Comment of the Moment: FLASHBACK - Concert Review of Neil Young, Williamsburg, October 7, 1978

Neil Young - 1978 Rust Never Sleeps Tour

The Neil Young Comment of the Moment is from FLASHBACK: Concert Review of Neil Young, Williamsburg, October 7, 1978 by BIGCHIEF:

I had already been a hopelessly obsessive fan for nine years prior to the 'R.N.S.' shows which were my first of over 30+ to date.

The thing that stands out to me about the shows was being second in line at the venue (yes, the days when it was first come, first serve for tickets!)when after camping out the night before in the parking lot of the 'Pine Knob music Theater' outside of Detroit, I met another obvious die-hard Neil fan who was wearing a 'Tonights The Night' T-shirt which I was so envious of.

After striking up a friendship after talking all things Neil for several hours, we eventually parted ways with tickets for both shows (two nights-sold out!)in hand, exclaiming "maybe I'll see ya at the show!". Well, several weeks had past when on the night of the first show finally arrived and we were making our way towards the gate when I thought I heard my name called out and sure enough, that fellow was waiting at the gate for me with a brand new 'Tonights The Night' T-shirt for me.

To this day it still blows me away to think about it!

This was the 'analog' version of mutual artist appreciation in ancient times prior to the digital age of blogs,e-mails,cell phones,c.d.'s,and the dawn of 'Ticket Master' was just over the horizon and by the way, as I said, I have since seen over 30 of Neil's concerts in every phase of his career and the R.N.S. shows were by far the epitome of what the perfect Neil concert would be if you were taking someone whom your intent was to convert.

It had it all and he has not since then been able to capture anything remotely close to the same intensity with as much creativity, both visually and and in sheer thunderous volume ... as he himself even said "when they leave my show,I want it to be the loudest thing they ever heard"! and he was able to achieve that, prompting several post-tour lawsuits for hearing loss.

Although loudness in itself doesn't make a concert great, the melodic thunder of Crazy Horse certainly left an impression that sustained ringing ears right up until I got my copy of 'Live Rust' assuring me that the 'roadeyes' and 'coneheads'were for real and not just some sort twisted dream consisting of some hybrid of 'Star Wars' and Sat.Night Live'

No folks, it was all real+ and I know you can't go back, but to those of you, especially recent converts, who rate the current 'never ending tour Neil' amongst the greatest performers ever, at least pick up a D.V.D. of R.N.S's and get lost in a performance of an artist who even then was making a statement towards his contemporaries that he refused to rest on his laurels ..well, even in his 'resting mode' he's still light years ahead of those 'contemporaries'!

Thanks BIGCHIEF!

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