Two days before turning 77, Yoko Ono performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) on February 16th. It was her first performance in four decades with founding members of the Plastic Ono Band. “We Are Plastic Ono Band” was a two-set revue of Yoko’s musical life.
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The first half focused on her new album, \'Between My Head and the Sky\'. Even in her seventh decade, Yoko Ono has lost none of her power or appeal.
She held the stage for the first act, building up from an a cappella opening number to a 7-piece backing band.
The second part featured songs from her previous records wit hthe helpd of guest stars drawn from all parts of the pop spectrum: from folk (Paul Simon), classic rock (Eric Clapton) and dance (Scissor Sisters) to noise (Sonic Youth), indie rock (Gene Ween) and cabaret/performance art (Justin Bond) and Broadway (Bette Midler).
Session legend Jim Keltner, who also played on John and Ono’s 1972 album \'Sometime in New York City\', subbed for original sticksman Alan White and current drummer Yuko Araki in a three-song set.
The evening ended with Ono and Sean leading a full-cast singalong to Give Peace a Chance. But the audience gave its own encore too: a spontaneous rendition of Happy Birthday for Yoko Ono, on the verge of her 77th birthday.