Jessi Zazu had an extraordinarily tough year, marked by a fight with cancer  that continues on. One of the most heartening parts of the story is that she hasn't had to struggle alone — fans, friends and colleagues have rallied around the artist and musician to show their support through multiple benefit events, showing up in droves to the art show featuring work by Jessi and her mother, pouring funds into a crowdfunding campaign (which you can still contribute to) and more.

Thursday, the night before Jessi's 28th birthday, a slew of top musicians from the community she's helped to grow gathered at The Basement East for a sold-out concert, the proceeds from which will go to her care. It was a time for a hug and a chat with old friends (and to tip a cap to Mayor Megan Barry, who was on hand), but it was also a chance to enjoy one of the finest catalogs of American songs.

Backed by a superb house band (which featured Jerry Pentecost, David Guy, Zach Setchfield, Matt Rowland and Adam Kurtz), the stellar performers on the roster played a career-spanning retrospective of John Prine's best material, inspired by Broken Hearts and Dirty Windows, a 2010 compilation of Prine songs performed by myriad artists, Jessi's former band Those Darlins among them. At the time the show kicked off, Prine himself was taking the stage alongside Margo Price and Jeremy Ivey at the Newport Folk Festival, but he was represented at The Beast by his wife, Fiona Prine, his sons Jody Whelan and Tommy Prine, and a couple of cardboard cutouts of himself that smiled wryly from the corners of the stage.

Prine's songs suit so many voices, because like all the best songs, everyone can find something of themselves in them. They're heartbreakingly bitter and heartwarming and hilariously gross, often at the same time. They are the perfect songs to hold onto in times of trouble and to celebrate with when your cup is full, and it felt good to hear them Thursday night.

The performances ran the gamut from Darrin Bradbury's perfectly gruff solo take on "That's the Way the World Goes ’Round," complete with the "happy enchilada" story, to Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires' poignant renditions of "Storm Windows" and "Clocks and Spoons" (Isbell took the lead on the former and Shires on the latter, punctuating it with fierce fiddle solos), and Ruby Amanfu's rafter-rattling gospel take on "Angel From Montgomery." The show's roughly three hours went by in a flash, with highlight after highlight — Brothers Osborne's hard-boogeying rendition of "Ain't Hurtin' Nobody," Caitlin Rose with Erin Rae and Pete Lindberg on "Bruised Orange," Alex Caress on "Sweet Revenge," an all-hands rendition of "Paradise" and more. Below, check out a slew of photos.

In The Spin — the Scene's live review column — staffers and freelance contributors review concerts under a collective byline.

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