Neil Young Inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame

Neil Young
Massey Hall, Toronto

From "Young, Cockburn touch on politics as they join Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame" | The Canadian Press by David Friend:

Legendary artists Neil Young and Bruce Cockburn were ushered into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame on Saturday with a celebration that carried a few political undertones.

While the live concert and induction ceremony at Toronto’s Massey Hall mostly steered away from any overt social statements, it seemed almost impossible for two of protest music’s most influential Canadian songwriters to ignore the current state of global politics.

“I’m terribly proud to be Canadian,” Young told the crowd as he was inducted. “I know I’ve travelled a lot ... but I’ve always been a Canadian citizen.”

“I love the U.S.A. — by the way,” he added before leaning into Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan.

“My message is: They’re already great.”

That’s about as close as the 71-year-old singer got to his political side.

But a tribute performance of his song “Ohio” by rock band Whitehorse inched a little closer. Originally written about the 1970 Kent State shootings, Whitehorse played their cover in front of a projection screen with the names of young men killed by police, including Freddie Gray, Eric Garner, Walter Scott and Canadian Greg Matters.

“We’d like to say so much has changed, but we’re not sure if it has,” guitarist Luke Doucet said as he introduced the song.

Neil Young's Induction Speech at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame

From cbcmusic.ca by Holly Gordon:

Introduced by Randy Bachman, Young walked onstage and exclaimed “Merci beacoup!” before giving a humble speech about his songwriting.

“I really want to say songs are like animals, and you really have to be careful with them and not sneak up on them and scare them,” he said.

“Wait for this song rabbit to come out of the hole.”

“I don’t know what to say because I’m still doing this,” he continued. “I was scared to come here in case it ended.”

“I’m still writing songs all the time. It’s funny, some people see me and go, ‘What are you doing now?’ … but I love to write songs. They’re still coming. They don’t care about awards, accolades. And that’s such a gift, such a great gift.”

He finished by touching back on Venne’s admission about not being able to sing.

“I know I can’t sing,” Young said, laughing.

“It really doesn’t matter. I’m around the note somewhere…. We’ve been together [Young and the note]. For a while; not for long though.”

A standing ovation ushered Young offstage, and Arkells — with Rush’s Alex Lifeson — walked onstage to play Young’s “Cinnamon Girl.”

Arkells closed out the night playing “Rockin’ in the Free World,” with all the performers onstage — some nodding along and clapping, like k.d. lang, some joining in, like Whitehorse.

Neil Young's 'Rockin' In The Free World' | Arkells, Randy Bachman and Special Guests
(Thanks HtH!)

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I'm Canadian by the way, and I love the USA... - the Visitor 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/LemTEfKcic

— Neil Young (@Neilyoung) September 23, 2017

Tonight, Neil Young and Bruce Cockburn will be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame later this year.

The induction ceremony will be in Toronto's Massey Hall on Saturday, Sept. 23.

Performers include Buffy Sainte-Marie, k.d. lang, and Randy Bachman.

Neil Young's Canada | CBC.ca
By Colton Eddy & Jesse Kinos-Goodin, for q digital
Illustrations by Christine Lieu
Web development by Geoff Isaac

A major piece on "Neil Young's Canada" on CBC.ca: From a town in North Ontario to the Red River Valley, a look at the places, people and sounds that influenced the icon. By Colton Eddy & Jesse Kinos-Goodin (for q digital), Illustrations by Christine Lieu and Web development by Geoff Isaac.

How has Neil Young influenced these artists?! We asked them recently at the #CCMAawards. Hear from more musicians: https://t.co/F5LzZdywLt pic.twitter.com/LiRR2HgWBG

— CBC Music (@CBCMusic) September 23, 2017

Neil Young - Massey Hall, Toronto - January 12, 2014
Photo via National Post
(Click photo to enlarge)
Neil Young
Allan Waters Humanitarian Award, Artist of the Year and Adult Alternative Album of the Year Award
2011 Juno awards at the Air Canada Centre, on Sunday in Toronto
BRETT GUNDLOCK / POSTMEDIA NEWS


More on Neil Young's 2011 Juno Awards.

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Photo of the Moment: Lukas Nelson & Neil Young + Promise Of The Real @ Farm Aid 2017

"F*!#in' Up"
Lukas Nelson & Neil Young + Promise Of The Real
Farm Aid 2017 Concert: Burgettstown, PA, Saturday Sept 16
Photo by Hounds That Howell
(Click photo to enlarge)

The Photo of the Moment is Lukas Nelson & Neil Young + Promise Of The Real performing "F*!#in' Up" at the Farm Aid 2017 Concert in Burgettstown, PA, on Saturday Sept 16. Photo by Hounds That Howell.

More on:

• FULL VIDEO: 2017 Farm Aid Concert Broadcast
• Neil Young: 2017 Farm Aid Press Conference - Burge...
• Farm Aid 2017 Concert: Burgettstown, PA, Saturday ...

