Neil Young Concert Reviews - Albany, NY, May 18, 2010
"Walk With Me" - Thanks 8xMissOctober and BSM!
Setlist from Sugar Mountain. Thanks Tom!!!
2010-05-18
Palace Theatre, Albany, New York, USA
Solo
1. My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue) (acoustic guitar)
2. Tell Me Why (acoustic guitar)
3. Helpless (acoustic guitar)
4. You Never Call (acoustic guitar w/ pickup)
5. Peaceful Valley (acoustic guitar w/ pickup)
6. Love And War (acoustic guitar w/ pickup)
7. Down By The River (electric guitar - Old Black)
8. Hitchhiker (electric guitar - Old Black)
9. Ohio (electric guitar - white falcon)
10. Sign Of Love (electric guitar - white falcon)
11. Leia (upright piano)
12. After The Gold Rush (pump organ)
13. I Believe In You (grand piano)
14. Rumblin' (electric guitar - Old Black)
15. Cortez The Killer (electric guitar - Old Black)
16. Cinnamon Girl (electric guitar - Old Black)
---
17. Walk With Me (
electric guitar - white falcon)
18. Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black) (electric guitar - Old Black)
Tour: 2010 Twisted Road Tour
Band: Solo
Length: 98
From NEIL YOUNG @ THE PALACE THEATRE, 5/18/10 - You Review - Capital Region concert and performance reviews - timesunion.com - Albany NY by Michael Eck:
"It’s amazing how they’re all exactly the same,” he said late in his concert at The Palace Theatre on Tuesday night. “It’s the same song over and over again.”
“Well folks,” he said, before leaning into an unfamiliar rendition of the familiar “Cortez the Killer,” I don’t know where these songs come from. I think they come from you, but that’s me.”
Young was playing solo at the Palace, but it was far from an acoustic show.
As often as not he strapped on his faithful black Gibson Les Paul or the Gretsch White Falcon from his Buffalo Springfield days. And even when he did don an acoustic, it was often processed.
He also played songs on a trio of keyboards placed around the stage.
One of Young’s finest qualities is that he’s not afraid to fall on his own sword.
Thanks Dave M.!
Also, great review below in comments by Chris. Thanks Chris! Awesome review!
And -- hold on here -- entire concert is now streaming on Rust Radio!?! Thanks Roel and someone else....
Twisted Road Tour Opens Tonight!
Neil Young will be performing tonight at The Palace Theater Albany, NY. Special guest Bert Jansch will open concert.
Got a report? Drop a comment below. No registration required.
Check Sugar Mountain for setlist updates.
Also, see Neil Young's "Twisted Road" Concert Tour Reviews and the right, middle sidebar for continuous real time RSS feed updates.
Labels: albany, concert, neil young, reviews, tour
by thrasher@PermaLink: 5/18/2010 08:46:00 AM
132 comments
>> Pre-Order on Amazon.com << 
Human Highway
Concert Review of the Moment
This Land is My Land
FREEDOM In A New Year
*Thanks Neil!*
![[EFC Blue Ribbon - Free Speech Online]](http://www.thrasherswheat.org/gifs/free-speech.gif)
The Unbearable Lightness of Being Neil Young
Pardon My Heart
"We're The Ones 
Thanks for Supporting Thrasher's Wheat!
This blog 
(... he didn't kill himself either...)
#AaronDidntKillHimself
Neil Young's Moon Songs
Civic Duty Is Not Terrorism
Orwell (and Grandpa) Was Right
What's So Funny About 
132 Comments:
May 18, 2010 - Tonight's the Night!
Thrasher - it's May 18th. But you knew that. :)
Anticipation-the blurr of reality
ive been looking for reviews of the earlier shows of this tour...anyone actually been to one of these shows yet? im going to oakdale this sunday - cant wait!
well, alright so maybe albany's the 1st show of this tour...maybe that's why i havent seen any reviews :) is this true?
Uhhhh...the first show of the tour is tonight, May 18th - NOT April 18th.
Hey, is that photo from the performance at the end of the Heart of Gold DVD where Neil sits alone and plays that soul-wrenchingly beautiful "Old Laughing Lady"?
God, what a great performance. I put on Heart of Gold and just skip right to the credits, I don't even bother with the rest anymore.
Haunting.
I wish it had been April 18th, then we'd know the setlist already!
Albany, do you realize how lucky you are?
-Jim
Argh! Tonight's the Night indeed, you lucky people! Enjoy!
:-)
Davie from Scotland
Ooops. thanks! Corrected. What happened to April?!
Start spreading the news.....
Not to be a hog around here, but Neil must be in a New York State of Mind.
Albany concert today
Buffalo concert tomorrow
Rochester - Trunk Show - 2 nights this weekend.
Thanks Neil.
...it's up to YOU New York, NEW YORK!
Yes that picture is from the very end of 'Heart of Gold' where he's playing alone in the Ryman - my favorite version of 'Old Laughing Lady'.
T-
April is generally a figment of the imagination between the winter lasting too long and the summer not being long enough. Any reports of showers, flowers, spring, and easter bunnies are pure folklore.
- NRJ
no-one is taping the soundcheck? ;-)))
AWESOME...wish I were going tonight, but i have to wait until Sunday. I dont think I'll be checking in as I want to be completely surprized- lets see if I can resist, I kinda doubt it. I wanna hear about the new songs.
Break a leg Neil!
Friday night in WOrcester!! Never had any kind of folk, rock or anything in between. Will try to not look at setlists or download a show...probably wont make it past tomorrow AM
Will he dig deep on this tour?
On the beach
Motion Pictures
Soldier
I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for 'Motion Pictures' for obvious reasons...
Why..oh, is it about Carrie?
I really, really hope for my mate Mark Golley who has flown over from the UK for the 1st four shows, that he gets his life long wish of Give Me Strength.
