I Watched Wayne Coyne Ride Chewbacca at the David Bowie Tribute Concert

The David Bowie tribute at Carnegie Hall on Thursday night (March 31) had its ups and downs, I can personally attest. The drums and guitar of Bowie collaborators HoLY HoLY, who played the role of house band, were mixed super weird (Carnegie isn't exactly a venue for a rock band). The air was generally stuffy—so when Ann Wilson of Heart told us "Let's Dance" as she ripped into the classic tune with all her vocal slayage, we were left merely bobbing in our over-stuffed seats instead of getting as physical as Bowie intended us to.

But the ups were spectacular. Michael Stipe, Debbie Harry, The Mountain Goats, Bettye LaVette were among the emotional and, dare I say, rockin' performances. Right before the show closed with a sing-along and choir, The Flaming Lips brought their own magic to the stage.