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INTERVIEW: Neil Young on Sirius Radio w/ Jim Ladd

Here is an interview with Neil Young discussing his new release "Hitchhiker" on Sirius Radio with Jim Ladd.

More on Neil Young's New Album "Hitchhiker":

• NEW Official Music Video: "Powderfinger" by Neil Young (10+ Comments)
• TRANSCRIPT: Neil Young's Track by Track Commentary on New Album 'Hitchhiker' (20+ Comments)
• Neil Young’s Previously Unreleased Hitchhiker, and His Dark Malibu Years | Vulture (5+ Comments)
• REVIEW: Neil Young's Unearthed 1976 Recording 'Hitchhiker' Is a Lost Treasure" | Rolling Stone (15+ Comments)
• Neil Young's Live Facebook Session on August 31 (15+ Comments)
• REVIEW: Neil Young's Hitchhiker | American Songwriter (15+ Comments)
• Neil Young's Live Facebook Session on August 31 (15+ Comments)
• STREAMING: Neil Young's New Album "Hitchhiker" | NPR (25+ Comments)
• Tweet From Neil Young on "Hitchhiker" Release (25+ Comments)
• UNCUT Review: Neil Young's Upcoming Album "Hitchhiker" (2+ Comments)
• Comment of the Moment: Neil Young's Next Studio Album "Hitchhiker" (20+ Comments)
• UPDATE ON NEW ALBUM: Neil Young's "Hitchhiker" Now Due September 8 + Preview Track (10+ Comments)
• Neil Young's Indigo Ranch "Hitchhiker" 1976 Sessions Revealed: Behind the Scenes w/ Richard Kaplan - Part #1 (10+ Comments)
• Neil Young's Indigo Ranch "Hitchhiker" 1976 Sessions Revealed: Behind the Scenes w/ Richard Kaplan - Part #2 (15+ Comments)

"Hitchhiker" is now available on vinyl and CD to pre-order on Amazon.com.

Neil Young | Hitchhiker
(Click to enlarge & preview tracks)

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FULL VIDEO: 2017 Farm Aid Concert Broadcast

Here is the full broadcast video of the 2017 Farm Aid Concert. Neil Young + Promise Of The Real set begins @ ~6 hour, 35 minutes.

Neil Young's amazing and blazing Farm Aid performance was described by Rolling Stone as "one of the greatest sets in Farm Aid history."

"F*!#in' Up"
Neil Young + Promise Of The Real
Farm Aid 2017 Concert: Burgettstown, PA, Saturday Sept 16
Photo by thrasher

From our vantage point, there was little doubt from the moment Neil Young + Promise Of The Real hit the stage, literally pounding out the opening drum beat to a surprise set opener of "F*!#in' Up".

More to come in the days ahead of 2017 Farm Aid memories.

In the meantime, see and hear Neil Young's inspiring words at the 2017 Farm Aid Press Conference - Burgettstown, PA - Sept 16.

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Neil Young: 2017 Farm Aid Press Conference - Burgettstown, PA - Sept 16

Neil Young at 2017 Farm Aid Press Conference in Burgettstown, PA on Saturday Sept 16. (Thanks Hounds That Howell!)

Neil Young
2017 Farm Aid Press Conference
Photo by thrasher

More on Farm Aid 2017 Concert: Burgettstown, PA.

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Farm Aid 2017 Concert: Burgettstown, PA, Saturday Sept 16

"F*!#in' Up"
Neil Young + Promise Of The Real
Farm Aid 2017 Concert: Burgettstown, PA, Saturday Sept 16
Photo by thrasher

Setlist: Neil Young + Promise Of The Real
1. F*!#in' Up
2. Cortez The Killer
3. Cinnamon Girl
4. Human Highway
5. Heart Of Gold
6. Comes A Time
7. Like A Hurricane
8. Rockin' In The Free World

From Neil Young Roars Back to Life With Blazing Farm Aid Set: For first appearance since canceling all 2017 live commitments, Young delivered a stunning 45-minute set of classics at all-star festival | Rolling Stone by Andy Greene:

But not only did he show up at Farm Aid, he came roaring onto the stage like a feral beast finally let out of his cage and delivered a 45-minute set of unbelievable passion and energy that should completely put to bed any notion that he’s still battling whatever illness caused him to pull out of the Hall of Fame. Backed by Promise of the Real (who he first met at Farm Aid in 2014 and has used as his primary backing band ever since), he completely ignored the new album they just recorded, along with his entire catalog of the past 27 years, and played a set that was nothing but the classics.

"Thanks for coming to Farm Aid," he said in the only moment of the set where he paused long enough to speak. "I hope you know that you’re doing a lot of good here with that money. We use that for good things. Farmers are the American heroes today. They are doing something with their hands that they’re sharing with their neighbors and their friends and families. We appreciate it."

