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An unofficial news blog for Neil Young fans from Thrasher's Wheat with concert and album updates, reviews, analysis, and other Rock & Roll ramblings. Separating the wheat from the chaff since 1996.
Neil Young + Promise Of The Real: Matthew Knight Arena, Eugene, Oregon - May 23
Neil Young + Promise Of The Real concert tour of the Pacific Northwest continues tonight, Thursday, May 23, at the Matthew Knight Arena, Eugene, Oregon.
Staying so present can burn an artist out, though, prompting them to withdraw or sometimes disappear altogether. This is part of the sentiment behind one of Neil Young’s greatest forlorn tunes, “Too Far Gone,” an idea that surfaces in Lukas’ original A Star Is Born tune of the same name, and that he also recites the lyrics to Turn Off The News opener, “Bad Case.”
“‘Too Far Gone’... that’s the ‘gain the world/lose your soul’ conundrum,” says Nelson. “There’s an easy way to lose yourself in this industry, and that’s what the name Promise of the Real means, ironically.” The band took its name from Young’s On The Beach classic, “Walk On.”
“There’s a lot of ways you can do something,” Nelson continues. “Some ways, you step on other people and lose your soul. Other ways might take you a lot longer to get there, but you’re enjoying yourself and you’re comfortable with yourself.”
This idea of taking the long, high road resonates with Nelson on many levels. Though Bradley Cooper based some of his character Jackson Maine’s stage presence and mannerisms around Nelson while writing A Star Is Born, Nelson never fell into Maine’s tragic arc because he makes a concerted effort to stay healthy and surround himself with the right community.
Nelson remembers the recording of Turn Off The News as a series of productive hangouts, and the strong community of friends who contribute to these songs makes us wish we were hanging out, too. Willie and Neil both make appearances, along with Margo Price, Kesha, Sheryl Crow, sister-act Lucius (who collaborated with the band on their last LP, too) and more.
Neil Young kicked off his May tour with two solo concerts at Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver on Tuesday and Wednesday featuring support from Elvis Costello. Young debuted four songs on opening night and played them again on Wednesday.
Costello opened each concert with rare solo performances. Tuesday’s set included such classics as “Accidents Will Happen,” “Veronica” and “A Face In The Crowd,” while Wednesday saw Elvis treat fans to “Alison,” “Everyday I Write The Book” and more. Young’s first solo set in Vancouver began with the debut of a song thought to be titled “Think Of Me.” Neil then played ’60s gem “On The Way Home” before unveiling a tune tentatively titled “Right By Her Side.” The Canadian legend used an acoustic for the first seven songs of the night, which also included “Cinnamon Girl,” “Man Of War,” the debut of “She Showed Me Love” and the beloved “Old Man.”
He's had major commercial successes. He's had immensely strange periods filled with unexpected creative detours. But he has always been Neil Young, and that means he's always been worth listening to.
In The J Files, we'll attempt to scratch the surface of the immense career of one of the greatest artists of all time.
Tuscaloosan Bruce Hopper’s main impression of the night was that it was a welcoming crowd.
“By that time (Young) had pretty much established where he was politically,” said Hopper, a musician and former owner of the late and lamented bar the Chukker. No seats behind the stage were opened, so capacity would have been in the vicinity of 10,000. Hopper couldn’t remember if it was full, but it was close, he said, including probably every left-leaning person in the region.
“Everybody knew that he was the political one, but I don’t remember any hecklers or anything like that. Everybody there seemed to feel the words in ‘Southern Man’ were true and appropriate; they were cheering real loud.” Hopper was disappointed to discover that night’s “Southern Man” performance wouldn’t be included on “Tuscaloosa.”
On the Chukker’s Facebook group, fans recalled Young’s messed-up back, and the pro-“Southern Man” feel. David A. Smith, from Dothan, was working with the University Program Council that night, but with his tasks completed pre-show, he was free to roam.
“I recall a very good concert, with great musical choices,” he said. “When Young launched into his little digs before ‘Southern Man,’ we just cheered him on. We were all in fine spirits, although he possibly thought we were all crazy.”
Young kept on rocking in the free world, albeit from a chair, said Bit Barrett.
“I remember him playing a lot of electric while sitting in a rocking chair and wondering if he could stand up. He did, but he was skyrocket high. Still it was a great show,” Barrett wrote.
Though he’d rather have seen Young teamed with Crosby, Stills and Nash, or earlier band Buffalo Springfield, still it was a “phenomenal” show for fan Daryl Brown.
“I seem to only remember his sitting on stage singing and playing his old Martin guitar,” Brown wrote. “Wow, 40-odd years later and Neil and I are still here. Who’d have ever figured?”
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