It's a subtitle of the song...'Motion Pictures (for Carrie)'
CAPTAIN KENNEDY WOULD BE SWEEEEET
"Vampire Blues" or "Thrasher" for...Thrasher. ;-)
No enterprising tapers out there with a eh... live satellite internet video hookup hidden in their jacket??
Heh heh
Matt
I'll be there - driving up to Albany from Monticello.
All day I've been thinking "Tonite's the Night"! So excited.
Peace, love and Neil - Barbara Rahmdass
TAKING MY 70 YEAR OLD MOTHER TO SEE NEIL FRIDAY NIGHT ! WOO HOO !
What can you say? the photo screams that he will do "Old Laughing Lady", which means that he's thinking about songs along those lines (in the field of time)...
The Great Divide?
Razor Love?
Will to Love?
Already One?
Ambulance Blues?
Plus, what does he have in store with the new material? Has he arrived at another Country-tinged state in his career? (He's playing Ryman on two nights...)
but, I digress, in just a few short hours, we'll get to see and hear and feel what the muse has in store.
Rock On..!
-Jim
Not forgetting Bert Jansch as the opener, a wonderful gesture from Neil, hope his set is recorded, will make a great nights listening.
Thirty years ago today,Sunday morning, 8:32 a.m.,
Mt. St.Helens blew her beautiful top right off! And bein' from THE GREAT NORTHWEST I feel this date to start a tour is more than appropriate!
I was camped on the SOUTH side of the mountain when she blew. I was 28 years old and had Neil playing on my portable cassette recorder at the time. This date lives in infamy with me, always will. And being a huge fan, all of Neils' songs about nature really resonate today for me. I feel so ALIVE!
will be sitin up real close like on friday. Hanover Theatre will neve be the same and I hope Neil comes back and charges me $350 next time. To bad we wont get any real sense of the Lanois touch at the live shows...
I am hoping for some rare gems from the Chrome Dreams era. Come on Neil, give us nut job addicts something mind blowing
Lucky,lucky people!...and not one mention about ticket prices?...
How nice is that!..Enjoy yourself Albanians and outer Albanians...
it's time to ride that twisted road
Where ever Neil takes it!!!
doc
p.s. have ya pocket hardrive HD videos strategically placed..so us, down under ,down trodden wheaties can enjoy the experience..just in case he doesn't take it to the never regions of Mother Earth..OZ!
oops, did I say that?
doc
Does anyone know the camera policy for this tour? I was planning on bringing a standard digital camera w/out a professional lens. The Palace Theater allows that if the artist does.
Dan, as a medical professional..I give you permission!..just to monitor Neil's 'muse' during the concert of course!!
Caring doc
I'd love to hear acoustic versions of some of the newer songs like Goin' Home, Restless Consumer or I'm The Ocean. Neil doesnt pay enough attention to his more recent material. (other than the latest album)
Always with the hits
Syscrusher
Yes, what are the polices for this tour? Beer served?
Holy god, sweet baby Jesus, I cant wait! But no god damned lush, coke fiend, trailer-park trash, pig bastards better screw up this show and my good time with incessant jabbering and calls for "Heart of Gold"!!
You people can just stay home, and do your rails in the double-wide with Ma and Jeb. For those of you who respect Neil and his music and wish to enjoy the tunes, spark a doober, be mellow and keep your pie-hole shut.
Neil keeps his prices high for a reason!
Peace
As much as I love to spark through fine hand-blown glass, there will be none of that for me before or during the Neil show in D.C.As I'm getting older, I realize that I want to remember the show...not be all hazed out during such a special event - call me lame - whatever.
you're lame! seriously though, i can't remember every detail of a show regardless of how much "fun" i'm having.
that's what the recordings are for.
he must have started playing right now or going to! Really curious to know what you're guys are listening to right now! neil alone with his Martin, marine band and piano...damn, you lucky bastards!
enjoy!
alonso (portugal)
8:56
i'm listening to Oh lonsesome me,
8:56
i'm listening to Oh lonsesome me,
DEBORAH said...
TAKING MY 70 YEAR OLD MOTHER TO SEE NEIL FRIDAY NIGHT ! WOO HOO !
I'm with you Dolly-wish me and my mom could be their too!!!
my my hey hey
tell me why
helpless
new song
so far...
Innaresting selections so far
pleasantly surprised...but a bit bemused
doc
My My Hey Hey was the first song I ever saw Neil play live. Anyone wanna guess the tour?
Hey for anyone who saw him tonight, can you write some of the songs he sang? I am seeing him for the first time in Atlanta and the excitement is just pouring out of me! thanks!
:)
Complete Setlist:
1) My My, Hey Hey (Acoustic)
2) Tell Me Why (Acoustic)
3) Helpless (Acoustic)
4) I'm Working(?) (Electric: new song or, at the very least, unfamiliar to me).
5) The Dusty Valley(?) (Electric: new song).
6) Love and War (?) (Electric: new song).
7) Down By The River (Electric)
8) Hitchhiker (Electric: highlight of the show).
9) Ohio (Electric)
10) Sign of Love (?) (Electric: new song.
11) Leia (?) (Piano: song dedicated to Neil's "new friend," a one and a half year old little girl in the audience.
12) After the Gold Rush (Organ)
13) I Believe In You (Piano)
14) All Around (?) (Electric: new song).
15) Cortez the Killer (Electric)
16) Cinnamon Girl (Electric)
Encore:
17) Walk With Me (?) (Electric: new song).
18) My My, Hey Hey (Electric)
I'll give a more in-depth report in a bit.
electric? I thought this was a solo tour... did neil young go billy bragg style? that would be amazing
This is exciting. I can't wait to hear the new songs on youtube, then later hear a bootleg of the whole show.
nice...solo electric. i saw frank black do this a couple years back, albeit with a broadcaster.
My head just exploded!
Does he have a band for the electric?
I Believe In You on piano reminds me of a show he did with Crazy Horse in 1970. During his solo set, he played I Believe In You. Although the recording of the show is barely listenable, when he played that song on piano it was so heart felt.
