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The National, Vampire Weekend, Patti Smith & more @ the Tibet House Benefit @ Carnegie Hall (2009) - pics

photos by Tim Griffin

Philip Glass

“It’s been 10 years since Tibet was the hot issue in the rock community, but some stars still carry the torch. One of the biggest forums for this activism is the annual Tibet House benefit in New York, where an eclectic group of artists bands together to salute Tibetan culture.

This year’s concert, held [Tueusday] at Carnegie Hall, started off on an energetic note, with Antibalas raising the sedate crowd to its feet. After playing a song, they were joined by Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo, who wowed with an energetic cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter,” before performing one of her own songs, “Emma.” Antibalas then exited stage right, while bluesman Keb’ Mo’ joined Kidjo for one more tune.

Curator Philip Glass then took the stage to introduce his son Zack, who was performing with the Patti Smith Band. The younger Glass played two pleasant, mainstream folk-rock tunes, the furthest thing possible from his father’s experimental compositions. He was followed by Vampire Weekend, who played with a string quartet and debuted a new song that sounded even more influenced by Paul Simon’s “Graceland” than its previous work, as well as “M79” from its self-titled debut.

At this point, the tone of the show changed, with the elder Glass perforing an original piano composition with the string quartet. The piece was lovely, but felt out-of-place after so much upbeat rock. To add to the discombobulation, the National, who played two excellent new songs, followed Glass.

Patti Smith, a fixture at many Tibet House benefits, took the stage with her daughter Jesse accompanying her on piano…. [full review @ BILLBOARD]

More pictures below…

Philip Glass

Philip Glass

Philip Glass

Robert Thurman (President of Tibet House)…

Robert Thurman

Robert Thurman

Angelique Kidjo…

Angelique Kidjo

Angelique Kidjo

Angelique Kidjo

Antibalas…

Antibalas

Antibalas

Antibalas

Antibalas

Keb’ Mo’…

Kembo

Kembo

Kembo

Techung and the Lhasa Spirits…

Techung and the Lhasa Spirits

Techung and the Lhasa Spirits

Zack Glass…

Zack Glass

Zack Glass

Steve Earle…

Steve Earle

Steve Earle

Steve Earle

Monks from Drepung Gomang Monastery…

Drepung Gomang Monastery

Drepung Gomang Monastery

Drepung Gomang Monastery

Vampire Weekend…

Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend

The National…

The National

The National

The National

The National

The National

The National

Patti Smith…

Patti Smith

Patti Smith

Patti Smith

Patti Smith

Patti Smith

Patti Smith

Philip Glass…

Philip Glass

Philip Glass

Philip Glass

Group Sing…

Philip Glass

Philip Glass

Philip Glass

Philip Glass

Philip Glass

Philip Glass

Philip Glass