canada.gif

gb.gif

de.gif

us.gif
Neil Young's new release ""World Record" w/ Crazy Horse is now available for pre-order. Order here
(Please shop locally & independently. But if you can't, we appreciate your supporting Thrasher's Wheat by clicking this link or YOUR COUNTRY's FLAG. Thank you!!!)
ADVERTISEMENT
<-Older Posts Blog Home Newer Posts->

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Comment of the Moment: *28* minute "No Hidden Path"

2008-london-3-6-neil-young-nhp.jpg
No Hidden Path, London - 3/9/08
Photo by Dan on Flickr


Quite a bit of reaction to the YouTube video recently posted of Neil Young blazing through a *28* minutes version of "No Hidden Path" at Rock in Rio in Madrid on the 2008 Europe tour.

The Youtube video was posted in response to all of those who are beseeching the release of Trunk Show -- still unreleased on DVD 2 years following its one week limited theatrical run.

Here's one comment that really sums up what Neil is all about and captures what many see as his core creative work aesthetic. The comment thread keys off a comment that after viewing the YouTube video, it is simply amazing that this guy was pushing 65 when recorded.
"What is the wrong side of 60?" you ask.

Sorry, it was not intended to be obscure. For many musicians, anything _over_ 60 would be the wrong side. The evidence is everywhere. Reaming off some names without too much thought: Bowie, Jagger, Townshend, Santana, McCartney, Page, Osterberg, and dare I say it (hell yes, I do), Stills, Nash and Crosby.

Less unkindly, most of these people probably still do a good concert, and I don't doubt that most of them put some fucking hard work into it. The thing is, they're not going to provide too many surprises. And that's what sets Young apart from them and so many others. He still takes big risks, and he does what he's always done as a stage musician, which is to get something different out of the song every time he plays it - as someone put it, possibly one of the musicians I just maligned above (approximate quote): "Neil doesn't play a song the same way twice. Hell, he doesn't even play it the same way once."

The performance of No Hidden Path sums that attitude up, and apart from anything, he rocks fucking hard, not just in that song, but throughout a 2 hour plus concert.

He's by no means unique in being a good, old, musician. Remember the blues guys, quite a lot of them seemed to just get _better_ as they got older. But in the rock idiom? I really can't think of anyone else of Young's age pulling off the kind of concerts that he does. The man's a phenomenon.

And, to throw in an (unrelated to your comment) aside, I refuse to complain about his ticket prices, his side projects, his cussedness, his Archive delays, and everything else that seems to piss people off. For two reasons: one, that from what I can work out, he's a flawed but extremely decent human being who managed to become hugely successful and wealthy yet avoided becoming an arseholish egotist (I am looking in particular at Mr Sumner and Mr Hewson)[ed:?]. And more importantly, because when he's gone, he's gone. There'll be no replacement, and a $200 ticket will start to look like it was a damned good deal after all.

By the way, I'm in Asia, and the last time he played Japan was 2003. I've seen him once live, and that's it. Out here, we don't get to bicker over the cost of tickets. We watch the cat on DVD, not in some nice theatre.

If you'd like to see another stunning rendition of NHP, check out the 2nd part of 10/23/07 in Boston.


3 Comments:

At 9/22/2011 05:53:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

A couple of months ago I watched this at home from a DVD. It blew me away, the performance had almost the same impact as when Neil played this at the RAI theater in Amsterdam and I was in row 9.
After watching this it should be clear to any one who has ears and a heart that here's a man who has single handedly pushed away the borders of rockmusic, crossed them and travelled into distant land. Leading us into territory unknown and unnamed.
I mean, how to describe this? Yesterday I saw Brian Wilson perform Gershwin and after a break playing two dozens of his great back catalogue. Really beautiful songs, and it struck me to notice how much influence Gershwin must have had on Brian. And of course Chuck Berry, doo-wop rythm 'n blues, the great American Songbook, folk songs like Sloop John B and Mary had a little lamb. Great, fascinating and very much enjoyable.
And here's Neil. He has this rock ' roll basement that carries his songs, but even this song alone shows that he crafts a complete unique and very personal, intimate, intense musical building on top of it. There's just one genre you can call it, it has been said before: it's Neil Young music. And that's all there is to it.
We're very lucky to live during his lifetime!

 
At 9/22/2011 08:00:00 AM, Blogger Jonathan said...