Check out fresh review at http://blog.timesunion.com/reviews/neil-young-the-palace-theatre-51810/2066/
http://blog.timesunion.com/reviews/neil-young-the-palace-theatre-51810/2066/
holy crap... Sounds like this is going to be twisted neils twisted road tour. Unfamiliar sounding version of Cortez The Killer with just old black? This is things dreams are made of here rusties. I was just thinking of how amazing it would be for it to be just neil and old black at times. I laughed at myself ... but now its a reality... HURRY UP AND GET HERE JUNE 1st!!!! IM READY!!
For those of you who still want to be surprised (as if anything else is expected at a Neil show), read no further. Consider this a "spoiler warning" if you will. I had the good fortune of seeing Neil on the first leg of the tour so, like every else in the audience, I was in a position of having absolutely no idea what to expect. This uncertainty lent even more excitement to some of the moments I'm about to describe.
Mine as well arrange this report in accordance with the chronology of the show. So, first let me confess to knowing very little about Bert Jansch, the opening act. I know he's one of Neil's biggest influences and I know that Neil essentially ripped (albeit subconsciously) the opening chords from Jansch's "Needle of Death" to Neil's own "Ambulance Blues." My unfamiliarity with Jansch's music probably doesn't make me the best person to judge his performance. All I could say was that the 7 or 8 songs he played (most of which were bluesy/folky acoustic numbers originating in Britain and Ireland) all had the feeling of a nice warm blanket (rendered even nicer by the dreary, rainy night here in Albany).
As unexciting and uninformative the following portrayal may be, one word kept coming into my head to describe Jansch's tunes: pleasant. That's not to say his songs were in any way simplistic or basic or boring. On the contrary, the guy can fucking play the acoustic guitar. And while Neil Young can stand up to him in terms of the emotional quality of his playing, Jansch runs circles around Neil technique-wise. The only real complaint I had with Jansch's set is that idiot audience members kept yelling "Neil" between songs. Someday I'll write an article about proper concert etiquette because I find it fucking appalling the amount of buffoonery at what should be an intimate performance. Anyway, Jansch played for about 40 minutes after starting right on time (8 PM).
After a brief intermission, I returned to my seat (which was located, by the way, in the 7th row. Cost me a pretty penny, but I spare no expense when Neil comes to town. Plus, this may be the last chance I get to see him. You just never know with Neil). To my surprise and delight, the stagehands were placing electric guitars in a semi-circle around the stage: I spotted what looked like a rusty Strat, his white Gretsch, and, of course, Old Black. I, too, was under the impression that it would all be acoustic so I was excited to see his axes at his disposal.
At about 9 PM, the lights darkened, and Neil nonchalantly walked across the stage to uproarious applause. He picked up his acoustic and his harm and got right down to business with "My My, Hey Hey." Well, he tried to anyway. He got through the opening riff and then hellacious feedback caused him to stop a few times. Once he finished the song, he plowed right ahead with "Tell Me Why" and "Helpless." Overall, a nice way to start a show. You just know he had to appease the asshole "fans" who would have demanded a refund if he didn't play at least a couple songs from his more commercially successful albums. Since he followed with a string of head-scratchers (which I happened to love), it was clear he was just getting the acoustic gems (all of which were nice) out of the way.
Because Neil is Neil he followed the three opening fan-favorites with three new songs, all on what looked like a strat that I had never seen him play: 4) "I'm Working(?)", a tongue-in-cheek, often ironic-seeming ballad about what we do on Earth (work) compared to what people do in heaven. I felt the song caved in under its own weight, but one of the last lines "And I know Ben's with you [in heaven?]" gave the song an emotional, serious, personal touch it badly needed. 5) "The Dusty Valley(?)", a Thrasher-esque epic of white westward expansion and colonization over Native Americans. Like many of Neil's historical-based songs, this one also fast-forwarded a couple hundred years to our current state. 6) "Love and War(?)," a commentary on religious fanaticism as it relates to both war and love. Neil's wordplay and observations make this number a great one. The chronological progression of the songs also happens to parallel that of their quality; that is, I think "Love and War" was the best sounding, tightest, most releaseable-ready song of the three.
Back to the hits. The 7th song played was "Down by the River" on Old Black. It was the tightest, shortest non-acoustic versions of the song that I've ever heard. He dropped the last verse and the jams between the remaining 2 verses were just simple variations--if not altogether repeats--of that wonderful Em/A opening chord riff. Hearing Old Black growl during the bridge made the song certainly worthwhile. After its conclusion, he played an unrecognizable, angry, foot-stomping riff that kept everybody in suspense as to the song's identity. And then: "When I was hitchhiker, on the road." I like to think he played the song for me personally because it was the last song that I played at my house before leaving for the show. Of course, he was really playing it for the diehards. Whatever his intended audience, though, is sort of besides the point. What's important is taht everyone seemed to love it and it was during "Hitchhiker" that Neil was at his most pissed off and at his best for the night. What was also cool was he added a verse at the end of the song that mentioned his family and his wife--an uplifting take on what is a somber song.
He then shelved Old Black for the Gretsch and went right into Ohio. Nothing remarkable here, but the crisp, precise guitar playing of Neil and his decision to replace the 2nd verse with "Oohs" and "Aahs" (a la Massey Hall's version), certainly made the song enjoyable. He played "Sign of Love (?)" next with the same Gretsch guitar. Don't really remember much about the song, what could very well say something about the song's enduring quality (or maybe more about the fact that it was dark as night in there and I could barely see my own hand as it tried to write).
The 11th song was a bubble-gum sounding piano ballad that went back and forth between two treble chords. It was dedicated to Leia (spelling?), a "new friend of Neil's." No, this won't be the next "After the Gold Rush" or "A Man Needs A Maid," but for what Neil was trying to do with the song, I think he succeeded, if only on a personal level.
