Dublin, Ireland Concert Reviews of Neil Young: 6/21/09
Harvest Moon was played tonight!
Gavin and his family's wish in memory of Papa Joe is heard.
Just in from Gavin on Neil Young News: A Request for "Harvest Moon" in Dublin:
Hi folks
Yes, it was incredible night for all of us at the concert. Neil was absolutely amazing in Dublin tonight.....as you say Christine, the O2 was rocked to its core. Pure Magic.
Like you, Liza, we had tears of sadness and joy mixed together.
I still can't believe that the three requests for Harvest Moon that came through Thrashers Wheat were all successful.
Neil just said.....
"This ones for a friend of ours out there, Happy Fathers Day!"
...and then started into Harvest Moon.
The father's day reference really hit the spot, we were turned to jelly.
Even apart from the request, Neil played one of his best concerts ever tonight. The Irish crowd gave him so much back, and he looked to really enjoy it.
Neil, the gestures that you have made have a huge impact on people. Simple things like this really do make a difference. We are all eternally grateful for your generosity.
The healing is happening, that is for sure. Of course we will always miss Papa Joe, but memories like tonight will keep him alive in our hearts.
God Bless You All!
Take care and keep on rockin'
Gavin
p.s. Vittorio, thanks for your kind words and generous offer, apologies but I didn't get to see it in time.
Gavin, we're so happy for you and your family.
It is all about family.
For more see comments below.
Neil Young will be performing tonight at O2 Arena, Dublin, Ireland.
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by thrasher@PermaLink: 6/21/2009 05:04:00 PM
56 comments
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56 Comments:
Hey Bernard,
The gypsy told my fortune she said you were going to play 'Goin Home' in Aberdeen - could it really be true?
Roger and out good buddy.
Aitken.
Shakey, Shakey Shakey!!!! I'm still shaking....just back from the Dublin gig. Sweet Mother of Jesus!!!! Neil bust all of the strings on Rockin In The Free World....Dublin was shaking like we were experiencing a 6.5 on the Richter scale!!!!
Neil looked and sounded like he was 25 again!!! I love that he shrugged off his long sleeved shirt and let it hang off his left arm...meanwhile he tore it up with his right....
And like the gentleman that he is, he dedicated Harvest Moon to the Irish lad, Gavin, who tragically lost his Daddy recently to cancer. He wished him a happy Fathers Day!!!!
Happy Happy Fathers day to you Neil. The Daddy of all Daddys!!!! From a Northern Cal girl who lives in Dublin now, you have made my homesickness go away for the first time in 8 years.....
LONG LIVE NEIL YOUNG!!!!! The only musician who ever really mattered.
Christine Lucignano
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
1. Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)
2. Mansion On The Hill
3. Are You Ready For The Country?
4. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
5. Pocahontas
6.Words
7. Cinnamon Girl
8. Mother Earth
9. Don't Let It Bring You Down
10. Lost In Space
11. On The Way Home
12. Burned
13. Harvest Moon
14. Down By The River
15. Get Behind The Wheel
16. Rockin' In The Free World
17. A Day In The Life
Possible live premiere of Burned? Can anyone confirm this.
In general, a spectacular show.
Just back from Dublin show. The highlight has to be "Burned". What a great surprise.
It was also great to get Harvest Moon for Gavin and his family. I think he said "This is for a friend of ours. Happy Fathers Day".
Now this maybe of beat or in the wrong forum or may have been discuss before, but - having seen Neil well over 20 times and in particular his Electric Band 7 times, tonight I just got it. I think the Electric Band has the best rhythm section of all the bands Neil has put together. Controversial I know. Now many may this agree. What about Billy and Ralph or Duck Dunn or Jim Keltner or ...... But folks, Rick and Chad just have it. They really do. The flexibility they afford Neil – ‘Out of the Blue’ to ‘Are you ready for the Country’ to ‘Lost in Space’ to ‘Burned’ to ‘A Day in the Life’. Amazing. And they have been with him since at least 2006 with The Freedom of Speech tour - so I think the man himself also believes it. What do people think??
Niall
I'm pretty sure "Burned" is a first. It's cool that he's doing Springfield stuff.
What instrument was Burned played on?
Old Black, I think.
Yeah, burned was played with old black.
Just got back from the concert. I've been a fan for a while now, my first time seeing him live. I have no words to describe it, really great show. Really enjoyed it. One of the best moments of my life..possibly the best.
Povilas
What a gig, what a night.
Thanks
Fino
Wow, what a set. Beautiful.(Wish I'd been there. It's sounds a special one.
