When Brad Pitt, Flea, Rashida Jones and Ezra Koenig, Mike D of the Beastie Boys, Thomas Houseago, Charlotte Lawrence, Joe Dumars, Wes Lang, Glenn Kaino, Lauren Halsey, Marc Maron, and Lindsey Buckingham are all found under one roof, you know you’re in the right place.
Each year, the Silverlake Conservatory of Music Benefit gathers together the best and brightest in service of a good cause. The benefit is the Conservatory’s largest fundraiser of the year, and the dollars that flow in from Hollywood’s most well-heeled go straight to providing music programming, space, and education for the city’s kids. It’s always a highlight, the perfect balance of funk-fuelled, punky irreverence and opulence, DIY meets black-tie, where you get to chat across the table from vibrant working artists and enjoy intimate performances from acts who sell out stadiums (k.d. lang, Lindsey Buckingham, RHCP), all while knowing everyone there is contributing a bit to keep a bright spot in a dark world burning.
But this year, which honored music industry legend Mo Ostin, fired on all cylinders. On auction were donated pieces from legends—Cecily Brown, Charming Baker, Lauren Halsey, Ed Ruscha, Shepard Fairey, Glenn Kaino, Gus Van Sant, Urs Fischer, Wes Lang—as well as quirky extras, including a personalized voicemail from Sarah Silverman. The performances were haunting, unreal. Maron is always a delight. The food was fab. And shaking hands with Brad? I promise you, it’s magic.
All told, it’s more than worth the price of admission. I’m sure your attorney will help you write it off anyway. Don’t miss out next year.
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Photography by Marc Patrick/BFA.com and Gary Leonard, Courtesy Silverlake Conservatory of Music.
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