So my Beatles geekdom reached beyond the re-release of "Let It Be" and to a dvd release of a George Harrison tribute concert called "Concert for George."

Usually I'm not a big fan of Tribute Concerts because sometimes people have a tendency to put the person they're talking about on too high a plane. Most tribute concerts that I've seen have been more about idolatry or artist felatio instead of a heartfelt tribute to the artist they're talking about.

Luckily, "The Concert for George" does not fit into those descriptions. There are no long winded speeches from the people who knew George and what he meant to music and to the world. What the artists in "Concert for George" opted to do was to go out on stage, MAYBE say about 4 or 5 lines, and then proceed to play his songs. This was the most sincere and heartfelt tribute concert that I've ever seen.

The main participants were Eric Clapton (who organized the event), Dhani Harrison (George's son), Olivia Harrison (George's wife), and a few other artists named Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Ravi Shankar, Monty Python, Billy Preston, and many others.

Sometimes tribute concerts are somewhat aloof because talented musicians will get up on stage and sing the music of the person that inspired them being honored. But in this case, you had everyone on stage who meant something musically to George Harrison. Instead of getting people who grew up on George Harrison's music, you had people who grew up WITH George Harrison and his music and that made their versions of his songs all the more meaningful.

Like I said earlier, very few words were spoken the entire night. McCartney and Ringo said a few lines about the song they were going to sing and what it meant to George. The Monty Python crew (of which Harrison was a fan of) sang a couple of their numbers. After performing the lumberjack song, they turned around and saluted the picture of George Harrison hanging on the wall behind the stage. This was a lot more meaningful of a gesture than if they had gotten up on stage and talked about how much George Harrison meant to their careers. (He produced a couple of their movies) Instead of using their words, they let the songs carry the night.

It was really neat seeing Dhani Harrison on stage playing the guitar to all of his dad's songs. It's almost scary how much he looks like his dad, especially when he's holding his guitar. Like McCartney said onstage, "it's as if George stayed the same age and we all got older."

What really stood out to me though was that George Harrison was an excellent song writer. Each song performed was just so well written and heartfelt. Sometimes people lose sight of George being a good songwriter in his own right. In any other band, he would have been the star. But of course, he was a Beatle, meaning he was always going to be overshadowed by McCartney/Lennon. But I think that being in the Beatles helped out his songwriting if for nothing else that he was able to push himself just to keep up with the duo.

And it also struck me how deep his songs were. I think that this is how I'd summarizes the Beatles songwriting:

Paul was the melody child who could make the most beautiful songs. His lyrics are definitely arty and introspective.

John was the poet who could take words and flip them on their heads while writing some pretty interesting melodies as well.

George was the deep thinker who got the Beatles introduced to deeper Eastern philosophy and melodies.

That's about as precise and succinct as I can break it down.

So back to the review, I'd say that it's a must buy for any Beatles or George Harrison fan. I can almost guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

matt out