Next came "After the Gold Rush" on an organ, updated so that mother nature is "on the run in the '21st Century'" as opposed to the "1970s." The organ was positioned up against the far wall so Neil's back was to the audience. I found this such a wonderful symbol of Neil's "I don't give a fuck" attitude (then again, maybe he just couldn't put the organ anywhere else, what with the two pianos and handful of guitars taking up the space on the small stage).
I was happy he stayed on the album "After the Gold Rush" with "I Believe in You," my personal favorite from the disc. Neil played this on a piano and his voice, while certainly lacking the reach and grab-you-by-the-soul falsetto of what we hear on "Massey Hall," is still in remarkable shape. Yes, he takes less chances with his singing (and, at his age, who could blame him?), but I didn't hear him screw up once.
He followed "I Believe in You" with an environmental epic on his Gretsch called "All Around(?)". What I remember most vividly from this song was that one of the lines keeps repeating the word "vibrate" or "vibration," and as Neil belted out the line, he would strum bass notes on his Gretsch, sending feedback-laced sound waves through the crowd, causing our bodies to literally vibrate. It was a nice, visceral touch on what seemed to me (on first listen, mind you) a fairly forgettable song.
At this point, someone from the audience yelled "Old Man!" Neil, sharp as ever, replies, "I know...64 and there's so much more," in his typical Canadian humor. This guy is just such a master that lines like these seem to just roll right through him.
For the last two songs of the regular set he brought back Old Black. First, he played "Cortez the Killer" and then "Cinnamon Girl." Like "Down by the River," both of these songs lacked the 20 minute guitar solos that peppered the versions of previous electric tours. Not that that's a bad thing. It was refreshing to hear versions of songs that I've never heard. Neil seemed to trust the natural artistic integrity of the sound of Old Black (which, in the days of digital, is wonderfully singular) rather than his own thrashing in communicating much of the ethos of the songs. Of course, letting the beast growl was especially neat to listen to in a small, intimate theater. It had the crisp, precise sound that was missing when I last saw him at Madison Square Garden.
After he walked off the stage, he came back on for the last 2 songs of the evening. He opened with "Walk With Me(?)" on his Gretsch. It took him some time to get his guitar tuned and the performance imparted an insecure feeling in the audience (or, in me anyway). I was legitimately scared he would just stop the song or start over or do something in classic Neil fashion. Again, this sloppy performance probably left a bad taste in the mouths of many audience members. And while it frustrated me to a degree, I still thought it was cool to see that even a master such as Neil has to actually work at his songs and the new ones don't just flow out of him effortlessly.
He ended the evening with My My, Hey Hey again. This time, he used Old Black accompanied by a harmonica. I'm used to Neil jamming between the verses on electric versions of the song, but the level of restraint he displayed in just letting the song do the talking was, paradoxically, just as exciting as any of his patented licks.
This is my fourth Neil concert and I'm going to resist comparing it to any of the others because each one is so remarkably unique and stands well on its own merit that attempting to draw comparisons would be unhelpful and irrelevant. Simply put, for what Neil was trying to do, he delivered. Yes, there were ragged moments and imperfections. But they don't call him the Godfather of Grunge for nothing.
i can't believe he played hitchhiker! that is one of my all time favourites...that is one amazing set if you ask me, without knowing his newest songs...might take him awhile to shake out the kinks but this tour sounds promising....massey hall please neil!!!!!
Thank you so much for that review! I am so excited to see Neil! Solo electric?! And he played Hitchhiker! I am so pumped to hear my favorite electric songs played without a backing band and hear these new songs!
post videos on youtube or link them please....
Crowd was rowdy and obnoxious at times. I half-expected him to bookend the performance at the end with 'Hey Hey, My My,' which he did, after he began with a few false starts of 'My My, Hey Hey' - it seemed only logical. The price of admission alone was well worth the solo - electric - DBTR, CG, and Cortez. Highlight was undoubtedly the electric 'Hitchhiker' for me, with slightly changed lyrics to the versions I heard before, and added lyrics and a terrific vibe to it - the added lyrics at the end takes the sting out of the song, but it was an extraordinarily powerful performance. The new songs are just ok, the playing was great (one sounded to my ears a little too much like 'The Loner'), and during one in the beginning, the lyrics were trite and the crowd was laughing at some of them. Acoustically, in the beginning, it was a start of a great show until he brought out the electric guitars, then it accelerated.
But there were problems with the mix and possibly the guitars - was Larry Cragg even there? And it was a short set. We should have received another half hour of music for what we all paid for that show. Disappointing and somewhat surprising. 'You pay for this, and they'll [he'll] give you that' I guess... he did sing/play it twice so maybe he was telling us something. AFTG was kinda out of place amongst the electric beauty that it was sandwiched between.
He certainly doesn't show signs of rusting on his old songs. But large chunks of his career were missing from the set list. Just once it would be nice to hear 'Kinda Fonda Wanda' or something like that.
Can we possibly hear an electric 'Thrasher' or 'Shots' Neil in Wallingford?
#4- You Never Call (for LAJ)
#5- Peaceful Valley
#6- Love & War
#11- Leia
So the "I know Ben's with you" in "You Never Call" - was L.A. particularly close to Ben Young? (I know he was big on Bridge School.) Could it be Ben's "true" self, as opposed to his earthly form, might be up there with L.A.? Kind of a comforting thought, actually.
BFF
Chris,
great,honest review..warts and all...you say it how you saw it.. no lacings of
metaphorical,alliterative,suck up bullshit...thanks for the effort
and your personal slant.
I too, am somewhat surprised of the electric imput..I had the impression of sort of a dreamin' man 2, acoustic style of concert,
but I am not surprised,..but if this is the case maybe a solo electric version of "ordinary people" or "no hidden path?"
Just dreamin?
doc
p.s.Lets hope it doesn't take a few concerts to iron out the bugs, hey!
Walk With Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w1Pna5r_vE
Because Sound Matters
Let me tell you something : the horse will be on this album, the new electric songs are made for the guys, such as Just singing a song was !
