Eminem, Rihanna, Metallica, Springsteen & More Salute Veterans & Soldiers at Concert for Valor

Cathy Applefeld Olson
·3 min read
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Grand televised productions are tricky. There’s an expected balance between pageantry and performance, individual voices and the unified amplification of a greater cause.

Tuesday night’s Concert for Valor, though not entirely even, was to its core a salute to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. It was for those who’ve served and are serving, those currently deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq, those watching at home and those among the hundreds of thousands congregated on the National Mall for the free performance.

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The nearly three-hour event, sponsored by HBO, Starbucks and Chase — and for which HBO temporarily unbolted its subscription gate — was a musical melting pot. From Jennifer Hudson‘s soaring opening notes of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to Carrie Underwood‘s stirring “Something in the Water” backed by the Air Force Singing Sergeants, to Metallica’s high-velocity metal dispatch, all bases were covered.

If there was an overlord of the live show, it was Metallica‘s James Hetfield, as jovial as he was demonic despite battling mic issues almost the entire set. The band shredded the stage, which pulsed to the wave of bleachers jammed with military fans who kept their fists pumped for the entire three-song set.

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Others opted for more stripped-down sets — notably Dave Grohl, sans the other Foo Fighters, and Bruce Springsteen. The acoustic approach worked better for Grohl, who managed to slip a signature screech into “My Hero.”

Springsteen, an uncompromising veterans’ supporter, bordered on too subdued with “Promised Land.” But when he strapped on the slide guitar for a beautifully spare rendition of “Born in the U.S.A.” it was clear he was attempting to deliver to ultimate respect to the veterans, if not necessarily for the war.

Both Grohl and Springsteen hit their high note during a cover with Zac Brown of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son,” one of the night’s best numbers. The wholly masterful trinity followed Brown’s band’s own patriotic set, during which the charismatic frontman took the opportunity to remind the audience “We are the Zac Brown Band” several times. (Hey, if you’ve got a massive TV audience, why not?)

The majority of performers’ clear deference to Veterans Day shone a glaring light on anyone seemingly not as connected. That designation belonged to the Black Keys, who delivered a solid set but without much feeling, with front man Dan Auerbach preferring to “keep it moving along” than do much talking about the day at hand.

In contrast, Rihanna‘s commanding version of “Stay,” enhanced by videos of members of the military and their loved ones, rose as one of the event’s most emotional performances. Rihanna was joined on stage by Eminem, who amped up “The Monster” in the duo’s now well-heeled version of the song.

Eminem then brought the R rating in his own closing set, wishing everyone a “Happy motherf–king Veterans Day” and proceeding to drop more F-bombs than likely have ever been uttered from the revered lawn of the nation’s capital. His rabid-deer-in-the-headlights moves and frenetic rapping, particularly on favorite “Lose Yourself,” brought the live crowd to an invigorated climax. Despite some inevitable backlash from TV land, let’s face it: Eminem is best at being Eminem, and Tony Soprano’s said worse.

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