Philadelphia: Neil Young & Crazy Horse Concert Reviews - 11/29/12
Neil Young & Crazy Horse will be performing tonight at Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center.
Doors at 6:30, Everest at 7:30, Patti Smith at 8:05 and Neil Young at 9pm.
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Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Don't Be Denied!
Labels: concert, crazy horse, neil young, philadelphia, review, tour
by thrasher@PermaLink: 11/29/2012 08:24:00 PM
45 comments
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45 Comments:
Closed with a blazing Hurricane!
I came with low expectations, and they were met. Neil & Co. went out of their way to prove they could rock out and "test" their audience's commitment. It wasn't because the new songs were played - "Twisted Road" was one of the highlights. And "Ramada Inn" and "Walk like a Giant" are great 8 min. songs. Problem is that they ran 16 min. each. Every song had multiple false finishes and meandered endlessly to the point it became redundant. Not every song should be a jam session. Most diehards will eat it up b/c Neil can do no wrong, but the casual fan who plopped down $150 had to be disappointed. If Neil is going to charge that much, then the show can't just be about Neil.
Stop looking at your watch; experience what you are seeing and hearing. Don't bring a tape measure of expectations; right now is all you have and everything you have. Try not to put things in dualistic groups and columns; the world has a different way of organizing itself.
Fifteen years ago, Neil Young and Crazy Horse played a half hour Down By The River for a dedicated crowd that had experienced extreme heat and driving rain. I was very fortunate to be part of that crowd. I only knew the timeframe afterwards; during the performance I could not have cared less how long the song was. Who knows how many times Neil has performed this song? How many different versions and how long each one was?
Ramada Inn could be a great song at eight minutes; perhaps sometime Neil will play it that way. The one I heard in Boston needed a new word to describe it, or maybe no words to describe it. I've heard long, extended versions of Cortez and shorter versions as well. Greendale concerts where one performance was an hour longer than another. It's not that Neil can do no wrong, it's that he's not trying to do wrong or right, he's playing his music as he hears it.
"I just keep going" he told Jon Stewart Wednesday night. And what Neil Young and Crazy Horse are doing in this tour is not jamming, not in a long shot.
Time, the topic of the sermon tonight is time
Time, the thief of hope
Time, the ameliorator of all our endeavors
What will we do with time off our backs?
We would make this world a perfect place
We would make our lives a perfect thing, if not for time
But I tell you now, time is an illusion
Time is an illusion
Time is not real
Time is the dividing line
Between what is true and what is not true
Between what is real and what is not real
Between what is so and what is not so
But who, I said who, who stands for time?
Who stands at the threshold of time?
Who decides what is true and what is not true?
We do, you and i
You and I decide what is true and what is not true
--Todd Rundgren...I Love My Life
I think Neil foreshadowed the likelihood of unhappy casual fans at the Philly show in this exchange with Jan Stewart the night before on the Daily Show.
---------
Stewart: Please welcome a rock legend, Mr. Neil Young.
enthusiastic applause
Stewart and Young shake hands and sit down at table with copy of Waging Heavy Peace in the middle of table.
Stewart: Thank you for coming.
Young: Thank you for inviting me.
Stewart: Before we talk about your new book, I wanted to quickly talk about Walk Like a Giant, which is a new song on your new CD with Crazy Horse. One of the younger guys who works for me showed me some video of the song from your show the other night in Ottawa. He also said that a lot of folks are reported to get up and leave during the song, which includes several minutes of feedback. So my question is, what the fuck are you doing. These folks paid $200 bucks....
Young: "Its all part of my master plan, Jon. You see, for me, the ultimate concert would see everyone in the audience get up and leave. Then I know that I would truly have reached the source. My former producer, the late David Briggs, always talked about getting closer to the source. A lot of my new songs, such as Walk like a Giant, are based on two simple chords. I am working on some songs now that would pull it back to one chord as I try to get even closer to the source. It might be E minor on one song, A minor on another, and G on another. I would not use the same chord on the entire CD, at least not to start."
Stewart: Your kidding right? We'll be right back
"Most diehards will eat it up b/c Neil can do no wrong, but the casual fan who plopped down $150 had to be disappointed. If Neil is going to charge that much, then the show can't just be about Neil."
#1. Even the casual fan should know that Neil Young does "know" wrong which is why he plays a 20 minute song about being a f#ck up. If you go on YouTube you can probably replay that song and see that he says "I know its wrong" over and over and over again.
