Neil Young Concert Reviews - Wallingford, CT, May 23, 2010
From Neil Young at Oakdale - Courant.com By ERIC R. DANTON:
Rock 'n' roll is neither cathedral nor crypt, but there are moments that call for respectful, if not awestruck, silence.
Neil Young singing "Helpless" should have been one of them, but raucous bellows all too frequently accompanied Young in what was billed as a solo performance Sunday night at Toyota Presents Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford.
Solo, maybe, but certainly not acoustic. Although the veteran singer and songwriter made no mention of the cloddish behavior of a few, he did spend a fair bit of his 90 minutes on stage drowning out the catcalls and boozy expressions of esteem by playing an electric guitar that resembled, in tone and volume, several dozen klaxons.
Young devoted a chunk of his set to newer songs, delivering a murder-ballad narrative on "Peaceful Valley" and a meditation on opposites with "Love and War," playing dark, reverberating guitar lines on a charmingly cluttered American Gothic-style stage with guitars and amplifiers in the middle, flanked on three sides by pianos and an organ, with a red-and-white striped banner like bars from the American flag hanging at the back of the stage.
Neil Young will be performing tonight at the Oakdale Theatre Wallingford, CT. Special guest Bert Jansch will open concert.
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by thrasher@PermaLink: 5/23/2010 10:42:00 PM
85 comments
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85 Comments:
No HHMM or HOG to end the show tonight. Walk with Me was the only encore.
Hitchhiker was awesome
Let me be the first to say....the show was great but he closed with walk with me...no hey hey my my or Heart of Gold. Not sure why. I thought the crowd was respectful...except a few assholes of course but Neil was great. No change to the set list except the one song encore. Perhaps I'll write a full report tomorrow. not tonight.. work Tomorrow. But Neil was great. Short show but I understand that 3 hours of solo acoustic may get rough for many though I'd welcome it. Hitchhiker was great! New Songs were excellent. Best batch in a while. Very different show....GLAD I SAW IT.
Thanks Neil! Heartfelt performances...excellent!
I mean solo electric..sorry I'm shot.
Peace!
Hope that everyone enjoyed the show tonight.
On a parallel note, I was watching the Lost finale earlier tonight and also following along with Rob Sheffield's live blog on rollingstone.com. At around 10 p.m., Hurley says to Jack "I believe in you". So a few minutes later, I add a comment to the blog:
"I Believe In You"?!?! Neil is playing this on his current tour...maybe right when Hurley said it...coincidence? Or more sideways world?
A minute later, Rob adds a comment back:
I like the Neil Young theory! I think Desmond just went out of the blue and into the black.
Not really sure what to write here. I was at both the Worcester shaow and this one. I felt like Neil was off of is game tonight. I'm not sure if it was the crowd, or what, but something "felt" different between Friday's show and tonight's. There was a line about Ben Friday in You Never Call that was left out tonight. Neil seemed to loose his place starting out Peaceful Valley, and he lost his place at one point in Hitchhiker. The show ended very strangely, with a one song encore, Walk With Me. Neil left the stage and the house lights stayed low for a few minutes before they came up. It seemed like they were expecting a second song and Neil called it off. I left with a bad vibe. Not sure what really happened. This show also had a couple of equipment problems, once his guitar had no sound and there was an electric buzz at one point during the show. The show Friday in Worcester went off without a hitch and the sound was much better. I don't want to come off negative here, but I'm just writing what I feel.
one in eleven thousand
The one song encore was bullshit! I think Neil might have gotten pissed that the sucurity allowed people to rush the stage and start taking pictures. I don't know. Just a thought.I was right in front.Either way,Neil has to chill out with the rules. People paid BIG money to go to the show, and they can't even have a cocktail while they watch? C'mon! And he has the nerve to take a few slugs of a beer between songs! Just doesn't seem right. Has he forgotten about the old days when people smoked joints and drank throughout the show? These are the people who are still going to see him and the reason why he can still sell out every venue he plays.I've been going to see Neil for years and I'm getting a little fed up with his lack of concern for his fans.We always have to cater to HIM! We're the ones that support him and enough is enough! I love Neil, but definitely feel cheated by tonite's performance.Not sure I will shell out the big bucks again. Just doesn't seem worth it anymore.
1 or 2 of the new songs were worth the price of admission alone. Met some real nice people, maybe a new friend or two. Thank you Neil, I really enjoyed it.
TC.
@Anon, 5/24/2010 01:21:00 AM
Well... as with Football in Europe, in the old days people were able to behave. Just listen to Live at Massey Hall, you can hear a pin drop... nowadays the crowd is full of drunken hecklers that only want to hear HOG. Also, if I go to the theatre to see a play, I am not allowed to take any drinks or food with me, nor am I allowed to take pictures, because the actors find it disturbing. Why are musicians not allowed the same treatment?
Comments on Thrasher from the last time he played Wallingford regarding the aholes in the crowd kept me away from picking up tix for this time around... just went to Worcester. That's why I was so appreciative of the Worcester crowd. Honestly, never went to a concert where the crowd was so well respectful of the artist... which is especially important on acoustic numbers.
Still thinking about how great Neil's show at the Hanover was. From Neil sitting at the piano for the amazing rendition of "I Believe in You" to the theater rattling "Hitchhiker"... those 2 songs worth the price of admission alone.
Obviously, sending a message by just doing one song for the encore. He doesn't need to take any bs at this stage in his career.
Last night's show was great. He did get a few flubs, but I felt a cool vide. Maybe it was that I took my friend to his first Neil show (he loved it). Also, "Love and War" and "Ohio" were unbelievable! While it might not have been as polished as other shows, isn't that why we see Neil again and again. It might not always be "perfect", but it will always be loose and exciting. I thought that last night represented that perfectly. So what if the roadies forgot to put out the lyrics for "You Never Call" until the last verse, or that he had the wrong chord on the White Falcon for :Sign of Love". Neil put a great effort and succeeded in the end. The one error he made was not bringing Larry.
