Directed by David Leland
Featuring performances by Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Jeff Lynne, Ringo Starr
Unrated
Runtime: 1 hour, 40 minutes
In theaters one night only November 29

by Ashley Jane Davis, Staff Writer

“It’s being here now that’s important.” – George Harrison

I remember when tickets for this original event held at London’s Royal Albert Hall on November 29th, 2002 went on sale. Realistically I knew I would not go – I was in Canada and I was in high school. But… I just had to check! Maybe if I could nab a ticket, then I would worry about how I could cross the ocean to get there.

I was (and am) a George Harrison superfan. I spent so many hours chatting about his voice on the 2000 version of “My Sweet Lord” and gushing about his final album, Brainwashed, on MSN messenger with my friends Adam and Andy. I discovered so many unique chords in learning to play his songs on guitar. Weeks after his death, I held my own concert in his memory in my high school. And by “concert”, I mean dressing up with three kids in my drama class and spilling my guts about my love for George before lip syncing to a few songs Harrison penned on the cafeteria stage.

Exhibit A – I have a Beatles wig if you can’t tell. Big “straight girl” energy here, I know.

Photo taken and saved for 20+ years by my bestie, Leah.

At the time of this all-star concert, George Harrison had been gone for a year. His wife Olivia and son Dhani organized an event as an opportunity for George’s musical friends to pay tribute to their dear friend. When the Concert for George CD and DVD set came out, I bought them right away. I have listened to and watched these performances so many times and am overjoyed to get to revisit this remastered concert film!

The film features a whole lot of George’s friends taking turns performing songs written by George (shout out to Ringo singing “Honey Don’t,” not written by George, haha). Your dad will recognize all the main players; Eric Clapton (eugh), Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Jeff Lynne, Billy Preston, Joe Brown, and of course, two well-known Liverpool lads, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney. There are also unbelievably stunning performances conducted by Ravi Shankar’s daughter Anoushka, and best of all, George’s son (and twin) Dhani performs on every song. Seeing Dhani up there really touches my heart.

The featured songs are the ones folks would expect to hear, and I get that. I would have chosen a different setlist, but how on earth to you boil down a career spanning four decades into one night? Being more familiar with the full concert than this theatrical cut, I was missing some songs (“Wah Wah”! Jeff Lynne’s beautiful rendition of “Give Me Love”!), but that just makes me want to buy the Blu-ray. And sure, I could have done with less Monty Python (I’d prefer none) but overall, it is a great picture of the celebration that night.

My Top Three Songs of the Night (for the record, all three make me cry, a lot):

“Something” (lead by Paul McCartney)

I won’t get too hung up on the fact Eric Clapton takes a verse (this is not me getting started), because Paulie steals the show with one of the sweetest tributes I’ve had the joy to see in person. I LOVE how it starts out with just Paul and his ukulele with Ringo gently keeping time. Eventually it morphs into the speed and sound we’re used to (with a guitar solo that doesn’t have the right tone, but whatever), just in time for Eric’s verse, made sweeter with Jeff Lynne’s angelic harmonies. But the bridge??? PAUL! I’m not sorry for yelling. His harmonies are actually perfect and I believe that’s a bit of Paul that is lost forever. But we can watch moments like this and remember.

“My Sweet Lord” (lead by Billy Preston)

This is one of my favourite songs of all-time and Billy Preston nails it. I still wish The Beatles would have done one more album with Billy Preston as a full member, recording songs from each of their first solo albums, but that’s another story, I know.

“The Inner Light” (lead by Jeff Lynne and Anoushka Shankar)

This. Is. Amazing. There are countless unbelievably talented musicians onstage for this, but Anoushka Shankar is just incredible. Eastern music, religion, and philosophy were not a 60s phase for George, but they became his way of life. I’m so thankful that wasn’t cast aside here in favour of more traditional eastern style songs. I think this is one of the most wonderful songs George ever wrote. Jeff Lynne has a gorgeous soft vocal touch, and when Dhani sings harmony for one line, it’s like George is actually here. 

This heartwarming event shows how George’s spirit lives in his music. We have meditations on the beauty of the natural world (“Here Comes the Sun”), frustrations over the mind-numbing monotony of life in the material world (“Taxman”, “Beware of Darkness”), and expressions of love and gratitude for the spiritual (“My Sweet Lord”, “The Inner Light”, “All Things Must Pass”). The way I see George has evolved so much, especially in the last few years. George is a deep dude, and I’ve claimed him as a guide.

As always, please enjoy a playlist of a sample of my fave solo George Harrison songs, including only three different cuts of “Run Of The Mill” (my other playlist is over 5 hours…).

I love you always, George.