Neil Young

I love Neil Young. What else is there to it? Every facet of his multi-coloured and sprawling career fascinates and excites me. So when he stepped out on-stage at the LG Arena in Birmingham on June 11th, 2013 I was in a dual-state of giddy, fanboy delirium and devotional, stoic reverence.
It was a Neil Young and Crazy Horse show so I knew more-or-less what I was in for; loud, distorted, extended jams. This description is accurate in a way but also does the whole thing a disservice as it suggests the songs outstay their welcome, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Also be sure not to be put off by the whole “loud” and “distorted” thing - this was one of the best-sounding gigs I’ve ever been to. A mix so well-done they managed to make every element so clear despite the turned-up-to-11 and close-to-breaking distortion of the guitars (easily 90% of the racket is from Neil and Old Black). I attended the concert with my dad, with whom I don’t share that much in the way of musical interests, and we were right at the front and atmosphere was incredible. This was the Alchemy tour and the stage was set to look like the Rust Never Sleeps and Smell the Horse / Weld tours of 1978 and 1991 - which meant huge, oversized replicas of amps and a microphone and the stage crew kitted out in scientist garb. During the build-up the stage scientists began theatrically exaggerating their actions and after a dramatic hoisting of the giant microphone over the climax of The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” everyone cheered encouragingly. It was only after watching the scientist’s celebrating we noticed, entering from stage right, was some guy with long hair and a black hat. After a rousing rendition of the national anthem with the band and stage crew in arm the band got to their instruments and off they went.
The first song was “Love to Burn” - a 10 minute epic from Ragged Glory - and from the opening bars I knew this concert was going to be special as the usual opener was “Love and Only Love” - the other 10 minute epic from Ragged Glory. The setlist wound through mostly new material at first, stopping off at Psychedelic Pill tracks (the title track and “Walk Like a Giant” - which, with the ensuing feedback barrage, lasted about half an hour), a track from 1980’s Re-ac-tor (“Surfer Joe and Moe the Sleaze”) and some quieter songs (the unreleased “Hole in the Sky” and “Singer Without a Song” plus Neil solo on Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Heart of Gold”) before kicking back into high-gear with “Ramada Inn” and a string of many of NY&CH’s finest sprawling epics (“Cinnamon Girl”, “F*!#in’ Up” complete with an extended and funky bridge section, “Cortez the Killer”, the Buffalo Springfield song “Mr Soul” and “My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)” done in the style of “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)”).
After all that the most prominent thought on my mind was “Where’s “Powderfinger”??” - although I’m hardly one to insist on an artist playing a certain song. Sure enough they came for an encore and delivered the song with such power it exceeded all my wildest expectations. It was even more impressive (to me, at least) given the song is not usually played as an encore but here seemed to be in it’s rightful place. The band left and the stage stayed dark for a while, leaving us highly anticipating another return. The cases for the mock, oversized amps came down and when the house lights went up there was a fair amount (semi-joking?) booing and the stage crew began dismantling the place. My dad turns to me and says “That was f*!#ing mega!”. If this review was allowed to consist of just four words, it’d be those.

Saturday 11th June. The O2. Neil Young and the Promise of the Real. So while the rest of the country were experiencing the usual mixture of short lived joy and then subsequent depression of watching England in a major football tournament, the sensible money was going to the O2 to see the legend that’s Neil Young. Given the spate of musical icon deaths in recent months the decision was made to see the 70 year old Mr Young in case more tragedy descends on the music business.

Young has been energised recently by a fresh new band supporting him on this recent tour. We have seen him on a few occasions and this time there’s no big set, oversized amps or too many gimmicks. He enters dressed a peasant sowing seeds on the stage (more of that later), sits down at the piano and proceeds to produce a sublime acoustic set of twenty five minutes or so running through classic such as ‘After the Gold Rush’, ‘Heart of Gold’, ‘Needle and the Damage Done’ and from ‘Hank to Hendrix’ before he’s joined by the band.

The evening’s set was heavily drawn from two albums, ‘Harvest’ and ‘Ragged Glory’ and we were treated to some rarely played tracks such as ‘Alabama’ and 'If ‘I could have her tonight’ from his first album which he’s only played once before and that was the night before.

The theme of the night if there was one was look after the world, fuck corporate America, be good to each other and protect our valuable natural resources. After the opening acoustic set we then launch into two hours of riff tastic jamming with extended renditions of ‘Love and only Love’ and ‘Words’ clocking in at twenty minutes apiece.

