Neil Young's 2024 Year in Review: Crazy Horse Fades and The Chrome Heart(s) Burns

Our Concert Memories of Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse - Bristow, Virginia - May 11, 2024  

 

Similar to those years of Neil Young past -- 2024 was as "newsworthy" as ever -- both in terms of quantity and quality. 

 

After a nearly 4 year concert tour hiatus, Neil Young did finally tour again in 2024 with Crazy Horse.  However, a planned 2nd leg of the tour was canceled and many feel that, sadly, this was the last ride for The Horse. 

 

But hope springs eternal that from The Barn emerges yet another new band: the cleverly named The Chrome Hearts.

 

From the intensity of the "LOVE EARTH" Crazy Horse Tour to the ongoing  Archival releases and their staggering volume, 2024 was a year that was definitely both exhilarating and exhausting.

 

So, walk with us on a journey through the past year of 2024 ...

"Fu##n' Up"  - Neil & the Horse +REVIEWS: "Fu##n' Up" Album by Neil [Young] & The [Crazy] Horse

 

INTERVIEW: Micah Nelson on Joining Neil Young and Crazy Horse: ‘I’ve Been Rehearsing for This My Whole Life’ +

Review: Particle Kid (Micah Nelson), @ Barboza, Seattle, WA - 4/4/24

 

UNCOVERED: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young @ Fillmore East, 1969 +
REVIEWS: First Impressions: Live at Fillmore East, 1969 by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young  

 Neil Young Patron ZOOM Call - April 15

 

54 Years Later: "Ohio", Kent State, Student Protests & The Tin Soldiers March On | #MayTheFOURBeWithYou  

ECLIPSED: What's The Deal with Neil Young & The Moon? + A Message From Neil Young: RISING WITH THE MOON

 

Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse Love Earth Tour(Concert reviews)  

  WRAPUP: Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse's Love Earth Concert Tour Leg #1 - Statistics, Links + More  

Neil Young's Return to "Low Res" Spotify 

REVIEWS: "Early Daze" Album by Neil Young and Crazy Horse 
 

 

The Story Behind The Photo: "Neil Young in the Big Chair" by Tom Wilkes 

Exclusive First Look: Neil Young - Archives Vol. III

 

Unboxing Neil Young Archives Vol. III (1976–1987) 

Neil Young Empties the Vaults: "The Bootleggers Were Right" 

Neil Young Patron ZOOM Call - August 28

New Band & Tour Planning Underway  

 

Today's The Day! Neil Young Archives Volume #3 Drops

On The Beach Album by Neil Young: A 50 Year Old Masterpiece  +
What Happens When a Beloved Rock Star Gets Fed Up? | Neil Young's 1974 On the Beach Album

A CSNY Family Weekend Featuring The Our House Band and Calvin Fuzzy Samuel

Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts  

Farm Aid 2024: Saratoga Springs, NY, Sat., Sept. 21  

(Our Farm Aid 2024 Report!)

 

CONCERT REPORTS: Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts: Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY - Sept 23 & 24 

 

Harvest Moon: 

A Gathering To Benefit for The Painted Turtle & The Bridge School

w/ Stephen Stills & Neil Young

 

 

"Analog Originals": Neil Young Official Release Series - Box #6

 

 

CITIZEN NEIL SAYS VOTE: Remember, Remember the 5th of November - Freedom vs Tyranny 

 

Neil Young Archives Volume #4 Creation Begins 

 

Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts: Europe Summer 2025 Concert Tour Planning Underway  +IN THE STUDIO: Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts Recording New Album

 

 

Once again, as we conclude 2024, we ponder that age old question: Is Neil Young burning out or fading away? 

We've argued that he is neither.

Neil Young is the quintessential survivor.  So we here at Thrasher's Wheat say thank you so much for all of the love and support over the past decades from the rustie grains fan communities.

Neil Young Independent WebsitesTimes-Contrarian | Neil Young Archives
 (Click photo to enlarge)

Back in 2023, Neil Young Archives posted a listing of Neil Young Independent Websites, which prominently featured Thrasher's Wheat.

We are honored and humbled to be recognized as "Independent Media". And we are committed to continuing our struggle to exercise our freedoms and rights to "speak truth to power". It brings us joy to share our "truths" -- whether it be an opinion on Neil Young's music or something much heavier.

 

And -- much to our delight -- even Neil now is seeing the light on media diversity as NYA makes a "Big Shift".

Most of you know our backstory well here after  25+ years cranking out the posts.  It has been an amazing journey with so many rewards which we continue to reap the most valuable of all dividends -- those which are monumentally priceless.

For example, earlier this year we made our annual Farm Aid concert pilgrimage  and connected up with our dear FarmAidians friends.

 

 The FarmAidians 

Rustie Grain Fest: Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse @ Manassas, Virginia - Friday, May 10  

To connect up with our Neil buddies, hang out and enjoy the music is our definition of bliss. As in finding the true meaning of life. And we consider ourselves quite fortunate to be able to travel about the country and world and meetup with our fellow "rustie grains" (as Neil himself refers to us.)

 

It is these note's for us that keep us going, such as this one from The Extraordinary Grain Man Dan on  Thanks for Supporting Thrasher's Wheat.

Last year, we wrapped up 2023 with a post on Thrasher's Wheat's future on  Where Do We Go Now ... or Where Did We Go From There?  

Where Do We Go Now ... 
or Where Did We Go From There?  Charles Theater, Baltimore, MD
December 2012
(Note: Photo not Photoshopped)

 

At the moment, everyone can relax somewhat because Thrasher's Wheat will continue to celebrate Neil Young, his music and the fan communities. So stay tuned for some hopefully exciting announcements in the months ahead as we celebrate our remarkable little milestone as the 2nd longest running music blog in the  history of the internet. 