I had great 4th row seats for Albany but was unable to attend because my wife (Barbara) passed away on 5/6/2010. I was back and forth about whether to go or not to go. I decided not to because the 570 mile round trip would have been to much for me and I wanted to be sure to be rested for tonights show at Shea's in Buffalo. The last time my wife saw Neil was at Shea's on 11/30/07. My wife had been on the liver transplant list for 5 years. She died waiting at age 56. Needless to say Her passing zapped my excitment for the concert and I didn't think I would get it back. After reading about Hitchhiker I started to feel the excitment again. 13 hours and counting until I see Neil for the 33rd time. I have the best seat in the house. 15 seats in Front PIT Row AAA, I have seat number 8. That puts me about 2 feet from the stage, dead center. I paid 1200.00 for the Front row PIT tickets and drove up to ST. Cathrines Ontario to retrieve them. Unlikely Neil will hear of my wifes passing but Her favorite song was Harvest Moon. We attended the 1992 Saratoga Springs Solo concert. Can't wait, I plan on descreetly getting some close up pics, hopefully it won't piss Neil or anyone else off. Doug from Warsaw N.Y.
Doug, so sorry to hear about your wife.
Even though I see or hear of heartbreak everyday as I walk the wards,it always affects me.I can never become numb to human suffering, even in the profession I'm in.
Please accept my heartfelt condolensces. Here's hoping Neil hears of another loss in the "family" and grants your wish at Buffalo.
Stay strong for your Cinnamon Girl
doc
Doug, I'm so very sorry to read about your loss. It makes me sad and you have my deepest condolences.
Of coursse it brings back so many feelings and memories.....
next Wednesday it will be Michaels first day of death.
Love, Liza
The Albany Show is on RustRadio, right now "Sign of love"
http://www.rustradio.org/
great setlist for this one. really hoping for neil to bring it to london. here's to hoping.
p.s. listening to rust radio right now. the hitchhiker rendition was something special.
It seems more than exciting and all but 18 songs is kind of weak considering the cost of tickets. Yes I said it.
Yes, Larry was very close with Ben. Larry was on his way to take Ben to a Sharks game when he collapsed.
Great review Chris. I was wiped out physically and emotionally after the show, and the four hour drive back to northern Vermont made getting my own review online just plain impossible. But Chris covered it all, thanks again.
"Hitchhiker" blew me away, it was on the short-list of "shitters" (as my brother and I call the songs we could hear that would be to us diehards just unbelievably awesome), and you can likely hear my screams of joy on the concert recording when I recognized the song (the intro made me think it was going to be "Dirty Old Man").
"Leia" was super touching to me as we have our first grandchild now, and I've honestly spent the last year unable to come to terms with the fact that I am now a grandfather. Neil's obvious love of family, and his comfort with his own life as he moves toward old age helped me put my life into perspective, and perhaps open a new chapter for me and Payton, my little granddaughter.
Our 12th row seats were fantastic, but I couldn't stay put for the encore, and spent an enjoyable (ecstatic?) final 10 minutes of the show leaning on the stage and just about eye to eye with Neil. One of the highlights of the evening for me happened as Neil started in on the final song, "Into the Black". There were two women just ahead and next to me, joining my brother, me, and perhaps 20 other fans in the up front gang. As Neil worked his way through the song, making eye contact with all of us up there, these two women (best friends? sisters?), hugged each other and I could sense a warmth between them, sharing this special Neil moment, a feeling that my brother Tom and I have been lucky to share at the 25+ Neil shows we've been to together. When the show ended, I tapped one of them on the shoulder and said "it doesn't get any better, does it?" She turned and, taking my hand said "But you don't understand..." Perhaps she saw something in my eyes and the look on Tom's and my faces, because as Neil strode off stage, she said, "Oh yeah, you do get it, don't you?
Thanks Neil.
Is there a DL of last night's show up anywhere yet?
My wife & I are going to the Buffalo show tonight. 1st row, worth every dollar. My 6th & my wife's 4th Neil concert. Seeing Neil in concert for me, every time is like enjoying your favorite food, spending time with your favorite people, loving someone. It just MOVES ME, like VERY few things I've experienced in my 41 years, review to follow, tommorrow.
Going to Louisville the 26 taking my 27 year son. Cant wait! Wish I could have got better seat Im on the floor DD best I could get Go Neil Young
Allow me to walk back my "weak" comment a bit. I'm thrilled that Neil is out there again and I'm thrilled to be seeing him next Monday in D.C. I'm sure it will be as special as I imagine. I just think an hour and a half is a little short for any show - especially Neil.
So were the first three new songs on a Strat, like Chris says, or an amplified acoustic, like it says up top?
So sorry Doug to hear of your very sad loss. It`s just over 3 yrs now since my husband died of cancer of the liver. He was 58. Heartfelt condolences to you.
Kind thoughts also to you Liza, and thanks for the rust radio tip-off - I`m listening now!
As for Neil - the new songs sound great and I especially like Peaceful Valley so far. Can`t believe he did Hitchhiker - like many other people here it`s one of my favourites!
You lucky people seeing him live!
love, Jill
Does anyone ever play Neil Young on guitar in the parking lot before the show . Just think that would be cool.I'll bring mine LOL Go Neil Young
Neil used a guitar I haven't seen him use before...certainly not a strat! It is an acoustic that was amplified and had effects running. When he hit the bass notes, you could feel it in your bones!
only 98 minutes.what's up with that ????? !!!!!!
Last tour was more like 130-150 minutes.
For the prices he's charging,regardless of song selection, 98 minutes is bullshit.
Neil, give us our monies worth !
LA Johnson has a son named Ben, whom I believe is still living.
So I couldn't help myself and had to read reviews Solo Electric NEIL!
HOLY SHIT! AWESOME- I listened to all of last-night's show and all I can say is WOW!
How lucky are we, those of us who are able to attend the few shows on this tour, to be able to see Neil in this latest incarnation?
This just goes to show that Neil has not lost an ounce of Balls as he has grown older.
