Power to the People – John and Yoko Plastic Ono Band live in NYC

Venue:

Lansdowne Cinema, Kanata, ON

Date: 29/04/2026

I think I first saw this concert in the 80s, I remember taping it from Austrian TV when it was broadcast very late at night once. I haven’t revisited since vidually, but bought the live album (Lennon only) that came out in the 80s, I didn’t buy the monstrous box set that came out last year, but got the audio 2 CD version and the RSD vinyl EP. For well known reasons 2 songs were omitted from that release and that remains the case for this film. It appeared in cinemas for “one night only” on April 29th. It has been spruced up visually and the audio sounded really great, possibly with some artificial enhancement. It is only 80 minutes long and will not be competing with The Last Waltz or Stop Making Sense for greatest concert movie ever.

It was in aid of the One to One foundation that benefited the Willowbrook State School a state-supported institution for children with intellectual disabilities. There was originally going to be jsut the one show at Madison Sq Garden, but it sold out quickly so an additional matinee performance was added, so 2 shows in one day. Other acts also took part but they are hardly represented in the film or on the audio releases. I think most of the film is of the afternoon performance, as John’s voice held up better first time roumd. Backing band were Elephant’s Memory (plus Jim Keltner on additional drums), generally considered to be a hamfisted outfit not worthy to back up John (and Yoko), they were also the band on his most disliked album Some Time in New York City, but somewhat strangely that album is hardly represented in the setlist we have here, with just 3 songs from that played, 1 from John, 2 from Yoko. What we get are mainly songs from the first 3 years of their solo careers, plus one Beatles song (a brilliant Ccme Together) and a cover of Hound Dog.

The things that struck me seeing this on the big screen were Lennon’s incredible on stage charisma, superb singing and excellent rhythm guitar playing (particularly on Yoko’s songs), the band were better than reputation for me, showing a fair bit of versatility even if the amount of hair on stage can be almost overwhelming. Yoko is not for everybody, but I enjoyed her songs almost as much as John’s, stand out for me being Born in a Prison with John dueting in the chorus. As for John’s songs, a fair summation of those years 1969-72 including songs about drug addiction, parental rejection, simultaneous orgasm and world peace amongst other things. He is very self deprecating throughout “Welcome to the rehearsal” and “We’ll get it right next time”. I think the main highlight was possibly “Mother”. a close up right on his face as he sings passionately about his mother and father both rejecting him. Somehow I heard Imagine in a new light, and there wre also blistering versions of Come Together, Instant Karma and Cold Turkey. The show kind of unravels a bit at end, however Yoko’s “Law and Order” speech was relevant then and is especially relevant today, we then go into a long version of Give Peace a Chance (chorus only) with apparently hundreds on stage, main vocal coming from Stevie Wonder. Yes he collaborated with John a decade before Ebony and Ivory. Phil Spector is also annoyingly especially noticeable, I didn’t spot Shirley MacLaine and Bianca Jagger, but they are referenced in the credits.

So glad I saw it, he never did another proper concert again sadly, and these ones were the probably the longest shows he had played since Hamburg a decade or so earlier. It’s rough around the edges, but stands up as an historical document and a pretty decent live performance.

The audience:

Fairly sparse and pretty old

It made me think..

Lennon was one hell of a singer

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