Buffalo Springfield: "Bluebird" @ Fox Theater - Oakland, CA - 6/2/11
Buffalo Springfield's "Bluebird" at Fox Theater, Oakland, CA on 6/2/11 on YouTube.
From Comment of the Moment: "Neil Young is like a lighthouse beam" by Zot:
Regarding the Buffalo Springfield 2011 tour, I concur [that the three members are showing great respect for the Music and each other].
It's Neil's people that are running the tour and it's Neil who is running the show onstage, but it's Richie who's holding it all together.
People have said that they have never seen Neil so happy to be onstage, and just enjoying the heck out of the whole show. I know that they are all thinking "why didn't we do this before? Oh well, better late than never!"
I've read on all of the blogs about what a "bucket list" item this has been, and I am one of them. When I attended the 1st Oakland show, I joked about "who are all of these old people?" On the other hand, I've also read that due to some health issues, some of us may not be around in a couple of years or so, but that they were glad to have seen these guys perform again. I could just as easily be in that category too.
My own perspective is that I was one of many, many people who were very upset when the Buffalo Springfield first broke up. I did follow Neil's career, and I was a fan of Poco, but CSN, not so much. To have Neil having to go through a "job interview" with Graham Nash is insulting to me. I never did care for him.
At the same time, I was never one of Neils' dedicated fans who hung on his every word, note, nuance, nor did I attempt to dissect, analyze, and try to get into the deep, deep pysche of Neil. I was just a music fan and thought of Neil as a member of one of my favorite bands.
As many of those who have reviewed the Buffalo's shows are for the most part younger fans of Neil's, (like Michael Golden) I am sensing that they really didn't get at first the affinity and reverence that Neil (and Stephen and Richie) has for the band. Big Chief says that Neil never referes to past records for insight and direction, and yet, here he is at the beginning. Neil understands that while he may be in 'charge', this band is greater than the sum of it's parts. It is a band in a true sense that the lawyers never were. (CSN&Y)
I have seen some of Neil's solo shows too over the years, and his demeanor many times was one of dark, brooding, intense, introspective, and focused. (that Lighthouse Beam) With the Buffalo, people have commented that they have never seen him so relaxed, joking and laughing, and enjoying the moment. Neil is basking in the glow of the Buffalo. Also, saying things like he did at Santa Barbara. "Richie's OUR lead singer. Now, we all sing lead, but Richie's the lead singer of 'this' band."
See them while you can, because the Buffalo won't be running forever(except in our hearts).
More on you are like a lighthouse beam...
Also, see Buffalo Springfield Reunion Tour Reviews.
by thrasher@PermaLink: 7/05/2011 07:28:00 AM
5 comments
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5 Comments:
Don't disagree with the comments but its clear that in the current iteration of the BS Neil is the star, he's the reason this is happening, he's the relevant one ... its just stating the facts ... its Neil's graciousness and lack of ego to step back and be just "part of the band" that enables this whole fabulous experiment to exist ... when you look at it in perspective, that in the old days they tried to discourage Neil from singing his own songs because he had a unique voice, its all the more impressive that he's willing to so joyfully return to a configuration which in many ways really held him back ... true, this band was the band of their youth, they were a legendary band with immense talent and potential that was largely expressed in live shows and never properly captured in the studio, so for those who knew them then knew them, kinda seems impossible to know the original BS if you weren't there ... their implosion opened the door for Neil to become among the greatest singer songwriters / rock and rollers / musical artists of the last 50 years ... seeing it come full circle is an amazing thing and kuddos to all the band members for curtailing their egos, going out there and having a great time ... in the past years we've seen Neil bring back so much of his past from the squires, to the harvest material, now the BS, I guess for this die hard Neil fan this current iteration of the BS is another iteration of the long, always running Neil Young show ...
how kind of them to let Stills tag along.
Hey, talk about being downer, man! That comment is lowdown.
You off your prozac, Wherlaway? Steve was part of the band and he's holding up just fine the test of time. Don't begrudge a man for doing what he does best.
"Don't get too lost in all I say
Though at the time I really felt that way. But that was then and now its today. I can't get off yet and so I'm here to stay. Until someone comes along and takes my place with a different name and yes a different face."
Stephen is an integral vital part to the sound of the Buffalo as much as Neil and Richie are. There are Neil fans, Stephen fans, and Richie fans, but many of us are Buffalo Springfield fans FIRST, and the guys second.
For some reason, Stephen's songs don't quite get the fanfare that Neil's songs have gotten, but if you go back to the original records, you'll see that Stephen's contributions are quite numerous.
Beautiful Bluebird....the smile on Neil`s face at the end says it all. The three of them playing their parts in unison, and really digging it, that`s a huge part of all this. Playing for the fun they had. As well as going back and tying up loose ends and `unfinished business` of course, which must have been so important to all three for this to come to fruition.
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