On Saturday, May 30th, over 70 artists and thousands of fans came together for Quarantine Comes Alive, a virtual music festival that raised money for a litany of charities via the comprehensive PLUS1 COVID-19 Relief Fund.
The 15-hour livestream marathon featured new contributions by an array of amazing artists from around the world. It was a lot to take in and you surely missed at least a few of the many performers, so we’ll be rolling out the individual segments over the next few weeks to highlight each of the individual performances.
Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band) and Nick Cassarino (The Nth Power), who tour together as a duo, were one of many acts to deliver reimagined covers of popular songs during Quarantine Comes Alive. The pre-chorus of “I don’t belong here” and the general eeriness and solitary nature of the song take on added meaning in the age of isolation. With delicate fingerpicking from Cassarino and the soft melodic touch of Hartswick’s sultry vocals, this rendition of “Creep” doesn’t immediately ring with that familiar Radiohead feel. Without the crashing of drums and sludgy guitar, the song and its lyrics take on a different tone while still prompting the same feelings of alienation as the original.
“Nick and I started playing this song on Duo Tour just a few days before we were sent home for pandemic reasons,” Hartswick told Live For Live Music about the Quarantine Comes Alive performance. “We wanted to do something fresh for QCA, so we chose this. The response has been mind-blowing. I’m so grateful to you guys for your kindness.”
If you enjoyed the performance, Jen asks that you make a donation to The Nashville Food Project. Watch Jennifer Hartswick and Nick Cassarino collaborate on “Creep” by Radiohead at Quarantine Comes Alive below:
Jennifer Hartswick & Nick Cassarino – “Creep” [Radiohead cover] – Quarantine Comes Alive
Nick Cassarino was also featured two other times during Quarantine Comes Alive, both for a solo performance and as part of an archival video of The Nth Power playing a Nirvana tribute set in New Orleans. You can watch Cassarino’s solo performance of “A Change Is Gonna Come” at Quarantine Comes Alive here. Be on the lookout for more video releases from Quarantine Comes Alive over the next few weeks.
Presented by Live For Live Music in partnership with PLUS1 and Nugs.TV, Quarantine Comes Alive was conceived as a way to celebrate and support musicians, provide fans with unique musical experiences from the comfort of their couches, and raise money for comprehensive COVID-19 relief during this time of uncertainty. All funds raised from the donation-based event will be split evenly between the artists on the bill and the PLUS1 COVID-19 Relief Fund, which works directly with leading non-profit organizations like Sweet Relief, MusiCares, Center for Disaster Philanthropy, World Central Kitchen, Partners In Health, Trans Lifeline, and Backline to provide aid where it’s needed most. For more information, head here.