A hall of fame night for rock hall's 25th The Scene

Thursday's extravaganza at Madison Square Garden, the first of two concerts, ran more than five hours, and was a reunion of past inductees: Among the performers were Simon & Garfunkel (1990), Crosby, Stills and Nash (1997), Jeff Beck (2009), James Taylor (2000), Bonnie Raitt (2000) and Sting (with the Police, 2003).

"It's been incredible being in a room with musicians... who put music in your head," Springsteen said during his rollicking set, which ran nearly two hours and featured the Boss collaborating with the Piano Man, singing Joel hits like New York State of Mind and Only the Good Die Young.

The night's emotional highlight came courtesy of Wonder, who sang Michael Jackson's upbeat The Way You Make Me Feel, in tribute to the fallen King of Pop. During one part in the chorus, Wonder stopped singing, bent his head and started to sob, but he quickly gathered his composure to finish the song, ending it joyously by leading the crowd with chants of We Love Michael Jackson and Long Live Michael Jackson.

It wasn't the night's only bittersweet moment. Earlier, during Paul Simon's performance, he performed the Beatles' Here Comes the Sun for the late George Harrison, whom he called "a man who I truly loved and admired greatly."

But the mood of the night was hardly sombre. Instead, it was an endless jam session of rock gods playing some of the most cherished songs in pop music's catalogue. Performers like Wonder and Springsteen didn't just use their sets to sing their own songs, but to give homage to their influences and celebrate the newer generation's music stars.

Simon brought out Dion and also Little Anthony and the Imperials, and Springsteen showcased inductee Sam Moore and John Fogerty, as well as veteran Darlene Love and guitarist Tom Morello, whom he called a "future member of the Hall of Fame."

Wonder performed hits he made famous, like Living for the City and Superstitious, but also gave the spotlight to blues legend B.B. King, who performed The Thrill Is Gone, while Smokey Robinson sang the Miracles classic The Tracks of My Tears.

Raitt performed the songs Love Has No Pride and Midnight Rider with Crosby, Stills & Nash -- she and Love were the only two female acts featured on the male-dominated bill.

But Springsteen was clearly the night's biggest draw, and even though he went on close to midnight, there weren't many empty seats as he went through a set that included songs like Born to Run, the Clash's London Calling, Roy Orbison's Pretty Woman and The Ghost of Tom Joad.

The evening closed with Springsteen and his guest stars performing a spirited rendition of Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" -- ending on a musical high note.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 31, 2009 C2