Making my way through the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, it was clear that FireAid was set to be a different kind of musical extravaganza. Taking place simultaneously at both at the state-of-the-art arena (which opened in August) and the longtime city staple the Kia Forum, the roster which included everyone from Joni Mitchell to Peso Pluma was announced in the wake of the devastating fires that struck the area earlier this month and broadcast around the world to raise both funds and awareness, the atmosphere before showtime was neither celebratory or subdued, striking a delicate balance to coalesce over a common love for Los Angeles and its ongoing strife.

A red carpet where flashbulbs are usually popping was mostly quiet as a mouse, with photographers invariably checking their lenses; perhaps the stars in attendance knew it’d be inept to have a fashion moment on such an occasion. Even inside the arena, the usual pre-concert buzz of boisterous mingling and drink sipping was missing in lieu of a patient waiting.

Kicking off at the Forum, Green Day opened the show; an apt choice to slowly rev up the proceedings considering the rockers exude that California pedigree (they’re from the Bay Area, after all) before welcoming Los Angeles native Billie Eilish for a rendition of the band’s 2019 song Last Night on Earth. Eilish would provide a bookend, helping start the proceedings here and then helping close them nearly six hours later with a set of her own alongside brother Finneas. And no, she didn’t sing the Barbie song.

Billy Crystal. Photograph: John Shearer/Getty Images for FireAid

To welcome the crowd, perennial master of ceremonies Billy Crystal took the stage. Poignantly missing was his usual black tie associated with his starry hosting gigs: tonight he flaunted a hoodie and knit cap, which Crystal said were all he wore after he was evacuated and his home was destroyed.

After announcing a $1m donation from U2 (seemingly one of the only acts in music not on the roster), Crystal delivered an emotional speech comparing the death of his father as a young boy to this recent tragedy, and the healing power of laughter. Naturally he cracked, “This young girl came up to me, and said she understood my pain because she had lost TikTok for a day,” Crystal said, before adding: “With your help around the country and here in the room, we’ll laugh again, we’re gonna listen to music again, and we will be okay.”

Dr Dre and Anderson .Paak. Photograph: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for FIREAID

Volleying back and forth between the arenas, the roster was like hitting shuffle on a music nerd’s eclectic playlist. Alanis Morissette, Earth, Wind & Fire and Pink were all on hand busting out a mix of their biggest hits and covers, with the latter singer noting she’ll have her feet down on the ground tonight, a wry nod to her normal high-flying wire routine. Sometimes the juxtaposition was fierce: Graham Nash delivered a rendition of his 1968 Hollies-era ballad Teach the Children, while Anderson .Paak brought out Dr Dre and Sheila E for a mini hip-hop concert that naturally included Dre’s 1995 collaboration with 2Pac, California Love.

In fact, almost every California anthem one could think of was on full display at FireAid, perhaps save for Randy Newman’s I Love LA. Inside the Intuit Dome, Katy Perry sang her pop confection California Gurls, as well as Roar and Rise, the latter flanked (at least momentarily) by the Pasadena Chorale. (Notably Perry skipped any songs from her most recent ill-received album 143). Meanwhile Jelly Roll, assisted by SoCal native Travis Barker on the drums fashioned a rollicking spin on the 70s Bob Seger classic Hollywood Nights while the Red Hot Chili Peppers closed out the Kia Forum portion of the show with the longest set of the night and a spate of their own odes to the City of Angels with pitch-perfect renditions including Californication and Dani California. And proving the night wasn’t too somber, Flea performed in nothing but underwear.

Gwen Stefani. Photograph: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for FireAid

Fellow 90s rock icons No Doubt, perhaps reliving their recent Coachella reunion, also took to the stage, though they curiously focused on a gender-split singalong to Just A Girl.

Guitar geeks had to be happy, with appearances by John Mayer, Joan Jett, Slash and the surviving members of Nirvana. The latter band, who only gets together for charity shows and one-offs, flaunted an array of frontwomen including Kim Gordon, St Vincent and drummer Dave Grohl’s daughter Violet; however, their set stumbled a bit thanks to sound mix issues. Baby boomers and gen Z were also well-represented with the likes of John Fogerty (79) and Rod Stewart (80) energetically commanding the stage, while Olivia Rodrigo (21) and Gracie Abrams (25) all flaunted their biggest hits; the crowds spreading the love equally among the generations.

Despite the once-in-a-lifetime nature of the concert, as the night went on things and midnight approached, the audience was getting listless. The father next to me, with two young girls, was nodding off. It was a school night after all, but it was clear promoters saved Lady Gaga, one of the night’s major draws, for last. Sting, who performed as the audience inside the Intuit Dome started to chat among themselves, couldn’t fully capture their attention. By 12.30 Stevie Wonder sang Love’s in Need of Love Today, which he previously performed at a bevy of charity events including the America: A Tribute to Heroes concert in the days following 9/11, before Flea and Sting joined him for Higher Ground.

Lady Gaga. Photograph: Amy Sussman/Getty Images for FIREAID

Finally, Gaga appeared with dyed eyebrows and a black wig. Sitting at a piano, she performed a pair of A Star is Born tracks: the earworm Always Remember Us This Way and Shallow, before surprising the audience with a new one. Written with fiance Michael Polansky, she said she crafted it “just for tonight”, albeit it sounded more Broadway than the Gaga-pop she’s known for.

By the end of the night, it was lost how much money was raised; gone are the Jerry Lewis telethon days when a ticker shows the numbers climbing higher and higher. Perhaps the number was so big it could have discouraged additional donations. Regardless of the figure, FireAid proved the power of music and how a just cause can bring together polar opposites. If anything, here’s hoping it’s a harbinger for the future.