A stacked cast of musicians gathered at the Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta, GA on Thursday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of R.E.M.‘s 1982 debut EP, Chronic Town. The star-studded event was streamed live via Veeps and doubled as a benefit concert, with proceeds supporting Planned Parenthood.
Comedian David Cross hosted the celebration, which featured a house band that included Rich Robinson and Sven Pipien of The Black Crowes. Chris Robinson was also in attendance along with Darius Rucker, John Cameron Mitchell, Fred Armisen, Kevn Kinney, Lenny Kaye, Mitch Easter, Steve Wynn, David Ryan Harris, Elf Power, Pylon Reenactment Society, Hugo Burnham, and more.
The night kicked off with a recreation of Chronic Town with help from John Cameron Mitchell, Fred Armisen, Chronic Town producer Mitch Easter, and Rich Robinson’s son, Quinn, but the five-track EP was only the beginning of the 28-song setlist. Highlights included Elf Power’s three-song set, which featured a cover of R.E.M.’s cover of The Velvet Underground’s “There She Goes Again”, Drivin N Cryin singer Kevn Kinney’s performance of “Fall on Me”, and a performance by The Baseball Project—a group composed of Linda Pitmon, Steve Wynn, Scott McCaughey, and R.E.M.’s Peter Buck and Mike Mills–who played “Maps and Legends”, “Me In Honey”, “So. Central Rain”, and “Circus Envy”. Speaking of circuses, another highlight was an appearance from Puddles Pity Party the clown, who performed “What Child Is This?” by William Chatterton Dix, marking a break from R.E.M. material.
View the full setlist from the R.E.M. Chronic Town 40th Anniversary Celebration at the Coca-Cola Roxy along with fan-shot videos and a gallery of photos from photographer Emily Butler below.
R.E.M.’s Chronic Town 40th Anniversary Celebration Darius Rucker – “World Leader Pretend”, “I Believe” – 12/15/22
[Video: Matt B. Davis]
Setlist: R.E.M.’s Chronic Town 40th Anniversary Celebration | Coca-Cola Roxy | Atlanta, GA | 12/15/22
Set: Wolves, Lower (with John Cameron Mitchell), Gardening at Night (with Fred Armisen), Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars) (With Quinn Robinson), 1,000,000 (with Mitch Easter), Stumble (with John Cameron Mitchell), Little America (with Elf Power), Begin the Begin (with Elf Power), There She Goes Again (The Velvet Underground) (with Elf Power), Crazy (Pylon) (with Pylon Reenactment Society), Crush With Eyeliner (with Pylon Reenactment Society), Academy Fight Song (Mission of Burma) (with Pylon Reenactment Society), Catapult (with Mitch Easter), Low (with John Cameron Mitchell), Fall on Me (with Kevn Kinney), King of Birds (with Kevn Kinney and Chris Robinson), Maps and Legends (with The Baseball Project), Me in Honey (with The Baseball Project), So. Central Rain (with The Baseball Project), Circus Envy (with The Baseball Project), Radio Free Europe (with David Ryan Harris), Everybody Hurts (with David Ryan Harris), Superman (with Mike Mills), What Child Is This? (William Chatterton Dix) (with Puddles Pity Party), World Leader Pretend (with Darius Rucker), I Believe (with Darius Rucker), Pale Blue Eyes (The Velvet Underground) (with Chris Robinson), The One I Love (with Chris Robinson and Kevn Kinney), September Gurls (Big Star) (with Mike Mills) (With ensemble; finale)
Note: Benefit for Planned Parenthood; hosted by David Cross; lineup included Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Chris Robinson, Rich Robinson, Darius Rucker, John Cameron Mitchell, Fred Armisen, Kevn Kinney, Lenny Kaye, Mitch Easter, Steve Wynn, David Ryan Harris, Elf Power, Pylon Reenactment Society, Hugo Burnham; in person and livestreamed on VEEPS.com.
