In its final installment of 2024, the Soho Sessions, the bi-monthly charitable music series, brought some comedy into the mix for the first time with a lineup curated by comedian, actor, and WTF podcast host Marc Maron, along with performances by guitarist, singer, and songwriter Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and Kevin Bacon.
“Comedy and music have always had an amazing ability to move people, and bringing comedy to the Soho Sessions feels like a natural progression … It’s the perfect way to wrap up the year,” said Greg Williamson, co-founder of RWE Partners, the producers behind the series, the annual Love Rocks benefit concert, and more charitable events. Since its inception, RWE Partners has raised $60 million for various charitable causes linked to mental health, music education, gun safety, and more through live music.
Proceeds from the December Soho Sessions benefitted NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), the largest grassroots mental health organization in the U.S., which provides resources to people living with mental health conditions and their families, and advocates for changes within the mental health landscape, including improved mental health care.
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“We know the stats are that one in five of us live with a mental health condition but five in five is affected,” said Kate Kennedy-Lynch, director of external affairs, at NAMI. “Everyone loves somebody or is somebody who lives with a mental health condition, and NAMI is here to remind you that you’re not alone. Events like Soho Sessions help remind us of that.”
The evening kicked off with the Soho House band, featuring bandleader Jimmy Vivino (The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien), along with bassist Adam Minkoff, drummer Shawn Pelton, and Maron on guitar before comedian Maddie Wiener opened the comedy then music swap throughout the night.
Wiener, who recently appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, joked about the differences and intricacies between sexes and being non-binary. “I think people are getting cool, even if it’s not their thing,” said Wiener. “I was talking to my dad about it and said ‘I’m kind of gender fluid.’ And my dad is 60 but still wants to be with it, and he said ‘Oh, that’s awesome. You’re like Abby [Sciuto] from NCIS.’ And I was like, ‘I think that’s just a goth.’ But I can’t be mad because it’s so far off that it’s impressive how he got there.”
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After another intermission by the house band, featuring their cover of Bob Dylan‘s “Going Going Gone,” with Maron on vocals, comedian Nimesh Patel delivered his 17-minute set.
“I wanted Bernie [Sanders] to win,” joked Patel of the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign. “I wanted Bernie to win because I’m 38 and most of my friends have passed me financially, and I wanted him to tax the s–t out of them, bring them back down to my level,” joked Patel. “When we’re all going to Chipotle and everyone’s getting guacamole except me—no more, not with Bernie Sanders as president. Either everybody’s getting guacamole or nobody’s getting guacamole.”
Toward the end of the evening, Vivino introduced Bacon after mentioning that he had recently seen his 2008 drama Frost/Nixon. “Kevin Bacon has some scenes in that, that are amazing—he’s everywhere folks,” said Vivino. “Thank you, Vinny,” said Bacon before jumping into Chuck Berry‘s 1958 holiday hit “Run Rudolph Run” with the band.
Ingram, who released Live in London in 2023, which picked up a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album, was up next and delivered more blues and piercing guitar solos before Maron went into his comedy set.
“As I get older, I’m not even sure I can identify happiness,” joked Maron. “I was changing my cat’s water—I’m not bragging—and one of my AirPods fell into the water. So I fished it out and I put it back in my ear, and it worked. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that kind of happiness. I was like ‘Oh my God, everything’s turning around. … This is a big day. I could hear Pink Floyd in both of my old ears.”
Maron remained on stage for the final set, and Bacon and Ingram also joined for a bluesy jam-out with the band.
Ingram and Bacon join past Soho Session performers, including Paul Simon, Rickie Lee Jones, Paul Shaffer, Marc Cohn, Gary Clark Jr., Marcus King, The Struts, Lukas Nelson, Warren Haynes, Brittney Spencer, YOLA, Amos Lee, and Larkin Poe, among many others.
The next Soho Sessions will return in February 2025.
Main Photo: (L to r) Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Marc Maron, and Kevin Bacon (Photo: Tina Eves)
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