Matt
"They pray about love and they pray about war"
In defense of the Wallingford audience, I don't think they were badly behaved at all. In fact, I was surprised by the general quiet and respect. (Bert Jansch, for example, got a very polite and enthusiastic reception - and played a great set.) There was a funny moment when, during a lull, a lone person sang the first line of Powderfinger very loudly. Neil answered the "heckler" drily: "You should get yourself a guitar, or a band." It was all good-humoured. Just because an audience from one place was bad three years ago doesn't mean one should assume they'll be bad again today.
The show is short and shorn of an encore, even shorter. (Neil left the stage a little unhappy when, at the very last moment, his Gretsch had fallen from his stand. Also, there were no major technical glitches, except that someone put the wrong lead into one of the guitars - Neil? A roadie? - at which point Neil observed "time for color-coding!" Neil screwed up the chords at the end of Tell Me Why, and it was fascinating to see his hands momentarily "panic" as he figured how to get it right again.) Sometimes performers feel like doing the extra song, sometimes they don't. We can only speculate why a performer ever does anything:make up fun stories and see which is the most interesting. I mean: unless they explain in a later interview... but stage rushing/noisy audience: I don't buy it. I don't feel like Neil "punishes" an audience by playing one less song.
Neil is quite capable of doing, and happy doing, long shows, *very* long show; he obviously seems to feel that 90 minutes for this particular show is about right in terms of audience attention. I think that could be right, were the ratio of the new/old songs different. As it is, the show, in my opinion, *feels* too short to people because they think that they should be getting a few more songs they know and love. The great thing about NY is, of course, that if you compare, say, the last three shows I attended: United Palace Trunk Show, Madison Square Garden, this, then the variety is insane; even the variety of versions of particular songs is insane. (And if you add in all the other NY shows I've seen, which only numbers about 10, but some real crackers: Princeton Landing doing Zuma, Booker T at the Shoreline, Trans in the UK - then the wealth becomes almost incomparable in the world of rock.) Twisted Road is another show, and a fascinating part of the jigsaw, but not, I would say, a great show in its own right (except for the fact that as a Neil Young fan, I think it's ultimately all great.)
Some of the new songs were extremely so-so, exactly as shipshod as the ones we heard at MSG because Fork in the Road, but they all seem to fill a space for Neil - it's just that as he gets older, as with all songwriters, the spaces get easier to fill. Pocohontas, Alabama, Powderfinger - they don't sound quite like the very first thing that came into his mind; the new songs, more or less, do.
For my money, two extra songs (regardless of the missing encore), not necessarily classics, just quality songs of yore, wouldn't have gone amiss to the balance of the show, leaving people feeling less unhappy. And there was certainly a feeling of "really?" at the end, which was a shame. I was feeling it myself.
I was just happy and excited to be there to see and hear Neil. I have been a fan of his since the beginning and for a 50 something man to have his heart race while booking down the Merritt Parkway to finally see and listen to him for the first time was a blast.
It was also great to see all the young people at the show, maybe I'm being too optimistic but it seemed at least half the audience was under 30. It says something about the man's music. And the standing O before Neil even strummed a chord, I was happy to see that much respect and love shown to him. He seemed genuinely moved by the gesture and gave some back.
When I think about the hundreds of songs he has written and performed which ones do you pick for a set? I'm glad it wasn't a "best of the 70's" Neil
concert. What I heard was play list as interesting and varied as the man himself.
By the way, Neil can still rock out!
And the new songs are freakin good
Sadly, I've only seen him twice before tonight (Freedom tour '89 and with Crazy Horse in early 90s), but I think now that was a mistake. Yes, it was a short show, though given the long line out of the parking lot, and my long drive home, I didn't complain too much. And no, the audience did not seem disrespectful to me -- first time I ever saw any artist get a standing ovation at the start of the concert. Some of the new songs were great, with very creative musical phrasing different than his usual style. A few others were not so great, but that's how it goes. Also, a few more folkey acoustic songs like the starting trio to break up the solo electric stints would have been nice. Personal highlights for me were the organ/harmonica version of After the Gold Rush (like being in church) and Cortez the Killer. But one thing's for sure, the guy's a genius and still has it going on -- my wife, seeing him for the first time, nailed it: "this guy has soul in spades." We'll be ready for the next go round...
Comments suggest that the audience in CT wasn't so bad... so who knows what he was thinking... and really doesn't matter anyway.
I thought the set list was great and a the length of the show was fine for a solo performance... song after song with no breaks. Easier for a group to play longer when there is focus on certain band members on various songs in the mix, etc.
Anyone heading to a future show in this tour is in for a treat.
Enjoyed the night but not one for my memory book! Great start...I agree about the aholes..whats with the guys that have to hear themselves yell in a quite room? I always love new songs, I still remember the first time I heard "lets roll" with csny 6-7 yrs ago. But I wasn't a fan of either "You never call" or "Leia" At over $100 a ticket I think it was way to short. At 53 I'm getting tired of the encore bullshit...did the crowd not stomp & clap hard enough for one more. Neil has 100's and played 18 with "Walk with me" for the one song encore?! Just play a 2 hour set and bow wave & exit! I give it a C+ max
Sorry, Mike
Show was mixed. Loved the all solo format, but some of the songs (Notably Cortez) just don't translate well as a solo. The simpler ones (Ohio, Cinammon Girl) work well in an electric format. The acoustic part of the show was almost flawless; solo acoustic is just an easier format to make work. I too felt cheated by the lack of a second encore; knowing Neil it was a statement of some sort - either relating to last night's crowd or the happenings of 3 years ago. It's funny he picked Wallingford again - most of this tour is in old theaters with character. I guess United Palace was just too expensive for this tour.
Re: the crowd. I had two cked up ladies behind me screaming and clapping directly in my ear. Quiet requests to tone it were met with increasingly hostile behavior. First time in my life I've ever complained to security at a concert - should have called the cops as they were indulging during the show.I think the fact that drinks can't be brought to the seat increases alcohol consumption (especially for a show without an intermission for the main performer. Felt people were "getting that last one in" rather than having to leave during a song.
This was my fourth time seeing NY over a span of 32 years - starting with Live Rust in '78, then solo at the Palladium (NY) in '89, Chrome Dreams II at United Palace (NY) in '07 and now last night in Wallingford.
The good:
He is ageless and timeless. You can't date-stamp his performance. You never know what to expect and his updated renditions of his older catalogue (particularly Ohio, Down by the River and Cortez) were fabulous and arguably better than the originals.
