TONIGHT: Neil Young & Crazy Horse Concert - Windsor, Ontario, Oct. 3
Photo by @Rustedshut45
(Click photo to enlarge)
From CTV:
It’s been eight years since rock icon Neil Young and Crazy Horse hit the road together. Tonight thousands of fans descended upon the WFCU Centre for their chance to rock out with the legend. CTV’s Gina Chung shares some of the night’s highlights with us.
Photo by NICK BRANCACCIO, The Windsor Star
(Click photo to enlarge)
Photo by @Rustedshut45
(Click photo to enlarge)
Setlist from Sugar Mountain :
1. Love And Only Love
2. Powderfinger
3. Born In Ontario
4. Walk Like A Giant
5. The Needle And The Damage Done
6. Twisted Road
7. Ramada Inn
8. F*!#in' Up
9. Psychedelic Pill
10. Cortez The Killer
11. Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)
---
12. Tonight's The Night
From Young rocks WFCU Centre | Windsor Star by Ted Shaw:
Having become the Old Man he sings about, Neil Young refuses to let age rule his art.Note, read some of the blistering comments that follow review.
The 65-year-old singer and iconoclast served notice Wednesday on the stage of Windsor’s WFCU Centre he’ll be ruffling feathers for a good while yet.
His two-hour show was equal parts folk and industrial grunge. Several of the songs droned on for more than 10 minutes, including a blistering rendition of Walk Like a Giant that concluded with nearly five minutes of hammering footsteps in imitation of the giant of the song.
It’s hard to imagine what the Heart of Gold segment of the audience thought of it. But that’s Neil. No prisoners. Many of those fans left early, complaining of the monotonous, self-indulgent soloing.
He followed this exercise in controlled noise with one of his most affecting acoustic songs, The Needle and the Damage Done.
From Neil Young Times:
A RUST TRILOGY
October 3, 2012
The third episode of A Rust Trilogy, which began with Rust Never Sleeps in 1978, and continued with Weld in 1990, now concludes with Alchemy in 2012. Things have changed, yet they stay the same. Alchemy, like Rust and Weld, finds the boys at another stage of life's journey. Time has taken its toll, yet the spirit seems unstoppable.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Neil Young & Crazy Horse will be performing tonight at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Got a report? Drop a comment below.
Check Sugar Mountain for setlist updates and Chronological Grid, Recording Summary, Statistics and Extras.
Also, see Neil Young & Crazy Horse 2012 Concert Tour Reviews and the right, middle sidebar for continuous real time RSS feed updates.
Don't Be Denied!
Labels: 2012, canada, concert, crazy horse, neil young, ontario, review, tour
by thrasher@PermaLink: 10/03/2012 08:45:00 AM
59 comments
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59 Comments:
Man, did I ever blow it! As they say, "you snooze, you lose". Tonight's Windsor concert was my closest alternative to Neil and the Horse not booked to perform in the Detroit area for the first time since he took the Horse out of California. I doubt if he's gonna zag or zig back this way on this tour. This will be the first Neil Young concert that I've missed since 1976. Thirty two shows to be exact.
BC - Go for it. Almost guarantee you could pick up a GA @ box office 2 hours before showtime.
Don't Be Denied!
ps - we need your review. ;)
Sorry for off-topic, but does anyone know why Neil has been wearing a wrist mala lately? I've never seen them in contexts other than Buddhism.
Just wondering
Darryl
I have another question...
RUST TRILOGY? all the releases, Back to Crazy Horse... Should we be worried? Did Neil get bad news, is he thinking of retiring? Has he just come to terms with aging and figures now or never?
Worried? hmm. I worry about paying the mortgage and feeding the family. Iv'e come to grips that Neil is mortal and someday will have to hang them up. But my gawd can he still deliver the goods. I'm content either way. What ever is best for him and his family. I hope Neil does whats best for Neil.
Dug
lol @ Dug I know, I know, so many other things I should be worrying about. I'm putting a positive spin on it. I decided that Trilogy will bring Neil back to Canada for good.
and yeah, he still delivers.
Based on pictures on Twitter, they have brought back the HUGE amp/amp covers for the stage, and the giant mic at the front of the stage.
Hope I saw those pics correctly because that's awesome!