I loved the Hitchhiker! Always one of my favs. I also loved 'Love and War' and 'Sign of Love' GREAT SONGS! I think Neil's new songs are among his best and way different than what he's been doing. From what I heard, the HEART, THE FEELING AND THE SOUL WERE DEFINENTLY IN EFFECT. The sound is mysterious and intriguing. Neil has not lost a bit of the magic.
I told my buddy, who will be going with me to the Oakdale on Sunday that I should have known better- NOTHING is simple with Neil. Never was it promoted to be Neil solo, acoustic...only Neil Solo. The saying holds true- Neil is as unpredictable as ever! I think its great, can not wait for Sunday and I really cant wait for the new album.
Rock on Grandpa Neil! (and congratulations!)
I'm still holding out hope that Neil will play 'Mideast Vacation' on Sunday in Wallingford! Either way- I'll be loving it!
LA Johnson has a son named Ben, whom I believe is still living.
So I couldn't help myself and had to read reviews Solo Electric NEIL!
HOLY SHIT! AWESOME- I listened to all of last-night's show and all I can say is WOW!
How lucky are we, those of us who are able to attend the few shows on this tour, to be able to see Neil in this latest incarnation?
This just goes to show that Neil has not lost an ounce of Balls as he has grown older.
I loved the Hitchhiker! Always one of my favs. I also loved 'Love and War' and 'Sign of Love' GREAT SONGS! I think Neil's new songs are among his best and way different than what he's been doing. From what I heard, the HEART, THE FEELING AND THE SOUL WERE DEFINENTLY IN EFFECT. The sound is mysterious and intriguing. Neil has not lost a bit of the magic.
I told my buddy, who will be going with me to the Oakdale on Sunday that I should have known better- NOTHING is simple with Neil. Never was it promoted to be Neil solo, acoustic...only Neil Solo. The saying holds true- Neil is as unpredictable as ever! I think its great, can not wait for Sunday and I really cant wait for the new album.
Rock on Grandpa Neil! (and congratulations!)
I'm still holding out hope that Neil will play 'Mideast Vacation' on Sunday in Wallingford! Either way- I'll be loving it!
Listening to Rust Radio, I love the guy that shouts: 'You Don't Have to Sound...' (not sure what he says next) when Neil says his guitar doesn't sound good in the tuning bit before 'Walk with Me'
My apologies: the guitar that Neil used on songs 4-6 (the string of 3 new ones) was, in fact, an amplified acoustic and not, as I said, a strat. In retrospect, this makes sense as I remember it taking me a solid minute to figure out whether to write down "Acoustic" or "Electric" next to the song title in my notebook. What made identifying the guitar even more difficult was that I was sitting on the far side of the orchestra, so I was essentially looking down the guitar neck as opposed to being in front of it. I think I just got a quick glimpse of the guitar's smaller body--a characteristic of strats--and in turn made that hasty assumption that it was, in fact, a strat. Probably should have fact-checked my review a little bit more, but it was late, I was exhausted, and I just wanted to report what I myself saw and experienced.
Wow,
My girlfriend of two years (we're both 51)was hoping to see Neil once so her life could be complete. After I scored tickets on 4/10 for the Buffalo show, we were so happy, but then she got weird and we have broken up.
I was feeling sad, but after reading of people losing their loved ones, it kind of puts it all in perspective. Although I am also mourning the loss of the relationship, and feeling blue, I have made my friend Kevin very happy as he did not score tickets and he will go in her place.
Her loss.
It will be my 6th time seeing him.
moon1839
To my ears, Walk With Me is by far the best of the new bunch. Obviously he's just learning it, messed it up, but, man, that song is the real deal. Please don't toss it away, Neil, refine it! Sweet.
The new songs sound really good to me, and Love and War is a hit, man. But Neil has to play with the Horse for this one. Neil, listen to me, the Horse HAS to come back !
Thanks for review Chris! Excellent & no need to apologize.
We need you go to all the shows so you can post reviews. Any other shows planned?
Drove down from Ottawa for the show. Arrived in Albany to a cold miserable rain. Stood under the entrance at the Palace Theatre with a coffee then the lights went on and the excitement grew. Picked up a Neil Young Hitchhiker t-shirt (white with black skull) and grabbed a beer and listened to Bert Jansch. Very nice guitar playing and comfortable songs. Then Neil (the only person I'd ever drive 5 hours to see, other than my wife and kids). I generally liked his new songs (especially the first three and Leia, which was beautiful). The guitar he used gave off an enormous bass that just buzzed your soul. His version of Helpless was probably the most tender version I've heard. Hitchhiker was my electric highlight and it was special to see Neil on electric with no backing, and dealing with technical issues ("such is life" or "these things happen" he said at one point). Wished for one more encore but fulfilled all the same. Picked out lyrics from each song that could easily relate to LA's passing and the hole left in Neil. Drove home this morning writing songs of my own in the car (nearly veering off the road, but getting here safely).
Geo
The show was up this morning at DIME and I had a chance to listen to the first half on my way into the office. Although I love the setlist, it seems evident that Neil's still feeling his way through it. Maybe it's just the opening night jitters, technical bugs, and musical ghosts.
At any rate, I just checked and there are two torrents running, with over a thousand people snatching the concert within the first 24 hours. Bert's set is up, also.
"Hitchhiker" T-shirts? So much for the element of surprise. (Or maybe he'll do that every night with the obscure song he plans to play, sort of like the paintings from the Continental tours.)
I hope he plays Hitchhiker every night! WHAT A SONG! Better than Like an Inca, lyrically
Hi ...Great comments ...I am going to the D.C. show Monday night Row F dead center! wondering if Trunk Show dvds may be available? Thanks !- B.C.
Hitchikker is such a great song...All these "seventies" songs are real classics, released or not. Maybe Hitchikker will be released on the Twisted Road record( for sure it has a golden place on The Archives vol.2) New songs, maybe not great, sometimes weak, but they express the actual feelings of Neil. I'm happy that Neil keeps on writing songs and recording.
