Moby, the Roots MoveOn at NYC's Crobar

It Happened Last Night

Moby, the Roots MoveOn at NYC's Crobar

The stars turned out for civic action group MoveOn.org's Hurricane Katrina benefit, which features performances by Moby and the Roots.

By Spin Staff 08.25.06 3:00 AM

An eclectic crowd filled New York's Crobar last night to watch Moby and the Roots perform at a Hurricane Katrina benefit, sponsored by the civic action group MoveOn.org. "It's remarkable what [MoveOn has] been able to accomplish," Moby told SPIN.com. "Helping 30,000 people just by appealing to human nature." Actress Rosie Perez emceed the event, introducing Julia Stiles and the Roots' Black Thought, who read excerpts from It Takes A Nation a book of stories by Katrina survivors and heroes. The Roots got the crowd involved in their set, as drummer ?uestlove led a full brass band through the crowd. The band performed songs off their upcoming, hotly political album, Game Theory. "We actually had Katrina songs [on the album] but I took them off," ?uestlove told SPIN.com. "I really didn’t want to be accused of trying to pimp tragedy." KATIE HEATH

We asked: Artists vs. Politicians: Do you think that one is more effective at bringing attention to a cause?

Name: Laura Titkin
Age: 23
Hometown: Yonkers, NY
Occupation: Teacher
"If the artists are genuine then it works. The Roots were very heartfelt, it was a beautiful thing that they did."

Name: Joanna Hefty
Age: 21
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Occupation: Student
"I love the Roots and Moby, and if it were not for them, I would not have heard about this event tonight."

Name: Emily Haddad
Age: 25
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Occupation: Filmmaker
"Both. I've been an activist with [MoveOn.Org] for a few years. It's amazing to think that they brought together this group of people."

Name: Dan Bressler
Age: 22
Hometown: Long Island, NY
Occupation: Market researcher
"I don't think one's better suited than the other. Artists have a platform for it, though. But if they have an opinion and want to say it, I have no problem with it."

Name: Margo Simon
Age: 29
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: Physician
"The public tends to listen more to celebrities. The synergy of artists and politicians around an issue can be really powerful tool to effect the cultural consciousness."

Name: Josh Mills
Age: 29
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: Painter
"It's nice to have both. I don’t think it should be either/or."