Neil played for Gavin and also for Liza in Köln.
Again, beautiful.
Just back home in Belfast. What a fantastic gig.Not a bad song there, and "Burned" as well.Of all the times I have seen Neil live, this was by far, the best.
I'm going to see him play Aberdeen this Wednesday, can anyone shed some light on the support band, how long did he play for etc.
The Aberdeen tickets state doors at 6:30! Were there a few support bands or did he come on sharp. How long was his set, roughly? Just trying to get an idea for travel arrangements etc.
Cheers, Kenny
There's a song about how just singing a song won't change the world.
But it's a start....
What a concert - the 6th time I have seen Neil play in Ireland and definitely the best.
The whole show was a highlight but the biggest of all for me was "Words" and "Down by the river" but loved every minute.
The support band were called "The Villagers" and played 6 songs in total - all good.
Neil came on stage at 8.30 and played for 2 hours, and he looked like he loved every minute of it too.
I could be wrong but I think it was the first time I have seen him and the band take a bow at the end of the show, before the encore - they usually just walk off
Wow! I`m getting more and more excited about the Hyde Park festival on Saturday! What an amazing set list and the reviews just getting better and better! And just what a totally wonderful big-hearted man Neil is!
Jill
Last night in Dublin was as good as any Neil gig I've seen in the last 20 years (Vicar St aside...maybe?). He was in mighty form, gave it everything he had and had a great time doing it (to judge by his demeanour). The highlight of the night was the elaborate and tight outros on several songs, one or two of which were as long as the song itself. From the very first riff of the gig on the opener - 'Hey Hey, My My' - Neil set the tone for the evening. He followed on with some real gems, favourites of mine being 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere', 'Pocahontas', 'Words', Cinnamon Girl (too short a version though...), 'Don't Let It Bring You Down (solo accustic... fantastic), 'Burned', 'Harvest Moon' and 'Down By The River'. Then he brought the house down with 'Rockin' In The Free World' the outro of which was simply out of this world (I counted 5 times that he launced back into the chorus just as you thought he was about to finish it out). If I am not mistaken he opened up in Malahide last summer with 'Hey Hey' and closed out with 'A Day In The Life' - just as he did last night?
It was a Sunday night, it turned into a very late night and yet I couldnt feel any more alive and better than I do right now - for having been there to see the iconic legend he is rock the house down. As we say in Ireland... 'Savage!'
Keep It Country.
Docal
Hey Docal,
As Homer Simpson would say...OOOOOH Cinnamon Girl...... my Fav!!
Lucky You!
Jealous Dip
Honoring the Harvest Moon requests tells you a lot about this man.
Instead of cursing the darkness, he lights a candle for where we're going
Got bless Neil Young, and long may he run.
SO GOOD TO BE FAN OF NEIL YOUNG
My second time seeing him and the best,i thought Cork last year couldnt be topped but last night was amazing,Neil and the band were in great form,fantastic atmosphere from a great crowd too,id read about the "Harvest Moon" request so i was delighted that he did,a very moving moment,Neil on piano with the band was arguably the highlight for me(and i say that as a diehard loud n electric Neil fan)just an amazing night all round......and "Burned"?? wtf??...was stunned to hear it,when was the last time that was played?
I dont know if its been answered but for the person whos wondering about times,support band were on 7.30,off about 8.10(ish)Neil and Co. were on at 8.30,off 10.30
Hope he comes back for more next year!
My 4th Neil concert,we traveled over from England to the green country to quote Neil.The other concerts were fantastic, but this was pure magic every song.We were standing at the front 15 ft from the great man.
I had a tear when Neil did harvest moon as I new what it meant and I sang every word.
As I said every song was magic but pocahontas I could feel the earth move,burned what a surprise,lost in space,I was,the best cinnamon girl, down by the river and RITFW Neil,s playing was at its best,but my favourite was Don't Let It Bring You Down.
Neil looked really happy and Pegi really enjoyed herself.
so thanks to Neil,Ben,Rick,Chad,Anthony,Pegi,Larry and the rest of the crew for putting on the best show ever and see you tomorrow in Nottingham,Cortez would be fantastic.
