On Oct. 11, the David Lynch Foundation's Silence The Violence concert dazzled audiences at Washington DC's The Anthem. The star-studded benefit saw Katy Perry, Mavis Staples, Norah Jones, and many more come together in order raise the funds needed to bring the evidence-based Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique to 10,000 at-risk youth in Washington, DC. through THEARC (Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus).
Kicking off the evening, singer-songwriter Jeremy Elliot performed his debut solo track "The Deep End" before David Lynch Foundation CEO and TM teacher Bob Roth, News4 Today anchor Eun Yang and THEARC CEO Rahsaan Bernard addressed the crowd and led them in a minute of silent mindfulness.
Norah Jones captivated audiences with a set that included "Just A Little Bit," a cover of Neil Young's "Don't Be Denied," "I've Got To See You Again" and "Don't Know Why." Her set was followed by a soulful rendition of Bill Withers' "Lean On Me" by the Celebration Gospel Choir. Gospel and R&B artist Mavis Staples took the stage to a standing ovation and treated concert-goers to four songs supported by Rob Mathes' Band, including "Change," "Will The Circle Be Unbroken," "The Weight" and her hit , "I'll Take You There," which had attendees dancing in the aisles.
Following Staples' performance, Bob Roth, Rahsaan Bernard and Washington DC Regional Director Rena Boon spoke about the David Lynch Foundation and their work as a resident partner operating The Meditation Center at THEARC. Katy Perry brought the evening to a close with intimate, re-imagined versions of some of her biggest hits including "Roar" and "Wide Awake." The audience was treated to one of the biggest surprises of the night when she played "Rise" live for only the second time ever since its 2016 release. Before she closed the night with a mash-up of the Edwin Hawkins Singers' "Oh Happy Day" paired with "Firework" and the Celebration Gospel Choir, she also led the room in singing "Happy Birthday" to Bob Roth.
As the resident partner of (THEARC) West Campus in Washington DC's Wards 7 and 8, the David Lynch Foundation has taught the Transcendental Meditation technique to over 500 people within THEARC Partners .Proceeds help bring TM to vulnerable communities in the District through in-school and after school programs, churches and community centers, recovery programs and detention centers in partnership with THEARC. Research has shown that TM reduces stress, heals PTSD, lowers substance abuse, improves academic performance and graduation rates and reduces arrests for violent crime.
Previous David Lynch Foundation benefit concerts have included headliners such as Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Sting, Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, Dixie Chicks, Sheryl Crow, Robert Plant, Hugh Jackman, Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Jim Gaffigan and more.
