Since we moved to California a little over a year ago, I’ve discovered numerous concerts at many easily accessible venues.  I have a cousin here who has become my concert buddy, so when the performance and timing are right, she and I get together to enjoy an immersive musical experience.  So far, we’ve seen Bon Jovi at the HP Pavilion in San Jose and Bad Company at Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln.

This past Saturday my cousin and I attended the Bridge School Benefit concert at the Shoreline Amphitheatre, featuring one of my favorites: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Now in it’s 27th year, the show presents a variety of bands who perform gratis to benefit the school.  This year it included Heart, Elvis Costello and fun., among others.

It was a beautiful 75-degree autumn day and the drive to the venue, located in Mountain View next to the sprawling Googleplex, took just 40 minutes. The show started at 5:00p.m. when Pegi Young, Neil Young’s wife, came onstage and explained that Young founded the Bridge School for children with physical and verbal disabilities. After a video about the school, Neil came on stage and played Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind”, followed by his own popular hit “Heart of Gold”.  Then he and his wife sang a beautiful duet on “Comes a Time” before the other bands came on.

I was thrilled when Heart performed an amazing rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Rain Song” along with their “Crazy on You”. Other memorable performances included fun.’s “Carry On” and Elvis Costello’s “Alison”.  It was cold and near midnight when CSN&Y came on stage but the wait was definitely worth it. The band proved they could still harmonize with beautiful renditions of “Deja Vu” and “Long May You Run”. The highlight of the show for me was an awesome performance of “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.” “Teach Your Children” with many of the performers and students from the school on stage, was an apropos finale.

Here’s a little treat for those who care to listen/watch…