'I'm Not There' Bob Dylan Tribute a Treat

Legendary musicians, actors and 'I'm Not There' director Todd Haynes himself gathered last night at New York City's Beacon Theater to honor the music of Bob Dylan, and regale the enthusiastic crowd with truly unique covers of his songs.

While the evening's musical performances were mired by frequent sound problems and bouts of confusion on stage, the malfunctions only augmented the relaxed, almost dress-rehearsal approach to the evening that made possible the many spontaneous moments -- including Todd Haynes' speechless 'Wow' moments, and quick-witted former X frontman John Doe admitting that his wife printed out the words to 'Ballad of a Thin Man' so that he wouldn't be stuck on stage.

Cementing the "let's just chill" vibe, however, was a hoodied, unkempt gum-chewing Heath Ledger --who portrays one of six versions of Dylan in the film-- and his "friends": folk group Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, whose singer went shirtless, in dangerously low-cut pants for the event and told his "all-time favorite joke" about a a "toe-less Mexican named Roberto."

Highlights also included an unannounced performance from pint-sized country singer Tift Merritt, who, with the help of legendary guitarist Joe Henry, performed an intensely rousing rendition of 'A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall,' My Morning Jacket's true-to-themselves take on 'Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You' and the Roots' kinetic interpretation of 'Masters of War,' complete with a tuba solo, to name only a few.