#2. The show wasn't just about Neil...which is why the ticket says Neil Young & Crazy Horse. The show also had Everest and Patti Smith. Four hours of music is better than going to an Eagles game for $150.
#3. You could have bought a $75 General Admission ticket and been in the first row. Nothing wrong with that. To me, paying $150 to see Crazy Horse for the first time in years was worth the overall experience. I think paying $20 to park and $10 for a 12oz. beer is more wrong.
#4. I don't consider myself a diehard, but I did see magic in much of last night's performance. Those 16 minute songs were pure bliss to my ears.
By far, the greatest concert I have ever seen. I knew the extended jams, false endings were there. I was in awe of four AARP men who rocked the house. It could've been a greatest hits show as if I put the Decade LP on the turntable, it was better than that. The Like A Hurricane encore was fantastic!!! All the fans on the rail were not disappointed.
Oh how I would have loved to have gotten to jam out to Hurricane @msg, but it was not meant to be... Congrats to all you fans from Philly! Neil and the Horse are on fire!!!!
I guess we will always read comments from disappointed gig-goers because NY has a major problem: he has been very successful in a number of genres. Folk, rock, punk, country, solo, band, acoustic, electric, rock opera, grunge, pop - did I miss anything? So at every show there will be an aficionado of feedback sat next to a committed Harvest-er. Rarely can both be sated in a single setlist. It's a problem I am more than happy to live with.
What a thrilling show!!!
My brother-in-law and I were blown away!
Neil delivered a fantastic setlist...
***Opened with a great version of Love and Only Love...they got grooved before the first words were sung getting everyone on their feet in the audience with a fantastic sound that only the Horse and Neil can find.
***Next we heard the single strum of the G chord and we were off to a rousing rendition of Powderfinger...one of my all time faves...solos were outstanding!
***Born In Ontario was a very good song...tough to follow Powderfinger but great guitar work by Neil.
***Walk Like A Giant was really good...the harmonies are amazing and Neil can still play guitar better than most....I grabbed a beer and a bathroom break during the end of the song...I knew what was coming and its a welcomed opportunity for me to not miss the next song.... so do your thing Neil.
***Just when he irritated many casual observers he brought back the Rust Never Sleeps audio intro to Needle and The Damage Done which is truly one of the greatest songs ever written...everyone knows someone close or distant who has died from Heroin and it hits home every time...beautiful
***Twisted Road is a great new song which Neil chose to play acoustically last night...by the end the entire crowd was singing along.
***Up next is the song that nobody knows...Neil playing piano and singing the tune Singer Without A Song...very attractive girl walking on stage with a guitar case....always enjoy Neil on the piano
***Ramada Inn was one of the highlights and songs I will remember...Neil sang it beautifully and the solos and band harmony were refreshing during this new song...it will never be 8 minutes long and if it was shortened you would lose the feel and the point of the song....it is about a long journey between two people and makes you think about relationships even if not directly hitting home with all lyrics...I believe this is a Neil and Crazy Horse classic.
*** Fucking Up is what the Horse are all about...great jam which you feel like they wrote it in someone's garage after a few beers...good job!
***What else can you say when Neil cuts loose on Cinnamon Girl...one of the great riffs of all time...it is so good... overlooked I believe when it comes to classic rock songs.
***Mr. Soul was great and ***My My Hey Hey is simply one of the great live songs during any show. So true Neil.
The encore choices have been a bit mystifying to me on this tour and in my head I was hoping for ****Like A Hurricane which was only played 3 times prior on this tour....all I will say is when I heard the first note it was one of those special moments that only live music...and Neil can deliver...thanks for a memorable night in Philly Neil & The Horse!
Wow...too bad for you! I came with lower expectations because of reviewers like you and was completely blown away . He was giving his all and clearly the fans were 'all in' . I'm happy to still be alive to hear it all over again...those 70's were a little hairy
YES!!!!!!!!!!!
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To fellow Night Owl Anon 3:29 am
Funny stuff, good for you! And The Valentines have been doing just that for over 20 years now, playing You Made Me Realise at the end of their sets.
Here's the longest version that I could quickly find, but I'm sure there's a longer video out there somewhere. Not for the faint of heart or ear, MBV can really take this to the extremes and beyond. I have two friends who I mistakenly brought along to a show back in '92 and they still talk (complain) about the 20 minute never ending chord that ended the show. And Glenn Branca used to have his Orchestra (with six or more guitars) tune every string to E and play all at once.
