On Thursday, March 5, the Beacon Theatre in New York City hosted its 10th annual Love Rocks NYC concert, raising funds for God’s Love We Deliver. 

The non-profit has been preparing and home-delivering free medically tailored meals to people affected by life-altering illnesses since 1985, serving over 15,000 clients and their families/caregivers every weekday. The nutritious meals improve the health and well-being of the disabled and chronically ill. 

They are projected to deliver 6.5 million meals this year, having provided over 40 million meals to New Yorkers in their 40-year history.

Love Rocks NYC fundraises for this cause. Since the first concert in 2017, co-executive producers John  Varvatos, Greg Williamson and Nicole Rechter have helped the event raise over $65 million for the non-profit, making the concert the largest fundraiser for God’s Love We Deliver. 

In its 10 year history, Love Rocks has supported acclaimed performers and presenters like Joe Walsh, Dave Matthews, Cyndi Lauper, Jon Bon Jovi, Tina Fey, Jackson Browne, Pat Benatar, Stephen Colbert, Chevy Chase, Andy Cohen, Dave Grohl, Martin Short, Trey Anastasio, Cher and Alicia Keys. 

Hozier, Mavis Staples and Bill Murray are consistently performers at the event. The House Band, led by Will Lee with members Paul Shaffer, Eric Krasno, Larry Campbell, Steve Gadd and Shawn Pelton, also plays every year.

This year, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band joined them, alongside a six member section of “God’s Love Horns” and a choir of “We Deliver Singers.”

This year, Love Rocks promises an all-star line up, promoting stars Billy F Gibbons, Elvis Costello, the Goo Goo Dolls, Hozier, Jon Batiste, Linda Perry, Mary J Blige, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Paul Simon, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Susanna Hoffs, Trombone Shorty and Warren Haynes.

The benefit was also set to include features by JB Smoove, Jeff Ross, Julianne Moore, Paul Shaffer, Whoopi Goldberg and Zarna Garg. Executive producers Williamson, Rechter and Varvatos made appearances throughout the course of the show.

A one-time only paid livestream taping of the performance was offered to the public by Veeps.com. For Veeps All Access subscribers, viewing is free.

This year, Love Rocks promises an all-star line up, promoting stars Billy F Gibbons, Elvis Costello, the Goo Goo Dolls, Hozier, Jon Batiste, Linda Perry, Mary J Blige, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Paul Simon, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Susanna Hoffs, Trombone Shorty and Warren Haynes.

The benefit was also set to include features by JB Smoove, Jeff Ross, Julianne Moore, Paul Shaffer, Whoopi Goldberg and Zarna Garg. Executive producers Williamson, Rechter and Varvatos made appearances throughout the course of the show.

A one-time only paid livestream taping of the performance was offered to the public by Veeps.com. For Veeps All Access subscribers, viewing is free.

To kick off the show, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Batiste and Murray paraded through the aisles of the Beacon Theatre playing an instrumental cover of Sugar Boy and His Cane Cutters’ “Iko Iko.” Making their way to the stage, Batiste introduced the show and played “Hey Pocky A-Way” alongside multi-instrumentalist Ivan Nelville and Trombone Shorty.

“Proud New-Yorker” Moore took the stage as a host. She introduced the crowd to God’s Love We Deliver, spoke on her personal connection with the charity and encouraged attendees to fundraise for the important cause. “That’s New York to me,” Moore said. “Not the skyline, not the rush, but the care we take of one another.”

Costello was next in line, performing his 1978 song “Pump it Up.” He then sung a rendition of Nick Lowe’s “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding.” 

“[I] was blown away and was so moved and humbled by the extraordinary work they [God’s Love We Deliver] do for so many people across New York,” Costello wrote on Facebook, regarding the event. “It was a very special night of beautiful music … and I was honored to be part of it.”

After Costello, God’s Love We Deliver president and CEO Terrence Meck called out several of the sponsors for the evening: Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Secunda Family Foundation and the RJKB Family Foundation. 

Meck spoke to the audience passionately about the charity’s 40-year history, and Love Rocks’ 10-year history. He highlighted the profound impact of God’s Love We Deliver on the disabled and chronically ill of New York City. 

“Everyone in this theater tonight has loved someone who’s been sick. And I think we can all understand what it feels like to be overwhelmed and scared,” Meck said. “When that happens to our vulnerable neighbors and they call on God’s Love We Deliver, we show up.”

After Meck came Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Perry, best known as the lead singer of all-female rock band 4 Non Blondes. Perry began her set with a cover of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun.”

The crowd sang along as she sang her 1993 hit “What’s Up?” The same confusion and frustration with the oppressive systems of the world that Perry had when she originally wrote the song is still present today. The song is timeless in its own manner, and it was a crowd favorite of the night. 

