Farm Aid: Concert for America

Held in Noblesville, Indiana, Farm Aid 2001 (the latest in the concert series inaugurated by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young in 1985 to raise money for struggling American farmers) boasted a strong lineup that featured Martina McBride, the Doobie Brothers, and Dave Matthews, in addition to Mellencamp, Young, and Nelson. Aside from a few brief patriotic plugs for Farm Aid, this near 90-minute show serves up a solid Dolby Digital 5.1 recorded set, with highlights including the Doobie Brothers' "China Grove," "Black Water," and "Long Train Running"; Mellencamp's "Rockin in the USA" and "Ain't That America"; and Nelson's typically laid-back renditions of "Whiskey River" and "Mama, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys." The hands-down showstopper, however, is Dave Matthews' (latest member of the Farm Aid board) acoustic cover of "All Along the Watchtower," with Mickey Raphael accompanying on harmonica--a blistering, raw, powerhouse rendition in which the lyric "there's too much confusion here, I can't get no relief" could not help but strike a resonant chord with the wounded psyches of concert attendees assembled here 18 days after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Definitely recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)