Mayor de Blasio Considers a Second "Homecoming Concert"

Carlos Santana in Central Park on August 21 (all photographs courtesy of the NYC Mayor's Office)

Mayor Bill de Blasio said at his press briefing on August 23 that he will be meeting in the coming days with his concert promoters, including Clive Davis and Doug Davis, "to discuss options" regarding staging another large free concert for vaccinated New Yorkers. Disappointed by the abrupt midway ending of the We Love NYC: A Homecoming Concert in Central Park on Saturday night due to a nearby lightning storm, the mayor will ask if another concert can be staged, possibly featuring some of the artists who did not get to perform on August 21. These artists could include Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, the Killers, Maluma, Elvis Costello, Cynthia Erivo and Patti Smith, all of whom were unable to perform due to the approaching storm path of Hurricane Henri.

"Anyone who saw it, anyone who was there, is feeling a great sense of loss because we were watching something magical and an unbelievable statement about NYC, and there's unfinished business there," de Blasio stated during this morning's press briefing in Staten Island's Borough Hall. "We've got to look at options now."

Andrea Bocelli and Marin Alsop, who conducted the New York Philharmonic

Jennifer Hudson

De Balsio announced the free concert on June 7 as a celebration of New York's ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Between the time of the announcement and the concert, however, the trajectory of infection increased. Nevertheless, the concert remained scheduled. The New York Philharmonic, Andrea Bocelli, Jennifer Hudson, Carlos Santana with Wyclef Jean and Rob Thomas, Julia Michaels & JP Saxe, Kane Brown, Journey, Jon Batiste, Earth, Wind and Fire, Polo G and a collective of LL Cool J with Rev. Run of Run-DMC, Grandmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio, Busta Rhymes with Spliff Star, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, French Montana with Fat Joe and Remy Ma, and others performed brief sets before the storm hit Central Park.

"Unfortunately, Henri took quite a toll on our Central Park concert," de Blasio said. "It was really sad to see such an amazing, amazing moment cut short. But I got to tell you, I mean, you know, this is a classic – literally, it was almost the exact halfway mark when the rain came. And this is the definition of glass half full, glass half empty. It was really sad to see that show have to end, profoundly sad, because it was getting better and better, stronger and stronger. But the first half alone, is one of the best shows I've ever seen. I mean, absolutely stunning talent, Earth, Wind and Fire, and from Earth, Wind and Fire to the New York Philharmonic, and Andrea Bocelli. I mean, it was a stunning combination. LL Cool J brought some of the greatest figures in hip-hop out on stage. I mean, it was unbelievable at that point. And everyone there really talked about how magical it was."

Mayor Bill de Blasio applauds Jennifer Hudson

Barry Manilow

The concert was to last five hours. About 7:30 p.m., halfway into the event, the attendees felt drops of rain and an offstage announcer suggested that attendees should have ponchos ready. Barry Manilow began his set and was performing his third song, "Can't Smile Without You," when the offstage announcer instructed attendees to leave the park for safety reasons due to oncoming severe weather. As attendees left the park, de Blasio, wearing a plastic poncho, announced that the concert might resume after a weather pause. The weather worsened, and the concert was officially cancelled at 10:30 p.m. The storm brought record rainfall to New York City, 1.9 inches between 10 and 11 p.m., the most ever recorded in a single hour since tracking began about 150 years ago.

"Even in the hours after, you know, amazing – the artists going live on CNN. Barry Manilow singing for Anderson Cooper, Gayle King live streaming The Killers from backstage. I mean, amazing, amazing stuff," continued the mayor. "The artists believe in New York City, they wanted to give back to New York City. Everyone felt New York City's come back. And it was projected to the whole world, and I want to thank CNN for that. For hours and hours, people saw how strong and great this city is and were reminded of it. So, that's beautiful. And it was another great example of the power of a vaccination requirement because everyone at that concert, all those people who came and loved it, were vaccinated. What a difference that makes."

De Blasio elaborated during the question and answer period concluding his press briefing.

"Well, my thinking was I think the same as everyone involved with the show, Clive Davis, and Doug Davis, and the performers – everyone wanted the show to go on. And the initial information we got from our Emergency Management Department and from the weather analysts was that there was going to be an end to the thunderstorms. I mean, a summer thunderstorm is a pretty common thing. And a lot of times as brief, we understood they would pass and then we'd have a good long stretch where things would be clear. And we were hoping to be able to bring the show back in that instance. Unfortunately, you know [inaudible] we had one of the greatest concerts in New York City history. We also had the kind of weather that shut it down, but, you know, we – anyone who was a part of it is going to remember that for the rest of their lives. It was an amazing, amazing concert and really sent the message to the whole world that New York City is back."

LL Cool J

Fat Joe and French Montana

CNN broadcasted the event live to more than 200 countries, and continued to report from backstage and the studio while waiting for confirmation on whether or not the concert would resume. During the waiting time, Elvis Costello, Barry Manilow and Patti Smith were among the artists who expressed disappointment that they could not perform. CNN even broadcasted a livestream of the Killers performing "Mr. Brightside" from a backstage tent.

“Bruce did come and was in his dressing room — he was there for a while,” co-promoter Doug Davis told Variety. “Paul Simon lives across the street from the park, so he was in his apartment. Jimmy Fallon was in his car. We had so many people on site on standby to see if we could pull it off.”

Also while waiting for further weather forecasts, the promoters considered having CNN broadcasting the headliners from the VIP tent. Davis said they "lost the main stage to lightning," but that the VIP tent appeared to be safe.

"On the fly, I was rejiggering the show, picking the songs, getting CNN to go commercial-free," Davis told Variety. "We all had a mentality that we had put together a once-in-a-century event and we should we should keep it going. We knew the world was watching. CNN was expecting 200 million people to tune in. We had talent on site and a window coming where we could put them on stage. We were going to try to capture it. It just closed in on us."

None of the alternate plans happened because the storm intensified rather than abated. Although de Blasio has expressed optimism of a sequel concert, none of the promoters have commented publicly.

“We really were putting on Woodstock," Davis concluded. "We were there to give the greatest concert of all time. And it was memorable. It was a moment that nobody will ever forget. And for that, I’m really proud.”

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The Manhattan Beat covers New York City's live music developments as they happen. All photographs are by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise. For a list of Manhattan venues that are presenting live music regularly, swing the desktop cursor to the right and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music." For a listing of upcoming concerts for live audiences, visit The Manhattan Beat's August 2021 calendar.