Neil Young News: Edmonton, Canada Neil Young Concert Reviews: 4/23/09

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Friday, April 24, 2009

Edmonton, Canada Neil Young Concert Reviews: 4/23/09

Photo Gallery by vWayner.com

Extensive photo gallery of Neil Young in concert in Edmonton, Canada on 4/23/09 by vWayner.com. (Thanks neilyoung.org!)

From edmontonsun.com - Neil Young wows sold-out Rexall Place:

Rest assured, however, that when Neil does his own thing, the source is unmistakable.

He sure was in powerful form last night. So he's not the greatest singer in the world. So he's not Steven Tyler.

Young howled, he moaned, he screamed, he shouted, he gave it everything he had. In short, what he might lack in vocal technique, he more than makes up for in passion.

Sweet backup vocals - including his wife Pegi - provided the perfect counterpoint.

Attired in blue jeans and plaid shirt, Neil got a standing ovation just for showing up.

Neil Young will be performing tonight at Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

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23 Comments:

At 4/24/2009 02:47:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Neil Young is the best! just seen the concert an hour ago and for the first show i've ever seen and has certainly set the bar pretty high for musical standards. For how old he is getting he still has the capability of putting on a terrific performance. Too bad he never played 'Keep On Rockin' in the Free World'. Never the less, you better see him before he is unable to perform any more.
At 4/24/2009 02:49:00 AM, Anonymous said...: *it has certainly set the bar pretty high
At 4/24/2009 03:02:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Man, the version of Down by the River he played was incredible. That was the highlight for me, although Tonight's the Night and a lot of the acoustic stuff was awesome, too.
At 4/24/2009 03:10:00 AM, Nick DC in Edmonton said...: Had a Neil siteing tonight in Edmonton!!!! What a wicked performance, so many great tunes, so glad I finally got to see Neil with my dad and sis, very special. He was rockin the sweetest plaid shirt too. Rock to the bone!!!
At 4/24/2009 03:13:00 AM, cosplusisin said...: holy awesome!

this was my fifth time seeing Neil, and it was one of the best. maybe top 3? or top 2? SO awesome.

set list (probably NOT in order, from memory, and i hope i don't miss any of the songs)

love and only love
hey hey my my
fuel line
everybody knows this is nowhere
pocahontas
spirit road
cortez the killer
cinnamon girl
mother earth
needle and the damage done
light a candle
heart of gold
old man
four strong winds
are you ready for the country
speakin' out
tonight's the night
down by the river
get behind the wheel
just singing a song

encore:
all along the watchtower

it was heavy on the guitar solos, which is exactly what i like. so cool. he's like a wizard conjuring up these incredible sounds. so thick - you just bask in it.

the disappointments for me:

all along the watchtower is a bit of a boring arrangement. just those three chords and no variety. and as a closer, it didn't leave us on a high note (for me anyway).

i have been reading the setlists of the other shows on this tour, so i was disappointed that i didn't get to hear ANY of: albuquerque, words, when you dance, change your mind, like a hurricane, because i LOVE those songs.

BUT that doesn't really detract from how awesome this show was. i DID get to hear so many good songs. and the sound from where i was sitting was very good.

if i compare the setlist to other shows this tour, it's a B+ or so. if i don't compare and just take it for what it is, the show was an A.

and when we got out of the concert, we discovered it had snowed!
At 4/24/2009 03:44:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Neil Young was totally awesome.
The show was high energy and the audience was very receptive.
I was expecting a great show, after all it is Neil Young....I was more than satisfied !
Keep on Rocking :)
At 4/24/2009 04:17:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Well I really had mixed feelings coming out of this one. Looking at the setlists from other cities, I kinda feel even moreso now, that we got screwed. The songs that I thought were going to be played without a question were just missing! Rocking in the Free World, Harvest Moon, Southern Man, Like a Hurricane???
In the end though, was a wicked show.
And yeah, All along the Watchtower wasnt as big of a success as Rockin in the Free World would have been...
At 4/24/2009 04:34:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Great Show.. Cortez has now become my favorite song seeing it live. Setlist was:

love and only love
hey hey my my
fuel line
everybody knows this is nowhere
pocahontas
spirit road
cortez the killer
cinnamon girl
mother earth
needle and the damage done
light a candle
are you ready for the country
four strong winds
heart of gold
old man
speakin' out
tonight's the night
down by the river
get behind the wheel
just singing a song

encore:
all along the watchtower
At 4/24/2009 04:43:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Highlights for me were

Down by the river
Cortez
tonights the night
Light a candle
pocahontas

P.S to the fucked up drunk guy dancing in section 216 bumping into & distracting everyone, "Fuck You"
At 4/24/2009 09:18:00 AM, Anonymous said...: If you get the chance, and are a fan of Neil Young - do not miss his live show! For a man in his mid-sixties, he is still teaching the kids how to put on a good rock show (and they could learn a thing or two).