4th (I think) Neil gig for me and first since '01, and it was amazing. The setlist really worked, he covered an awful lot of ground. My jaw dropped at how slow he started playing Hey Hey My My - even as someone who listens to a lot of metal, this was one of the most crushingly heavy and plain doomy things I've ever heard. Pocahontas was equally devastating, and very emotionally intense, a huge step on from the Crazy Horse electric versions. The trio of Lost In Space, On The Way Home and Burned were very pleasing indeed. All light and airy in contrast to the heavier stuff, and his guitar sound on the Springfield songs was uncannily similar to that on the old records. Before Burned, Neil said, "Got one for you here"... big cheer from the crowd... Neil says "It might not be the one you want"! Down By the River was the bluesiest and most dynamic version I've heard (though Ben did seem a bit at a loss during the solo). Words was epic and really psychedelic. Great of him to come through with the Harvest Moon dedication. I thought Neil seemed a bit out of breath at times during the first few songs, but begore long he seemed to somehow gain vitality and really went for it. He seemed to be having a great during the multiple false endings of Rockin' in the Free World. Discussing the gig with a friend later, we came to the conclusion that we'd gotten an Arc's-worth of noise, and very welcome it was too!
A truly great gig, as good as Malahide last year, but with an extra energy. Highlights for me; "Everybody Knows....", "Cinnamon Girl", "Don't Let It Bring You Down", "Down By The River" and especially "Words". Well done to Neil and the band, and keep on rockin'...............
Gavin and family,
I am so happy for you that Neil played Harvest Moon again yesterday in Dublin......
It's such a a great, unforgettable present he made us.
Manuela, a friend from the German HH-list said it with these words:
"It is more than just a gesture, it's an embracement down to you from the stage, it's a consoling word of a friend, just awesome"
Love, Liza
It was amazing to stand at the very front last night and look back to see a crowd of people ranging from teenagers to people in their 50's/60's all rockin' away!
I was talking to a guy in the bar of the hotel afterwards (who was well in his 50's) who told me he wished he could've been down the front too but his legs wouldn't let him stand for 2-3 hours anymore but he loved the show!
Couldn't believe when he played Burned - wow! But the highlights were too many to mention. Neil rocks on all levels to all ages!
Pity about the mad blond wooman who was obviously stoned out of her mind banging into everyone...
Hello everybody,
What a setlist in Dublin. That he played Burned for the people in Ireland was a big suprise.
I 've not been to the gig 'cause I live in the Netherlands.
I knew that Neil was a great performer and a good man too.
But when he played the requests for Harvest Moon for Liza and Gavin shows that he is a really generous and noble man.
Great gift, for Liza and Gavin, Neil !!!!
From a long last fan,
Guido
I was in Malahide last year, great Neil, great crowd also. I'm sorry to not be there, but I've seen already five times Neil this Year.
Burned, Lost In Space...great!
Andrea
How about Comes a Time and When You Dance for Aberdeen Neil?! :-D!
Pleeeeeeeeeease?!
Davie from Scotland
If this is becoming a request slot,Cortez, natural beauty or time fades away in Nottingham or what ever Neil wants to play!
Ya think he woulda done a few U2 covers just to be parochial Heh!
Bono Dip
That was a night to remember!
My first Neil concert, and I couldn't have asked for anything better!
I'm 14 so I think I was the youngest in the audience (Correct me if i'm wrong), and some people may say I missed Neil's greatest years, but that can't be true, 'cause last night was MINDBLOWING!
I think I've been to enough concerts that I thought couldn't be topped, like Dylan, 5th May in Dublin, but was I wrong!
I manovered myself to the second row, standing, of course :], and had the night of my life!
Every song was magic, I can't even begin to choose a favourite, they were all so great, but Harvest Moon for me, and so many others, it seems, held a special place for me.
My parents seperated when I was 7 and my dad lives overseas, and remarried two years ago, and has kind of distanced himself from my mom and I. Harvest Moon was my parents favourite song to dance to.
My mom and I were kind of emotional and I called my dad to let him hear the song, and he told me later it meant a lot to him.
Down by the River, Don't let it bring you down, Cinnamon Girl, Hey Hey, My My, Are You ready for the Country?, Words, On the way home, Rockin' in the Free World... what can I say, the whole set was AMAZING!
And all the people yelling at Neil, "Don't yell at me, you'll scare the shit out of me!"
Everyone yelled Alabama, but even better than that... BURNED! :]
All I can say is thank you so much to Neil and the band, who made it an especially... special evening for us.
Although, I'm still confused about the red telephone with a bright spotlight on it... Can anyone enlighten me?
I was amused by Neil saying it was "great to be back in this big green country" - would have sounded even cheesier than it was to anyone who didn't get the reference. Someone kept shouting optimistically for I'm the Ocean too.
Great set list.
Nice to see Harvest Moon of course.....and Burned? WOW!
I'll be hoping for 'Change Your Mind' at Nottingham tonight...or Alabama. Now that would be a shock!!
