Navigating the website is also tough, particularly if you don't want to use IE. But, here's the schedule so you don't have to wait all day in suspense to see your favorite artists:
LIVE EARTH LONDON at Wembley Stadium
1:30 p.m. Local Start 7/7
8:30 a.m. EDT 7/7
GENESIS
RAZORLIGHT
SNOW PATROL
DAMIEN RICE AND DAVID GRAY
KASABIAN
PAOLO NUTINI
BLACK EYED PEAS
JOHN LEGEND
DURAN DURAN
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
BLOC PARTY
CORINNE BAILEY RAE
TERRA NAOMI
KEANE
METALLICA
SPINAL TAP
JAMES BLUNT
BEASTIE BOYS
PUSSYCAT DOLLS
FOO FIGHTERS
MADONNA
LIVE EARTH NEW YORK at Giants Stadium
2:30 p.m. EDT 7/7
KENNA
KT TUNSTALL
TAKING BACK SUNDAY
KEITH URBAN
LUDACRIS
AFI
FALL OUT BOY
AKON
JOHN MAYER
MELISSA ETHERIDGE
ALICIA KEYS
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND
KELLY CLARKSON
KANYE WEST
BON JOVI
SMASHING PUMPKINS
ROGER WATERS
THE POLICE
LIVE EARTH RIO DE JANEIRO at Copacabana Beach
4:00 p.m. Local Start 7/7
3:00 p.m. EDT 7/7
XUXA
JOTA QUEST
MV BILL
MARCELO D2
PHARRELL WILLIAMS
O RAPPA
MACY GRAY
JORGE BEN JOR
LENNY KRAVITZ
There were some who complained that rock stars shouldn't be trumpeting the environment or the end to global warming since they use so much power and resources in their lives, concerts and while on the road.
The message gets across just fine, there are short films and constant eco-commercials.
London is completely sold out. The crowd is just huge.
Not surprisingly, uber-right blogger Michelle Malkin disses the concerts, calling them a "green circus." She particularly mocks the aboriginal dancers who opened the Sydney concert. What is it about cultural heritage she finds so offensive?
Update 8:50 a.m. MT: Al Gore is speaking live now at the D.C. concert which is about to begin. They're playing it live at the London concert.
Update: 10:00 am MT. The Black-Eyed Peas were great in London. Snoop Dog just finished in Hamburg, and Bianca Jaqgger is now on the stage there (speaking, not singing.)
The New Jersey concert should begin soon. If you've got young kids, you can get them involved through KidsCall, a letter writing campaign to "our political leaders."
My internet connection is still shaky, but they are replaying some of the performances on tv. I liked Kasabian (a group named for Linda Kasabian, one of Charles Manson's group of women.)
Update: 1:30 pm MT: Yes, I'm still watching and loving it. Check out John Mayer's post at HuffPo today, it's really excellent.
Live Earth isn't a show -- it's a showing, a presentation of an idea. Artists like us don't just get together to each play 20 minute sets every weekend, you know. We're also usually pretty sensitive about the order in which we take the stage, and I've got no problems with my 5:12 PM set time. The Police, Bon Jovi, Alicia Keys, Kanye West, and yes, myself and my dumb face are all openers for the true headliner - the power to literally change the world's mind. The star of the night is an idea, and all eyes will be on it. And to that effect, I hope that Mr. Gore and the event organizers will keep in mind that for as much as we the artists represent their message, their message represents us.
Keith Urban and Alicia Keyes doing Gimme Shelter in New York were outstanding -- and incredibly gorgeous.
By the way, in between replays from around the world, Bravo has two insipid hosts chatting continually. Sundance Channel, has none, it's just the show.
2:00 pm MT. In London, the Pussycat Dolls are totally not my thing. No matter, the Foo Fighters (whom I really like, particularly the drummer Taylor Hawkins -- I shared an elevator ride once with him at a Memphis hotel, we were staying on the same floor) and Madonna will follow them.
2:20 pm MT: The Foo Fighters are on in London, they're great. Best performance so far though in my opinion was Keith Urban and Alicia Keyes doing Gimme Shelter.
3:00 pm MT: Madonna just took the stage. She is the final performer in London. She's looking very sedate -- so far -- and backed by a children's choir. Not for long, starting with the second song, we have the rocking Madonna.
She hits her stride in the third song, with the gypsys. Great choreography and energy. This one impresses me. So does the next and final one where she loses the dress and goes sultry. Whatever it is she has, she still has it.
Update 5:00 pm MT: If there was an award for the most passionate performer, it would go to Melissa Etheridge and her 20 minute version of the song she wrote for the movie, Inconvenient Truth. Half song, half sermon, she was great. When she finished, Al Gore came onstage to recite the Pledge and ask people to sign it.
6:15 pm MT: Bobby Kennedy just finished a too-long speech. Maybe it's because I've been waiting for Bon Jovi, who is next up. He's always such a treat to watch. The best face in rock and roll.
Update 10:00 pm MT: It's all over now. A great day of music with an important message. The purpose was to raise awareness of the climate crisis and I think it succeeded. Kudos to Al Gore & Company for putting on an amazing event.
Great photos at the New York Times Artsbeat and Spinner.
Post-concert news wrapups: Here and here.
I forgot to mention earlier how good the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Eyed Peas and Kanye West were. Lenny Kravitz did a great rendition of "Let Love Rule." And, for an example of how music transcends language barriers, check out Linkin Park's performance in Tokyo. He rocked them out. I couldn't catch his words, I doubt they could either since most don't speak English, but it mattered not at all.
Final thoughts: Ok, it didn't have the emotional impact of Woodstock or Monterey Pop, there was no equivalent of Janis, Grace, Joe Cocker or Country Joe and the Fish, but it way exceeded my expectations. Particularly in this age of xenophobia, I especially loved the international flair. One conspicuous abscence: The Goo Goo Dolls.
If I haven't mentioned your favorite, feel free to put it in the comments as all the performances will be available on the web for people to view in the coming days. FYI, I've never been a Sting, Genesis, Dave Matthews or Pink Floyd fan, and today didn't change my opinion, but I certainly understand mine is a minority opinion.
Final Update (7/8): Some videos of my favorite performances.
Skippy sounds like he watched as much as we did and posts his favorite acts.