The voice sounds a bit worn out, but Neil looks fine and in good shape.
Anyway Neil looks unusually in dark mood.
Sorry for the Doug loss.We're all getting old and we're sadly losing our beloved.
Andrea."So Tired"
p.s.I hope to see someone in the U.S.A.
It's such a great show, amazing how Neil pulls stuff out of the hat like this. If anyone does not have acces to DIME, here's a link to the full show: http://www.2shared.com/file/QxxYhY_H/ny2010-05-18flac16.html
Just click on the 'Save file to your PC: click here' part, and NOT the button.
Just wondering,
Was any of the "feel" lost for those sitting way back or in the bleachers?
i.e. is there a bad seat in the house?
inquisitive doc
Hey, B.C. - I'll be right behind you in row G - so, please get that 'fro trimmed down, will ya? And if you get the urge, you're welcome to pass back. :-)
Just wait till the 'earworm' wiggles in...those new songs will become your favourites...and I haven't even heard them yet!
'Neilaphobia'....the fear of accepting new Neil songs
Given time you'll grow out of it!!! lol
Hey Sony!..and he played Cinnamon Girl!!
doc
A "few" seats - including 2 in the 3rd row center for $256 - appear to have been released for Worcester. I'm going to stick with my center balc for $102.
https://www.choicesecure02.net/MainApp/eventschedule.aspx?clientid=hanovertheatre&prod=YOUNG
Thank you for the kind words, Thrasher. Unfortunately, I have no plans (or, as a broke college student, the money) to attend any more Neil shows this tour. Here's to hoping he'll tour later in the year or even into next year.
Sounds like a great show. How was the crowd? Did people sit or stand for the show? Looking forward to Worcester.
chris
@5:51 - The crowd was frustrating, not everyone of course, but there were more than a few people who had trouble keeping a respectful silence during the songs.
First, there were those who liked to sing along, which is completely rude to those around them. I paid good money to hear Neil sing, not a duet with some tuneless hack. Keep it in the car or shower, people.
Then there were those who shrieked, yelped, or whistled in the middle of songs. Why do this? Excited? Save it for when the song is over and then scream your head off. There was one fool in particular who let out a looong "woooooh" right as Neil was singing I Believe in You.
I hate to say it but I guess I understand what Neil was saying in that magazine article about the audience. I can see how it would be frustrating, especially at an intimate show like this.
There was someone early on who started clapping along, out of time, and Neil shot them a glare, like STFU.
You can listen to the stream of the show on RustRadio and hear what I'm talking about.
Perhaps the most infuriating was the jerk who kept shouting "Neil" during Bert Jansch's set. Complete lack of respect. I think he thought it was funny. Did anyone else who was there hear this guy?
All that said, Neil and most of the audience were great.
After listening to the show twice on Rust Radio , my honest opinion is that it was one of the weaker Neil shows in quite a while.Sure there were highlights and peaks of his greatness but
1) show way too short.Doesnt Neil remember how long he played on the last tour ? Does he think we don't notice the difference when it's 30-45 minutes shorter ?? And for the money he's asking, at least give a 2 hour + show.
2) new songs - Love and War is great and the rest of them are weak to bad.
3) and electric solo is quite a disapointment.If he's gonna play solo, do it acoustic.Electric solo sounds like someone sitting in their basement playing Neil Young songs alone on electric guitar because they don't have anyone to play with.Would have sounded 1000% better with a band.
Worst tour since Trans ? No, worse !
Can anyone help with a ride from Long Island to the Ct concert May 23
will split expenses
sammybronc@aol.com
The guy who kept yelling "Where's Neil?" during
Bert Jansch's set was sitting a couple rows ahead of me.
Thankfully, security kicked him and his lady friend out during Neil's performance. The nearby crowd applauded them for getting him out of there.
Man - why be such a downer? I respect your opinion, but come on! Do you know how people reacted to the 'Tonights the Night' tour? Greendale?
That being said, 90 minutes is kinda sorta not long enough for the $
Best part of entire show....during the audience noise between "Walk with Me" and "My My Hey Hey" someone yells out, "Atta boy, Luther!"
An obscure reference to "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken"!!?!?!
Well, Friday should be an interesting day. My dad passed away in March. I'm driving to Massachusetts to have lunch with my mother. After lunch, we are going to pick out a headstone for my dad's grave. Then I'll be heading up to Worcester to see the show. Twisted emotions for the twisted road.
one of eleven thousand
1) Shows at the beginning of solo tours are always shorter than the ones at the end of the tour. Look at the 1992 tour. Those January dates barely made it past 80 minutes for the first leg. By the end it was up to two hours. It takes some time to get in the groove and up to speed.
2) It was the first show of the tour. Rough spots are to be expected. I'll take Neil's off shows over most people's peak shows any day.
That first show is spectacular. Neil's voice is weak from time off, but that'll improve. To me this format is a fantasy come true. I posted here before that the 99 solo tour was my favorite hands down and I was sure this one couldn't beat it. Well, give it a few more shows and I may be changing my mind. Talk about pure organic Neil. What a frickin treat. Why on earth would anyone want a band on this tour? Love and War and Walk with Me are grrrrreat!
The show was awesome, pocks and all. Well, all pocks excepting the crowd. Most of you are probably awesome – we do share the same here – but there were enough that imposed themselves on the sonic experience (especially during Bert Jansch) that it affected it.
The concept of electric solo Neil is custom-made for me, I believe. I love Arc, and I remember distinctly "Needle and the Damage Done" solo electric from my first show in Barrie '96 (otherwise w/ the Horse) as being a long-standing highlight then. And a whole show's worth now. So refreshing to hear extra leaden and languid versions of timeless classics, minimal regard for metre, and total focus on sonics and feel. The whole slow psychedelic flange on Old Black and the white Gretsch reminded me a bit of Spacemen 3, and I adored it, adding colour and dimension to Neil's patent crunch.