"Three hundred years earlier Branca would have been hanged for witchcraft."
--Ted Drozdowski
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqUTUacZoC4
Anon 1:49:
"Most diehards will eat it up b/c Neil can do no wrong"
Not true. The correct statement is, "Most diehards with eat it up b/c they actually enjoy Neil's long, meandering guitar jams and false endings."
Glad your expectations were met. The problem, as I see it, is not the experience, it's the expectations.
For all of those who have tickets and are worried about being disappointed, please send me your tickets. You will be giving them to someone who appreciates them.
In addition to the old and the new, the jams and the riffs, Neil treated us to an instrument exploration and progressive dismantling of his guitar strings and the resulting sounds that makes!! Our experience with binoculars watching the mad genius at work added to a full night of music and mania!! I admit Neil can do no wrong for me because of all the incredible times his recorded music has filled my life so exquisitely! i am a willing participant on any musical adventure he wants to take me on at live shows! keep on....
Alchemy doesn’t begin to describe the ferocious, blood-on-the-floor, all-in delivery of turning guitar metal into gold at last night’s concert in Philly. 30% mad scientist, 100% brilliant, Neil milked every note, every chord, and every other conceivable sound out of Old Black - along with steady backup from Crazy Horse - attacking every song with a passion and intensity few at any age can deliver. Some songs were pure joy (Ramada Inn, Hey Hey My My, Like A Hurricane, and Mr. Soul) some were over the top (Walk Like a Giant and F##kin’ Up), yet all were mesmerizing for all of us who love pure, driving, straight-to-the-heart rock and roll. Would have liked to see a longer acoustic segment – Needle and the Damage Done was delivered with gut wrenching perfection, while Singer without a Song was the weak link of the show (nice piano but tedious lyrics, accompanied by a woman with a guitar case strolling awkwardly around the stage looking lost and confused). Neil’s’ new found sobriety serves him well - he thanked the crowd, acknowledged Philly, smiled a lot by his standards, and had the energy of a man in his 20’s. The boomer generation may have fallen short of creating the loving and peaceful world that the young Neil Young envisioned (and wistfully alludes to in Walk Like a Giant), but no one, not even Dylan or Springsteen, has channeled our generation’s thoughts, feelings and life experiences with more emotional impact than Neil.
well, the concert brought feedback to a new level-feedback within feedback until it was dripping from your pores as the gigantic -must be 20' speakers-Fenders-reached across the stadium. We were first row center 4th balcony and could feel the bass lines vibrate. NY had trouble ending some of the songs; Walk Like a Giant from the new album was about 15' long with at least 5' of a feedback ending-enough to make Jimi or Kurt sit up and listen. Mr Soul took on new meaning; the encore-Like A Hurricane was indeed awesome-I couldn't turn on the radio or anything for the ride home as it keep reverberating between my ears.
The comic interludes-roadies dressed in white coats, some in orange construction hats and vests, well still not sure what that was all about-something to do w.NY playing feedback to re-dial the time machine in order to play one of his older songs. And the beginning w. American flag,national anthem,hands over hearts and th eflag drops to reveal the Crazy Horse logo
then there was about 30 minutes of Patti Smith-energetic as always-a rockin extended R+R 'song' that blended Land of 1000 Dances and G-L-O-R-I-A
and not to forget the surprise opener-an LA band-Everest-rocking,tight-kind of like the Killers meets Wallflowers
if I never go to another concert ever, this one will be permanently imprinted
w
One of the most amazing shows I have ever had the pleasure to see... It is so obvious that Neil Young loves being up there with Crazy Horse... I wouldn't have missed it for the world!
FYI, in case anyone missed it, tickets are on sale now for the benefit show in Atlantic City on 12/6, at:
http://www.theborgata.com/entertain
GA tickets cost $85 all in, the venue apparently holds only about 3,000 people. Hard to imagine this won't be a memorable show ...
the live shows are great, for the most part.
Sometimes in life you want/need redundancy. like large computer systems that have allot of users. if 1 system fails you can quickly switch to the 2nd one with little to no loss of service. But if Ive got Greendale I don't need Ramada Inn. Its just the same plodding of same chords. It ain't a revelation if you been a NY fan for as long as me. Same for every other song on PP. So I don't want/need it. But I could never discourage any NY fan from seeing this tour. Its too much fun.