The not-so-good:
I think he has good nights and OK nights. As one of the earlier posters said, I think he was a little off his game for some reason. Maybe these subtleties are more visible in a solo show when you're sitting up close in a theater than when you're sitting in the last row of a programmed show on an arena tour like Live Rust, but they are there nonetheless.
I also think there are issues with this venue. This is the fourth concert I have seen here, and there is something off about it. Compared with an older, perhaps more historic theater, it is a comfortable place, no question. But it is sterile, completely devoid of intimacy, the configuration is strange (there seem to be more seats in the faraway corners than in straight line of sight), and it seems sometimes like the artists just don't come in with (or sustain) their A-game. The last concert I saw there was the White Stripes, and it was the shortest show of their tour. Saw Mark Knopfler several years before, and it was kind of distant also. I don't think Oakdale attracts more buffoons than any other venue - the opposite is probably true. But I would say that the audience tends to be casual to a fault. I can't believe the number of people sitting near us (we were in maybe the 15th row down front) who left their seats during the opening acoustic numbers to go out to the bar or the bathroom or wherever. They had a half hour between sets to do that. And then of course they have to come back to their seats (and in some cases, leave a second time), causing more disruption. If I were a performer, that would be a lot more off-putting than a couple of loudmouths in the back.
So long story short, while there is a convenience and comfort to seeing shows in Oakdale, I will think long and hard about seeing my favorite performer/band there if I want to see a top-quality show.
Long time follower of thrasher—thank you to whoever puts in the time. It can't be a high-paying gig.
First time commenting. Thoughts from Worcester and beyond. This tour is essentially Neil plugging into your living room and playing one-to-one. Pretty cool and worth the $ though I can see how others would beg to differ.
Let me preface my comments by saying Neil is the best. Bought Harvest when I was 10. And have been hooked since. Seen countless shows. NY is my stranded-on-an-island music without hesitation. Have seen most tours from Stars/Bars onward. Still waiting for Stills-Young II (sure).
The good...
Neil's musicianship is better than ever. Doesn't matter what instrument. He's masterful. I would pay just to hear him play 2 hours. In fact, I would prefer that he do instrumentals vs. some of the new stuff the past 30 mos. Best song, most transcendent moment Friday and it wasn't close—I Believe in You on piano (note to NY; more of that piano; left everyone speechless).
The bad...
Lyrically the (great) majority of the new stuff dating back to Fork/Road is weak at best. The new songs Friday save for Hitchiker & Love/War were weak. He gets 'away' with it because he's Neil. All the stuff on Fork was crap plain and simple and painful to hear live. Maybe such is life when you set your own bar so high. Do not confuse this new stuff with greatness. It ain't. Ask Neil, he'd admit as much.
A couple of random, personal observations in no particular order. NY was arguably at the top of his game all-time late '07 Cont. Dream Tour. Let me point out the 'new' stuff was all old, unreleased stuff. But his playing, singing, presence never better, never more compelling. It's been undeniably downhill since. Was great during Living War/CSNY tour (would prefer to see him be great AND share the stage). Hell I thought Greendale was a hoot; original and funny good. Immeasurably better than the last 2 years of borderline nonsense—there's a fine line between simple great and simpleminded bad. I won't go back down memory or critical lane any further.
One last note—BRING BACK THE HORSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tomorrow isn't soon enough. XO.
Me think the new songs are simply good, but I agree with that hell of thing : BRING BACK THE HORSE, Neil. The Horse is not rusted.
Attended the Oakdale show last night, was my first Neil Young show. Was dissapointed to say the least. First half hour was awesome and the show went downhill from there. Not sure what the problem was, Neil seemed to be in a good mood and was playing like the master he is. Could have done without the new material, songs were too long, too distorted. With the price of seats these days it's rare to get even close to your moneys worth. He should have played more of his classic songs instead of the new songs that at times made no sence at all. Cin girl, ATGR and Gortez (best song of the night) were as aspected great. Don't know why he only played 1 encore song, something pissed him off, which isn't hard to do wth Neil. Should never end a concert with a song that nobody knows or even cares about. But to walk off abruptly like he did to me showed Neil has not changed over the years. Yes the crowd was at times a bit rude, but when you pay big money to see a performance from a legend like Neil you expect the Legend to come through for his devoted fans. All in all I left the show a bit confused and on a bad vibe, really not alot to talk about, was greatly dissapointed. Next tour he should reunite with Crazy Horse and do a classic tour. Orry folks but I felt like I got ripped off on this one.
NY has always cranked out a lot of material, much of which gets tested and then either gets left behind or not. Not a hard rule, but bis weakest work is when he is the most literal, obvious, linear and didactic. The best is when he is allusive, cryptic, ellusive and non linear. (because "Greendale" is a whole narrative, it stands on its own as combining all the strengths and weaknesses).
Worcester was wonderful, for all the reasons described. Maybe it was just the Friday night vibe- there were a lot of events going on in town, the weather was fine, everyone was in a good mood (even the cops at the crosswalks). That Wallingford may have been less shows how performing is a lot like sex. The mood of both parties affects the experience.
Time is finite, though, so he will not have the time to burnish the newer material and see what lasts as he has been able to do for the last 40 years. If he had a band he would have done the same number of songs, except with two 20 minute solos thrown in, which would made it a nearly 2.5 hour show. He would have been exhausted, so would the audience, but really, would it have been that much better? I'm glad he's pacing himself.
One encore of a new song is bullshit. Lets not keep reality inthe shade just because this is a Neil Young fan site.
What it is is bullshit rock star ego.Neil was pissed at something, whatever, so like a spoiled kid he says "fuck everyone, I dont give a shit, I'm not playing another song". When he's already playing a super short show, is this nice to his fans ? Decent ? Ethical ? I hope some people will finaly see who Neil realy is, besides being a great songwrites and musician.Fans are paying alot of $ and they get this attitude in return ?!!! How many of us get pissed off or annoyed at something at work, but in our hearts we know we still have to treat our co-workers, customers, clients or whatever , with respect and decency.But if you're Neil Young you can just say Fuck Everybody and refuse to even play another encore song that everyone expects.
