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How to watch the FireAid benefit concert for LA wildfire relief
The live concert is bringing together some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including some directly affected by the fire, to raise money for recovery efforts.
LOS ANGELES — Green Day kicked off the massive FireAid benefit concert Thursday night, a two-venue concert extravaganza that is raising money for Los Angeles-area wildfire relief efforts.
They launched into “Last Night on Earth,” and were soon joined by Billie Eilish for the first surprise of the night. The lyrics are surprisingly astute: “If I lose everything in the fire / I’m sending all my love to you.”
After their set, Green Day frontman Billy Joe Armstrong hugged Billy Crystal, who was there to welcome to the crowd at the Kia Forum.
“Our goal is simple tonight, to spend more money than the Dodgers spent on free agents,” he joked. He told the audience U2 offered the first big donation of the night — $1 million dollars.
Crystal said he has was wearing the clothes he had on when when he evacuated. He lost his home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood that he lived in for 46 years.
The first true-blue Los Angeles moment came from a surprise performance by Dr. Dre. The progenitor of West Coast hip-hop tackled “Still D.R.E.” with Anderson .Paak and Sheila E. before pivoting to Tupac and Dre’s classic “California Love.”
It was followed by the figurehead of Laurel Canyon folk, a moving set of “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell.
Alanis Morissette in a bedazzled “I heart LA” shirt, launched into “Ironic,” harmonica in hand. Behind the performers, images of firefighters and the devastation brought forth by the fires appeared on screen.
Between sets, videos of survivors telling the stories of losing their homes were broadcast throughout the arena.
Spirits were high in the arena. “We’re appreciative of this moment. I hope people remember this concert forever,” said Scott Jones, 54, who brought his daughter to the concert. The Los Angeles-resident and his daughter wores black T-shirts with “First Responders” written across their chests.
“I hope some of the firefighters who are able to attend can come and decompress a little,” Jones said. “ They needed it. I’m supportive of what they have done for this city.”
How to watch
FireAid It is being broadcast and streamed live on Apple Music, Apple TV+, Max, iHeartRadio, KTLA+, Netflix/Tudum, Paramount+, Prime Video, the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch, SiriusXM, Spotify, SoundCloud, Veeps and YouTube. It will also be shown at select AMC Theatres locations in the U.S.
Who is performing?
Billie Eilish, Gracie Abrams, Jelly Roll, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Tate McRae and Earth, Wind & Fire will perform at the Intuit Dome.
Alanis Morissette, Anderson .Paak, Dawes, Graham Nash, Green Day, John Fogerty, Joni Mitchell, No Doubt, Pink, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stephen Stills, Stevie Nicks, the Black Crowes and John Mayer will perform at the Kia Forum.
Mayer and Dave Matthews were originally scheduled to perform live together for the first time, but on Wednesday, the official Dave Matthews Band Instagram account announced that “due to a critical illness in the family,” Matthews will no longer take the stage.
There will also be special guests.
The folk rock band Dawes were directly affected by the Eaton fire. Actor-singer Mandy Moore, who is married to Dawes’ Taylor Goldsmith, posted on social media to share that a portion of their Altadena house and Goldsmith’s home recording studio were destroyed. Taylor Goldsmith’s brother and bandmate, Griffin Goldsmith and his pregnant wife also lost their home in the fire.
Is it just a concert?
Between the performances, there will be celebrity and non-celebrity speakers, including those who lost their homes, first responders and firefighters.
There will also be packages spotlighting those impacted.
How will donations work?
Those who cannot attend the concerts or watch the live feed can contribute donations via FireAidLA.org. The link, which is open now, will also be up on the screen for the duration of the broadcast.
All of the proceeds will go to those affected. A 501(c)(3) was set up, and contributions to FireAid will be distributed under the Annenberg Foundation, which with FireAid has assembled a small committee to advise.