The new songs are bare and honest, or you can say the lyrics are too literal and awkward. I wouldn't agree with the latter. Maybe I give Neil a bit of free license to do whatever he wants, but I don't feel that he's approaching these songs with affectation. I think they are coming out naturally, vitally, and I feel extremely fortunate to have heard them last night, if even in nascent form. I also think this is stronger material than "Fork in the Road".
Even before he claimed 'It's all just one song ... over and over and over again', I felt that, even stronger than with the Trunk Show, there were recurring and blended song themes, and I'm happy to be able to look at this show as one whole, as opposed to new songs vs. classics against an unusual format.
If I could make one lament about the show, it would be that there were too many hits in the setlist – and the yahoos in the crowd of course – not enough obscurity (beyond the new material), and not the short set length. I was in the same room as Neil for another very special night.
I was last row orchestra centre. The sound was clear and warm, but perhaps not loud enough. But when is "loud enough"?
This month is 40 years since Kent State. Neil recorded Ohio, May 15th, 1970. This tour started on the 18th. I think it is no co-incidence.
On May 28th, 1970 Richard Nixon made his first public appearance after Kent State at a Billy Graham Revival right here in Knoxville, Tennessee, which is where Neil will be performing on the 27th.
I don't think that is a co-incidence either.
And that's why I have front row tickets. Feel the flow.
This show blows Greendale out of the water. I think Walk with Me is today's version of Tonight's the Night, only better. Smokin and hypnotic.
This month is 40 years since Kent State. Neil recorded Ohio, May 15th, 1970. This tour started on the 18th. I think it is no co-incidence.
On May 28th, 1970 Richard Nixon made his first public appearance after Kent State at a Billy Graham Revival right here in Knoxville, Tennessee, which is where Neil will be performing on the 27th.
I don't think that is a co-incidence either.
And that's why I have front row tickets. Feel the flow.
Thrasher, Are you so defensively touchy about Greendale that you won't post my comment that this show blows Greendale out of the water? How very juvenile of you.
@vertigone those people that were singing along paid the same good money as you. Your not any better than them. They have every right to sing along (at a respectable volume) as you do not singing along.. This is America still right? Screw the yahoos yelling in the middle of the song and whatever else. I will never stop singing along with my favorite neil tunes. If you don't like it.. leave the show or deal with it.. Don't be an elitist just because your more hardcore of a fan than most everyone their. get a grip
Complaining about solo electric, as if it's this terrible thing?
Some people just want to complain about anything. I think solo electric is a fantastic idea, and can't wait to hear the flacs.
The electric guitar is a beautiful instrument all by itself, and has a whole different vibe than the acoustic.
Just to get to see Mr Young and only drive 2 hours to Louisville is a dream come true for me. I dont care if he sings Row Row Row Your Boat. And plays in on a dime store guitar. Go Neil Young
Anyone buy the black t-shirt with the white image of Neil's face and a mic with no text?
My shirt has little rips around the arms and neck and bottom and was just wondering if it is supposed to be like that?
Thanks in advance!
Tim in Albany
@1:09
You're really gonna play the "This is America" line?
Yeah, I'm sure you have the "right" to sing along but does that make it right?
If I was purposely doing something during the show that was interfering with other people enjoying the show, then that would make me extrememely selfish.
Instead of invoking your "right" to sing along, perhaps you should look outward and be considerate of those around you, ESPECIALLY at a smaller intimate show like this. Reminder, NOBODY wants to hear you sing.
please need a ride to conn show from long island split expenses m
ay23hippie van broke down
sammybronc@aol.com down by the river
a 3plus hr drive from pgh to my 3rd row seats was disappointing.
too many yahoos in the audience, some moronic arrangements, & too short. the highlight: cortez the killer
I can hardly express how much Neil's music has moved me over the years... we all know how that works. But, my youngest son, 14, loves,loves, loves Neil. Not just for his music, but for his love of family, passion and compassion, and his philosophy of life. For a young kid, Nick gets it...it affects him deeply. We are going to Hanover Theater tonight in Worc. Ma for the show and Nick can hardly contain himself. He's been strumming away for a couple years, learning every Neil song he can. I just wanted to thank Neil for his influence on my son. I truly believe that alot of Nicks kind soul and love of music comes from Neils words....
I was at Tuesday's show and my experience was pretty much similar to everyone else. I was in the row behind the couple who were removed by security. After listening to him yelling "Neil" and "Where's Neil @#%#ing Young" all through Bert's seat it didn't come early enough for me. Bert's set was very good after having to cancel his US tour a year ago due to illness.
I was really unhappy with the sound mixing during the show. I think it overwhelmed the acoustics of the theater and just didn't sound very good.
That said I really enjoyed seeing Neil. The new songs are really solid and the older songs sounded great done solo.
Looking to purchase ticket for May23rd show CT show
sammybronc@aol.com
My wife and I attended last night's show in CT. I was sick as a dog, but I couldn't let myself miss this one. Glad I pushed through.
First things first - Neil's voice was perfect. He had total mastery of his vox, so he rarely used the harmonica. Second, the use of multiple instruments was brilliant. I saw the same first three songs on the big Martin - My My, Hey Hey, Tell Me Why, and Helpless, and they were terrific. But the real stars were the heavy songs on Old Black and the Gretch with heavy effects - distortion, octave, and some really cool phasing. Loved the Cortez on the electric and the After the Gold Rush with the carnival-style organ.
Our show topped out at about 1 3/4 hr., including the encore. Regarding the encore, it was probably the least inspired part of the show. I would have expected Cowgirl in the Sand or Be the Rain or something else heavy, but I just didn't love the song (at least with that arrangement).
Still, this was my first Neil solo show. I have seen him a number of times with Crazy Horse, but I just enjoyed this level of intimacy more. The visuals with the Greendale tour were great, and the Giant Amp props from the Ragged Glory tour were a fun throwback, but the current tour gives you a show that you just haven't experienced. Nobody else would do this - it's what makes Neil special.
Post a Comment
<< Home