Sorry Neil, wrong way to go.If not for your hard core fans, you wouldnt be living your life of luxury and you wouldnt have that beautiful ranch in Cali and house in Hawaii.You need to treat your fans better.
Well, it was certainly an interesting night. I had seats wayyy up in the nosebleeds. The guys in the row behind me were super drunk and loud and annoying, singing and whistling along to the first few songs. By Helpless, all was quiet. However, a few minutes into the "Love and War", the guy behind me threw up all over my back. A fight then broke out with him and another guy who's wife was also vomited on. I missed most of Down by the River and Hitchhiker (dammit!) as I had to clean up my jacket and I went to security as my seat was covered in vomit and I was hoping that maybe I could get moved if there were any open seats. Thankfully, the venue was very accomodating and my smile grew larger the further down the usher brought my friend and I. We ended up seeing the rest of the show from about the 6th row on the left side. Unbelievable seats. So for that I was thankful. I really enjoyed the new songs, thought the electric stuff sounded incredible. There was some sort of cool effect I noticed on Neil's voice during the beautiful "I Believe In You". Was disappointed by the 1 encore. Seriously bummed to have missed most of Hitchhiker and to have been thrown up on, but the upgrade to our seats from the third to last row of the balcony to 6th row, unbelievable.
I am a long time NY fan and also had mixed feelings about the show. Although it was awesome to see him in a small venue there were many cons. The ending left folks wanting more, and the electric guitars were too loud and often distorted. I would have preferred more of his classics and a bit more acoustic guitar.
Have you ever lost a dear friend and loved one? One who you bounce off of and most importantly, trust?
I've lost people like that in my life and you never know when a day is going to leave you overwhelmed with the loss.
Seeing as Neil is doing this tour about as solo as he can get with no Larry around, it makes me wonder about how alone he feels right now inside.
"The heart is a lonely hunter" comes to mind.
Is this tour a way of shaking off and starting over? Probably not. But when you think of an artist who obviously works "in the now"....it just makes me ponder what's happening deep inside of the soul. Because,as a fan, I can relate to that.
Well said anonymous @ 12:14pm. Has anyone considered the crazy notion that Larry Cragg has a life and perhaps could not go out on this short tour? Or whatever else may have come up in either his or Neil's life? Please people.
As for anonymous at 11:41...ummm...perhaps consider learning some basic grammar first and then branch out to Neil after you've mastered the English language on a conversational level. It's 'Cortez' genius NOT 'Gortez'
I hope you're not going to the DC show tonight to hear 'Gortez the Miller'...
Could be that the Sharks lost to the Blackhawks?
"I Believe in You" and "Tell Me Why" were delicious, and all the new material was sharp. Loved the solo electric...the man still plays surprising, dingy licks that make me laugh out loud and hoot with perverted delight.
The crowd did not behave badly. No no. The crowd was weak. Gaggle of wishy-washy schmucks with no appreciation for what they were witnessing. I sometimes find myself embarrassed to be among such impotence.
Ninety minutes was not long enough. Period. But I believe any Neil freak would agree. Could you imagine coming to a point where you'd start yawning in boredom, hoping the show would end?
Exactly.
Would have liked a repeat of "Mellow My Mind" from the last acoustic/Horse jaunt. But again...what Neil freak wouldn't.
Come back to CT this weekend, Neil. You can play all night in my backyard. Free food.
Some honest comments here. Thanks for that. I got to agree that the new stuff is so-so. But Neil is stuck in this firstthoughtbestthought mode about his lyrics and seems to refuse to craft them these days. Also not fond of You Never Call or Leia. Peaceful Valley is good until the switch to present day nation/creation stuff. After the subsubpar Fork in the Road I was hoping he'd take some time and do some crafting. I think he's got too many side projects and distractions going on (Lincvolt, all his websites, Pegi's attempt at a career, NYA and on and on) and just refuses to give the songwriting the time and singular attention it demands. Maybe this is what writing has come to in the distracted digital age. I don't think his chaos is good theory is working for him these days. He is just too scattered as the new songs show. And I don't see that changing.
Wait wait...did someone just write "the electric guitars were too loud" ???
No further evidence re: the crowd is necessary.
I can't wait for Gortex the Miller and After the Cold Cash... (Just going along with Jonathan's joke). Hey, I'll be seeing Neil tonight and if after the fact I walk away feeling like I had just watched him tune his guitars for 98 minutes (or 92 if he only does 17 songs), then, it would be worth every kopek... After all, "it's all one tune-up!"
-Jim
Yes MDB...overly loud and distorted go hand in hand. Have you ever turned up a music system louder than it was built to go? You get distortion. The shortcomings of the concert had nothing to do with the crowd.
Face it, everyone (and really hate to say it) the Horse has been put out to pasture - and for Neil it's almost time for the glue factory... Neil has had it with their out of tune, off rhythm stuff (listen to Goin' Home on AYP a few times)... they were GREAT in their moment (many moments - Ragged Glory is a Crazy Horse album, with Neil as lead), but they just lost a step or two after that and Neil has decided to saddle up the Palomino elsewhere. I really don't see him going back....
Wow - the ignorance is striking here. I'm done reading others' opinions for now - going to go upstairs, take a shower and then truly get in the "mood" for tonight's show in DC.
Thank you Neil for the chance to see you once again at a truly great venue. I'm with Jim - he cab play anything at all and it will be a pleasure because it's Neil.
'can' not 'cab' - whatever - I can be a hypocrite about grammar
'can' not 'cab' - whatever - I can be a hypocrite about grammar
Crazy Horse may well not be back, but I think his Electric Band could stand some lengthy pasture time as well. I'm sure hoping it's a new band for the new record.
I really don't see him going back w the Horse too, but I hope we re wrong dude. The Horse is the ultimate Percival band, these guys are the men. And it could have been great with these new songs. I love the new songs.