Anonymous in Asia - thanks for resonding man. I couldn't tell what you were driving at with the "wrong side of 60" phrase - now I get it & agree completely. I've said for years now that we as fans are so lucky that he's still here and he's still releasing new, excellent material and still touring. I've been blessed to see him several times in the past few years, including watching 'No Hidden Path' from the 1st row in D.C. back in 2007 - a night I will never forget - ever.

Neil's a force of nature - peace.

 
At 9/23/2011 06:44:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I confess if I'd known my comment would end up on the home page I'd have toned down the swearing. It's downright ugly.

No harm done, I hope.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home

<-Older Posts Blog Home Newer Posts->

Willie for a Nobel!
#Willie4Nobel

Willie Nelson for Nobel Peace Prize
for Farm Aid and his work on
alternative fuels, and world peace initiatives.

farm-aid-logo.gif
Farm Aid

Go Farmers Markets!


"In the >field< of opportunity
It's plowin' time again."

SUPPORTER
logo
Silverline Communications

(Home of the FarmAidians)
Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada
(519) 737-7979



This blog supports free speech!


Demand justice for Aaron:
Support "Aaron's Law" and inquiry into his prosecution

(... he didn't kill himself either...) #AaronDidntKillHimself

Induct Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame



Please Help Support Independent Media &
Non-Corporate Advertising
This Blog's For You!


The Hypocrisy of the Mainstream Media

It's Been Called The
"Missing Link" in the Ditch Trilogy

time-fades-away-banner2a

Sign the Release "Time Fades Away" Petition
Join The 10,000+ Who Have Already Signed


broken-arrow-mag-new-logo.gif

Neil Young Appreciation Society


sugar-mtn-logo.jpg
Sugar Mountain

Neil Young Setlists
rust-radio-new
Rust Radio


bumpersticker-neil-concert.jpg


i-l-ove-neil-young-sm.jpg
Bands Covering Neil Young songs


bumper-sticker-live-music-better-sm.jpg
LIVE MUSIC IS BETTER


ny-times-logo.jpg
Official Neil Young News Site

bridgeschool_logo
The Bridge School


The Bridge School Concerts
25th Anniversary Edition

**100% of Proceeds to Benefit Bridge School***

linda-eastman-neil-young-sugar-mtn-sm.jpg
The Essential Neil Young

neil-young-sleeveless.jpg
Fans Favorite Neil Albums

neil-young-heart-of-gold-film-still
Top 50 MP3
Neil Young Song Downloads


Top 10 Best Selling Neil Albums Today
amazon-neil-store.GIF
Support Thrasher's Wheat
via Purchases from:
United States - Amazon.com us.gif
Canada - Amazon.ca canada.gif
United Kingdom - Amazon.uk gb.gif
Germany - Amazon.de de.gif



Neil Young Songbook Project

In the fields of wheat

"Children of Destiny" will NOT be harvested
However, the chaff will be burned by unquenchable fire

Neil Young + Promise of the Real

Europe 2016 Tour Dates



2015 Rebel Content Tour


Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Alchemy Concert Tour Reviews

Fall 2012 N. America Tour
Spring 2013 Australia/New Zealand Tour
Summer 2013 Europe Tour

Europe Summer 2014 Concert Tour
Neil Young & Crazy Horse

Thrasher's Wheat Radio Supporters Go To Europe

jttp-film-poster-sm.jpg
Neil Young Films

musicares-neil-young-2010.jpg
2010 MusiCares Honors Neil Young

Features Elvis Costello, Crosby Stills & Nash, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban, Ben Harper, Elton John, Norah Jones, Lady Antebellum, Dave Matthews, James Taylor, Keith Urban, and others.
Proceeds from sales go to MusiCares,
which helps musicians in need of
financial and medical assistance.

live-rust-promo-poster.jpg


"There's more to the picture
Than meets the eye"

#BigShift

trans-promo



Neil Young FAQ:
Everything Left to Know About the Iconic and Mercurial Rocker
"an indispensable reference"

paul-neil-bridge2004-sat-sfc-kkomenich-sm.jpg
Paul McCartney and Neil Young

woodstock-poster.jpg


"You can make a difference
If you really a try"

lennon_peace_liberty
John Lennon and Neil Young


"hailed by fans as a wonderful read"

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young:
csny-1974-poster.jpg
The Supergroup of the 20th Century



Director Jonathan Demme's Exquisite film "Heart of Gold"

eddie & neil
Eddie Vedder and Neil Young

buffalo-springfield-poster.jpg
Revisiting The Significance of
The Buffalo Springfield


"The revolution will not be televised"
... it will be blogged, streamed,
tweeted, shared and liked
The Embarrassment of Mainstream Media

Turn Off Your TV & Have A Life


"Everything Is Bullshit" +
"Turn Off The News"
Turn Off the News (Build a Garden)


Neil Young 2016 Year in Review:
The Year of The Wheat

Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain and Neil Young

Neil Young's Feedback:
An Acquired Taste?

