On a chilly Saturday evening under the Los Angeles stars, the Greek Theatre was bursting with heart, music, and a whole lot of hope. Light Up The Blues, the beloved benefit concert created by Stephen Stills and his family, returned for its seventh edition with an all-star lineup featuring Neil Young, Billy Idol, Nathaniel Rateliff, Chris Stills, Linda Perry, Cat Power, and more. Above all was the event’s powerful mission: celebrating 20 years of Autism Speaks and raising critical support for autism awareness and advocacy.
What started years ago as an intimate family-led fundraiser at Club Nokia in downtown L.A. has now blossomed into one of the most heartfelt nights on the Southern California music calendar. On April 26th, the energy felt especially meaningful, a perfect blend of superstar performances, heartfelt stories, and community spirit, all anchored in love and a shared purpose.
The night’s music royalty wasted no time making their presence felt. Stephen Stills and Neil Young, longtime collaborators and legends in their own right, would both deliver powerful performances later in the evening, adding weight and history to a night already brimming with heart.
Stephen teamed up with Nathaniel Rateliff for “Colorado,” with the great Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers) lending his magic on keys. Stephen’s son, Chris Stills, joined his father for a moving mini-set including “Turn Back the Pages”, “Come Outside”, and a tender take on Crosby, Stills & Nash‘s “Dark Star”.
But when Neil walked on stage, the night truly stepped into hallowed ground. First came the timeless Buffalo Springfield anthem “For What It’s Worth,” sung by Stephen with quiet fire. Then Neil stayed on to perform “Let’s Roll Again”—a new call to action urging America to rediscover its soul, featuring a jab at Elon Musk—along with “Big Box” and his first performance of “Ordinary People” since 1989.
Stephen returned for a closing round, with Neil cheekily dedicating “Human Highway” to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., before the whole event culminated in a raucous, communal sing-along of “Rockin’ in the Free World”.
Related: Neil Young To Stop Selling Platinum Tickets For Future Tours
Rewinding a few star-studded hours, Ken Jeong—actor, comedian, and eternal spark plug—kicked off the evening as the MC, setting a tone that was both heartfelt and hilarious. Sitting at a piano, he toyed with a few bars of Radiohead’s “Creep,” half-joking that he might just play for four hours. (The crowd would’ve probably let him.)
From there, Stephen and Kristen Stills took the stage, honoring the memory of Kristen’s late mother, who passed away on Easter, by dedicating the show to her. They set the tone beautifully, acknowledging loss while emphasizing resilience, family, and the greater good.
Stephen, with his ever-present mischievous grin, joked about making a Martin custom guitar more valuable by playing it before it hit the auction block. The two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer slipped into a winking rendition of Pete Seeger’s “This Land Is Your Land” with a not-so-subtle jab at the current administration in Washington, D.C. In classic Stills fashion, the message was clear: music with meaning, always.
The night’s festivities truly began when participants from the hit reality TV show Love on the Spectrum joined the stage. Abbey Romeo, alongside her boyfriend David Isaacman, performed a touching original song about overcoming her fear of water and embracing acceptance, called “Waterslide in My Mind”. It was a moment that reminded everyone in the audience exactly why they were there.
Christina Applegate, the actor and comedian who happens to be a longtime friend of the Stills family, then shared an emotional introduction for Chris Stills, who took the stage to perform “Sure As the Wind Blows”, wrapping his rich, smoky voice around lyrics filled with hope and change.
Next, Rufus Wainwright joined Chris for “Tired of America”, then stayed to deliver a stunning, soul-baring take on “My Baby Gotta Know”. Their harmonies, backed by the impeccable Zach Grey (Death Cab for Cutie) on guitar, filled the Greek with a warmth that felt bigger than music.
Gary Cole, himself a parent of an autistic child, stepped forward to share a deeply personal story before introducing Linda Perry. The 4 Non-Blondes powerhouse vocalist belted out “Hit Me Mother” and “Feathers in a Storm”, her voice raw and relentless, her spirit unstoppable.
Ken Jeong then returned (because there’s no keeping him away). He crooned the rest of “Creep” before Katey Sagal, perhaps best known as Peggy Bundy from Married… With Children, brought out the incomparable Cat Power, who delivered an ethereal, emotional set, dedicating it lovingly to the Stills family.
After a warm introduction from the head of Autism Speaks, the night took a rock ‘n’ roll turn. Steve Stevens and Billy Idol hit the stage, tearing through acoustic versions of “White Wedding” and “Eyes Without a Face”. Steve’s acoustic solo was a guitar masterclass, while Billy, still the snarling rebel, capped it off with a spirited “Rebel Yell” that included a cheeky reference to a “Rebel smell.”
Light Up the Blues 7 proved to be so many things: a community gathering, a rallying cry, and a reminder that music can move mountains when it’s played with purpose. In celebrating 20 years of Autism Speaks, Stephen Stills, his family, and this incredible lineup of artists, entertainers, and advocates showed that we can turn grief into hope, talent into action, and love into lasting change.
The songs echoed through the Greek’s historic bowl, but the real resonance was deeper, felt in every embrace, shared smile, and voice raised not just in melody, but in solidarity. And if you were lucky enough to be there, you already know. It wasn’t just the stage that lit up the blues; it was every single heart in the house.
Check out some videos from Light Up The Blues by Todd Norris.
Neil Young, Stephen Stills — “For What It’s Worth” —4/26/25