Hey Jonathan, don't let the door hit you on the way out. How old are you, 12? The fans that have been with Neil for several decades are big enough to allow a full and frank discussion. Come back when you grow up enough to accept diverse opinions
So many mixed reviews which is cool. That's why these discussion groups exist. I'm going to Louisville, solo, driving 10 hours roundtrip. Life, money, responsibilities have conspired to making this just my 4th show since I became a devoted fan in '77. So I will be more than grateful for the opportunity and whatever Neil has to offer is gonna be great. Seen the set list, heard most of it on rust radio and think this tour is a gift to his hardcore fans. Its Neil's trip. Its always has been his trip so its a little crazy that so many visitors to this site are trashing the shows. I must admit surprise at him leaving off the last encore last night but obviously there was something behind it. I also can't believe the bitching about the ticket prices like this is some type of money grab. Once everyone gets their cut (venue, management promoter, on and on) transportation gets paid for, how much do you think Neil gets? If it was about money he'd play in less intimate surroundings. And somehow he's churning out less than worthy material or as one person posted is "mailing it in"? All very cynical if you ask me. A couple of the songs I heard, Love and War especially, stack up there with anything he's done. I had never even heard "Hitchhiker" I'm embarrassed to say before hearing it on RR so can't wait to hear it live. Just the fact he chose to include such an obscure song is a testimony to his devotion to his most ardent fans. See ya in KY.
Did he really skip the verse about Ben in "You Never Call"? Would've been a major disappointment - that's the most poignant part of the song, to me.
The show at Oakdale was spectacular, but the idiot quotient was way up there. Unfortunately, the loudest, rudest guys sat DIRECTLY BEHIND us. Fortunately, the upper sections weren't full, so we were able to move. How anyone can think that sort of behavior is acceptable is beyond me. Security should have tossed them during Bert Janch's set. Read the posts about the respectful audience in Worcester with pangs of envy!
Anon. 2:58, The new songs are very strong. Best material in a few years IMO. The general consesus here is he had a bad show last night. I'm sure it will be followed by some great shows, especially with the short tour length. Hitchhiker is great live. The new stuff is great live. Enjoy the show!
Nice that you're out there hiding behind anonymous there anonymous.
Sounds like someone's a bit uncomfortable with my view, while at the same time spouting off about "diverse opinions".
Typical hypocrisy - are you a Democrat?
God bless the ignorant - including me.
Did he really skip the verse about Ben in "You Never Call"? Would've been a big disappointment - that's the most poignant part of the song, to me.
I'm fine with your comments Jonathan until you start calling the ones you don't agree with ignorant. If allowing diverse opinions is democratic, then ,hell yes I am a democrat. You defined yourself on that one, buddy. The majority of posters are anonymous, which does not equate with hiding. I'm fine with that too.
Let's not get too hang up about the grammar..
we're all fightin' with the same "weapons" here...Keyboards at twenty paces!...and I for one don't see the keys at 2 in the morning too well anymore ( something about keeping the light off, not to get anyone's attention or possibly wake the family)
although my "one finger", heavy ponding sure does make a racket!! lol
Doesn't help, when one of my 'smart arse' kids had decided to move the "qwerty keys" around in a different order...it read like one of my hand written prescriptions!! lol
Well, I suppose as an observer of the comments laid down from all concerts so far and being a passionate fan of Neil's....I'm rather confused.
It should be renamed Neil's "mood" tour by all accounts.... if ya read the diverse comments and reviews from all the gigs
No wonder he called it the "Twisted Road Tour"
Who wants straight and narrow anyways with Neil.."a wheel in the ditch, and a wheel on the track"I say! lol
As I have commented before,fan's perceptions and expectations are as varied as the personalities that come to the wheat...
If Neil really does personally read this blog site as some sort of reaction or feedback to his concerts.... he'd be as confused as I am !!
doc "from the bleechers"( yeh, I know..spelling!)
Jonathon..please please don't go there politically..
Especially in the good ol' US of A ! lol
doc "the peace maker"
...and ya wonder why I sometimes write some light hearted shit Thrash!
DEAR NEIL
PLAY GOOD TONIGHT OR ELSE. AND ONLY THE SONGS I LIKE!
- (Not) Rotten Johnny
My wife and I saw NY at Oakdale Theater last night we thought it was great! We were a little bummed out about the one song encore, but who knows maybe it was something as simple as Neil had to go the bathroom!
We came from Long Island and thought it was well worth the ticket price,travel expense and hotel room.
We both took Monday off and now we are sitting on our deck with a six pack and a pizza with sausage,peppers and onions listening to Live at Massey Hall!
Life is GOOD!
There's nothing I've read about Oakdale that isn't more or less true, for good and for ill. It was magic in the air at times, & like the last time he played the Oakdale - some bullshit but I'll never forget either show . . . ('07 was my first Neil show)
. . . the Old Sound Man was totally, completely taken in by the intimacy of the opening three songs, especially Helpless - I've never heard that song so well presented. My daughter emailed me early this morning saying she and my son-in-law were both thinking about that performance when they awoke.
This part was absolute magic.
Last Oakdale show he played Ambulance "sideways" as he called it, is any show ever perfect?
The new songs are alright and I'm looking forward to the album more than ever, even Leia. He was having some issues and mentioned that one trouble with new songs is the way they come and go, it was a good line and covered whatever he struggled with well enough.
I enjoyed the dynamics in DBTR, volume and tone both opening up in the chorus and what a great way to lead into Hitchhiker.
I hadn't previously had the pleasure, (only my 3rd show) but to me that was where the Oakdale show peaked. Good Stuff.
Felt bad for the guy who turned off the amps last night and mixed up the cords - good line about colour coding but shitake happens eh?
too bad about the 2nd encore but when he finished Walk With Me, it seemed like that was all she wrote for the night . . . can't wait for the next tour whereever this twisted road ends, another's bound to appear . . .
peace,
Old Sound Man
I was at last night's show and must have been fortunate to be away from what folks said they experienced in other parts of the theater. I was around 15th row down front and really thought it was a great show. I've seen Neil a lot, never quite like this. I won't get into an extended review except to say that what you get out of any experience has a lot to do with what you bring to it yourself. The only thing lacking for me was the single encore of a new song, which ended a great show on a less than great note. And I do miss the jam in "Down By the River." Otherwise I wanted for nothing and thought, in particular, "I Believe in You" and "Cortez the Killer" were among the best and most stunning versions I've ever heard of those songs. I should also note that I've never been a huge fan of "Ohio," but the way it was performed last night made me hear it and focus on it in a way I never had before, and I was moved.