Hoffs took the Beacon Theatre back to the 80’s with “Manic Monday.” The song, originally written by Prince, rose to popularity due to Hoffs’ strong and sultry vocals with The Bangles. Then, joined by Haynes, she sang a cover of Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May.”

Hoffs left the stage directly after her two-song set, but Haynes remained on the stage to sing and jam to Blind Willie McTell cover “Statesboro Blues” alongside surprise guest blues/rock singer-songwriter Joe Bonamassa. 

In-between acts on multiple different appearances, EGOT winner Goldberg gave an impassioned speech on loving and looking out for your neighbors, a recurring theme throughout the night.

“There’s some crazy s— going on right now. And for all the times that you start to feel like ‘I can’t do anymore’ … do something you can do. Come volunteer,” Goldberg said. 

She then went on to introduce four all-stars covering one song: Hozier, Staples, Haynes and Costello. Goldberg also shoot her shot at Hozier, introducing him with a teasing “Hey Ho, just me flirting with you.”

There is no better song for these four to sing than The Band’s “The Weight.” Interchanging verses and singing together in the chorus, their soulful voices worked together to make the moment one of the most memorable of the night.

Staples, who was not on the line-up, but was teased as a surprise guest, was a part of the inaugural 2017 show, and has returned every year since. Much like how singer Hozier did at the end of her stunning performance, I also want to drop to my knees and bow to her.

Shaffer and Murray took the stage with the crowd still high on energy and introduced each member of the house band. Honoring the late Warren Zevon, the two sang “Werewolves of London.”

After came comedian Ross, who shared a touching story about how God’s Love We Deliver personally impacted his family, and how it allowed him to pursue his dreams of becoming a comedian.

Gibbons came next on the setlist, delivering ZZ Top classic “Sharp Dressed Man.” For his next song, Gibbons was joined by Bonamassa and 11-year-old America’s Got Talent semi-finalist Bay Melnick Virgolino. The three performed Roy Hawkins cover “The Thrill Is Gone,” with Virgolino engaging the audience with his stage presence and charisma. 

Introducing the next act, Murray said that he doesn’t go “goo goo” over many people, and “I don’t want people saying I’m goo goo for anybody … but I’ll tell you who I am goo goo for,” gesticulating stage right to introduce the Goo Goo Dolls.

The two began their set by serenading the audience with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ cover “You Wreck Me.” Then, they urged the audience to sing along to “Iris,” with lead vocalist John Rzeznik going into the crowd and engaging with attendees.

Once the duo left the stage, Smoove introduced Batiste, making it his second appearance of the night. Batiste took his seat at the piano, all eyes on him. His voice roared with the might of singing Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come.” Alongside Trombone Shorty and drummer and music director Steve Jordan, Batiste sang his own “TELL THE TRUTH.”

There were several comedians and presenters throughout the night, but no one had the crowd laughing more than Indian-American comedian Zarna Garg. She quipped about her heritage and how it has affected her life in the US.

Making his second appearance of the night, Hozier took the stage with his music director and keyboardist Ryan Connors to sing his 2014 hit “Take Me To Church.” Mixing folk, soul and blues, his rich and earthy voice captivated the crowd. He then invited Upper West Side local Nile Rodgers for a funky and electric Joe Cocker-style cover of “Feelin’ Alright.”

Not an eye was dry in the building by the time Simon had finished his three-song set, including “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” “Still Crazy After All These Years” and Simon and Garfunkel classic “The Boxer.” Once again introduced by Goldberg, his set was incredibly intimate and personal, no matter if in the nosebleeds or the front row. 

As one of the most well-known names of the night, Simon did not disappoint. With just his acoustic guitar and vocals, he had the entire crowd singing “Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie, lie-lie-lie-lie-lie” along with him.

After Mary J. Blige got the crowd on their feet with her iconic cover of U2’s “One” and signature 2001 hit “Family Affair,” Rodgers & CHIC performed Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family.” Shaffer joined the trio to finish off the individual acts with “Good Times/Rapper’s Delight.”

To close off the four-hour show, most of the artists returned to the stage to perform Cocker-style “With a Little Help from My Friends.” 

Performing alongside decades of stars could have been nervewracking for Virgolino, but he used the opportunity to shine. He played his heart away, crossing guitars with Rodgers and Gibbons and dancing alongside the comparatively tall Hozier. 

The four-hour show ended just as strongly as it began, with Varvatos, Williamson and Rechter taking the stage to encourage donations and to give Williamson the 1st Love Rocks NYC Impact Award. 

To donate to God’s Love We Deliver, text “DELIVER” to 41444, or click here.