Maintaining a robust, healthy, engaged community that allows open, honest and free speech is paramount for us here in Neil / RUST & TW grain communities.  There is simply nothing whatsoever which is more important to us and what we do and stand for.  Again, thank you so much for reading our articles, sharing them throughout the web, and contributing your own thoughts through comments and messages. Today, more than ever, we need independent thinkers like you folks out there in the rustie-grains village that rely on a solid moral compass – not a pre-determined agenda – to understand this circus, to stand up, to speak up, and to fight for what is right.

Lastly, if you would like to support what we do here at Thrasher's Wheat, you can make a donation on PayPal link below:

Only your credit card is necessary to apply directly & securely. No PayPal account setup necessary. (NOTE: A portion of ALL donations also help The Bridge School, Farm Aid, Musicares, and other worthy causes.) 
Again, if you can't support TW financially, the next best is to share our mailing list and encourage other Neil fans to join the "Grains Community" here @ Thrasher's Wheat.

 

Thanks and again: everyone enjoy your holidays and Happy Neil Year!!!

 

peace & love,
thrasher & thrashette
#CrazyHorse4HoF
#Willie4Nobel
#WT1sWBW4

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays & A Wonderful Neil Year To All!
thrashers
☮️♥️

(& thanks to all The FarmAidians)

 

Our work is far from done.  So we'll see you down the road in 2024.

Neil Young: "happy new year"
via Neil Young Archives

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Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts: 2025 Concert Tour Update + Discovery of 1985 Recordings

EUROPE TOUR - USA?
Neil Young Archives (Click photo to enlarge)

Per a recent Letter to the Editor on NYA, Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts 2025 Concert Tour will include USA dates, as well as Europe 2025 dates.

"Castle Recordings"MESSAGE FROM NEIL
Neil Young Archives (Click photo to enlarge)

Also, NYA has discovered a set of recordings made at Castles studio in 1985. Neil plans to eventually release as an album.

Neil Young and The Chrome HeartsShangri-La Studio, Malibu, CAvia John Hanlon | Instagram 
 (Click photo to enlarge)

In other news, Neil Young is announcing the title of the upcoming Chrome Hearts album: "Talkin to the Trees". (see IN THE STUDIO: Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts Recording New Album.)

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COMING SOON: Another Neil Young "Fireside Sessions"

Fireside Sessions | Neil Young Archives  (Click photo to enlarge)

 

Neil Young has announced on Neil Young Archives that he will stream another   "Fireside Session" concert during the Christmas season.

During the "pandemic", Neil Young presented several  "Fireside Sessions" which some labeled as the "The perfect pandemic antidote". Or -- if you preferred -- "splendid isolation".

Neil Young's Fireside Sessions on NYA
Fireside Sessions #4
Fireside Sessions #3
Fireside Sessions #2
Fireside Sessions #1

 

In 2020, Neil Young produced four extremely intimate mini concerts with his wife Daryl Hannah.

Neil Young's Fireside Sessions #4 | NYA

Also, Neil Young has released a fireplace video with nearly two hours of music on  YouTube. The holiday soundtrack with a crackling fireplace has back catalog songs along with other Christmas songs by other artists.

More on Neil Young's 2020 "Fireside Sessions".

"Stunningly intimate & unprecedented" says TW.
Neil Young's Fireside Sessions on NYA - STREAMING NOW: Details on Sessions #1, #2, #3, & #4 @ https://t.co/H2XvxC7cTG
☮️♥️ @NeilYoungNYA
@dhlovelife pic.twitter.com/HNt4YL0iWL

— ThrashersWheat (@ThrashersWheat) May 9, 2020

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A Big Shift Coming at Neil Young Archives

MAINSTREAMINGT-C | Neil Young Archives (Click photo to enlarge) 
 

An interesting item appearing on T-C | Neil Young Archives regarding "MAINSTREAMING".

Neil Young, as Editor of Times Contrarian on Neil Young Archives,  has published a statement that:

"Going forward, we will be publishing independent political journalists who do not carry the burden of poisoned corporate support."

Certainly, a rather major shift in thinking at Neil Young Archives and the newspaper Times Contrarian. And obviously, should have been done long ago.

At the risk of saying "told you so", Here Comes "The Big Shift" and the  corruption of mainstream media is blatant and dangerous, it is sadly ironic that this all comes so late in the game for those who should have been paying attention. But, better late than never.

More on the intersectionality of politics, art and the media.

'She was welded to the eagle's beak
Sun Green leaned into that megaphone
and said, "Truth is all I seek" '
"Sun Green" by Neil Young  

(see  "Resist The Powers That Be": Neil Young's New Song "Children of Destiny")

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IN THE STUDIO: Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts Recording New Album

Neil Young and The Chrome HeartsShangri-La Studio, Malibu, CAvia John Hanlon | Instagram 
 (Click photo to enlarge)

Neil Young is recording another album in the studio, this time with his latest new band The Chrome Hearts. 

Per producer and sound engineer John Hanlon's Instagram  (via Rusted Moon Rusted Moon), Neil Young is at Rick Rubin's Shangri-La Studio in Malibu. From photo caption, the recording is analog 16 track direct to vinyl.

Shangri-La Studio is where Neil Young recorded his last studio album "World Record" with Crazy Horse in 2022. The last full moon was on November 15th, so presumably the recording was around that time.  Rick Ruben does not seem to appear in the photo so presumably Neil and Hanlon produced the album.

Rick Rubin, Neil Young & Zane Lowe - 2022

 Shangri La Studios in Malibu, California

Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts will tour Europe in 2025, per recent news on NYA.

Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts  

Farm Aid 2024: Saratoga Springs, New York

photo by thrasher

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