"Fuckin' Up" - Neil Young & Crazy Horse in Ottawa, 11/24/12

"Fuckin' Up"
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Ottawa - 11/24/12
This video of "Fuckin' Up" pretty well captures the crazy fun of Neil Young & Crazy Horse at their most unleashed.

Judging from videos and review comments, last night's Ottawa concert seems to be a tour highlight.

From a comment on Ottawa: Neil Young & Crazy Horse Concert Reviews - 11/24/12 by Peter:

WOW. Exceeded my expectations, which were high.

A quick aside: I knew Neil was going on at 9pm. I live about 30 minutes from the venue. At 7:30pm, I had a 4yr old projectile puking at home. I had a great ticket and had been patiently waiting and watching youtube coverage for months. But it was all going up in smoke at the last minute....

Miraculously, things settled, wife let me go, and I got to my seat just as the national anthem started.

I will keep it short. Seen all NY shows since 1986. This show was for me as good as any of the previous shows. The sound mix - perfect. But it was the strength of Neil's vocals and his incredible fret work that really made this show stand out. That, and the interaction between the guys on stage.

Of note: this show had the best camera work I have ever seen at a live show. Strangely, there are no spot lights at all on Neil or the group. But the camera work on the big screens was not a distraction, but really added to the show. Things like close ups on Neil's foot on his big red pedal board. Close ups on Poncho. Super job.

Standouts: Cortez included guitar work that I had never heard Neil use on this song. One of the best versions I have heard. F'cking up was amazing - Poncho actually took over lead vocals on the extended second half of the song. If you have a problem with the F word, beware. This was as punk as the sex pistols could ever be. In fact, there were several moments during the show that could be described as mountain punk (a play on Vedder's reference to Neil's music as "mountain funk").

For me, Ramada Inn was the highlight of many highlights - the guitar work and energy was unstoppable. PS. this followed a magical version of the new song with Neil on piano.

I'm gushing - sorry. For a show that I almost missed, it lands squarely on my top 10 ever shows by all artists. Replace roll another number with DBTR or a similar classic and it would be top 5.

Do not miss this tour - sobriety has neil strong of mind and body and he destroys any other classic rock artists past and present. Hendrix would have been impressed (and so would Briggs).

Peter in Ottawa.

Thanks Peter! Glad you made the show and sent us a report. Hope your kid is OK.

More on Ottawa: Neil Young & Crazy Horse Concert Reviews - 11/24/12.

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