but on show day, says co-producer greg williamson, the lockdown.enly went into >> everything shut downand you shut down. >> and we shut down. >> reporter: the benefit concert was back this year with an audience of first responders and donors. >> first time out since before the pandemic started. >> it's another sign that things are opening back up again. >> that makes me feel better. >> reporter: in rehearsals the artists were anxious. >> i don't know if i know how to do it. >> reporter: gary clark jr. flew in from austin, texas for the gig. >> there's something about when the lights go down and people start making noise. it's like, yeah, okay. all right. let's get after it. i've been at home changing diapers, man. so i'm ready for this. >> does it feel weird to be doing this again? >> it does. it feels very surreal. >> reporter: emily king, who sang a duet with sara bareilles -- ♪ if i can't have you ♪ -- had also performed with her earlier in april. >> i did a show with sara actually at the hollywood bowl. and as amazing as that was, there was no one there. >> reporter: they played to

tickets were sold out, but on show day, says co-producer greg williamson, the city suddenly went into >> first time out since before the pandemic started. >> reporter: >> another sign that things are opening up again. >> that makes me feel better. >> in rehearsals, the artists were anxious. >> i don't know if i know how to do it. >> gary clark jr. flew from austin, texas, for the gig. >> some being when the lights go down -- something about when the lights go down and people start making noise, it's like -- yeah, okay. all right. ♪ let's get after it. i been at home changing diapers, man. so i'm ready for this. >> does it feel weird to be doing this again? >> it does. it feels very surreal. >> emily king, who sang a duet with sara barelles had performed with her earlier in april. >> just showed sara actually at the hollywood bowl, and as amazing as that was, there was no one there. >> they played to more than 17,000 empty seats. ♪ i watched the video of that. the silence was deafening. >> yes. it was very strange. >> emily king! >> emily king. >> what did you miss most? >> i forgot ho