The Windsor opening show was fantastic! He mentioned that his first solo show ever was on Erie Street here back in the 60's. The concert started with huge amps being uncovered by a group of scientists and a huge mike being set up in front of the crazy horse banner. It was awesome! They came out and sang Oh Canada and then started rocking out! It's true; live music is better - bumper stickers should be issued!
The people that said his voice is gone are totally wrong, he sounded better than I've ever heard him on any live or studio record. I couldn't believe my ears. The bad sounds you've heard on the internet are just poor recording. He sounded just like he did on Rust and Ragged Glory and the Tonight's the Night encore was totally awesome, it was almost like Pink Floyd. From Powderfinger to Cortez he knocked every song out of the park and the horse was at it's absolute rocking best! They even made Fuc-kin up sound beautiful. Can't wait for the album.
Some pics at windsorstar.com and set list is up at sugar mountain. Wow what a set list and the giant fender amps are present in all their glory! Cortez too and Tonight'sthe Night. Did you hear that noise? My head just exploded...
SJ
TNT encore!!!! And cortez! Holy shit. I'll die if they play that in Pittsburgh. I've never gotten the chance to see Neil and Crazy Horse. That setlist sounds incredible
Were any of you at the concert? It sucked... Neil's voice was about the only thing that was good. We had a large group &we were all disappointed. If that was new music, he should stick with his past hits.
That was the weakest attempt at trolling i've seen in a long time
Hey there,
I'm afraid Neil's wrong about the show on Erie St.
He played at the Bali Hi Hotel bar on Ouellette Avenue. Any of you old Windsorites remember that place? I think they invented Tiki torches and a few other things in the back room there.
Anyway, I never knew it was his first solo gig . . .
Amazing show tonight at wfcu. 9th time I saw Neil, 2nd with the horse. First was also first Neil show, 1996 at Molson Park Barrie. New song, Born In Ontario was a massive crowd favorite as 99% were also born in Ont. WLAG is awesome, top 10 Neil songs ever. Highlights for me in no particular order...my wife of 4 years got to experience the horse first time, Ponch kicked Neil in butt "again", Neil played Canadian national anthem at start, Cortez & TTN were unexpected extreamly well played, Elliot Robers walked 2 feet in front of me, same 1978 se design & props. Hey hey my my was best song for overall feel & vocal & playing & crowd response & vibe, Billy patted Neil on back at start of show, Neils voice is in excellent top form, Horse passion flowing freely & felt by all with a heart & soul. Next up...Nov 19th at ACC, I'm there!
Yes, I remember the Bali Hai, I wouldn't think Neil would have played there though, not a rock place at all. Neil should stick to his older material, we were very disappointed in the concert, although there were lots there who were going nuts,maybe younger people??
Why on earth would you want Neil to become nothing more than an oldies act?
I'll never understand people who shell out money to go see Neil Young perform and then complain when there isn't enough of (a) songs they want to hear, or (b) old songs versus new songs.
This is a huge red flag that this is a person who has no real big interest in Neil's music, as even a cursory knowledge of his career will tell you that every tour contains new material of some kind, sometimes more, sometimes less. It's even stranger that fans such as this would have the gall to believe they can "suggest" how Neil should perform his art and what songs he should play.
He's lasted this long because he keeps it interesting and vital to himself. Artists that pander to the crowd are no longer artists but trained dogs.
Roll another number.
the lasers are in the lab, old man is dressed in white clothes
everybody says he's mad, no one knows the things that he knows no one knows..
2012-10-03, WFCU Centre, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
w/ Crazy Horse
Love And Only Love / Powderfinger / Born In Ontario / Walk Like A Giant / The Needle And The Damage Done / Twisted Road / Ramada Inn / F*!#in' Up / Psychedelic Pill / Cortez The Killer / Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black) // Tonight's The Night
Hey I'm going to the Kingston show tomorrow. What time did Neil hit the stage in Windsor? Can't can't wait.
You needed to roll one to get through last night. Too bad the only good music he has is the old stuff!
If you are expecting to hear any great older music, do yourself a favour and sell your tickets. We were very disappointed.
haven't seen the pics, so forgive me here. i like the idea of the rns props as much as the next guy, but don't they cover up all the amps? that would be shame...neil needs to be able to stand right in front of the amp to get some of that gnarly feedback.
I am sick of the idiots who come around every time Neil is out on tour WHINING about not getting to hear Heart of Gold.
Do us a favor and stay home next time, sheep (if you even went, which is highly suspect).
