Sure, mainstream rock music can be trite. Sure, it can be uninspired. But standing only 100 yards from the giant stage on the Lincoln Memorial for the Opening Ceremony Concert of the Inauguration, I was thinking of anything but indie cred.
This afternoon, in front of an estimated 300,000 people spread from the base of the Memorial all the way to the steps of the Washington Monument, an amazing array of musicians rocked inauguration-appropriate songs in a near-two hour extravaganza.
Obama, the man of the hour (and day, and week, and year and next four years) sat with his family - his daughters snapping digital photos and leaning on their dad - sat protected from the front by a square glass encasing and from the back by snipers atop the Lincoln Memorial.
Inaugurations aren't child's play.
Obama also showed his true rock'n'roll colors during the program. He grinned and sang along, looking like he'd rather have had a guitar than a seat.
But we're getting ahead of ourselves.
After the Jumbotrons had finished playing another will.i.am-organized celeb-fest video (including, awkwardly, Seinfeld's Jason Alexander wringing his fists and singing along with faux white boy soul), the program started with an epic orchestral performance of Aaron Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man."
The sound coming from the crowd is impossible to accurately describe. It wasn't loud, exactly, as I was regrettably far from the thousands and thousands of cheerers. But it was absolutely massive - like standing far away, word wide thunderstorm. The sound was everywhere, all encompassing; it swallowed us all whole.
Denzel Washington spoke briefly and then - magic.
Bruce Springsteen, with an acoustic guitar and an entire gospel choir, singing "The Rising." The song was perfect, the moment epic. The Boss was in charge. The song's "La, la, la" refrain shot above the crowd, higher and higher; Springsteen's face strained, his voice scratchy and bold as ever.
I'm not one for sentimentality, so let's just say that the cold weather made my eyes water.
The Boss' performance set the stage for all that would come - basically, accomplished musicians singing not to the crowd, not to Obama, but to the feeling that so many people had come together to celebrate, to sing and dance, to (Note: please excuse, again, sentimentality) shake at the power of rock'n'roll.
James Taylor and John Legend, kings of the Middle-of-the-Road, hit it with a feel-good "Shower the People."
John Mellencamp, king of the Comeback-via-American-Pride-Flaunting, actually impressed with - bet you didn't see this coming! - "Pink Houses," with it's refrain of "Ain't that America for you and me?" But, truthfully, sing-along was just right for the mood of togetherness and unity, even if it does only last a few days.
In the surprise of the day, Garth Brooks (yes, Garth Brooks), sang "American Pie," and it was awesome. Honestly, I never would've expected to write "Garth Brooks" and "awesome" in the same sentence, unless they were separated by "is not," but the man puts on a great show, and his voice and energy was nothing short of rousing.
Then Brooks dove into The Isley Brother's "Shout," and shit went crazy.
The only artist who acted too cool for his own good was Usher, who undeservingly performed "Higher Ground" with pop princess/annoying voiced Shakira and living soul god Stevie Wonder. Were the former two have been bypassed for, say, only Stevie Wonder, the moment would've been Wonder-full (awkward pause) and much better.
Wonder even sang "O-ba-ma" as the song faded out.
U2 are not American, but they'd like you to forget that.
Bono has more American pride than an Alabama high school football coach with a bald eagle tattoo and a "Support the Troops" bumper sticker.
The band hit with "Pride (In the Name of Love)," honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. For a band that loves to overdo it, the performance was subdued, appropriate. Bono shouted, his day job as a worldly peacekeeper and motivational speaker shining through, "On Tuesday, this dream comes to pass."
But no rock star could outshine Obama, and he spoke with the dignity and gravity we've come to expect.
"There is no obstacle that can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change," he said. "Together, we can rally as one nation, as one people."
Springsteen and -what!? - Pete Seeger playing Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land." Seeger is 89 years old and can still shred on the banjo.
As the tune ended, Seeger, old and visibly weak, raised his hands above his head. His arms shook, his face overjoyed.
Music is a powerful thing.
The whole she-bang ended with a Beyonce-led "America the Beautiful," joined by the cast of the whole program. She kept vocal acrobatics to a minimum, allowing the focus to rest on the sheer impact of the filled-stage visual. It worked - even the press pit was swaying and singing along.
Where We Are One could've been a gawky parade of celebrity flash, it never took focus away from the matter at hand - we'd come to celebrate a new chapter in American History. The stars knew it, the crowd knew it and Obama, bearing his rock'n'roll soul throughout the day, showed it in his broad smile, the weight of the world resting a little lighter on his shoulders.
Music is a powerful thing.
Photo credits: Kevin Mazur/HBO
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