2010 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute to Neil Young

LOS ANGELES -- Neil Young went on a journey through his past on Friday night. The Canadian folk-rock legend -- who was named the 2010 MusiCares Person of the year for his charitable and philanthropic work with the Bridge School and FarmAid -- was the man of the hour at a tribute concert and gala held in conjunction with Grammy Week. The guest list included a who's who of musicians and actors. Here are just a few of the folks who breezed by reporters on the red carpet on their way into the Los Angeles Convention Center: Tony Bennett; Brian Wilson and Al Jardine (who had an impromptu reunion in front of reporters); Jimmy Jam; Colby Caillat; Dwight Yoakam; John C. Reilly; and Nicole Kidman -- who caused a mini-riot by skirting the red carpet with hubby Keith Urban, sending dozens of entertainment reporters scurrying after them. Young and his wife Pegi caused almost as much excitement when they breezed down the red carpet -- but sadly, they totally ignored my sign that read "I'M FROM WINNIPEG!" and didn't stop for a chat. Inside, there was a swanky dinner and a fundraising auction for items like a French chateau vacation and a chance to sign backup vocals on Brian Wilson's next album (Elton John paid $12,000 for that -- seriously). Then the 2,000-plus attendees -- who shelled out between $1,250 and $7,500 apiece for tickets -- were treated to a marathon tribute hosted by Jack Black. The comic claimed they were going to honour Neil the same way he made music: "Unforgettably, awesomely, life-changingly. "You're gonna hear the songs that make you cry, the songs that make you smile and the songs that make you want to punch the government in the freaking balls," cracked Black, who spent his time auctioning off his clothes for charity (his shoes netted $600, which he was soon willing to pay to buy them back), pumping Neil for the secret to his artistic genius and filling time between the remarkably fast-moving slate of 20 performances. Along with the quantity, there was no shortage of quality. Perhaps encouraged by a sign Neil sent backstage that read, "Just do what you wanna do. Don't listen to anyone else," a roster of A-list performers, including John Mellencamp, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, Wilco and, of course, Crosby, Stills and Nash spent a little over two hours putting their own spin on gems from the Toronto-born, Winnipeg-raised performer's 45-year career. When it was all sung and done, even Young found his back catalog a little intimidating. "I forgot how many songs I've written," he quipped in his closing speech. "I'm worn out ... Some of those songs, I listen to them and I go, 'Oh my God! What am I gonna do now? Who was that guy?' " Whoever he was, long may he run. Here's a rundown of all the performances: John Mellencamp & T-Bone Burnett | Down by the River Young's FarmAid colleague opens the show with a slow-burning version of a classic from Everyone Knows This is Nowhere. His band consists of superstar producer T-Bone Burnett on guitar, Kenny Aronoff on drums and musical director Don Was on bass. (The latter two serve as a house rhythm section for most of the evening.) Ozomatli | Mr. Soul These Angeleno rockers add some heavy Latin grooves to this Buffalo Springfield oldie -- without sacrificing the fuzzy, Satisfaction-style riff-rock at its heart. Jackson Browne | Don't Let it Bring You Down Backed by Aronoff and Was, the troubadour turns in a rich acoustic-guitar version of this powerful cut from After the Gold Rush. Stephen Stills & Sheryl Crow | Long May You Run Crow dons a squeezebox and trades verses with Stills on a mellow version of this number cut by the Stills-Young Band in '76. Black needles Young for using such a boring band name, and makes up for it by christening the Stills-Crow ensemble Rocketnuggetthunderclaw. Lady Antebellum | Only Love Can Break Your Heart These quickly rising country-pop stars told me they were more excited about playing this event than they were about their Grammy nominations. They play this country waltz fairly straight, but their three-part harmonies add some layers to the melody. Norah Jones | Tell Me Why Another cut from Gold Rush, this time picked by Jones and a bandmate playing acoustic guitars. It's wonderfully simple. And simply wonderful. Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin & Lucinda Williams | Comes a Time The trio of roots queens join forces -- along with some steel guitar and accordion -- in this folksy chestnut. I wonder why Lucinda is wearing glasses. Then I notice the giant teleprompter screen behind me. Wilco | Broken Arrow If you can think of anyone more capable of handling all the intricate twists and turns of this shape-shifting epic from Buffalo Springfield Again, you let me know. Then again, don't bother. You're wrong. Josh Groban | Harvest Moon The popera sensation takes a seat at the piano for this gentle ballad, which he gussies up a little too much with all his technique and talent. Neil needs to be a bit ragged, you know? Everest | Revolution Blues Who? Well, put it this way: These L.A. roots-rockers are signed to Young's Vapor Records. Hey, throw Neil a bone: It's his big night. Besides, they crank out a smoking version of Revolution Blues. It's the heaviest performance so far. Dierks Bentley & Booker T. Jones | Cinnamon Girl Backed by frequent Young sideman Booker T. and his instantly identifiable organ, Bentley and his gruff pipes transform this immortal tune into twangy country-rock -- and lose a bit of the song's edge in the process. Ben Harper | Ohio The musical centrepiece of the show. Armed with his slide guitar and accompanied only by three female backup singers, Harper recasts Young's Vietnam-era protest song into stirring gospel-blues. Quite simply one of the finest, most moving versions of this song I've ever heard. It deservedly brings some attendees to their feet. Keith Urban, John Fogerty & Booker T. Jones | Rockin' in the Free World Another winner. Urban and Fogerty crank up the amps and blow the roof off the dump, trading solos and belting out the vocals on Young's slamming rocker. Urban is playing harder -- and grinning wider -- than I've ever seen before. And Fogerty still hasn't lost a step. Afterward, Black quite rightly tells the swells, "I know it's expensive -- but I think you're getting your money's worth. This is insane! Can you appreciate how insane this is?" Elvis Costello | The Losing End The roll continues: An acoustic-guitar toting Costello takes this lesser-known number from Everybody Knows This is Nowhere and turns it into a country weeper that could have come straight from ole Hank's pen. Jason Mraz & Shawn Colvin | Lotta love A horn section and some organ add some soulful backing to Mraz and Colvin's duet. Still, it's not one of the evening's more memorable moments. Then again, they did have to follow Elvis. Dave Matthews | Needle and the Damage Done On the plus side: The singer-guitarist totally nails Neil's anti-drug ballad, right down to the mournful falsetto vocal. On the downside: He delivers a rambling introduction that makes him look like a goof. Red Hot Chili Peppers | A Man Needs a Maid Not surprisingly, the Peppers -- making their first public appearance with new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer -- lace Young's Harvest track with their heavy, slogging funk. But that's not nearly as alarming as Anthony Kiedis's Mexican porn-star moustache. James Taylor | Heart of Gold Hey, I respect JT as much as the next guy -- but does the world really need an easy-listening version of Heart of Gold? The good news: Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello and Jason Mraz help out on backing vocals. Elton John, Leon Russell, Neko Case, Sheryl Crow & T-Bone Burnett | Helpless The stage is getting a little crowded at this point -- but really, the song belongs to Elton, who converts it into a work of classic country-pop vaguely reminiscent of his own Burn Down the Mission. Neko, Sheryl and Leon each get a turn at the mic. Crosby, Stills and Nash | Human Highway "We made some of the best music of our lives with you," says David Crosby before the legendary trio close the show by putting their gorgeous harmonies to work on this underappreciated '70s track. Neil's reaction? "Now I gotta go write some more songs." No argument here.