Anyone know of pre-show party/gathering for Bridgport show. Any good bars near arena?
My 1st time seeing Neil. Surprising..because i've listened to his music since i was probably 10 or 11. (i'm 52 now) I was not about to miss seeing him on this tour, because Psychedelic Pill is just FANTASTIC. One thing about Neil is ya never really know what you're gonna get...and if you are a 'fan', you're gonna like it ALL. I'm not a huge fan of his feedback-grateful dead like 'space', but ya gotta appreciate the good with the bad. He and the band were on fire, and for me Electric Neil is just heaven. I love how he can make songs sound new and fresh each time. I guess if i had any negative it would be a lot of the LONG extended song endings. Just end it already..or segue into another song. But it was a really great show. As for the newer material, i would have loved either the title cut or She's Always Dancing, but it was a good mix, and we all know with the amount of material to choose from, we're not ever gonna hear everything that we want. But i was thrilled with the encore of Like A Hurricane, which is one of my favorites! Not a big fan of Fuckin Up, and thought a different song...any song, would have been a better use of the time. While everyone seems to love that song, to me it's just ok. It amazes me just how GOOD he is playing at his age. There's artists out there half his age that can't or don't play shows as long. Thank You Neil ! Keep on Rocking! Thanks for making my first time seeing you play a memorable one. I will be there every time you come back to Philly.
They had postings that the show was being filmed...can we expect a dvd or something in the future? Patti Smith was a good choice for an opener. Was hoping they would have done something together, but didn't happen. Her set was just ok..and seemed to be getting better at the last song.
All in all, it was a great show...and if he starts mixing the songs up more, and adding other things, this tour could possibly rival the Year of the Horse tour. If it comes to your town..GO. But if you're reading this, you're probably already going. More songs...less 'Arc' and it'll be great. Unless, of course each person is actually given a psychedelic pill upon admission...then the feedback laced song endings would sound excellent. Great show otherwise.
stop! Stop!! STOOPPP!!!
Thrasher, please stop letting anyone publish any comment on Neil's Tour again.....
................................
................................
until the start of a European Tour.
Run through all the vids of Psychedelic Pill, played the album so many times it is now just one giant feedback, but...
I WANNA SEE NEIL AND CRAZY HORSE HERE IN EUROPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well Luc - I feel your pain believe me I do.
But for me...Tonight's The Night that I finally get to see the Alchemy Tour from a premium seat!
I'll be jealous as the tour rolls along into next year - BUT - tonight is mine all mine!!!
Hoping for Cortez!!!
Terrible Show.....watching some clown blow garbage across the stage as Neil goes into a feedback coma, nothing more needs to be said...
Well, folks, off to see the Patriot Center show. Hoping for Over and Over!
Over and Over, great song. One of the strongest played on this tour. See Red Rocks vid, its great
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CFt9oyk7ic
so relaxed yet so much emotion from a guy who often puts a sour puss on from stage. has the Poncho back rub at like 6:20. having fun. The show I saw had only this for encore but that was enough.
Waste of money! Neil just jammed all night and did not play old classic songs as I had expected. They never seemed to know how to end a song. Just jammed together as if they were in the studio experimenting and having fun together. Trouble is we paid good money not to watch them have fun but rather to entertain us with good music. Very disapointing!
here it is folks. hurricane in all its glory. wish he had played some old classic hits, like hurricane, cin girl, powederfinder, mr soul, needle, songs like that, songs that really rocked, not this new stuff.
thrasher: please post this as a separate post so it is not missed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_EmyMlke4A
ps. not sure what poncho was playing - looks like a blow up doll keyboard from m-audio or Nord.
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well anon 7:20, i guess yer just fucked. if neil and the boys weren't having fun you wouldn't see them. isn't rock and roll supposed to be fun anyway?
hmm, no classics like you expected. nope, not a one. no powderfinger. no hey hey my my. no mr soul. NO LIKE A FUCKING HURRICANE. no needle and the damage done. no classic hits. none whatsoever.
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At least it appears that NYCH are weeding out the knobjockeys by playing "no hits" FYI Neil's job has never been to please you
Great concert, all that we expected from Neil and the Boys. Great sound. loved Patty Smith, missed Everest due to traffic. Live for those concerts. This was # 13. To see Rust never sleeps in 78 and to see this last night was incredible!