Odd lyrical mistake in Mansion on the Hill: "His eyes were kind but his words were wild"... with lots of emphasis on "wild" for some reason.
Neil was superb in Dublin again,as always. Show 22 for me. The O2 (point) really is a great venue. There was a man standing beside us with a very young child of 4/5 years.This little girl danced most of the night. I've only ever seen children at Dylan gigs or open air festivals.I just hope she grows up listening to Neil and tells her own children about the night she seen him in Dublin. My wife made a hat for the child out of the flyers that were handed out. I suppose that counts as recycling, the child seemed to enjoy it.
Believe me,
When I tell you
That a love true
Isn't hard to find.
Hey,
Amazing concert, Neil was on top form!
I was at Malahide (my 1st Neil gig) didnt thnk it could be better but it was!
It was sooo nice of Neil to do Harvest Moon for that guy, just goes to show he cares about the fans.
When Neil ripped into Hey Hey My My there were tears rolling down my face - tears of PURE ROCK AND ROLL!!!!!!!!!
Hey Amelia, I was talking to my cousin who mentioned a friend who was heading to the concert too.
I think it's you (she mentioned you also went to Bob Dylan - lucky!) Small world huh? And I thoght I was the only Young fan in Dublin under 20!
Blánaid, Dublin
PS I think I was the youngest at the concert - 14 in October?
Ps It was me (Blanaid) yelling 'Neil for President'!
Blanaid, 14? I am so rapt..There's no generation gap with Neil is there?
Great music is great music
and it will always be appreciated by everyone... no matter what age!
Even my 3yr old grandson walks around the house singin.."Helpless, Helpless, Helpless".
I love readin these sorts of comments, Neil's music has the power to affect everyone ..or is that "infect" everyone!
Keep on "Neil Rockin" Blanaid..and spread the word to your generation!
Rapt Dip
Awh to be young again!...enjoy your youth!!
Oh Amelia.. What's the story with the red Telephone you ask?...
Neil fired the painter!!..but just in case Obama wants to ring for Neil to save the world..its on stage and Neil's just waitin for the call!!!
I have been a Neil Young fan all my life, admiring his staying power and mostly consistent quality, give or take a few howlers, but somehow never got to see him live.
That changed on sunday night with that blistering set, delivered with no fuss or props, just sheer passion and energy, and the crowd, picking up on the cue, gave it back in spadefuls! I realised that after a lifetime of seeing bands all over, that all those gigs were mere warm ups for the real deal.We were priviliged to be in the presence of a great man on sunday night and it seems everyone there knew it, milking it for all it was worth.
In 1978,the singer of an obscure punk outfit in London, Greenhoses of Terror, admitted to me that though he hated Neils acoustic stuff, when it came electric, he seriously rocked.. That coming from a hardcore punk stayed with me and sunday night that sentiment was consummated!
Best gig of my life!
Blanaid, you're Aisling's cousin, am I right? Very small world indeed, I think I spotted you during the fight for merchandise at the end (Plaid hat?) ^^
So jealous of you Blanaid, though, 'cause I was in Cork the night before he was playing, (I went to see Meat Loaf..) and we went to this hotel for lunch, and the waiter mentioned Neil was lurking around the hotel, I almost had a heart attack x]
Didn't get to stay and meet him though, 'cause he wasn't emerging until waaay after 6.00 apparently, and we had to drive back to Louth.
(Did get to meet Rick Rosas though :D)
Yeah, Dr Dip, found a video of my 1st birthday and during the whole thing Neil's MTV Unplugged CD was on, and when Helpless came on I started swaying to it :)
Amelia, great response!
The Dublinese have got a sense of humour..and at such an early age!
Enjoy your "Neil life"..and say hello to Aisling for me!
To be sure to be sure!
Luv Dip
Hey,
In Neil's hotel!?! Even SMALLER world!
Yup, plaid hat,(although now I have my Neil baseball cap instead!)
Now, this is asking a lot, but were you mearing an 'I Heart NY' t-shirt?
(btw whoever it was, cool idea!)
Neil sure does cross the generation gap... keep on rockin' in the free world Mr Young!
Roger and out,
Blánaid (stage name desperately needed)
PS Do you play an instrument Amelia?
What touches me, is the fact that a whole lot of people (and that is not only those on Threasher's Wheat) feel and experience the same. We all go to a kind of gathering where we feel the same : it's Neil Young and his music we come for.
It does remind me a bit of the sort of feeling occured in the seventies when Genesis (with Peter Gabriel) performed. It always has been described as a kind of religion.