Any fan of Neil Young would never complain about him not playing his "oldies", or about having to tolerate new material.
He's been doing the same thing for 40 years, if you really gave a damn about Neil Young you'd have known that, and expected it. His general format of playing new, unreleased material has NEVER CHANGED since 1972.
This incessant braying by people who lack the joy of new experience, have no respect for artistry and no appreciation for the adventure that is a Neil Young show have been ECHOING MINDLESSLY through time for 40 years! Like the whine of a million dull eyed sheep caught in an infinite loop!!!
Listen, if any of you people who want to hear Heart of Gold, Old Man and Cinnamon Girl ad nauseum and can't stand anything that you aren't familiar with happen to have tickets to the Madison Square Garden show, please just do us all a favor and give them to me. I will quite enjoy the show, and you won't have to waste your precious time that would be better spent watching reruns of Friends suffering through two hours of actual musical enlightenment.
Hit me up, I'll give you my address so you can put the tickets in the mail. You'll thank me for alleviating your pending suffering.
"If you are expecting to hear any great older music, do yourself a favour and sell your tickets. We were very disappointed."
Let's see: Love And Only Love / Powderfinger / The Needle And The Damage Done / F*!#in' Up / Cortez The Killer / Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black) // Tonight's The Night
You're trolling and outright lying. Go away.
Thanks to all (or most all) for the concert reports. Sounds awesome...
RNS stage setup, woodstock announcement over P.A.
What a thrill to time travel thru past, present & future.
We've long considered the RNS tour to be our fave neil tour.
And for those who were less than pleased? well, it seems like time to remind folks of How To Spot A Bogus Concert Review in 3 Easy Steps.
Great show. Loved the "Day in the Life" lead in. And, truly appreciated the jams...they've vanished from the music scene. Hope people appreciate the artistry...
The show was absolutely amazing.
Anyone complaining that he didn't play the hits obviously hasn't been paying attention for the last 40 years.
I was in the front row and everyone near me was having a great time. The new stuff sounded awesome.
Matthew L. said it best. "Any fan of Neil Young would never complain about him not playing his "oldies", or about having to tolerate new material."
I even heard complaints that the songs were "too long". Who the hell says that at a Neil show?
A few thoughts on last night. Drove up from Cincinnati, I was right on the rail just to Neil's left--primo spot for my first Crazy Horse show. While I was around some pretty cool people, it was clear many (most) of them were classic rock radio Neil fans hoping for the hits--not surprising, but led to a bit of a dead crowd during the new stuff and even Fuckin' Up (a few of us were raging, though).
The new songs sound fantastic--Walk Like a Giant is the epic, to be sure, but Ramada Inn was actually the one that impressed me the most. The Alchemists bits were all amusing, and it was cool to have the full RNS set out there. The front of the big Fender amps appear to be cloth, and Neil (and Billy) both got right up against their amps.
Sure, the evening was heavy on (excellent) new material. But anyone who is bitching about a lack of great older material is a poor excuse for a Neil fan--what do you call Love and Only Love, Powderfinger, Needle, Fuckin' Up, Cortez, Hey Hey, and TTN all in the same setlist?
The sentiment's been expressed, but if you want to hear the classic rock hits go see Kansas. Last night was an artist still in his own weird prime, an artist (and I'm 25 and saying this) who stands with the best of the younger generations of live acts for sheer raw power.
What amazes me is that people have been "walking out in droves" and "angry about not hearing their favorite radio hits" during every Neil Young concert since 1974, and still these folks act surprised.
The idealistic, optimistic fellow in me who really, deeply believes in humanity, imagined at one point not long ago that eventually this nauseatingly repetitious phenomenon of "fans" being disappointed that Neil is not vapidly cashing in on his hits would eventually end when the age of reason finally caught up with them.
But alas.
Humanity, it appears, is unfortunately doomed to repeat itself in loops of self-flogging folly for all of eternity.
PERFECT SHOW. Anyone who is complaining of his voice, was not there. Best of heard so far. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRC1xeZGnX4
I drove from Waterloo to WIndsor (and back) last night for this show. It was my 9th time seeing Neil, but only my second time seeing Crazy Horse (first time was in 1996 when I was 14 years old). This show blew me away (as did the first CH show I saw). The Horse is magic. The new songs were the highlight. Ramada Inn is pure beauty. The stomping outro to Walk Like a Giant was transcendental. Really - I wasn't even conscious that I was a person witnessing a rock show. There was that sound and only that sound. It went on for so LONG. I was just basking in it. It really takes you in, that is, if you're open to it. I'm sure some of the audience got bored, but that is their problem. On that note, while the old songs are awesome, and it's always good to hear them live, the new songs are just as awesome, or maybe even more awesome. This "the past, the present, and the future" really had a nice healthy mix of old and new. If anything, it could have benefitted from a higher ratio of new songs. NTM is right. Neil Young is in his prime, so why would anyone complain that he's sharing his new stuff with us? It makes no sense. What happened to the days when people got excited about hearing new material from a great artist? Oh well, that's just life, I guess. Personally, I'm pretty happy to be living in a time where I can go see Neil Young and Crazy Horse, and witness that SOUND first-hand. There's nothing like it. As Thom Yorke once put it, that sound is "a force of nature."
That's another thing. You have no right to be upset about new songs being played on a tour that was billed as "the past, the present, and the future."
What did you think the present/the future might entail?
Anybody who complains about the setlist is an idiot. If you're expecting to hear Heart of Gold, Old Man and the like, just stay home. Apparently people just seem to ignore the fact that it says "Neil Young WITH CRAZY HORSE". Anybody who's followed Neil at all knows that when he plays with Crazy Horse it's gonna be an epic rock show, not a song cycle of greatest hits. I love how people complain that he didn't play his old songs. 7 of the songs are more than 20 years and 5 of those are more than 30 years old.
Alchemy? What's he referring to?! Another Crazy Horse album, this one live? That's my guess. That would complete the trilogy he's referring to. Anyone have any insight on this?! Alchemy Tour 2012! Leave it to Neil to keep us on our toes! He's on fire!!!
SJ
Sounds like some of the people at the show got their "Neil's" mixed up.
I think you must've been looking for Neil Diamond or Neil Sedaka -- probably for some, even Neil Armstrong.
Heavy peace to all . . .
SJ - another live album would be wicked! It has been a while since a new live album from Neil, hasn't it? I mean, there have been the archive releases, but stuff like Live Rust, Weld, Year of the Horse, Road Rock... what's next? Nothing, right? Or am I crazy? Alchemy would be a pretty great live album to wrap up the Rust trilogy indeed. Maybe Demme could film a show too!
I don't really care what he plays. I've seen every tour since 1984 and I don't care about hearing all the hits. Frankly, the grungier and louder it will be the happier I will be. I want 15 minute songs of pure, blissful feedback. The Horse rules and Neil is too talented to play just the hits.
cosplusisin - that sure looks like an album cover to me!! And Rust Never Sleeps and Weld were both live albums. What else could it be?
''That guy who just keeps singing -- can't somebody shut him up?
The answer is NO!!! God Bless Neil Young!!
SJ
The Weld tour is my absolute favourite! Love the re-instatement of the giant amp props.
If he doesn't bring this tour to Europe it will be a total disaster!
Was Tonight's The Night last night the piano version or the Rust/Weld-esque electric guitar version?
The Flying Scotsman.
Pretty amazing what old Shakey is doing up there in Canada. It feels so good to see these giant Fenders back on stage. And opening with A Day In The Life again.
SJ, it sure looks like an album cover but with Neil it never is what it looks like. On NY Time there are two versions of each. All four are posters as it seems:
- Alchemy Tour 2012 poster
- Alchemy Never Works poster
- Alchemy NYCH Live poster
- Alchemy Not NYCH poster
But hey, a double live album isn't a bad idea.
"The third episode of A Rust Trilogy now concludes with Alchemy in 2012."
BecauseSoundMatters
Flying Scotsman - the version of Tonight's the Night was the guitar/Weld-ish version. It was excellent!
Excellent - love the guitar version of TTN!
The Flying Scotsman
So maybe not an live album right now, but a conclusion of the Rust Trilogy?! So is Neil trying to say this will be the last "Crazy Horse" tour? Kind of sounds like it. But like you said, with Neil you never know.
But Good Lord, he is getting old and he did say "Time has taken its toll yet the spirit seems unstoppable". The spirit will never be stopped but we all know about the time taking its toll part. Savor this like you would a baby that grows up way to quick. Cause you know how Time Fades Away.
SJ
GOOD GOD THE BOYS ARE SO FUCKING INCREDIBLE. LONG LIVE TO THE HORSE, THE MOST AWESOME BAND EVER.
Neil always says that he's never going to play with crazy horse again. Don't know why this time would be any different :-)
Maybe he's just never going to play with those big amps again.
Was at the show last night and as someone who's seen a good number over the years (28th show last night since '85), can qualify this one as 'up there' with others I've witnessed. Great tunes, great guitar, vocals strong, wide range of material. There's always gonna be those who want 'hits' or oldies (person beside me said, "Wish he'd play some of his older material", this while Neil and CH romped thru Hey, Hey, My, My); go figger. Loads of RNS references and bows during the show, even obscure ones like the dangling red suspenders on his backside. From this corner, totally no complaints, artistically or for 'return on the dollar' (or was that 'return on the loonie' last nite?).
Old stuff is great but, Neil is active and creating stuff now that is both powerful and relevant. When old bands make a return and try to live off a few hits they had twenty years ago, it's just sad. Neil has never stopped creating hits.
Ha ha ha, I love hearing the whining and whimpering from the tender weenies who are SO upset at how loud the show is and why didn't he play (fill in the blank)?
I love it that they feel put upon by those four ruffians and swindled out of their cash for seats at a sonic mugging and thrashing.
I hope the wheels stay on the bus until Boston and Bridgeport and they end up burning the place down for that last show. I'll be on the floor loving every blistering minute!
This is why you'll never see Neil blandly just playing his old songs. From his memoir:
"Why so pensive about the past? What can it say or do for you now?
...
"At this age, I think relevancy is the big challenge.... We need to be sure the new songs and music are ready and are meaningful to us. They are our ticket, our vehicle to the future, and without the new songs we are just reliving the past.""
I am counting the hours until Kingston tonight. Hoping for 2 encores. Can't wait for WLAG and RI.
Been going to Neil's concerts since 1984 (first concert was at the Super Ex in ottawa Aug. 84). Never missed a tour since then. Favourite was the Weld stop in Toronto 91. Hopefully can tape a lot tonight..
For my Canadians!!! What was the reaction to, "Born in Ontario"? I would love to hear the crowd on that one. Record if you can.
dean farinha - the crowd cheered a lot every time the word "Ontario" was sung. that is, the first 5 or 6 times. after that, I think the audience had had their fill of cheering, so some "Ontario"'s went by un-cheered-for.
I have to echo most of the above comments except for the whiners. I always warn people who are going to their first NY concert. Expect the unexpected & just revel in the music.
I saw Neil in Kingston last time & Neil switched the set up near the end & we got Hurricane & All Along The Watchtower. But my favourite highlight was a raucous Johnny Magic! The only time he has ever played it live, It was an honour to witness this.
It'll be my 21st time tonight & I am pumped for whatever Neil & the Horse throw at us!
Bring it on! Walk Like A Giant!
2 things I just noticed about the set list photo posted...
Says Cinnamon Girl, not Cortez.
And they got the month wrong, lol.
Packed here in Kingston. Waiting for Los lobos to finish. Can't understand their Spanish songs.
First encore now - - like a Hurricane!
I was planning on going to Windsor ,but I was really sick and could'nt make it. Even if they played in Detroit I could'nt make it . Now I'm reading these reviews and dwelling on what bad luck to miss such a epic show.I checked-out London but it .looks like its sold-out ,.kind of far not to get a ticket or get scalped bad.Cleveland wont work out either. guess I'll just buy the bluray dvd when it comes out and use my imagination from all the shows ive seen since 1974.Very envious of you Windsorites but were both up shits creek without the NHL now thats a piece of crap.
I just got back from the show, here in Montréal.
Since some of the songs that were played are waaaaay older than I am, I was wondering what I had just witnessed, even though I'm quite aware of Young's CV.
I was hearing mixed reviews on my way back, and a friend that I had randomly run into at the show told me he was close to preferring Patti Smith, who did the opening.
In my head, it was like : ''Are you all damn crazy?? This was truly brilliant, almost a new form of art!''.
I told myself it was may be due to my lack of experience in Neil's shows. So I started searching for reviews of this show, to confirm that whether I was totally disconnected or if those people really had missed something.
I'm quite released to read those previous reviews. Thanks to Neil Young and Crazy Horse for an amazing time, there is still real music going on out there.
LiLL
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