just made me smile. He talked for a bit and then narrated a short video that talked a lot about the starting up period of The Who and how Tommy was sort of the saving grace of the band. THey skipped over the landmarks like Who's Next and Quadrophenia to mention the loss of two band members. The CFNY was then highlighted as the start of the comeback. They really needed to include this piece so that the 'big surprise' would make sense later ...
The Rob Mathis band, the house band for all the acts, was then introduced. Save for the Morgan Freeman Tribute Band, Rob Mathis and his band played while different performers sang tributes. There were sound problems for the first two performers, Joss Stone and Chris Cornell. They were going to re-tape these pieces after the entire show was done, but I suppose there is a chance that they will get cut completely ... which wouldn't be the end of the world. Joss Stone does have an amazing voice, but one that just doesn't seem to fit the anger and defiance that is supposed to be conveyed by the song. Chris Cornell did sound a lot better at the actual event than in rehearsals but can anyone really do any justice to WGFA? Betty LaVette was third to pay tribute. She did a rather soulful rendition of Love Reign O're Me ... which was AMAZING. Save for the moment when New York's finest were revealed, I'd say that Levette was the crowd favorite and for well deserved reason. The camera's did pan over to Roger and Pete once during this particular tribute. Like the rest of the audience, they were mesmerized. To leave Pete and Roger spellbound and speechless speaks volumes to how great LaVette's performance was. She received a standing ovation from the people watching downstairs when she returned to her dressing room. Dave Grohl's Who Are You was pretty good, as you would expect. He did edit himself Rob Thomas and Baba O'Riley was OK. I think he tried to get to cutsie with "Don't cry, Don't raise your eye, it's only Teenage Wasteland." Then they revealed the contingent of public servicemen. The firefighters and police officers was fantastic and the crowd reacted really well. The screen shots that I was looking at did not show the immediate reaction of Pete and Roger when New York's finest were revealed, but there were 3 different shots going on at all times. Hopefully the final mix that is shown on television captured the surprise. At the end of the song, Rob Thomas kept saying, "I love you, I f***ing love you!"
All in all, a very cool evening. Pete, Roger, and all the fans should be very proud.
It was a pretty cool evening. I thought all the tributes were fantastic, but of course, The Who's just had that extra special something that set it apart. I was stationed in wardrobe, which was located one floor beneath the stage and right next to the dressing rooms of the performers. There was a large area in front of the elevator with a CC TV where a few of the workers and performers were gathered to watch the event. Joss Stone, David Grohl watched the Morgan Freeman tribute there before they were summoned up on stage. Queen Latifa and Lily Tomlin also made appearances. The dancers that paid tribute to Twyla Tharp were also there. Caroline Kennedy kept poking her head in and out. Betty LaVette was here and there. I shared an elevator with Garth Brooks. I'm sure there were other famous people that I just didn't know. Jack Black decided to finish out the evening in this spot. He had used the phrase "ass kicking" a couple of times during his spiel, and on my way out I told him, "Congratulations on being the first person to use the word 'ass' at the Kennedy Center Honors." Smiling, he replied, "Really? Ya Think? Yeah, probably in that context. It will probably get cut." I replied, "Aww, that's too bad," and walked away. I kind of cool little moment for me.
One of the best moments of the evening (for me anyway) was during the Morgan Freeman tribute. They formed a Morgan Freeman All-star tribute band featuring Pinetop Perkins, David "honeyboy" Edwards, and fronted by the amazing Koko Taylor. There were others on stage, but for the life of me, I can't remember their names. In any case, the band went into Taylor's "I'm a Woman." Pete and Roger were totally rocking out! It was great ... Nobody else was moving, but you had Pete and Roger grinning ear to ear and bobbing their heads to the beat. Great stuff. The camera's didn't pick up any reactions when BB King went on the stage, but I'm sure they were stoked.
