VetsAid 2022 Brought Together Ohioans, Rock Stars, and Veterans: Recap and Setlists

Jonah Krueger
·6 min read

The post VetsAid 2022 Brought Together Ohioans, Rock Stars, and Veterans: Recap and Setlists appeared first on Consequence.

On Sunday night (November 13th), Joe Walsh brought his annual charity event VetsAid to Columbus, Ohio. With the help of a lineup made up entirely of acts with connections to the buckeye state, a sold-out Nationwide Arena (and thousands more via livestream) came together to support American veterans through the power of rock and roll. As the night progressed, there was one phrase Walsh repeatedly used to describe VetsAid 2022: “This will never happen again.”

Maybe it’s a little hyperbolic, but hey, the guy is a certified rock star, hyperbole has been working for him for half a century. And, really, the exaggerated sentimentality was justified. The very premise of the VetsAid arises from the cult of rock music. It’s something straight out of a Wayne’s World movie, as it pursues change, healing, and some unknown sense of sublime through one, big, earth-shaking rock show.

But, damn it if Walsh didn’t come as close as humanly possible to achieving such an audacious goal, especially within the context of modern America. The Breeders, The Black Keys, Nine Inch Nails, a recently-reunited James Gang, and special guest Dave Grohl joined forces to deliver a truly special night of music, all while raising funds for Ohio-based veteran organizations.

The show kicked off at 6:00 pm sharp, with Walsh’s son filling in for famous Clevelander Drew Carey, who had to step down from his hosting duties due to COVID-19. After the initial introduction, he wasted no time reminding the audience of the status of the performers, even joking that they had a roulette wheel in the green room to determine the order of the sets.

From there, The Breeders took the stage. The Dayton natives seemed genuinely excited to be there, laughing between songs and dropping Ohio references at an almost alarming rate, even covering “Shocker in Gloomtown” by fellow Daytonians Guided By Voices. The set was an energetic, downright fun start to the night, capped off with Grohl’s first appearance. After a stellar rendition of “Cannonball,” Grohl joined the band on stage for “Gigantic,” a tune from singer Kim Deal’s days in the Pixies.

Next, somewhat shockingly, came the Walsh-fronted James Gang. Perhaps fueled by the palpable surprise in the room that James Gang was performing so early in the night (maybe the roulette wheel wasn’t a joke after all), the excitement in the arena was even further elevated as the group launched into their first full set since 2006. Once again, Grohl jumped on stage to help close out the performance, this time taking to the drums to bang out “Funk #49.”

The Black Keys had the unfortunate position of following James Gang’s “one last ride,” though the Akron blues revivalist tried their darndest, barreling through hit after hit and relegating their most recent efforts (including 2019’s Let’s Rock and this year’s Dropout Boogie) to a single song each. There was no Grohl to be found, but through the sheer power of singles like “Gold on the Ceiling” and “Lonely Boy,” the duo managed to retain the magical feeling in the air.

For the last major set, Nine Inch Nails burst on the stage. No, really, they jumped headfirst into “Wish” before the house lights went dark and while the MC’s announcements were still reverberating throughout the arena. After a fittingly chaotic start, Trent Reznor and company went on to crush a commanding performance complete with strobe lights, gritty concert footage, and enough smoke to kill Snoop Dogg. Reznor only took one break to express how honored he felt to be invited, detailing how Joe Walsh was his first concert before promising to “shut the fuck up” to pack as much music as possible into their allotted time. (Later in the night, Walsh said it was his first time seeing the band and that it reminded him of a California earthquake – presumably as a compliment.)

Finally, Walsh returned to the stage for a brief finale, where he dusted off familiar favorites from his solo days. The set gave him ample time to shred his axe, reiterate his gratitude, and invite Grohl to join him for “Life’s Been Good” and “Rocky Mountain Way.” It was a sufficiently celebratory way to bring VetsAid 2022 to a close.

Between sets, while what seemed like hundreds of crew members reset the stage at lightning-fast speeds, veterans representing the different beneficiaries of the night gave first-hand accounts of their time in the service and how the funding will continue to help veterans in Ohio. Combined with consistently impressive performances, it was enough to spark thoughts in even the most cynical members of the crowd: maybe Walsh’s mission of the Rock revolution wasn’t so fantastic after all.

VetsAid 2022 was full of moments that inspired such a willingness to believe. The crowd was respectful and lively, the merchandise sold-out by the end of the event, and every time it seemed like Walsh reached a peak in spectacle, he pulled out the ace in sleeve: the humble, Warren, Ohio-born drummer, Dave Grohl. What a party trick.

Every year since its inception, VetsAid has wowed audiences and helped countless veterans across the country. Even before last night, the organization had raised over 2 million dollars through its efforts. But there was something extra special about VetsAid 2022. It was the intersection of three communities Joe Walsh has been a part of for decades now: Ohioans, rock stars, and veterans. And just like he said, it will probably never happen again.

A replay of VetsAid 2022 is available for purchase here, with all net proceeds going directly to Ohio veterans services charities. Priced at $19.99, it is available for rewatch 48 hours after purchase.

The Breeders Setlist:
No Aloha
Saints
Shocker in Gloomtown (Guided by Voices cover)
Invisible Man
Wait in the Car
Hag
Iris
Drivin’ on 9 (Ed’s Redeeming Qualities cover)
Divine Hammer
Walking With a Killer
Do You Love Me Now?
Off You
Cannonball
Gigantic (Pixies cover with Dave Grohl)

James Gang Setlist:
Stop (Howard Tate cover)
You’re Gonna Need Me (Albert King cover)
Tend My Garden
Asshtonpark
Walk Away
Midnight Man
Collage
The Bomber: Closet Queen/ Bolero/ Cast Your Fate to the Wind
Funk #49 (with Dave Grohl)

The Black Keys Setlist:
Howlin’ for You
Fever
Tighten Up
Your Touch
Gold on the Ceiling
Lo/Hi
Next Girl
Wild Child
Little Black Submarines
Lonely Boy

Nine Inch Nails Setlist:
Wish
March of the Pigs
Piggy
The Lovers
Less Than
Heresy
The Perfect Drug
The Hand That Feeds
Head Like a Hole
Hurt

Joe Walsh Setlist:
In the City
Turn to Stone
Life’s Been Good (with Dave Grohl)
Rocky Mountain Way (with Dave Grohl)

VetsAid 2022 Brought Together Ohioans, Rock Stars, and Veterans: Recap and Setlists
Jonah Krueger

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