"Casual fan" and $150 ticket? Isn't that an oxymoron? Neil Young will follow his muse, thank God! We are all so fortunate to see the Horse ride again with the genius rock artist writing epic passages and stomping sonic a** like an inspired madman. If you didn't know, the guy ignores what his fan base WANTS him to do. As soon as you get a record, he is already on to his next thing. Through peaks and valleys he has traversed the terrain no other artist could manage. He is both the Godfather of Grunge and the hippy country rocker with plenty of other alter egos thrown in there. Be thankful. Or be gone. Alan G in Seattle
The Neil Young & Crazy Horse show that I saw last night in Philadelphia, PA was EASILY the greatest concert I've ever seen. One of the best nights of my life. The band played and sang with soooooooo much feeling....to the point where I was literally bawling during "Like A Hurricane". It was one of the most moving experiences I've ever had! My brother, a friend and I were about 3 rows back for most of the night, which was incredible!!! I ended up getting up to the front row right as Poncho's keyboard came down from the rafter's for "Hurricane". A fan that I met after the show and I both agreed that it was a "cosmic" performance.
Neil and the band were definitely feeling it. After "F!#%in' Up", Neil stepped up to the mic and said "The muse is all good..........I t's groooovy....".
My ears are still ringing and I'm still wearing the wrist band that they gave me at the entrance....:D
Once again...best concert of my life...and something I'll never forget!!
Thank you Neil, Billy, Poncho and Ralph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another highlight was at the end of the show when Neil walked right over in front of us and started banging on his chest with his fist like a gorilla and going "Woo-woo Woo-woo!! Woo-woo Woo-woo!!!". We did it right back to him and it turned into a little call-and-response type thing...lol
GGGRRREEEAAATTT NIGHT!!!!!
It was sad, Neil looked like 5 miles of bad road, had no interaction with his fans, did not care to play his hits, just loud feedback that went on for ever. Had to admit that it was not going to get better, and left to get out of the noise with the benefit of no crowd in the parking lot. In a word SAD. Ill never think of him the same, time has passed him by, the Beatle song was nice though. Waldig
man
o
man
the horse burned the joint down!!!
Saw show in Philly 11/29. Band sounded great and Neil prowled the stage. Feedback for 10 minutes while trash blew by was strange to say the least. All songs had extendo finishes which shortened the play list. Neil was at his fuzzy guitar best and voice was solid. It was primal Crazy Horse and they were rocking. Patti Smith also solid and sounded great
what the fuck are these people talking about i was busy couldnt make west coast shows accept bridge school would never miss that saw madison sguare garden then philly.there is no one and i mean no one who shares there entire soul and heart with there fans through music.jerry garcia said music is pure emotion.neil captures it best.the band is mediocre and amazing at the same time.that is truly spiritual.say the yankees spent 100 mmillion on there team and the A's spend one million the a's win they are truly special.some of the sounds come out of that band are amazing ive been a fan since i was 12 i am now 50 i never have been disapointed people bitched about greendale cause it was new.why doesnt he play his old shit.plays his old shit why doesnt he this or that well hes helping tons of kids at B.S.benefit trying to save the world with linvolt and some of you lame no soul (credics)leave one of the most awesome shows ive seen. problem is you dont get it.hes a modern medicine man with a black electric talking feather.you just dont speak the language.before you say it i know i cant spell or type tough shit.
what a shame some of you missed this iconic concert we saw -- and most folks saw on the entire tour -- for a taste of what REALLY happens on this tour read Mr Henry's blog Link to the Blogger
http://neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org/2012/11/review-of-moment-boston-neil-young.html
I just wanted my money back. If indeed Neil Young told Jon stewart that his goal was to have everyone get up and leave, why did i dump over @200 to go see him? The un-ending power chord "jam" was not musical as evidenced by Boos from the crowd like "play some F-ing music." I felt so burned that I hope nobody shows up to buy his tickets next time. The most interesting moment was the show opener, a large American flag drops and the band leads with "The Star Spangled Banner." I am a fervent patriot, but it was fascinating to see the hesitation in the audience and how few people participated. How does a Canadian go from writing "Ohio" to 2012 and not see the continued dishonor of our nation and military by politicians and war profiteers. It was just weird, out of place and the awkwardness in the crowd speaks volumes.
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