The Who's tribute was in the middle spot, after Freeman and Tharpe but before Jones and Streisand. Jack Black was the MC for this particular tribute. He was hilarious; dare I say, funnier than at the Rock Honors. They did show Pete and Rog a bit during Black's speech, and they were incredibly amused and entertained. As mentioned earlier, he said the word 'ass' a few times, which with the juxtaposition of black ties, shiny necklaces, polished shoes, and the fact that were were in a building dedicated to fine arts, just made me smile. He talked for a bit and then narrated a short video that talked a lot about the starting up period of The Who and how Tommy was sort of the saving grace of the band. THey skipped over the landmarks like Who's Next and Quadrophenia to mention the loss of two band members. The CFNY was then highlighted as the start of the comeback. They really needed to include this piece so that the 'big surprise' would make sense later ...
The Rob Mathis band, the house band for all the acts, was then introduced. Save for the Morgan Freeman Tribute Band, Rob Mathis and his band played while different performers sang tributes. There were sound problems for the first two performers, Joss Stone and Chris Cornell. They were going to re-tape these pieces after the entire show was done, but I suppose there is a chance that they will get cut completely ... which wouldn't be the end of the world. Joss Stone does have an amazing voice, but one that just doesn't seem to fit the anger and defiance that is supposed to be conveyed by the song. Chris Cornell did sound a lot better at the actual event than in rehearsals but can anyone really do any justice to WGFA? Betty LaVette was third to pay tribute. She did a rather soulful rendition of Love Reign O're Me ... which was AMAZING. Save for the moment when New York's finest were revealed, I'd say that Levette was the crowd favorite and for well deserved reason. The camera's did pan over to Roger and Pete once during this particular tribute. Like the rest of the audience, they were mesmerized. To leave Pete and Roger spellbound and speechless speaks volumes to how great LaVette's performance was. She received a standing ovation from the people watching downstairs when she returned to her dressing room. Dave Grohl's Who Are You was pretty good, as you would expect. He did edit himself Rob Thomas and Baba O'Riley was OK. I think he tried to get to cutsie with "Don't cry, Don't raise your eye, it's only Teenage Wasteland." Then they revealed the contingent of public servicemen. The firefighters and police officers was fantastic and the crowd reacted really well. The screen shots that I was looking at did not show the immediate reaction of Pete and Roger when New York's finest were revealed, but there were 3 different shots going on at all times. Hopefully the final mix that is shown on television captured the surprise. At the end of the song, Rob Thomas kept saying, "I love you, I f***ing love you!"
All in all, a very cool evening. Pete, Roger, and all the fans should be very proud.
posted by Mike S at 6:02 AM
4 Comments:
Hi Mike,
I hope you'll get the chance to relax during the holidays- those shift hours you have are brutal.
Thanks for popping by to say hello and all the best to you and your family over the holidays and in the new year.
xx
AM
Great review by Jess! Thank you Mike. It sounds like he probably works for the same company/union that I do...IATSE. I never get the wardrobe gig though...not yet anyhow. Maybe down the road. Wardrobe is a great gig to have...especially on a long running stage production....cha-ching. It's easy too from what I've heard. Anyhow, I hope you and your family have a great Christmas and New Year. I gotta move on down and check the rest of your recent posts...I haven't been by here in weeks!
sharing an elevator with Garth Brooks, cool right there! And Jack black moment, very cool. Rob Thomas - who doesn't!! :)
It was a great review. So jealous I wasnt there!! All Wholigans are very proud.
xox
"Betty LaVette was third to pay tribute. She did a rather soulful rendition of Love Reign O're Me ... which was AMAZING. Save for the moment when New York's finest were revealed, I'd say that Levette was the crowd favorite and for well deserved reason. The camera's did pan over to Roger and Pete once during this particular tribute. Like the rest of the audience, they were mesmerized. To leave Pete and Roger spellbound and speechless speaks volumes to how great LaVette's performance was. She received a standing ovation from the people watching downstairs when she returned to her dressing room."
Man, I wanted to give both boys a big, giant hug!
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