Bottom line: If you are a Neil fanatic, this show is for you. Raw, intimate and rugged. And perfectly imperfect, just like Neil.
Mike said it best.... & the anonomous that said "lets not keep reality in the shade". Neil needs to "treat his fans better". Ain't it the truth. The only people who seem to think it was great are the people who have only seen Neil 3-4 times tops. The awe factor overrides reality. Long time fans, who have seen him steady, I'm sure realize that his attitude needs to change, along with his ticket prices; especially if he wants to continue to play these self-centered games. We deserve better than that. Sorry Neil. Have to tell it like it is. You're starting to ruin a good thing. Your'e building a wall between you & your fans. Very sad. You need to start thinking about US, and stop focusing on the minority of a-holes in the crowd. You're punishing the good fans. Walking off like you did in Wallingford without at least another song was outright wrong. You are God-like, but remember, you are NOT GOD! I expect to sit and enjoy a great full-length show with my date, AND A BEER, especially after paying the hefty ticket price. Think about US for a change! I love Neil, but I am VERY disappointed. I agree, that hooking up with Crazy Horse is probably the best move that might make us all happy again, and help us to forget your current nonsense.
Anonymous @ 6:46, I've seen Neil a lot more than 3-4 times and have been a fan for some 30 years, and I thought last night's show was great, so there goes your theory.
I'm a huge Van and Dylan fan too. Both also moody bastards like Neil. Newsflash: They're artists.
For someone not to appreciate the artistry and genius on display in last night's show says more about them than about Neil imo. Unless, of course, someone vomited on your back too, in which case your disappointment might be understandable. But even that guy left happy.
Neil doesn't owe us anything. I thank him for all the enjoyment he has brought to my life.
I'm hoping to read about a great show in D.C. This page has probably run it's course.
one in eleven thousand
Rock n' Roll will never Die! At least not while Neil Young is still around! Last Night's show at the Oakdale proved one thing to me, above all else; Neil is alive and kickin! Show #16 for me was among the best. After I let it reverberate within me for a day I realize that these shows are truly brilliant, moody, moving. Neil's new songs are his best in years in every way. I have a hard time understanding how people can get so worked up talking about what Neil does! Christ, are you a fan of his? Have you been paying attention, at any point, the last 40 years at all? Neil does what he wants! Whats good for him. Its like a teacher and his students....the teacher knows best and the kids don't know whats good for um. Judging by all the brainless....lack of thought, comments on this show, I take it that Neil picked up the vibe that many people didn't really know why they were there nor appreciated or understood what they were seeing. Maybe that's why he didn't close with a number you all knew...not that it matters. I find these bitchy comments sad because it truly was remarkable last night. This was the most moving Neil show...it was him doing what he wanted, something different and that's Neil at his best....look at the history books! This tour will go down as the closest thing to the Tonight's the Night tour. Moody tunes, stirring, spooky vibe, passion-first playing, very misunderstood and just oozing feeling everywhere. I thought about last night a lot, felt inspired from it. That to me is the sign of a great show.
The Hitchhiker is a great song- I never understood why it stayed shelved. Its up there with Don't Be Denied in my book....it's that good. I'm glad Neil took it down, blew the dust off it and blasted it out there for us. I could tell he was getting off on his guitar. I 'believe in you' was really moving, a great sound...loved all the delay. Love and War is simply great writing... the best in a while.
I think the point many are missing is that Neil wanted to work out these new songs in front of an audience, not in a room somewhere. I think he strongly believes in these songs, as he should. Neil is an artist...first and foremost, not a greatest hits jukebox rocker.
It was a privilege to see this show last night...yes it was short and yes he only played one encore but I believe it was a better show than the Chrome Dreams Tour in pure emotion and believing in himself. This was typical Neil Young- as he's never been seen before.
I had a great time...it was one for the books and an Honor to see it.
Rock on Neil!
PS I bought the Hitchhiker t-shirt, with the skull....so weird...it's made to fall apart. The material is super thin, the ends of the sleeves, neck and waist are slightly frayed, also strange stitching. This was all intentional and you can tell thought went into it. Not that Neil designed the shirts, but its typical Shakey.
After seeing Neil 30 plus times since 1976 I value mostly how each show strives to be different than the last - and last night certainly lived up to that for me. I agree his new material was mixed - as it usually is (as I remember two 'new' songs one time where "My, My Hey Hey and 'Welfare Mothers', loved one, hated the other - and still do.). For some of you fans with short memories, Crazy Horse got into a few ruts themselves (but then sounded like great again on the Greendale tour). And as far as the Greatest Hits go, I stopped seeing CSN twenty years ago, when they started looking as bored as I was hearing all the same songs over and over again. As far as the $$ go, I paid $60 to see Neil in a 5,000 seat theatre. That's about what it costs to see a Yankee game sitting out by the flagpole...I was OK with it. You shouldn't expect the show to change just because your willing to shell out hundreds of dollars to sit close any more than you should expect the Yanks to win because you paid $1250 to sit behind the dugout.
I am really, really upset over the behavior of some of the audience members during the Oakdale show. The show started out fantastic--Neil sounded totally into it. But as time went on and people kept yelling when he was singing, talking etc., he seemed to be getting pissed off.
A few people have said there was a weird vibe and they were right. A lot of the people there didn't even seem like real fans. I mean, I've gone to plenty of shows and I know people get out of hand, but I didn't expect this at a Neil show. And the few people I spoke w/before the show weren't very friendly like people at a Neil show usually are.
I paid a lot of money for tickets for my boyfriend and I and we drove two hours from Manhattan to go. We were really, really looking forward to this for weeks. When I go see Neil, it's kind of like a spiritual experience of sorts. But having some drunken idiot in the balcony bellowing stupid things every 10 minutes really spoiled this for me and I don't have the intense feelings that I usually walk away w/after a Neil show.
I loved his opening songs, I loved that he did "Hitchhiker," which you don't hear much, and some of the new stuff was neat. But I really felt like these rude people took away something that was important to me.
Neil didn't seem happy w/them and I can see why he only did one encore. If people were ever this rude at a show in New York City, nobody would have put up with it.