What is impressive about Young is his sheer energy. The new band have revitalised him and it’s them who have to keep up with the seventy year old rocker and not the other way around. His voice is also still as strong as ever and we all join in to set closer Fuckin Up and it’s all over. Like a fine wine Neil Young is getting better and long may he keep rockin us.

Keep on hard rockin baby.

The storm had cleared by the time the women in straw hats and denim shorts came out to pepper the stage with seeds. Planting crops and watering dandelions, the farmer’s daughters represented the victims in Neil Young’s new manifesto against Monsanto. It was a unique way to start a show, but it did make me a little nervous. The new album is terrible. And I was really hoping that the show would not focus too much on Young’s latest protest. My fears were put to rest when he followed the girls onto the stage to perform a five song solo set. As he sat up there in the dark, all alone, and sang “After The Goldrush”, I was reminded that Neil Young really hasn’t strayed too far from his original message. “Look at Mother Nature on the run, in the 21st century”. The words have been updated since the 70’s, but the meaning had not. That classic song led into “Heart of Gold”, “Long May You Run” and “Old Man”, as he made his way from the acoustic guitar to the organ. “Driving to Denver from Milkwaukee we saw a lot of beautiful land…and deserted farmland”, he told the crowd, once again blaming the chemicals produced by Monsanto, before performing a natural anthem for “Mother Earth”. His opening selection of songs tied perfectly into the theme of his new album, but they also exposed just how far off track he has gone in recent years. “Mother nature on the run” just sounds so much better than “want a cup of coffee, but I don’t want a GMO.” He’s always written protest songs, but they also contained poetry. He didn’t have to name-drop big corporations to get his message across when he wrote those songs. And he didn’t need men in hazmat suits to come out and spray the audience with faux poisoning before introducing his band when he toured those albums. - See more at: http://ilistensoyoudonthaveto.com/2015/07/11/neil-young-promise-of-the-real-red-rocks-07-08-15/#sthash.pEqFau9w.dpuf

A wonderful event. Contributing to a charity that gives kids that aren't quite up to the average camp experience a chance to have a great time that empowers them.

Father John Misty opened the show with his quirky brand of showmanship in, according to him, a rare instance of playing solo and while the sun is up. He warmed us up with an intimate performance of several of his well known tunes.

Norah Jones was next. She led her trio through their paces , playing some of her newer stuff and hitting the spot with the very intimate crowd with her classics as well. She ended her set with a cover of Neil Youngs "Don't be Denied".

Neil was next. He strolled on unannounced picked up an acoustic guitar and began strumming a very loose and beautiful version of "Sugar Mountain". He followed that with a Buffalo Springfield era "I am a Child", very appropriate for this event. Next was seamless transition to "Comes a Time". He continued with a dozen more songs, Set list here- https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/neil-young/2019/painted-turtle-camp-lake-hughes-ca-1b9c8110.htm - all solo and acoustic either on guitar or piano, with the exception of the last song "Harvest Moon" on which he was joined by Norah and her band.

His stage setup included what was likely a tack piano and his ornate pump organ. The crowd was wanting more of Neil and since those keyboards hadn't been heard from we all were expecting an encore that might include them. It was not to be. After several minutes of clapping and hooting Neil and Nora returned for an encore of "The Losing End".

A very special day was had by all. Thanks to everyone involved.

NEIL forever-YOUNG A sunny & warm summer evening 30th July Neil Young and Crazy Horse visited Copenhagen, Denmark. Being 65 - almost the same age as Neil - his music has meant a lot to me throughout my every day life. I was so lucky to get a place up front - actually row one. By the time Neil Young entered the scene I had been standing for over 3 hours, but by the first cord all my pain was forgotten. Neil was playing as intensely as I had hoped, and out of the blue and to my own surprise tears were running out of my eyes. For the first 3 numbers photographers were running around with their obscene camera lenses and Neil was jamming with Crazy Horse with his back to the photographers ....and his audience. And I am sad to say, that it was his back I saw the most of, only once did I have the joy of seeing him pick the guitar strings. Neil Young is a man with a message and musician with capital M, and that's why his concert matters. Biggest moment was when he was alone on stage - here he was bonding with his audience. He sang two numbers, Blowing in the wind and Heart go Gold and I must admit, that Neil Young has the best singing audience I have EVER heard. We created magic together. Neil Young really wants to make the Earth better for the next generation to come and save on the energy - I will suggest that the part of the concert: "Neil alone on the stage" become a little longer. We loved Neil's undivided attention, and a lot of electricity could be saved to make the world a little better. Thank you for an evening where I remembered why I didn't cut my hair, because I still feel I owe it to someone.

