Concert Review of the Moment: Neil Young in Atlanta, GA - May 29, 2010

Neil Young in Worcester, MA, on 5/21/10
Photo gallery by Tim Bugbee/Prefix Mag

The Neil Young Concert Review of the Moment is from Fox Theatre Atlanta, GA - May 29, 2010.

From Crib Notes » Atlanta Music Blog by Spencer Sloan:

It felt a little like being pushed in the chest by an invisible hand and having to catch your breath. Whatever it was, when Neil began singing ”Hey, Hey, My, My,” it was all I could do keep the wiper fluid in. His voice was so unbelievably strong, clear and confident. It was shocking. This was far and away one of the greatest live music experiences I have witnessed in years. And the songs he chose, at least the ones I knew, were transcendent. The lyrics, however routed in vague, 60’s, hippie daydreams and era-specific politics, still seemed to resonant so well, line after line.

Dubbed “The Twisted Road,” this tour was to be a departure from previous outings in that Neil would play both acoustic and electric guitar, piano and pump organ, by himself. The stage was outfitted to resemble the now somewhat familiar warm, worn-in, “unplugged” living room. When Neil ambled out in his now-familiar fatigue jacket, loose jeans, and straw hat, he would conduct himself onstage much the same way he has his entire life.

Throughout the set he moved from one instrument, and sound, to the next, ever restless, never sitting still. A couple acoustic numbers, then an electric, then a turn at the piano and then back to acoustic, again. I don’t remember him saying much from the whole night except his standard, self-deprecating, “By now you know all my songs sound the same.” The most interesting part of the night was the way in which he presented normally jam-heavy, longer numbers such as “Down By The River” and “Cortez The Killer,” solo, but still electric.

You’ve heard these songs so many times, that you fill in the other parts, it’s all fleshed out in your head, but even without the crazy horse behind him he was able to command the songs, and make them feel whole. On “Cortez,” a clear highlight, he brushed the strings lightly and toyed with the ensuing reverb like he was playing a theremin. He substituted solos with sustained notes and feedback. It wasn’t so much that he was re-interpreting the songs as he was taking complete and sole ownership of them.

I can’t stress enough Neil Young’s absolute flawless control and mastery of the instruments he played.

More reviews of Neil Young at Fox Theatre Atlanta, GA on May 29, 2010.

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