Early on a Saturday morning is one of my favourite times in New York. There’s a certain calm about the city. A serene side to NY. If New York ever really slept,then this would be the time when the city is just waking up. But it doesn’t ever last long … especially today.

It’s 7-7-07, otherwise known as the day of Live Earth, and MTV News is all over it. We couldn’t miss a music event of this scale — especially with its equally important message. Former Vice President Al Gore — the man that used to be “the next President of the United States” — wants to save the environment and combat global warming. But to do this he needs you!

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Following the mighty Bon Jovi is a tough order. Following him after he just rocked a rabid hometown crowd? Near impossible.

Yet that was the task that fell to the new Smashing Pumpkins … and how did they approach it? Well, loudly.

Entering under a fog of doomy guitar noise, Billy Corgan and company launched lead-footed into “United States,” from their upcoming Zeitgeist album. The serious-looking Corgan bleated calls for “revolution,” pulled echo-y solos from deep within his Fender all while original Pumpkin Jimmy Chamberlin provided a backbeat like the hounds of hell.

They didn’t let up with song number two, “Bullet With Butterfly Wings,” which started off with a booming intro from new bassist Ginger Reyes (who said Corgan’s new mates were just “a backing band”? Oh wait, I did) and bled into a full-blown workout in thrash.

“Tarantula” was next, featuring more fleet-fingered soloing from Corgan, a jammy middle section and a barreling, crashing conclusion.

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James: Jon Bon Jovi just introduced “Wanted Dead or Alive” by saying, “Can you all rise for the playing of the national anthem?”

You haven’t lived until you’ve seen the Jovi on their home field, playing to their hometown fans. Unreal.

Shaheem: Bon Jovi were amazing. They shut the whole show down. They’ve been off the stage for two minutes already, and people are still standing on their feet yelling, “One more song!” Incredible. I’m good now!

Check out shots of Rihanna, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and more artists at Live Earth shows across the globe.

Your boy Kanye is a nut. During the last song of his set, “Touch the Sky,” he ran from the farthest end of one side of the stage all the way to the very end of the other. He also told whoever was working one of the camera cranes to keep it out of his way.

‘Ye brought his string section (which I couldn’t really hear too well), two backup singers (who I couldn’t hear at all), and DJ A-Trak. The sound during Kanye’s performance disappointed me because earlier when Akon was on, the bass was exploding in my chest. The water in my (no-name) bottle was even vibrating. (No product placement. What do you think this is, “Transformers”?) So I just knew when “Stronger” came on, he was going to tear the show apart. The Daft Punk sample has the biggest thump of any summer record. I didn’t feel it though.

Physically, the system seems to be turned down a notch or two. But ‘Ye kept everybody on their feet for his whole set. That’s my measuring stick for the show now. Who can keep the crowd on its feet for a whole 20 minutes? That’s doing your thing. The bugged thing about Kanye was that after he did “Jesus Walks” and “Touch the Sky,” he just stood there while everyone applauded, dropped the mic to the floor and left.

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Using my ninja skillz, I was able to sneak backstage once again (note: “ninja skillz” means “a ‘working’ pass from one of my bosses”) to bring you more looks at what’s going down behind the scenes.

Kanye West — cigar in mouth, camo cap perched atop his head — arrived on the scene in a golf cart then dipped with a quickness into the green room. A few minutes later, a determined-looking ‘Ye made his way to the stage, an arm of silver-clad cellists marching behind him.

No sooner had West departed than new Smashing Pumpkins bassist Ginger Reyes and fellow four-string fiend Hunter Burgan from AFI swung by, posed for a photo (see below) and then turned the tables on yours truly with a little grilling of their own.

“Did you call me a month or so ago?” Reyes asked. (Note: No way, that was fellow MTV Newsman Gil Kaufman). “I’m still wondering how you got my number!”

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Finally, I saw a Soprano!

I was beginning to think my trip to dirty Jerz would be incomplete and I wouldn’t see any of Tony’s HBO family. I took a little break from the concert to catch the pig races at the fair. I know, it does sound crazy, so that’s why I wanted to see it. To make a long story pork — I mean short — I missed the races, but on my way back to the show, who did I see signing books but … Vito!

Joe Gannascoli — a.k.a. dead made man Vito on “The Sopranos” — was sitting at a table, smoking cigars and signing autographs of his book, “Vito Lives.”

It took just one name to bring Giants Stadium to its feet again — Dave Matthews. A strum of the guitar later, people were dancing and singing along. It could have been the funny smoke in the air or simply the rock and roll that reignited so much energy back to the New Jersey Live Earth crowd. Classic Dave tracks like “Don’t Drink the Water” and “Too Much” were anthems for today’s cause, and the cause will no doubt leave here — with heads and feet bopping all the way down the NJ Turnpike.