Kaili Boyd

Road Recovery’s 2009 Benefit show rocked the Nokia Theatre at Times Square Friday Night. This years’ lineup contained many of the same solid acts from last year including Alice in Chain’s Jerry Cantrell, Wayne Kramer of MC5, Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave shredder Tom Morello & Jane’s Addiction singer Perry Farrell. The evening also included special performances by Billy Bragg & Iggy Pop, and a surprise appearance by Juliet Lewis.

Local radio personalities Matt Pinfield and Leslie Fram from 101.9 WRXP – The New York Rock Experience shared hosting duties. The MC gig was extremely apropos for Pinfield, who announced on the airwaves earlier in the day that he would be taking some time off to return to rehab for an unspecified addition. “Addiction is a disease,” said Pinfield at the show. “I wanted to open up about mine to help take away the stigma…. It’s about the love and support…. If many of the greats that like Keith Moon and Jim Morrison and had that, maybe they’d still be here today.” Get Well Soon Matt, you will be sorely missed.

After a few great performances by the Road Recovery kids and Crazy Jane –the Road Recovery Band, it was time for the veterans to take the reigns. Jane as Police Woman kicked things off, followed later on by Miggs, Ours, and Middle Class Rut.

Highlights of the evening included a two song performance by Tom Morello’s latest project with Coup front man Boots Riley – The Street Sweeper Social Club; Jerry Cantrell’s powerful rendition of Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here, which he dedicated to “those who aren’t with us anymore.” Perry Farrell & his wife Etty wowed the audience with their Satellite Party performance. Iggy Pop gave the crowd just what they came to see, practically swinging from the curtains during I Am Five Foot One. Juliet Lewis belted a kick-ass version of AC/DC’s Dirty Deeds, with Tom Morello, Wayne Kramer, former Guns N’ Roses rocker Gilby Clarke & Jerry Cantrell as part of her backup band.

Towards the end of the night Kramer was honored for his work with Road Recovery –a charity that helps teens and young adults suffering the effects of drug addiction. He was presented with the Keys to Sing Sing Federal Penitentiary, where many of the evening’s performers would be channeling the spirit of Johnny Cash at Folsom during a benefit concert scheduled at the prison for the following day. The show rapped up with righteous all-celebrity performance of MC5’s Kick Out the Jams, lead by band co-founder, Wayne Kramer.