Duo delivers folk magic with the help of Trey Anastasio and Jack Antonoff at the latter’s benefit concert
Judee Sill died in obscurity in 1979, but nearly 50 years later, her legacy is more alive than ever. Artists continue to cover her songs, from Clairo to Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker. And on Monday in New York City, Hayley Williams and Florence Welch performed a rendition of the Sill classic “Lopin’ Along Thru the Cosmos.”
The duo appeared at Jack Antonoff‘s Ally Coalition Talent Show, his annual benefit held at NYU Skirball (his sister, designer Rachel Antonoff, served as host). Welch joined Williams, Antonoff, and his band Bleachers, and Phish’s Trey Anastasio onstage, and they dove into the 1971 song from Sill’s self-titled debut. Williams first covered “Lopin’” back in the pandemic, but it sounds even more magical live.
Welch, who recently released the new Florence + the Machine album Everybody Scream, also sang her hit “Dog Days Are Over.” Williams performed “Good Ol’ Days” and “Love Me Different” off the Paramore singer’s excellent solo album Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, which she surprise-released in August. The event also featured Rachel Zegler, who covered Joni Mitchell’s beloved Christmas gem “River,” Samia, and others.
Last fall, Williams and Antonoff appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone for their annual Musicians on Musicians issue, performing at the event at New York’s Beacon Theatre. “I want to be in 100 bands before I die,” Williams told Antonoff. “I like that feeling of being in a room with people and something that didn’t exist becomes a thing that you’re all holding.”
