For the first time in a long time the performances that were being rewarded actually received more air time than the awards and all such shows should take heed. The 51st Annual Grammy Awards was a star studded affair that featured live performance after live performance with some being extremely engaging (U2) while others being  the reason some watch NASCAR -for the crashes(Jonas Brothers with Stevie Wonder).

On the awards front, Robert Plant was rewarded for his career work by walking away with 5 Grammys all of which were earned as a member of Led Zeppelin but will have his work with Nashville songstress Alison Krauss on the trophy.  Coldplay was supposed to own the night and they dressed the part looking like extras in Sgt. Peppers movie (at least they apologized to Sir Paul McCartney) but they were speed bumped by Plant/Krauss for the big award and upstaged by Jay-Z who wondered onto stage with Chris Martin  in the middle of his solo version of “Lost” and stole the song. It was the first of interesting mix of talent and one of the more effective collaborations on a night full of them.

Coldplay still managed to walk away with three awards for their Brian Eno produced Viva La Vida.  They blew a big chance to recognize Eno and allow the crowd to recognize one of music’s most innovative producer performers. Evidenced by the way Plant gave just kudos to T-Bone Burnett for his work on the “Raising Sand,” LP which garnered Plant all his hardware.

But on with the performances. The show started with a bang and didn’t let up for sometime. U2 was their bombastic selves as they premiered their new single “Put Your Boots On.” Its good to see the boys from Ireland can still rock.  Then the Coldplay set seemed to say we are throwing our best at you early and you better stay tuned. The evenings most promoted collaboration was the Paul McCartney with Dave Grohl on drums and their rapid version of “I Saw Her Standing There” lived up to expectations.

Some of the other collaborations were not as fulfilling. The Jonas Brothers were like little gnats flying over and annoying Stevie Wonder. Even the producer seemed to be aware of the mismatched as he let Wonder close the show as a make up.  There was a rap super group that seemed like a lot of shouting but the four horsemen of Rap (T.I. Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and Kayne West) were completely over shadowed by an extremely pregnant MIA who was due that evening. Each rapper tried to out do the other and none of them hit it right. This was in sharp contrast to Lil Wayne’s effective pairing with Alan Thicke and Allan Toussaint in a tribute to New Orleans.

There was also a short but sweet sidebar jam by blues stlawarts BB King and Buddy Guy as they were joined by John Mayer and country music's Keith Urban for a rambling tribute to Bo Diddley. This tribute was an echo of previous Kid Rock salute to the late Billy Powell of Lynyrrd Skynyrd eventhough it appeared the grammy forgot him in their video montsge tribute to those that past in previous year.

Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift enamored the young set with an acoustic version of “Fifteen.” And honestly I found it listenable.

But the best collaboration of the night was the USC Marching Band with shades of Fleetwood Mac era “Tusk” adding intense percussion to Radiohead’s “15 Steps.”

Once again I have to give the Grammy’s credit. The let the performances speak for themselves and then they throw in a few awards to give everyone an excuse to dress up.

Oh by the way top secret news of the night Blink 182 is back. Who gives a  s$^%!