DAVE MATTHEWS, JIMMY BUFFETT, ELTON JOHN MAKE KATRINA HELP EASY

The From The Big Apple To The Big Easy concert, which was said to have been New York City’s concerts for the Gulf Coast, took place Tuesday Night (September 21) at Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall.

Joss Stone, John Mayer Trio, Dave Matthews and former Phish Trey Anastasio graced the Radio City stage, while Elton John, Simon & Garfunkel, John Fogerty, Jimmy Buffett, Elvis Costello, Lenny Kravitz, and Cyndi Lauper all pitched in for the Madison Square Garden concerts. The event was a pay-per-view event to benefit victims of hurricane Katrina, and Buffett said that even some of the musicians from New Orleans lost their instruments and had to be helped out directly by the performers at the concert.<

“People came here. There are a lot of people on that stage who don’t have homes…” said Buffett. “…and beyond that, didn’t have guitars. And to get here actually had to borrow guitars and musicians chipped in and everybody came to individual small rescues that you don’t see on the news.”

Cyndi Lauper performed with one of New Orleans most underrated performers and songwriters, Alan Toussaint. She said that the outreach that artists and people throughout the country have shown the vicitims of the hurricane have been a smashing success. She said that she viewed the event as a success.

“It’s a great night. I think it’s a great success. I hope it raises a lot of money. I’m told now that people are giving so much stuff they don’t have places to house this stuff. So, I guess you guys could print, if anybody has a warehouse they want to donate for a little bit to house the things that people are giving them. That’s a good thing. You know?”

There were several highlights to the event. First off Dave Matthews showed some hustle playing a set at Radio City and then hustling to Madison Square Gardent to perform a rendition of Neil Young’s “Heart Of Gold;” Simon and Garfunkel and New Orleans native Aaron Neville got together for “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and there was a a surprise appearance by former U.S. President Bill Clinton.