Buffalo Springfield Concert Reviews: Los Angeles, June 4 & 5, 2011

Stephen Stills, Richie Furay, Neil Young
Credit: ANA P. GUTIERREZ, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

A most excellent & thorough review with a Stills emphasis from Buffalo Springfield stunningly returns to L.A. - Entertainment - The Orange County Register By BEN WENER:

"'We're from the past,' Young pointed out to sustained cheers, just after joking that 'rumors of our breakup have been greatly exaggerated.' The fleeting reality of this return, however, is not. This magical moment is already drifting back into the past; it will be something I'll treasure as the years go by and these heroes fade away.

Right now, though I can't help but wonder if this indescribable, sustaining sensation is what I would have felt if I'd seen the Beatles or the Velvets just once.

Neil Young (middle right), Richie Furay (middle left) and drummer Joe Vitale (left, background) -- sitting in for the late Dewey Martin -- perform in a reunited Buffalo Springfield. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times

From Live review: Buffalo Springfield finds that old spark at the Wiltern - latimes.com by Mikael Wood:

"I usually have something clever to say," Neil Young told the audience between songs Saturday night at the Wiltern theater. "But not tonight -- we're too close to home."

"'Rumors of our breakup have been greatly exaggerated,' Young cracked at one point, and his joke got at the appealing no-big-deal-ness of the 100-minute show.

Thankfully, though, the musicians telegraphed zero interest in the rock-canonical nonsense that weighs down so many reunion acts. Indeed, several times at the Wiltern they seemed determined to undermine their collective reputation as jingle-jangle forebears.

After Young introduced it as a song he wrote on his bathroom floor one night upon returning home from the Whisky, Buffalo Springfield gave "Mr. Soul" a stomping, fuzz-encrusted reading that was almost comical in its intensity. In its encore, the band remade "For What It's Worth" -- "Our Top 10 hit," Young sniffed -- as a low-slung swamp-soul jam with growling lead vocals from Stills.

"Nice to see you again," Young said after that number, again resisting the urge to say anything clever. Was he overpowered by the significance of the moment?

Maybe.

More likely, he was getting a job done.

From Buffalo Springfield Comes Home | WSJ.com By JIM FUSILLI:

But the presence of a bygone era was most prominent in the night's performances. One and after another, Springfield unveiled short, tight, exceedingly well-crafted songs, the kind that seem effortless but require a gift for melody, structure and communication. And though the group did little to update the arrangements, the integrity of the compositions kept them fresh. Early in the set, Mr. Furay sang the Neil Young tune 'Do I Have to Come Right Out and Say it?' It was three minutes of laid-back country-flavored pop. Later, Mr. Stills delivered his obscure 'Hot Dusty Roads,' from the first Springfield album—another compact gem. And with Mr. Stills on piano, Mr. Young gave a flawless rendition of 'Broken Arrow,' a melodramatic curiosity in its day.

All three original members were in fine voice, including Mr. Stills, who can wander from pitch. Mr. Young dug deep into the band's catalogue, offering 'Crash' as his first solo vocal, a song he may not have performed in decades. As a way of addressing a source of tension in the original Springfield—a producer insisted Mr. Furay sing Mr. Young's compositions, calling the latter's voice off-putting—the two shared the lead on several Young tunes, including 'Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing.' Mr. Furay was in terrific form, his reading of the quiet, jazzy 'Sad Memory' a high point. Another treat: the opportunity to hear Mr. Young sing harmonies, which, of course, he can't do when he's handling all the lead vocals during his solo shows.

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Tonight, the Buffalo Springfield Reunion Concert Tour will perform at the Wiltern Theater, Los Angeles. Special guest Gillian Welch will open concert.

Got a report? Drop a comment below.

Check Sugar Mountain for setlist updates and Chronological Grid, Recording Summary, Statistics and Extras.

Also, see Buffalo Springfield Reunion Concert Tour Reviews and the right, middle sidebar for continuous real time RSS feed updates.


Fans Carrying Signs That Say:
"Hooray For Our Side!!!" in anticipation of
Buffalo Springfield Reunion Tour

PLEASE NOTE: We are very interested in any photo of an actual sign at the concert that reads "Hooray For Our Side!!!"... especially if captured while "For What It's Worth" is playing and really especially if both the band and sign are in the photo.

Anyone able to obtain such a photo and/or provide a link or source we would be happy to work out some sort of arrangement. Enjoy the concerts!

Don't be denied!

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