R.E.M. fans with a charitable streak and plenty of disposable income may want to circle March 11 on their calendars. That’s the date of The Music Of R.E.M. tribute concert at NYC’s Carnegie Hall, with all of the net proceeds benefiting musical education programs for underprivileged youth. The list of confirmed artists so far is stellar: Bob Mould, the reunited Feelies, the dB’s, Marshall Crenshaw, Rhett Miller, the Apples In Stereo, Patti Smith, Glen Hansard (Frames, Swell Season) and others, with Calexico serving as the house band. (Darius Rucker of Hootie And The Blowfish, now a country singer, is also playing, providing the necessary beer/piss break.) Tickets range from $38-$125 for the great unwashed, but those not hit hard by the economic downturn can pay $275 for the VIP treatment. This includes the best seats in the house plus entrance to the private artist reception at City Winery featuring cuisine by celebrity chef Mario Batali. The Music Of R.E.M. is the sixth concert in a series of tribute/benefit shows presented by Michael Dorf at either Carnegie Hall or Avery Fisher Hall, with previous editions featuring the music of Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and, um, Neil Sedaka.
Pavement’s 1994 cover of R.E.M.’s “Camera”:
