Happy Holidays!!! Snow Footage to Neil Soundtrack

Happy Holidays to all!!!

Here's a nice little indie video for all the nice folks out there.

All the footage is from Dec. 20 2009 in York, Maine during the snow storm that hit the east coast. 'I'll Be Home for Christmas' along with music during the storm footage is from 'Hawks and Doves' by Neil Young." @ 2:50.

Thanks theMonk1 ! (& Hello Brian R on the ME coast!)

---

Guitar Tech Larry Cragg | The Fretboard Journal

Larry Cragg working on Neil Young's Les Paul "Ol' Black"

A fascinating article on Neil Young's Guitar Tech Larry Cragg in the upcoming The Fretboard Journal: Keepsake magazine for guitar collectors by Brian Fisher.

Larry Cragg has a lot of amps. And guitars. He needs them, too. When he's not serving as Neil Young's guitar tech (not to mention Santana and other rock stars), he's busy running Vintage Instrument Rental, one of the few places in the world where musicians can rent the vintage guitars or amps of their dreams for a recording session or gig.

Brian Fisher chronicled the life of Cragg in Fretboard Journal 23, but, here are some outtakes -- in this case taken by Cragg himself -- from one of the world's great guitar and amp collections. Check out the outtakes here and read more about Cragg, you can order Fretboard Journal 23 here . 

Also, see more Larry Cragg and Neil Young's guitars.

---

Neil Young Speaks at U.S. Ambassador's Residence, Tokyo

Neil Young
Photo by AP Photo/Toru Takahashi

From Yahoo News : Entertainment News:

(AP) - Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young acknowledges guests before speaking during a U.S.-Japan friendship event at U.S. ambassador's residence in Tokyo, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011.

Neil Young is in Japan right now. Today he attended as a guest speaker at Cloudforce 2011 Japan. Also he joined will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas and others to announce his support for 'Tomodachi' project to help recovery efforts in disaster-stricken Tohoku region at US ambassador's residence.

rust never sleeps

---

Holiday Memories: Eddie Vedder Sings a Christmas Ditty @ Bridge 94 Concert

In 10-1-1994 at Bridge School Benefit, Pearl Jam played their b-side rarity "Let Me Sleep."Part 18 of the Touring Lost Dogs series. A beautiful song about childhood memories of Christmas.

This is the only time the song has been played live.

More on Pearl Jam and Neil Young.

---

Nils Lofgren and Neil Young

Nils Lofgren and Neil Young
Vote For Change tour 2004
St. Paul, Minnesota
Photo by Joseph Quever
Nils Lofgren and Neil Young have a very long history and go all the way back to the "After the Gold Rush" days when Lofgren was only 17 years old.

Lofgren had a double hip replacement awhile back and had this to say in the interview Nils Lofgren Talks Life Without Clarence Clemons and the Future of E Street - Spinner by Dave Steinfeld:

Nils Lofgren: "I was in the hospital after double hip surgery, doped up because I was in a lot of pain. My wife got a call, said it was Neil Young, put the phone in my head and my old buddy Neil was there to see how I was doing.

It meant a lot to me, but it was very intense.

I remember near the end of the call, he said, "Yeah man, you gotta get well. There ain't too many of us left." Even in my haze, I kind of filed it away as a great theme for a song. And in keeping with the 'Old School' title, that was a requirement, to get it written and recorded.

...

I met Neil when I was 17. I'd just hit the road with my band Grin, and we were on our way to L.A. Long story short, he was very kind and helpful while he played four shows at the Cellar Door in Washington, DC., and said, "Look me up in L.A.," which I did. A year later, [he] asked me to do 'After the Gold Rush' as a guitarist, singer and piano player. I didn't even play piano, and I told him as much, but as [producer] David [Briggs] pointed out, I'd been a classical accordionist since the age of 5. And they said, "Well, we just need some simple parts, you'll figure it out." It's fascinating to me in hindsight that they had more faith in me [than I did]. I certainly would not have called myself a professional piano player, and that was the first professional session work I ever did.

At the time, you know, I was so wrapped up in trying to carry my weight that I just thought, "Wow, this is a fresh sound, very sparse." You've got this busy kind of James Jamerson, deep-pocket bass lines by Greg Reeves. Neil's beautiful stuff up top. And then in the middle, you've got very simple drums and piano by me and Ralphy [Molina]. And it just had a great vibe to it. I certainly didn't project what it would be 40 years later, but at the time, I thought we were doing something really fresh and emotional.

(thanks Roel @ neilyoung.org!)

in 2008, Nils Lofgren released an album called The Loner: Nils Sings Neil where he covers all Neil Young songs.

From a post on rust@yahoogroups.com by Mike "Expecting To Fly":

I just got the Nils Sings Neil disc. It's just Nils solo on piano and acoustic guitar and his beautiful voice. It's incredibly good. I am not always a big fan of others covering Neil's songs but Nils has credibility and love to burn in huge quantities. He plays each song with affection and feeling and his connection to this music comes through with an astounding force. It's a very moving experience for me to hear this interpretation of these songs.

From the liner notes:

"1970 was a very magical year in my life. During the making of the 'After The Gold Rush' album in Topanga Canyon, California with Neil Young and our producer and brother in arms David Briggs, I did my first real acoustic guitar and piano session work. Neil lent me his cool Martin D-18 (which appears on the inside photo of the 'Gold Rush' album leaning against the wall next to him) to play on the record. Near the end of the sessions, Neil gave me this now historic guitar as a gift for my contribution and commitment to this landmark recording. It remains a treasured guitar, which I continue to play and cherish to this day. I knew that the soul and history of the D-18 would give me my best chance of doing Neil's songs justice. Also, David Briggs, my dear friend, producer and mentor, although no longer with us, perched his spirit on my shoulder and kept the music real..."

Also notable: on the liner note to this tribute album, Nils put "Produced by David Briggs and Nils Lofgren" as the production credit. It's like it's as much a tribute to Briggs as it is to Neil. It's very touching that he did that.

It's a wonderful and beautiful recording. I highly recommend it to all of you. Buy it here: www.nilslofgren.com/ or Amazon.com

Mike
Expecting To Fly

Thanks e2f! Sounds good.

Nils Lofgren
Photo by Joseph QueverFrom Shine Silently , Marshall Terrill's interview with Nils Lofgren on Neil Young:

"NL: Just before we left for Los Angeles, I snuck in on Neil Young and Crazy Horse at the Cellar Door in Washington D.C. I got to be friends with them, spent two days hanging out with them, and Neil stayed in touch from the road. It was unbelievable that Neil Young would stay in touch, but we were going to LA anyway. When we got to LA, David Briggs, Neil's producer, took us under his wing and we became the house band at the Topanga Corral, but we also played anywhere and everywhere. Q: You made "After The Gold Rush" with Neil Young, which was made in 1969 and released in 1970. How was that experience? NL: It was through David Briggs, who was still helping Grin trying to make it big, and our album came out around the same time as "After The Gold Rush" came out. We made that record at his house in 1969 with a mobile truck, which was an amazing experience. Neil pushed me on the piano, not because I could play but because of my accordion experience. I was able to do very simple, basic rhythmic things. It was just a classic record. Q: In a paragraph or less, what is Neil Young’s particular brilliance? NL: In a paragraph or less, it would have to be that he is as great a songwriter as there will ever be. Everything else is a distant second. Neil’s a great musician, he’s very eccentric, eclectic and has a beautiful, haunting voice. But you know what? All of those things are a distant second to being an amazing, amazing songwriter. The same thing could be said about Bruce Springsteen. When you combine the words with the melody and the music, it’s a power that everything emanates from. They happen to be amazing singers and musicians, but if they weren’t, they couldn’t ruin those songs. They would be still be part of our emotional landscape and be just as powerful. You can’t hurt songs that good."

Nils has also covered Young's songs including "Long May You Run" at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA on January 30, 2004 .

---

Broken Arrow Magazine: November 2011 - Win a Copy and a NYA Boxset

Neil Young - 1966
Photo by Nurit Wilde


The latest issue of Broken Arrow Magazine, published by the Neil Young Appreciation Society recently hit the streets and we're now finishing up reading the issue. As always a nice read -- especially as we look back while looking ahead.

And -- thanks to the generous support of NYAS and editor Scott Sandie -- we're pleased to be able to offer a copy of the latest issue of Broken Arrow Magazine to a Thrasher's Wheat reader. Details follow below.

Issue #124 (November 2011) of Broken Arrow Magazine - as usual - has some fine articles, commentary and rare photos.

