A wide range of musical artists and public figures gathered together to perform the Los Angeles (LA) FireAid benefit concert. The concert was broadcasted live on Jan. 30 in order to raise money for both short and long term aid towards the extensive fires in the LA communities; including but not limited to Palisades, Eaton Canyon and Alta Dena. San Diegans and many people worldwide who were interested in viewing their favorite artists perform while donating money to the cause, tuned into the live performances from the comfort of their homes or attended local theaters.
The concert began in the Kia Forum at six p.m. with a musical performance by Green Day and background visuals exhibiting the destruction the fires caused within the LA community. The bottom of the live broadcast displayed, “To donate visit Fireaidla.org” and “Text +1(319) 359-0579 for a link to donate.” Following Green Day’s introductory performance, American comedian and actor Billy Crystal announced one of the major donations initially made, while encouraging audience members and viewers at home to donate.
“At home, you too can help us by calling in. We have an amazing evening of dozens of incredible performers coming together to help those in need, and you will also be hearing from a number of people who were tragically affected by these fires. And I am one of them,” Crystal said.
Crystal explains that everyone here tonight including himself, gives their thanks to all of the first responders who helped combat the fires. Crystal is one of the many individuals on stage who repeats this notion as the night carries on. Expressing gratitude to those who run towards the danger, Crystal shares ambition for the future of his community.
“With your help around the country and here in the room, we’ll laugh again, and we’re going to listen to music again. We will be okay. So, tonight from Alta Dena, to Malibu, to the Pacific Palisades, let’s show the world who we are. We’re Los Angeles, one city, one heart, LA strong!” Crystal said.
The night continues with performances held at the Intuit Dome beginning at 7:30 p.m. and continuing to switch between both venues for the duration of the 27 acts. Throughout the intermissions between songs and venues, public figures such as American actor Samuel L. Jackson introduced emotional and personal stories of locals and first responders in the LA communities. The benefit concert displayed devastating videos of firefighters battling the fires, all of the homes lost and citizens coming together after the fires. This includes Pasadena firefighter Chen Yu who lost his home.
“For sixteen hours I fought the flames and they were unlike anything any of us had ever experienced. When we finally got a break, I immediately went to check on my house, and it was gone,” Yu said. “I’m not the only firefighter who lost their home. But, what I keep hearing is this, ‘We’re not going anywhere, we will rebuild’ I believe we will, and we can.”
Including Yu, some of the first responders, survivors and their families were welcomed to the event. While viewers at home and in theatres were watching for the purpose of seeing their favorite artists, viewing the concert also forced them to understand the real life consequences the fires caused, and the true reason behind the performances. During the intermissions, the Williams’ family and others were brought out onto the stage to share their stories.
“Among the five of us standing here, we lost four homes. We’re struggling to find places to live. We have ties to the AltaDena community going back to 1948 when our grandmother bought her home. Right now we are all grieving an immense loss, but there is a sign in the ruins at my mothers home. Everything was destroyed except her front door, it stands at this hour,” Eshele Williams said. “While many of us live elsewhere right now, we are bound together, linked to one another, healed by one another because of family and faith. It’s what gives us strength to be here tonight.”
In spite of the tragedy faced, all of the survivors, artists and announcers uplifted the spirits of those in the audience to even people watching from a screen or device. At AMC theaters, audience members began cheering, applauding and waving along just like the crowds of people watching at both of the concert venues. The songs range in decades, targeting a wide variety of audience members, older and younger, successfully gaining high amounts of viewership and potential donor support. The artists also performed uplifting and motivating covers of songs specifically relating to California and LA. American singer-songwriter and guitarist, John Mayer covers the song “Free Fallin’.”
“This is a Tom Petty song. For me and so many others growing up, this was our first insight into the dream of living in California. It is a dream. For those whose dreams have broken, those whose dreams have not, we will get together tonight, and many other nights to make sure those dreams are repaired,” Mayer said.
As it reaches the end, according to Fireaidla.org, it is believed that the FireAid benefit concert raised an approximate totaling 100 million dollars and continues to gain more donations as the days go on. The organization thanks all contributors who made this possible, “as well as millions of viewers, donors and fans.” The night officially ends just under six hours, well after midnight with the last performance by American singer-songwriter and actress, Lady Gaga. She ends the night with an original song dedicated solely to the concert.
“When I was thinking about what to sing tonight, I thought I wanted to do something hopeful. I was thinking about my songs, and there wasn’t anything that seemed quite right,” Gaga said. “So, me and my fiance, we wrote this song for you. It is just for tonight, it’s just for you. I think we all need a lot of things right now, but I think something we also need is time. Time is a healer.”