My husband & I are in our 50's and my husband has been a Neil Young fan as long as he can remember. I grew to be a NY fan after we got married. Our three children became NY fans. They had no choice but to like NY, since we listened to so much of his music. We finally got the chance for tickets to a Neil Young concert in Lincoln NE. We were so excited!! We grabbed 10 CD's to listen to while we were driving; leaving 15 more CD's at home.

Neil Young began the concert with "After the Gold Rush" ....just Neil, his piano and his harmonica. It was amazing. Everything we waited for. He played several of our favorites & we couldn't have dreamed of any better. THEN......he started in on his "Monsanto kick" and never looked back. We get it...that he is an environmentalist, We are in favor of saving our earth too. BUT, did he really have to devote 1/3 of his concert to the fact he is dead-set against corporate everything? I don't like using RoundUp on my yard either, but I don't have to dwell on that.

The start of the concert was amazing. We thoroughly enjoyed the first 2/3 of it. Neil ruined it with his political views in song. It seemed like half the fans left the concert early. We stayed til the end, only to hear "Cinnamon Girl" as his encore piece.

We will not even consider purchasing a CD with the "Monsanto" songs on it.

Will still enjoy Neil Young music in the future. Just wished he would've stuck to the "good stuff" in our chance of a lifetime to hear him LIVE. He could've sung so many more favorites. He would've kept the audience til the end.

I travelled from Winnipeg to Vancouver to see Neil Young play with this band. In the past few years I have attended 2 concerts in the ' Peg, both of Neil solo.
Nothing compared to the variety of song choices,never mind the climax of these gentlemen's guitar licks that jammed into one of the best guitar sandwiches i have ever tasted.
From Neil's early writings in Harvest Moon,and Southern Man to his stance on Farmers and the destruction of who can grow what in the song Monsanto, Neil Young has always been a leader of political messages through his songs.

He's just one of those legends who isn't afraid. People listen. He educates, and we all go home with better understanding .

Neil's band including the guitar stylings of Willie Nelson's sons were astounding. The drummers were on note all the time. The harmony of the voices was full, and the pride of this home town girl was huge.

You're getting better Mr. Young. You're connecting with the audience on so many levels now.And the kids of our generation supported their parents in taking a seat too.
I give five clefs for this concert.Bravo. It was worth the ride.

I've been going to rock concerts since 1968 and this show was easily in the top 10. Forget the album even though it represents an important political protest. You have not heard that music until you hear it live. What an amazing, hard rocking band! Countless moments of the four guitars ( bass included there) standing in a circle and driving a groove so hard that it was driving the audience into full ecstatic dance fever. I just can't say enough about the band. They may just be the best that Neil has ever assembled. Spontaneity seemed like the rule rather than the exception. I would say that out of the three hours he was on stage maybe two songs were less than stellar. But the bar was so high that they had set that I couldn't fault them for taking a breather here and there. Hell, the audience needed a breather! We left in a state of absolute giddy delight and satisfaction. As an older musician myself I am inspired and awed by Neil Young. Still creating vital music and pressing forward.

Neil was Neil. Laid back and phenomenally talented. He played several different guitars, each with a name, harmonica, two pianos (which he brought with him for this tour), a harpsichord, and a ukulele. It's amazing how talented this one man is.

My only exception with this concert was that there was too much obscure music played. He has such a wealth of fantastic songs that span over 4 decades and several groups, so many of which I was hoping to hear. In previous setlists from this tour, he included 3 or 4 Buffalo Springfield tunes, but did not play them on July 11. Very disappointing. So many of his greatest songs were missing.

Other than that, I would go see him again!

Two and a half hours of Neil Young is great value by any standards, but a pity for those who had to leave before the end.If you've seen NY then you should already know that he always delivers, the best of the old time rockers for me, still uncompromising and driving his young band on, but he started off solo on piano, After The Goldrush taking us all by surprise. The show ebbed and flowed from there, full of well known songs but clearly off the cuff too. I loved it as much as the first time I saw him about 30 years ago.
Real top notch support from Laura Marling too. Hope to see her in her own right soon. Dynamite double bill.