. ♪ to walk a mile in his shoes ♪ >> reporter: jon bon jovi headlined the night. you looking forward to the feeling? >> yeah, yeah. >> great to see you. go to bed. it's late for you. >> no, i'm staying through the whole thing. i missed this so much. >> feel free to get up on your feet. >> reporter: we had all missed it. for music fans this moment between artist and audience is a kind of holy communion. ♪ shot to the heart ♪ ♪ and you're too late ♪ ♪ you give love ♪ ♪ a bad name ♪ >> whoo! >> reporter: last year "love rocks" had to be held without an audience. tickets were sold out. but on show day, says co-producer greg williamson, the lockdown.enly went into >> everything shut down out of nowhere. >> and 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

i'm grateful. ♪ >> jon bon jovi headlined the night.ll missed it. for music fans, this moment between artist and audience is a kind of holy communion. ♪ shot through the heart and you're too vain you give love ♪ ♪ a bad name ♪ >> here we go. [ cheers ] >> last year, "love rocks" had to be held without an audience. tickets were sold out, but on show day, says co-producer greg williamson, the city suddenly went into lockdown. >> everything shut down out of nowhere. >> and you shut down. >> we shut down. >> the benefit concert was back this year with an audience of first responders and donors. >> 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

music will be back at love rocks nc live music will be back at love rocks nc kr live music will be jon bon jovibe the first gig in more than a year in front of a real audience. here's what yola had to say about that -- i know but some singing probably via zoom and other concerts. >> loads. >> yeah. but it's not the same. >> it's not even close, mate, no. it's not even close. >> no. >> like you do it, and you feel something, you have some moments. >> yeah. >> but you know, you need an audience. you need connect. you need people that have come there to listen. >> by the way, yola will knock you over with your voice if y you're in the back of the balcony. a thrill. 1,000 people will be there. there will be top donors and frontline workers. y tn a free live stream at fans.live at th usualell ttsbu they weren sure how many people they could let in so they didn't. >> i'm impressed you went to the sound check. >> i'm so excited to see live music. all for god's love we deliver, which does amazing work in new york city. >> it does. >>> now we turn to our series honoring some of the best and brightest in