George Fest: A Night to Celebrate George Harrison happened at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles on September 28, 2014 and the whole shindig appeared in a variety of incarnations — CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and downloads — in February of 2016, a few days after what would’ve been the Beatle’s 73rd birthday. His son Dhani directed the concert and, with the exception of Brian Wilson and Heart’s Ann Wilson, he favored alt-rock stars of the 2000s: the Killers’ Brandon Flowers, Nick Valensi from the Strokes, Spoon’s Britt Daniel, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Cold War Kids, and the Flaming Lips form the backbone of this tribute. Around this core orbit some names that seem suitable (Norah Jones, Ben Harper, Perry Farrell), some that seem odd (Ian Astbury, Karen Elson), and some that…
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…seem like ringers (Conan O’Brien, Weird Al Yankovic), but this group is united by an affection for George Harrison, a love that runs so deep that none of the crew even make feints toward possible reinterpretations of the tunes. Everybody plays the songs they love in the way they learned them, so the highlights fall along the spectrum of sensitivity to enthusiasm. Norah Jones excels on both “Something” and “Behind That Locked Door,” Karen Elson treats “I’d Have You Anytime” as a torch song, and Daniel sways handsomely to “I Me Mine,” while Dhani throws himself into “Let It Down” and the two nominal comedians, Conan and Weird Al, tear it up on “Old Brown Shoe” and “What Is Life,” respectively. That’s enough to provide a hook for this lengthy concert but the lasting impression of George Fest is not about the performances here but rather the depth and range of Harrison’s work, which perhaps is how it should be.
CD1
Introduction
Old Brown Shoe – Conan O’Brien
I Me Mine – Britt Daniel from Spoon
Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll) – Jonathan Bates with Dhani Harrison
Something – Norah Jones
Got My Mind Set On You – Brandon Flowers from The Killers
If Not For You – Heartless Bastards
Be Here Now – Ian Astbury from The Cult
Wah-Wah – Nick Valensi from The Strokes
If I Needed Someone – Jamestown Revival
Art of Dying – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Savoy Truffle – Dhani Harrison
For You Blue – Chase Cohl with Weezer’s Brian Bell on guitar
Beware Of Darkness – Ann Wilson from Heart
CD2
Let It Down – Dhani Harrison
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) – Ben Harper
Here Comes The Sun – Perry Farrell from Jane’s Addiction
What Is Life – “Weird Al” Yankovic
Behind That Locked Door – Norah Jones
My Sweet Lord – Brian Wilson with Al Jardine
Isn’t It A Pity – The Black Ryder
Any Road – Butch Walker
I’d Have You Anytime – Karen Elson
Taxman – Cold War Kids
It’s All Too Much – The Flaming Lips
Handle With Care – Brandon Flowers, Dhani Harrison, Jonathan Bates “Weird Al” Yankovic, Britt Daniel and Wayne Coyne
All Things Must Pass – Ann Wilson, Dhani Harrison, Karen Elson and Norah Jones