Well, last year, and especially now, with the request for harvest moon, i see, i read and i feel the same. Whether you attend a gig coming from France, Italy, Germany Belgium, the netherlands, Poland, Austria,...you meet fans, start talking to them, and have something in common.
And that is not only the love to his music, but also the understandig, the common feeling of some people needing Neil's music to get along, the simple fact of knowing that Neil Young -altough he seems like not being interested in the audience- knows his fans, respect them, wants to satisfy them, wants to surprise them, and...by doing that, get back just that love, that respect, that keeps him giving a little bit more, which in response give him our love...
And as a conclusion, i have a feeling that it's just that what makes him come back to Europe over and over again : we just love him, regardless of what he brings us (e.g. greendale solo accoustic Europe vs American electric shows.
For us, Europeans, his music is what it's all about.
So : THANK YOU FOR ALL THE JOY, Neil Pegi, Ben, Rick, Chad, Anthony, Larry, all the staff and David Johnson for his painting (I'll never forget the painting of The Sultan last year in Antwerp, ad I love the " Winterlong" painting.
BURNED!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XQlSXi2CJU
Because Sound Matters
Hi Luc,
thank you so much for your last posting. You really say with every word you write very much the same what I'm feeling, but I just could not describe it like you just did. Thank you again!
Love, Liza
Ya know,I've read ever review/post mortem of every concert since his Sydney gigs and I don't think I've read a more positive, totally satisfied response to a concert then this one in Dublin.
Whether it was the ultimate emotion of playing Liza and Gavin's request,combined with the sheer enthusiasm of the Dublinese crowd, Neil obviously bounced off this and delivered accordingly.
Neil definitely responds to a responsive crowd and with no disrespect to the other concert goers at other gigs, this one must have obviously "tickled his clancy".
As I have said on numerous occasions, Neil's concerts are a 'box of chocolates' and you guys got to eat all the turkish delights!
Keep'm comin' like this one Neil!!
You've obviously hit the right "chords" with tonight's audience!
hi..a lot of the quality of his performance is down to the design of the venue...nowhere else in the world do you get 14,000 people as close to the stage as at the dublin O2...as a result he feels closer to a larger crowd and he feels their energy and vice versa in a virtuous circle...
dr dip
irish people just love neil young, always have done and always will.
the venue is beside a river here in dublin called the liffey and theres a boat on this river which is a restaurant and bar. after the gig someone started singing down by the river and within 5 seconds the whole boat started singing it. other fans walkin home heard the singing and they joined in.
we'd all just been sprinkled with neil young magic dust....
come back soon neil....
"tickled his clancy".
Hee hee hee....love it
Still buzzing after the gig,the new design of the point is indeed excellent,a lot better than the old one even though it holds nearly twice as many people.....i shouldnt admit this being a Cork man but the Dublin crowd are always great,maybe the best(ive lost count how mant artists have recorded live albums/dvds there)i was up the very front and the atmosphere was amazing around me,cant wait to see Neil again.....i still havent heard him do "Hurricane" or "Cortez"!!!
Love reading everyones reviews,keep em coming!
Roy
Ireland
Nah, but I would like an I heart NY hat! :]
I play guitar, and piano (Badly, ^.^)
He's gonna rock Glasto tonight, but not as much as he rocked Dublin ;)
Hi folks
I’m 16, from Ireland and I’m a giant Neil Young fan. To me he’s the ultimate artist. In fact, I could go as far as to saying that his music saved my life. Okay enough of me. About the concert, I’ve seen Neil live once before this show (The Marquee, Cork, 30th June 2008) and I thought it was the best night ever. I loved it but I think this show in Dublin was a bit better. It was an absolutely fantastic unbelievable night. He played songs I never thought he’d play (Are You Ready for the Country, Lost in Space, Burned etc.) and it was great seeing him in such a happy mood. Also, I’d like to say hello to Gavin saying congratulations on his Harvest Moon request. Seems like Neil really does have a Heart of Gold. My heart goes out to you and your family for such a sad loss. Long may you all run! Everything about the concert was all good.
Love you Neil!
You're always welcome here in Ireland next time you're around!
Glasto was great..hey, did anyone notice that he did the one-arm-in-shirt thing again??
Some great photos from the Dublin gig by Graham Keogh for HotPress magazine
http://www.hotpress.com/photos/photo.php?id=5544792&idx=0
Absolutely awesome show. Can't wait for Neil to come back to Ireland
http://electriccult.wordpress.com/
Gerard Bowes
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