LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 29: (L-R) Natalie Portman and Zach Braff speak onstage during Garden … More
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Great soundtracks don’t just define a movie. The best soundtracks define an era and a scene.
Of course, the ‘70s disco era will forever be associated with the timeless Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. In the ’80s the soundtrack was Purple Rain. The ‘90s grunge era was earmarked by the soundtrack to Singles. And the 2000s indie scene belongs to the Garden State soundtrack.
Scrubs star Zach Braff’s 2004 directorial debut, starring Braff, Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Ian Holm and Method Man, became a surprise box-office hit thanks, in part, to the Grammy-winning soundtrack. Braff, who hand-picked every song painstakingly carefully as he told me in a 2004 interview when the film was released, also expertly wove the soundtrack into the film. Who can forget the iconic moment in the movie when Portman made everyone in the world fall in love with The Shins by looking directly at Braff and saying, “You have to hear this song, it will change your life.”
Last Saturday, March 29, the soundtrack was brought to life at L.A.’s Greek Theatre in a special twentieth anniversary benefit concert for the Midnight Mission, a homeless shelter and resources provider in Los Angeles since 1914.
Almost all of the original artists – including The Shins, Iron & Wine, Cary Brothers, Thievery Corporation, Remy Zero and more – were on hand, as well as a few surprise guests. Grammy winner Laufey filled in for Coldplay on their “Don’t Panic,” Milk Carton Kids covered Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Only Living Boy in New York” and Madison Cunningham joined Iron & Wine on Nick Drake’s “One of These Things First.” Also on hand was Colin Hay, a frequent guest on Scrubs. The night ended with an all-star tribute to Tom Petty, an excellent choice, for his work with the Midnight Mission.
For those who didn’t get to see the once-in-a-lifetime show, which featured appearances by Braff, Portman, Sarah Paulson, Danny DeVito and more, the show will air tonight on Veeps
Garden State – Garden State: The 20th Anniversary Concert – VEEPS.