I've been a Neil fan for forty plus years, have seen him more than a dozen times and this show was just a dog. The sound was bad...too much feedback on the amps, and just too loud. The early acoustic numbers were good, but it just went downhill from there. It was my wifes first Neil show and she wondered why I would spend almost three hundred and fifty bucks for this. Me too. I was glad it was over so soon.
Neil was AWESOME LAST NIGHT. Those of you bitching just don't know anything about the man...plain and simple. Your Saturday night fans who have probably never even heard "On The Beach" or "Tonight's the Night" or "Trans" in their entirety. You most likely never even heard of "Time Fades Away" yet you're going to a Neil show for a good time... to drink beers and get rowdy and yell "NEIL" at the top of your tar-ridden lungs and bump and grind to Cinnamon Girl with your smokey voiced-pruney from too much tanning-Virgina slim smoking, white Zinfandel from a box drinking woman. But that's not what its about and you people are gross. Stay HOME NEIL HATES YOU!
Most people in the audience do not deserve to be there. Its SAD. You people ruin a good thing. Stay home an listen to rockin' in the free world on your Ipod. Do Neil and the rest of us a favor. No wonder Neil HATES his audience! I don't blame him....I hate you too. LOL
If anyone could point me in the direction of a copy of the Oakdale show, I will promise to say very nice things about you. Just an fyi..where I sat, 10th row, sec 101, I did'nt hear much bad behavior at all. In fact there were times you could hear a pin drop. In a theater with a few thousand people in it, that aint easy to do. I wouldnt hessitate to do it all again.
"The question"
Pardon the intrusion
but there's much confusion
Or is it just an illusion?
was there no fusion?
with the songs he was usin?
didya think he was cruisin?
or was this an allusion?
with the hits he was choosin?
and the muse, he was abusin?
and the vibe, he was losin
With no "disrespect"
Did he lose the effect?
by the songs one's select
that the crowd did reject
in their minds to eject
which ones to elect?
Can they be a hit?
Or were they just shit
did they seem they would fit
in a room not well lit?
Will they be only played live
so we can all go and jive
will they get the high five?
Or won't they survive1
only time's gunna tell
if they're "heaven' or "Hell"
but I think knowin' Neil
we'll all get the feel
as they go round the wheel
An approval to seal!
stick by your muse!
Neil, there's nothin to lose!!!
As for the crowd
they can all whinge out loud
if they are a true fan
You'll still be the man!!
there's a 'twist in the road'
with these new songs that you've sowed
but here at the wheat
we think there all neat!
I am as big of a neil young fan as you will find. This was my third show i attended. I travelled 9 hours last minute to see this show. It was one of the most dissapointing experiences of my life, and it kills me to say that.
Neil was drunk. He forgot the words to several songs, new and old, struggled with easy chord changes on songs like helpless.
The audience was completely obnoxious and disrespectful. Yelling out during the middle of songs, doing cat calls, a girl dancing at the front of the stage. I was in disbelief. I almost broke down in tears because I couldn't believe what was happening.
I know this is rock and roll. I know every show can't be the best. This show, was simply too much. Depressing. Neil, I couldn't have been more let down, and it kills me to say it.
Tyler McManus
DOC -nice work.
-SONY
Having seen the first 4 shows of this tour im pretty well placed to comment re Wallingford with regard to the performance
For sure the crowd was a little busier but by not enduring some of the scenes described i guess im lucky. i still bear the scars of the insane rednecks from Beacon92
If people enjoyed wallingford then thats great....sadly they would have enjoyed the other shows even more as the list of errors from Neil on sunday is long
You never call ....fluffed the words and tried to recover in vain. Probably a damn painful song to error. The hand wave at end was his acknowledgement he scuffed it…I thought he’d do it again , but no
Peaceful Valley…reeling from above error he couldnt find the groove…took a bit to get going then went round in circles for 2 minutes minimum on the guitar and then stopped it…he’d lost the groove and said along the lines of “you know what its like with new songs….they come and they go”…then a did a poor version of the song
Love and war…realising how lost he was , words were hurriedly pulled out and placed at his feet as a comfort blanket. I felt sorry for Neil, three very very good new songs that he had perfected by the show before, were now hashed ,and given the sentiment of them, this must have hurt Neil deeply
HitchHiker…words fluffed here too
Ohio…amps not on and cable confusion with Neil retorting about colo(u)r coded cables in the future…..umm – not ideal….here’s hoping he didn’t here the jester who said loudly “Where’s Larry?”
ATGR – walk to pump and forgot to get harmonica…after the songs he drops it with disdain by the Grand
2 songs on asks “where’s my program notes?”
Then asks akin to previous quips about “the seagulls and the sound they make when you are walking the beach”…he’s miffed with himself as well as the meat heads calling out like an elephant giving birth, during Leia or the dullard singing Powderfinger (very original - doh…go home and play the Greatest Hits album and remember the first time you heard that live - I guess you booed it then….muppets !!!)
Noting went right…even the White Falcon semi fell over at the end
It was an error strewn show – FACT - as shown above,
It was enjoyable for the human approach and as mentioned above I felt sorry in a sympathetic way as songs as emotive and great as the first three newies deserved better and Neil knew it and it must have choked him
Thrasher – good to meet you in Wooooster and thank you for your grand work
LAF
Oh all these armchair psychiatrists are precious. Sugars Chauffeur, did you get paid for that analysis? Did Neil tell you what was going on in his head? Gimme a break. I guess if I paid well over $500 for tickets and who knows how much for travel costs to see the same set list four shows in a row I'd start deconstructing too. "Noting [sic] went right...an error strewn show..." Those aren't facts; they are your own personal observations, biased by the FACT that you have seen the same exact set list performed in four consecutive shows. That FACT has much more to do with what you took away from the show than anything, and imo it makes you less well placed to comment on Wallingford, not more. Put another way, if Wallingford was the first show you saw on this tour you'd feel a whole lot different.
Let me guess, Neil was still so pissed at the Wallignford crowd that he punished last night's audience in D.C. for it too. That MUST be the reason he only played one encore for them, right? Ohh, the humanity...
Kevin - lighten up, man! Sugars gave a decent account of what happened on Sunday night - that's all.
