Streaming ‘Pay it Forward Live’ show debuts tonight

The members of the Dave Matthews Band are, presumably, safely and socially isolated with their families until such the day comes when the “all clear” announcement is made.

Matthews himself is going back to work, in a manner of speaking. The veteran rocker will play a 30-minute set from his home tonight, for the first edition of Pay it Forward Live, a weekly digital streaming series from Verizon.

Pay it Forward Live will stream, starting at 8 p.m. ET, over the Twitter @verizon page, and on Yahoo Entertainment.

Verizon has pledged to donate $2.5 million to Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a national nonprofit that boosts economic opportunity for people and communities across the U.S. (since 1979, LISC has invested $20 billion.

As each program is streamed, viewers will be encouraged to tag local businesses, and make a purchase in advance for when the Covid-19 crisis is over.

Musicians from all countries, from all genres, have taken up the livestreaming banner. Keith Urban performed a solo house concert (with wife Nicole Kidman in attendance); Paul Simon sang a duet with his next door neighbor, actor Woody Harrelson. And Vince Gill, Marty Stuart and Brad Paisley harmonized – sitting six feet apart – from the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, which was otherwise empty of people:

Since Monday, Facebook Live and Instagram have streamed shows-from-home, or couch videos, from Evanescence, Indigo Girls, Sheryl Crow, Rufus Wainwright, Jewel, Michael Martin Murphey, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Juanes, Julianne Hough, Miguel, Josh Ritter, Jennifer Hudson, Tommy Shaw and dozens of others.

Even Andrew Lloyd Webber sent out an impromptu clip.

Because it’s so early in this new game, there aren’t any rules yet. The best way to find out who’s streaming, and when, is to check your favorite artist’s website, Instragram and Facebook pages.

This will most likely change, as livestreaming performances becomes more and more common.

For Tampa Bay music livestreams, check the St. Pete Catalyst event page, which is updated daily.

One of our favorite videos from this week featured cellist Doniyor Zuparo from The Florida Orchestra playing J.S. Bach’s Arioso with a unique new approach. View the clip on the TFO Facebook page.