It includes Part One of a fascinating memoir from Vicki Cavaleri, originally a waitress at the Whisky A Go Go who was there at the very start of the Buffalo Springfield story in LA in 1966 and who spent much of that year in the company of Neil Young. This article is accompanied by some vintage posters and photos from 1966. The cover is a stunning 1966 photo by legendary rock photographer and friend to the NYAS Nurit Wilde.

Once again this issue sports a colour centrefold, this time of Farm Aid and Bridge School Benefit photos sent in by members, and there also is a long, detailed article on the premiere of Neil Young Journeys at the Toronto International Film Festival. News editor Guy Haslam catches up with ex-Crazy Horse sideman Matt Piucci in London for an interesting interview, and there are all the usual features, including a detailed letter from Pete Long on the ongoing Old Ways saga.

Finally the sad recent passing of Bert Jansch and Jackie Leven – and their relationships to Neil Young – are noted with obituaries.

For more information and subscription information visit the Neil Young Appreciation Society or directly contact NYAS editor Scott Sandie at surfer-joe@nyas.org.uk


Neil Young Archives Vol. 1

Want to help out the Neil Young Appreciation Society? Want to win a Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 Bluray 10 disc box set?

OK, here's how and why...

In the issue of Broken Arrow Magazine: May 2011, in the final article 'Last Dance', NYAS editor Scott Sandie and esteemed colleague (and pint consuming connoisseur) Guy Haslam issued a call for submissions to Broken Arrow from all Society membership.

So have a look at this article list below and use it as a prompt. Why not write that article that you’ve always thought about, either on one of these topics or anything else that you have in mind? Set yourself a target to write one, or at least have a go. At worst it won’t be published. At best you’ll see yourself in print in your own magazine. And earn a NYA boxset, to boot.

Drop editor Scott "Surfer Joe" Sandie an e-mail (surfer-joe@nyas.org.uk) to talk about it and make a proposal. They’re open to almost anything.

Act now. Seize the day. Your society needs you!

Potential article topics listed here.

The deadline for article submissions has been extended indefinitely. So you have plenty of time to do your Neil research, polish it up, and send it in. (Thanks to all who have made submissions thus far as we continue to evaluate.)

This is the first volume of the Neil Young Archives series of box sets, produced by Neil Young himself. This series is the definitive, comprehensive, chronological survey of his entire body of work. Volume I covers the period from his earliest recordings with the Squires in Winnipeg, 1963, through to his classic 1972 album, Harvest and beyond, including studio and live tracks with the legendary Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and Neil Young with Crazy Horse. This Blu Ray disc edition contains 10 discs, each in its own custom sleeve. 9 of these discs hold a total of 128 tracks (12 hidden), all presented in ultra high resolution 24-bit/192 Khz stereo PCM state-of-the-art master quality sound, and featuring nearly 60 previously unreleased songs, versions, mixes, or rare tracks.

More on Everything You've Ever Wanted To Know About The Neil Young Archives But Were Afraid To Ask.

Don't be denied!

So check out the Neil Young Appreciation Society page for more info on how to join.

Don't be denied!

Thanks Scott and everyone who is supporting the NYAS & BA!

Thrasher - NYAS#2476


More on back issues of Broken Arrow magazine.

---

HOW TO WIN A COPY OF LATEST ISSUE OF BROKEN ARROW MAGAZINE

One lucky Thrasher's Wheat supporter will win a free copy of the latest Broken Arrow Magazine. We truly appreciate being able to what we do here at TW, and we love being able to give something back in return.

All Thrasher's Wheat supporters between now and the end of the month will be automatically entered into the Broken Arrow Magazine drawing. (If you donated in the last 30 days you are automatically eligible and no further action is necessary).

Click below to send support now via Visa or Mastercard — or send support via Paypal.

If you're unable to send any support at this time, we understand. But we'd still like for you to be eligible to win a free copy of the latest issue of Broken Arrow Magazine. Here's how.

We'll randomly select a Thrasher's Wheat reader who subscribes to one of our feed channels either via Facebook (LIKE us), Twitter (FOLLOW us) and/or subscribe to our email list. Just email us (thrasher ATSIGN thrasherswheat.org) with your name, postal mailing address, and which communication channel you signed up for (Facebook, Twitter, email list). *Be sure to identify your complete Facebook ID, Twitter handle, or email address.*

Click here for other support options and to learn why we need our readers support to continue operating Thrasher's Wheat.

Thanks and Good Luck to everyone!

peace & love to all,
thrasher & thrashette

---