Iggy Pop, New Order, Patti Smith jam for Tibet
Co-founder of Tibet House U.S. Robert Thurman, left, singer Patti Smith and musician Iggy Pop performed at the 24th Annual Tibet House U.S. benefit concert at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday in New York. Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
NEW YORK » Fans jumped high in their seats. Others raced to the front of the stage. The rest of the audience yelled excitedly.
Carnegie Hall is a seated venue, but music lovers watching Iggy Pop and members of New Order on Tuesday night were eager and lost in the music at the 24th Annual Benefit Concert for Tibet House US, a nonprofit organization charged with preserving Tibetan culture.
Pop joined Bernard Sumner, Phil Cunningham and Tom Chapman onstage in New York City during "Transmission" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart" when fans — mostly older, but some teenagers — enthusiastically rushed out of their seats to get closer to the stage.
Pop was energetic as usual, enticing the crowd with his wild dancing. He earned a rousing applause when he entered the stage in a black suit, and the cheers grew louder when he performed "Sister Midnight" and "Nightclubbing."
"Good to see you! I needed this," he told the crowd at the 2,800-seat Stern Auditorium.
Patti Smith and her band closed the two-hour-plus concert with Pop, New Order, members of the National and others on "People Have the Power." She opened her set paying tribute to the late Lou Reed with "Perfect Day."
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"We would like to dedicate this song to Lou’s most wonderful wife, Laurie," Smith said. She ended with her hand in the air, saying: "Thank you, Lou."
As Smith was joined onstage by the night’s performers, she yelled to the crowd: "Don’t forget it — use your voice."
Smith and Pop are regular performers at the annual benefit concert for Tibet, which is ruled by China.
The National’s Matt Berninger, Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner performed three songs in a chilling set, and Robert Rudolph kicked off the night in a jamming mood. Tibet House US founder and composer Philip Glass also impressed, performing on piano with several artists. He, along with violinist Tim Fain, earned some of the night’s loudest applause.
Ticket prices for the benefit ranged from $35 to $200. Sufjan Stevens, composer Nico Muhly and Tibetan folk singer Techung also performed.
