Joe Walsh and friends give fans six hours of energy-packed rock at VetsAid concert

Columbus turned out in force for the much-awaited VetsAid Ohio event last night presented by guitarist, songwriter, and producer Joe Walsh and friends.

Walsh, whose father died in active duty when Joe was 20 months old, has a passion for helping veterans, including this annual benefit event. At a press conference prior to the show, he said “I see, now, a divided country, and being in a position to be on tour, well, people who don't agree … none of that matters at a music concert. Everyone goes home happy. And I'm so blessed to be able to do that.”

Although Walsh lived in Columbus for only three years as a child, he considers this his hometown. Here, in a house on Summit Street, he learned to play guitar. And Columbus has been proud to claim him as one of their own.

So, this year, the sixth annual VetsAid event was held at Nationwide Arena, benefiting several veterans service organizations based or operating in Ohio.

Casually referred to as "Ohiopalooza" on the street, the six-hour benefit concert showcased some of the best rock musicians Ohio has produced from the 1970s through the 2010s: The Breeders (Dayton), The Black Keys (Akron), Nine Inch Nails (Cleveland), and The James Gang (Cleveland).

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This was no sampler package with a handful of songs apiece. All four bands played complete sets of their best-known hits, and Walsh also played a small solo set. Add to that a few special appearances by Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl (a native of Warren, Ohio), and the program had something for everyone from millennials to Boomers.

Scheduled host Drew Carey was sick with COVID-19, so Walsh’s son filled in, introducing service providers and veterans with notable stories while road crews reset the stage between acts.

The show started with a surprise guest: a contingent of The Ohio State University Marching Band, leading the crowd in “Hang on Sloopy” and the national anthem.

Then, the Breeders kicked off the concert with their delightfully grungy, joyful garage rock. The band always has a rehearsal-room energy on stage, with Kim Deal’s infectious smile, Josephine Wiggs’ dry wit, and Kelley Deal’s ear-splitting guitar riffs. Moving from songs like “Iris,” “Driving on 9,” and “One Divine Hammer” into “Walking with a Killer,” Kim asked, laughing, “Who here has driven on East 35? Well, everybody from Ohio will know what I’m talking about.”

After the cheery, quirky hit “Cannonball,” Grohl joined the band on guitar to close with The Pixies’ “Gigantic.”

The James Gang “rode again” for their second album in 1970, but last night, the trio regrouped for “one final ride.” Of course, there were the big hits like “Funk #49” (with Grohl joining on a second drum set) and “Walk Away,” but songs like “Collage” and “Tend My Garden” stood out for their attention to musical detail.

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Walsh remains one of the finest technical and artistic guitarists of his generation. He hasn't lost a bit of his expression or passion on stage, and “You’re Gonna Need Me” was a stunning few minutes of bluesy improvisation and heavy emotion.

Next, the Black Keys roared through a set of their best singles. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney are hardworking, no-frills, solid musicians, and their combination of blues and alternative styles feels northern-Ohio-working-class in all the best ways, especially live. Starting with “Howling for You” and continuing through a series of hits including “Gold on the Ceiling,” “Lo/Hi,” and “Wild Child,” the audience was eager to sing along.

Nine Inch Nails exploded onto the stage with “Wish” and “March of the Pigs,” with frenetic energy, strobe lights and pounding drums. Especially in contrast to the other bands, they’re heavy, industrial, and aggressive, and the younger crowd embraced it.

It would probably be difficult to find anyone of any age in the room who could remain sitting still during “Head Like a Hole" - its angry energy was contagious. The band ended with “Hurt,” a twisted, eerie footnote to the set list.

Finally, Walsh took the stage again for a few solo numbers, including “In the City,” accompanied by video footage of Columbus and other urban scenes.

“If I’d known I’d have to play this song for the rest of my life, I’d have written something else,” he joked before launching into “Life’s Been Good,” then closed with an electrifying “Rocky Mountain Way” with Grohl on drums.

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Even with all this music, the focus of the evening was on our military veterans and those who provide for their unique needs. The musicians thanked the audience, crews, and providers repeatedly throughout the night. And Walsh recalled again how blessed he felt to be able to spearhead such a mission, noting "Everyone goes home feeling good. To me, that's America."

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Joe Walsh, Black Keys, NIN give energy-packed VetsAid concert