If there’s one thing Los Angeles knows how to do, it’s throw a star-studded event, and that’s exactly what the FireAid organizers did Thursday night.

The multi-concert affair, which took place between the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome, featured a stacked lineup that included everyone from iconic longtime performers such as Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonder to rising stars like Gracie Abrams and Peso Pluma. Most of the acts were introduced by other artists on the lineup.

Those who weren’t introduced by their lineup peers were either introduced by Hollywood actors, first responders, or victims of the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, which the event aims to aid. The whole evening provided a poignant reminder of the power of music and community.

From interactions that made me tear up to choices that made me roll my eyes, here are the five most memorable moments from the Wildfire Aid concert.

1. Quinta Brunson holding hands with a teacher who lost everything

(L-R) Aurora Barboza Flores and Quinta Brunson speak onstage during the FIREAID Benefit Concert for California Fire Relief at Intuit Dome on January 30, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

As the daughter of a teacher, I couldn’t help but well up when Glendale High School math teacher Aurora Barboza Flores took the Intuit Dome stage Thursday and said she spent decades saving up for her Altadena home, only for it to be destroyed by the Eaton Fire a few years after purchasing it.

Her struggle to afford a place to call her own resonates with so many Americans, and the fact that it was taken from her so swiftly, like so many other Angelenos, was a heartbreaking reality check for those of us who weren’t personally affected by the fires.

The sad tale ended on a positive note, however, when she shared that one of the items she was able to find among the rubble was a dish that said, “I think I’ll just be happy today,” and explained how that’s going to be her mindset moving forward. Actress and writer Quinta Brunson, who’s won several Emmys for playing a public school teacher on “Abbott Elementary” and introduced Barboza Flores, held her hand tightly throughout her speech, and when she got to the triumphant end, Brunson yelled, “Yes!”

2. Performers like Sting and Billie Eilish joining forces with fellow acts

(L-R) Billie Eilish performs onstage with Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day during the FIREAID Benefit Concert for California Fire Relief at The Kia Forum on January 30, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

(Almost) all the acts sounded great Thursday night, but those who chose to team up with their fellow FireAid performers put on an even better show.

One of the best moments was when Billie Eilish joined Green Day to kick off FireAid at the Kia Forum with an excellent rendition of “Last Night on Earth.” This was a pairing most of us, I think it’s fair to say, didn’t expect, but somehow just made perfect sense. They sounded terrific together, and the performance made me wonder if Green Day, the Saturday headliner for Coachella 2025, might invite one of the festival’s biggest repeat performers back for her fourth year in a row on a Coachella stage.

Another wonderful pairing was Stevie Wonder and Sting, who joined forces on “Superstition.” Their voices worked so well together, with Sting on backup and occasionally swapping lyrics. The act went to the next level when beloved Red Hot Chilli Peppers bassist Flea emerged, and Sting stuck around for a “Higher Ground” jam session.

3. Green Day drummer Tré Cool surprising a heroic young fan

Miles Teller and Chad Comey speak onstage during the FIREAID Benefit Concert for California Fire Relief at Intuit Dome on January 30, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

One of the moments that will stick with me the most is when actor Miles Teller, who lost his home in the Palisades Fire, took the stage with fellow Palisades Fire victim Chad Comey (who he called a “neighbor” after realizing the two lived on the same street).

Comey told his story of evacuating his disabled mother — who he carried down multiple flights of stairs as the smoke set in — from the Pacific Palisades condo that had been in their family since the 1970s. He shared how his father refused to leave, but somehow survived the night by sheltering in their building’s underground parking garage.

Teller told the audience he’d heard that Comey lost one of his prized possessions in the fire, a Tré Cool drumstick he caught during a Green Day concert, and that when the drummer heard this, he wanted to help out. Within seconds, Tré Cool was tapping on Comey’s shoulder and holding out a pair of drumsticks, and the look on the Palisades resident’s face made my whole month.

4. Slash, Dr. Dre, Travis Barker, St. Vincent, Kim Gordon and more surprise guests — oh, and a casual Nirvana reunion

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 30: St. Vincent performs with Nirvana band members onstage during the FIREAID Benefit Concert for California Fire Relief at The Kia Forum on January 30, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for FIREAID)

The only thing better than an internationally broadcasted benefit concert full of stars is an internationally broadcasted benefit concert full of stars who bring out more stars. From Oxnard native Anderson Paak bringing out Compton rapper Dr. Dre to the sole country star on the lineup, Jelly Roll, bringing out Fontana native and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, FireAid definitely did not disappoint in the surprise guest department.

Although I was more excited by Slash joining The Black Crowes’ set and by the heartwarming rendition of “Rise” by Santa Barbara native Katy Perry and the Pasadena Chorale, the moment that clearly took the internet by storm was the surprise Nirvana reunion. As Stereogum said in a Friday article, the surviving members of Nirvana were back together Thursday for the first time since their 2014 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and this time, they were joined by some other beloved rockers.

Several female rockers stood in for the late Kurt Cobain: acclaimed guitarist St. Vincent led Nirvana through “Breed,” Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth sang “School,” and Joan Jett performed “Territorial Pissings.”

5. Dave Grohl of Nirvana and The Foo Fighters bringing out his daughter Violet Grohl to help his image

Violet Grohl (R) performs onstage with Dave Grohl and Nirvana band members during the FIREAID Benefit Concert for California Fire Relief at The Kia Forum on January 30, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

OK, maybe I’m being a little cruel, but Nirvana and The Foo Fighters drummer Dave Grohl bringing out his 18-year-old daughter Violet to sing “All Apologies” for the closing song of Nirvana’s surprise set was the biggest eye roll of the night for me.

This was Grohl’s first live performance since announcing in September that he was expecting a baby outside of his marriage. The fact that one of the three children he shares with his wife of 22 years joined him onstage sent a strong message that he wants to repair his public image and look like a family man. There’s nothing wrong with showing his love for the family he’s grown within his marriage, but doing it so publicly for his first performance since the scandal made it feel disingenuous.

Although it made me cringe because of her dad’s decisions, I must give it to Violet Grohl for a genuinely amazing performance. I’m choosing to believe that it was her idea (no shame in wanting a gig), and he couldn’t say no because, you know, he betrayed her and her family’s trust.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: FireAid concert: From a Nirvana and Dave Grohl set to a slew of surprise guests like Dr. Dre, here were the most memorable moments