I did notice last night in DC that the White Falcon did have a neon green tag attached to its cord...for what it's worth
Watching for and noting every little ding, mistake, wrong note and syllable is not what enjoying a Neil show is about, nor is it or ever been what Neil is about. It’s about his passion, his colossal SOUL and ragged emotion. It’s about the music, the song ….THE MOMENT….since when was Neil a perfectionist? I feel bad for folks who can’t wait to come on here a write about every flaw. Get a clue! The music was great, tremendous! Beyond reproach!
i would never call neil a perfectionist....i know the train can roll off the tracks, but if you weren't there on sunday night, you just dont know. It was sad. He wasn't feeling it at all, neither was the obnoxious crowd. It was a sobering moment for the neil young fan in me. He is still my favourite artist of all time, nothing changes there, I just never thought i would see him put on that kind of a show...
I was there man and I still say your nuts. Your reading into it far too much. It was a great show. Very creative and edgy....classic Neil Young!
Ive seen him play in Germany at the ICC and Sheas in Buffalo, two very different crowd experiences. Amazed at both. Feel a little left out because im a woman in my 20s.
@ Jonathan, I'm not the one who needs to lighten up; but I understand that my comments may have come off harsh. I simply didn't think Sugars gave a decent account of what happened Sunday night. If he (and others) are going to crawl inside Neil's head, I'll feel free to crawl inside theirs. And as for Sugars, I think he simply saw the same exact set list four shows in a row and the bloom was off the rose, so he started looking for things to criticize to justify his inevitable disappointment. If he had seen the Wallingford show first and any of the others fourth, he would held the Wallingford show on a pedestal and have been armed with a similar laundry list of "errors" about any of them.
I was 15th row. I have seen Neil a lot. It was a tremendous show. Anyone who thinks differently was either distracted (which I understand apparently happened in other parts of the theater), or their own expectations were off for whatever reason (seen it already; expecting show of popular hits; etc.). It was raw, it was intimate, it was intense, it was perfectly imperfect, and it was beautiful. In other words, it was Neil.
Rochester, no need to feel left out...join in! Neil has plenty of young fans not just people his age...I'm 30 years old and seen the man many times. Neil's music is timeless and ageless....lets not forget friggin' awesome. Every perspective is valuable no matter if you've seen him 35 times, one time, or only listen to bootlegs. Despite all the bitching and arguing, if everyone on here only kissed Neil's ass there'd be no discussion and this site wouldnt be as awesome as it is.
I'm with you Kevin, people that are looking for fault will find it, people that are looking for brilliance will see (and hear) it....Much better experience when your glass is half full. Really loved the show (did wish for 1 more encore but hey, thats the way it goes). I did find a copy and caan't wait to relive it all over again!
@ TomCrac, I too was expecting and hoping for one more encore, and I was slightly disappointed by that. And as I've said above, I also missed the jam in "Down By the River," but apparently he's omitting that from the version he's playing on this tour. Otherwise, no complaints from me; I saw plenty of brilliance and am very happy I did.
So...can you give any clues where one might find a copy of the show? Would love to hear it again. I've got a thing for error-strewn shows where nothing goes right...
Yes...where can I find this show????? Would really appreciate it!
Welp...Kevin and Shitty...I done found me a copy of the Oakdale show...It's over on "dimeadozen" (eztorrent) bit torrent site...its in the .flac format. If it gives you any trouble, give me a shout (tomcrac at aol dot com)...Think I'll give it another listen tonight, charge myself $11 bucks a beer...just to get the full experience :)
Hey, Rochester!
How ya doin? I just wanted to say hi. I thought I was the only woman out there who was fanatical about Neil--I'm 46 and have liked him since I was 15. I always get the feeling that most of these blogs on Thrashers' and everything are from guys.
But I'm with you. He's really timeless and deep, touches your soul. I followed part of the European Tour last summer, drove across Spain, hooked up w/some European fans, only spoke Spanish for 10 days. The vibe was amazing.
I'd love to see more of this tour, but I have too much work to do--I'm self-employed as a geeky researcher.
So, yeah, the obnoxious people in Wallington were really a let down. Most Neil shows are are much cooler than that when it comes to people. Maybe they have nothing else to do on Sun. night in dumb CT towns.
Keep coming--you'll see better shows!
Oh, Geez, the $11 beers....it wouldn't have been so bad if you could bring them into the theatre. I stayed sober since I didn't want to miss Neil or wase/ chug a costly brew.
Oh yeah, I meant to comment on the Oakdale opening act. The guy could play guitar, but I couldn't understand a word he sang. Was he a drunken Irish sot or what?
I thought he was funny, anyway. My boyfriend and I made up words that we THINK he said. The Boyfriend's best one was, "There is a comb in the hair above my penis." The guy also sang a line that sounded like it was something about nerf balls.
Where did Neil find this guy? Some hole in the wall Irish bar? It was amusing anyway.
wow how do you say that about a legend like bert jansch...shows the kinds of fan of music you are.
to be completely honest i enjoyed bert more than i did neil, although neil was incredibly dissapointing to say the least.
please neil, next time i see you live...dont be drunk, dont forget how to play/sing your songs
Oakdale concert was not his best. I agree with most of you. How can you play one encore. We all payed alot of cash to see him and to do that sucked. I am a huge fan but I left angry
yup - Everything said about Sundays show is true - good bad and ugly - well, I can't verify if N was toasted or not, but . . . there were still moments \
and I'm still holding Helpless (yes, the crowd hushed itself) in a freeze frame forever in my memory
old sound man
okay, so I waited a couple of months to post a review mainly because I didn't (and don't) want to flame neil. 30 some odd shows in some 30 very odd years I've come away with 2 distinctly random thoughts.....
One, I will never again drive 3hrs. from the Isle of Long to wallingford, CT. to see anyone. I've never seen or heard from as many preppy, obnoxious, drunken A-holes anywhere. ever. Two, if it ain't a crazy horse show count me out. neil did some very interesting takes on old classics,and I enjoyed most of his new stuff but a show short of 90 minutes is an insult to everyone who paid $120 and up. money-grab does not even describe how jilted I feel. I also felt that same "ripped-off" feeling buying the archive releases, twice. Neil being Neil is a shop-worn, trite excuse.
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