Young Neil: The Sugar Mountain Years
by Rustie Sharry "Keepin' Jive Alive in T.O." Wilson

"the definitive source of Neil Young's formative childhood years in Canada"

neil & joni
Joni Mitchell & Neil Young

europe 1987.jpg


dylan-young-crop
Bob and Neil

weld
So Who Really Was "The Godfather of Grunge"?


Four Dead in Ohio
kent state
So What Really Happened at Kent State?


The Four Dead in Ohio



May The FOUR Be With You #MayThe4thBeWithYou

concert-pass-europe-2003-solo.jpg


dissent is not treason
Dissent is the highest form of patriotism

Rockin' In The Free World



Sing Truth to Power!
When Neil Young Speaks Truth To Power,
The World Listens

emmylou-harris-neil-young-0305-crop
Emmylou Harris and Neil Young

wilco-062305-wide-background.jpg
Wilco and Neil Young

bluenotes-pass-young88crewlam-sm.jpg

bruce-springsteen-neil-young-bridge-oct-1986.jpg
Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young

europe87concertpass


elton-john-neil-young-crop-sm.jpg
Elton John and Neil Young

ronnie-vanzant-neil.jpg
Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young

+

The Meaning of "Sweet Home Alabama" Lyrics


Neil Young Nation -
"The definitive Neil Young fan book"

powderfinger
"Powderfinger"
What does the song mean?

Random Neil Young Link of the Moment
neil-sad.jpg

Bonnie Raitt and Neil Young

Wisconsin-solidarity.jpg
I'm Proud to Be A Union Man

UNITED WE STAND/DIVIDED WE FALL


When Neil Young is Playing,
You Shut the Fuck Up


Class War:
They Started It and We'll Finish It...
peacefully

A battle raged on the open page...
No Fear, No Surrender. Courage
WE WON'T BACK DOWN. NEVER STAND DOWN.

"What if Al Qaeda blew up the levees?"
Full Disclousre Now


"I've Got The Revolution Blues"

Willie Nelson & Neil Young
Willie Nelson for Nobel Peace Prize



John Mellencamp:
Why Willie Deserves a Nobel

willie_picnic_poster_070503


BOYCOTT HATE

Love and Only Love

"Thinking about what a friend had said,
I was hoping it was a lie"


We're All On
A Journey Through the Past

Neil Young's Moon Songs
Tell Us The F'n TRUTH
(we can handle it... try us)

Freedom:
freedom-video
Does Anything Else Really Matter?

"Nobody's free until everybody's free."
~~ Fannie Lou Hamer

Here Comes "The Big Shift"
#BigShift

Maybe everything you think you know is wrong? NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS
"It's all illusion anyway."

Propaganda = Mind Control
NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS
Guess what?
"Symbols Rule the World, not Words or Laws."
... and symbolism will be their downfall...

Brighter Planet's 350 Challenge
Be The Rain, Be The Change

csny2k-plate.jpg
the truth will set you free
This Machine Kills Fascists


"Children of Destiny" - THE Part of THE Solution

(Frame from Official Music Video)

war is not the answer
yet we are
Still Living With War

"greed is NOT good"
Hey Big Brother!
Stop Spying On Us!
Civic Duty Is Not Terrorism

The Achilles Heel
#NullifyNSA
Orwell (and Grandpa) Was Right
“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery.”
~~ Bob Marley

The Essence of "The Doubters"



Yes, There's Definitely A Hole in The Sky


Even Though The Music Died 50+ Years Ago
,
Open Up the "Tired Eyes" & Wake up!
"consciousness is near"
What's So Funny About
Peace, Love, & Understanding & Music?

churchsign

Show Me A Sign

"Who is John Galt?"
To ask the question is to know the answer

"Whosoever shall give up his liberty for a temporary security
deserves neither liberty nor safety."

~~ Benjamin Franklin

Words

(Between the lines of age)


And in the end, the love you take
Is equal to the love you make

~~ John & Paul

the zen of neil
the power of rust
the karma of the wheat

~Om-Shanti.

Namaste