Having just seen him put on over a 2 hr performance in Edmonton, he looks like he still has a few more great tours in him. Truly an amazing talent! And with a catalog as vast a his, it is just great to hear anything that he decides to pull out of his archives. Old or new, it's all great. I will say that having seen him in the fall of '08 in Calgary, he did close that set with an amazing cover of a Day in the Life that was a crowd pleaser - right down to stripping old black down to feedback and no strings - what a sight that was! Electric/Acoustic/Piano/Harmonica - you name it, you plays it. Fantastic.
At 4/24/2009 09:19:00 AM, Anonymous said...: If you get the chance, and are a fan of Neil Young - do not miss his live show! For a man in his mid-sixties, he is still teaching the kids how to put on a good rock show (and they could learn a thing or two).

Having just seen him put on over a 2 hr performance in Edmonton, he looks like he still has a few more great tours in him. Truly an amazing talent! And with a catalog as vast as his, it is just great to hear anything that he decides to pull out of his archives. Old or new, it's all great. I will say that having seen him in the fall of '08 in Calgary, he did close that set with an amazing cover of a Day in the Life that was a crowd pleaser - right down to stripping old black down to feedback and no strings - what a sight that was! Electric/Acoustic/Piano/Harmonica - you name it, you plays it. Fantastic.
At 4/24/2009 10:21:00 AM, David said...: wow, show #3 for me. Amazing setlist, much different than Calgary last fall.

I really dug Down By The River and Cortez, but Fuel Line and Just Singing A Song took the cake! I love the new album and the new tunes!!!!

Rock on!
At 4/24/2009 12:43:00 PM, Anonymous said...: It was a GREAT concert....couldn't sleep till past 3 am, I was still smiling and SO pumped ;-).

I thought the mix of old and new / electric and acoustic was VERY well chosen. He could not possibly perform all the songs every one of his fans wants to hear....we'd be there for a looonnnng time!

No point in being envious of what he played in other cities. It's what Neil felt like playing for us last night and I'm fine with that.

Amazing band, too...they were so tight. Oh, and I want the painting of Ben Keith's trousers!
At 4/24/2009 01:02:00 PM, Anonymous said...: that setlist looked ok, but then i looked at one from 1972. now i'm disappointed.

-NAG
At 4/24/2009 01:14:00 PM, starship2ok said...: This was my 3rd NY concert and each one has been better than the last. I was a little disappointed with his choice of encore, we could read the set list from our seats(with binoculars) and Rockin in the Free World was on the list as encore. Its like he says, I just put it out there, you can like it or not.
I for one love him, he can do no wrong!
At 4/24/2009 02:17:00 PM, Anonymous said...: It's so amazing that to hear Neil played 'Four Strong winds' in Alberta. 'Think I go out to Alberta........'. Great tour , great show.
At 4/24/2009 10:42:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Thank you Neil! Four Strong winds brings me back to my hitchhiking to Alberta from Kingston Ontario in 1972. Was great to share the concert with my 22 yr daughter. Rock & Roll is here to stay!
Maggie Edmonton
At 4/25/2009 03:17:00 PM, vWayner said...: great review. had a blast at the show! and I enjoyed taking all the photos! thanks for giving me credit!
vwayner.com
At 4/27/2009 03:25:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Drove three hours to see NY for the first time. I too was a little disappointed he left out a few of my personal faves (Cowgirl, Harvest Moon, LAH, RITFW) but I'd WALK next time just to see/hear him do Cortez like he did on Thursday. The feel, the sound (the smell) :) of this concert was something I'll take to my grave.(Along with the $5 package of "Neil Young Tour 2009" rolling papers with his goofy FITR picture!)

Seeing so many middle aged guys there with their Dad kinda made me sad knowing I didn't take mine when he was alive. Lucky guys.

And to the three guys in their early twenties sitting behind my wife and I in sect 118 - thanks for showing us there are still some decent respectful young men out there, with great taste in music too boot! Any 22 year old who can recognize TTN on the first note has obviously been raised properly!!

If he plays west of Winnipeg again I'll be there.
At 4/29/2009 10:36:00 PM, RD in ED said...: So cool !!! to be with my son and daughter rockin to Neil. The highlight was just being there. A night I will not forget. Next the Bridge School Benifit, Ya that's cool.
At 4/30/2009 02:25:00 PM, D DC Edmo AB <3 said...: Cinnimon Girl, thats my song! Seeing Neil perform that song made my night!
The show was awsome, I was so happy I got to see it with my Dad, Brother and Best Friend, a night I will truley never forget.
Heart of Gold made me misty! I love Neils voice.
Man, can he rock a plaid shirt!
At 4/30/2009 04:21:00 PM, dr dip said...: D DC Edmo, That's my Fav Too...
I think I could be Happy The rest of my life....
Ya Know I luv it live and electric with the horse..but I love it acoustically..Especially the trilogy on 4 way street when he does The Loner/Cinnamon Girl/ Down by the river...unreal!
At 2/23/2010 11:09:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Glen from Edmoton- My first time seeing Neil, I am from the East Coast(NS) and would never get the chance to be in the same building with Neil Young on stage. The show was everything I dreamed it would be, he is the best ever, and please play Rockin in the Real World when you come back, Thank You Neil for an awesome show...

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