He opened up with a blistering "Fuckin' Up" that lead right into a hypnotic "Cortez The Killer" that stretched out to nearly eleven minutes. He didn't even sing a note of it until four and a half minutes in as he built up a haunting intro on his battered guitar Old Black, grinned from ear to ear and reveled in the effortless interplay he's developed with guitarists Lukas and Micah Nelson. Near the end, he seemed to remember he had a ticking clock and he quickly wrapped it up and called out for "Cinnamon Girl," forcing the band to scramble for the right instruments as he pounded out the opening chords.

Young then strapped on a harmonica and acoustic guitar for singalong renditions of "Human Highway," "Heart of Gold" and "Comes a Time," before seeming to again call an audible, this time for "Like a Hurricane." It didn't give Micah enough time to get behind the keyboard for the intro, but once the band locked in it almost felt like Crazy Horse was on the stage. By this point, the crowd was in a state of complete hysteria, which only got crazier when Young mouthed the words "Rockin' In The Free World" to the band and they kicked into it Ramones-style, not pausing for even a split second after the abbreviated end to "Like a Hurricane." They had a bit over four minutes on the clock, not giving them enough time to even get to the third verse, but Young milked what time he had for everything it was worth.

Somehow or another, he managed to cram a three-hour Neil Young concert into 45 minutes that will surely go down as one of the greatest sets in Farm Aid history.

"Cortez The Killer" - Neil Young + Promise Of The Real


Neil Young
2017 Farm Aid Press Conference
Photo by thrasher

Full video of Neil Young at 2017 Farm Aid Press Conference.


Full video of 2017 Farm Aid Concert broadcast. Neil Young + Promise Of The Real set begins @ ~6 hour, 35 minutes.

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The 2017 Farm Aid concert will be held in Burgettstown, PA this Saturday Sept 16.

The concert lineup will feature performances by Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds, as well as:

Sheryl Crow
Jack Johnson
The Avett Brothers
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Margo Price
Jamey Johnson
Blackberry Smoke
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
Valerie June
Insects vs Robots
Blackwood Quartet

If can not attend concert, here are some options:

• Online: Stream video of Farm Aid 2017 at farmaid.org starting at 3:00 p.m. ET to watch live performances from the stage and stories from family farmers across the concert region
• Television: Watch AXS TV's live broadcast or set your DVR beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET.
• Radio: Tune into Willie Nelson's SiriusXM channel (59), Willie's Roadhouse, for all the music plus backstage interviews with artists, local family farmers and more starting at 12 p.m. ET.

More on last year's Farm Aid 2016 - Bristow, Virginia.

Neil Young + Promise of the REAL
Farm Aid 2016 - Bristow, Virginia

Also, see from last year, Neil Young @ Farm Aid 2016 Press Conference - COMPLETE and About That Time That We Went To A Farm Aid Concert...

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NEW Official Music Video: "Powderfinger" by Neil Young

Here is the Official Music Video for Neil Young's "Powderfinger" from 'Hitchhiker'.

Neil Young's new album 'Hitchhiker' was released last week and appears to be very successful in terms of both sales and critical reaction.

More on why you should always be sheltered from the powder in the finger and actively "Resisting The Powers That Be".

More on Neil Young's New Album "Hitchhiker":

• TRANSCRIPT: Neil Young's Track by Track Commentary on New Album 'Hitchhiker' (20+ Comments)
• Neil Young’s Previously Unreleased Hitchhiker, and His Dark Malibu Years | Vulture (5+ Comments)
• REVIEW: Neil Young's Unearthed 1976 Recording 'Hitchhiker' Is a Lost Treasure" | Rolling Stone (15+ Comments)
• Neil Young's Live Facebook Session on August 31 (15+ Comments)
• REVIEW: Neil Young's Hitchhiker | American Songwriter (15+ Comments)
• Neil Young's Live Facebook Session on August 31 (15+ Comments)
• STREAMING: Neil Young's New Album "Hitchhiker" | NPR (25+ Comments)
• Tweet From Neil Young on "Hitchhiker" Release (25+ Comments)
• UNCUT Review: Neil Young's Upcoming Album "Hitchhiker" (2+ Comments)
• Comment of the Moment: Neil Young's Next Studio Album "Hitchhiker" (20+ Comments)
• UPDATE ON NEW ALBUM: Neil Young's "Hitchhiker" Now Due September 8 + Preview Track (10+ Comments)
• Neil Young's Indigo Ranch "Hitchhiker" 1976 Sessions Revealed: Behind the Scenes w/ Richard Kaplan - Part #1 (10+ Comments)
• Neil Young's Indigo Ranch "Hitchhiker" 1976 Sessions Revealed: Behind the Scenes w/ Richard Kaplan - Part #2 (15+ Comments)

"Hitchhiker" is now available on vinyl and CD to pre-order on Amazon.com.

Neil Young | Hitchhiker
(Click to enlarge & preview tracks)

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