Young Shines at Farm Aid 2000

September 18 -- MANASSAS, Va. — Her husband, Al, didn't make it to the pre-concert presidential candidates' forum, but Tipper Gore banged the bongos with Willie Nelson at Farm Aid 2000, held Sunday in Manassas, Va., outside of Washington, D.C.

The benefit to raise funds for struggling family farmers and increase awareness of their plight also featured co-founders John Mellencamp and Neil Young (who also appeared with pals Crosby, Stills & Nash, too). Among other artists performing were the Barenaked Ladies, Travis Tritt, Alan Jackson, Arlo Guthrie, North Mississippi Allstars, teenage blues sensation Shannon Curfman, polka king Jimmy Sturr, and Brazilian artist Badi Assad.

Al Gore was represented by U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., who was among several voices decrying corporate-controlled farming, foreign trade deals, genetically altered food, and the 1996 Freedom to Farm Act, which farmer Ralph Paige said "gives us freedom to farm nothing and freedom to lose everything."

Fringe candidates Pat Buchanan, Ralph Nader, and John Hagelin also made appearances, but as Young observed at a post-forum press conference, "notably absent was anyone from the Republican camp, even though they were invited. It looks like another one of Bush's great moves."

He also noted that the 15th anniversary of Farm Aid, organized in 1985 as a one-time benefit, à la Live Aid, was not a celebration. "Still being here, obviously, it's not what we wanted," he said.

At another press conference, the Barenaked Ladies jokingly challenged Eminem and Kid Rock to play Farm Aid, then treated listeners to snippets of those artists' tunes in a hilarious, over-the-top medley that referenced Britney Spears, Biz Markie, Cats, Celine Dion, Cher, Fatboy Slim, and Sesame Street. Keyboardist Kevin Hearn, unable to perform during BNL's 1999 Farm Aid appearance due to his battle with leukemia, made it this time, looking frail but not gaunt, and was strong enough to perform "One Week," "If I Had $1,000,000," "Brian Wilson," and "Pinch Me," from the band's new Maroon.