Neil Young with Crazy Horse
A Day On The Green - Mar 16, 2013
Photo by Gary "Old Man Emu" Cee | Picasa Web Albums
(Click photo to enlarge)
As we all know, amazing things happen at Neil Young concerts. Exhibit #4,278.
This week's A Day On The Green concert (Mar 16, 2013) had a truly memorable performance of "Like A Hurricane" by Neil Young & Crazy Horse.
From a rail report by Old Man Emu:
Neil Young with Crazy Horse - 4 shows is not enough but the last was unforgettable.Phenomenal indeed! Thanks "Old Man Emu"!
Hurricane On The Hill at the Hill Winery in Geelong, VIC. When they started Like A Hurricane I was so elated as I've never seen it live. But when the heavens opened and Poncho's organ was getting blown over the edge of the stage like a child's swing with torrential rain pouring down and Poncho giving up and then when the tarpaulin on the roof overflowed right onto Neil and the sheets of water came in they started to shut the song down. I was bitterly disappointed.
Then what ? Neil saw all the equipment was still working, he shoke off a lightning strike, eyed god squarely, and said "Go on I dare you, electrocute me it's your choice". God choose to let Neil and Crazy Horse complete the song. I have never experienced anything drive so much emotional energy through my body. Stage, performers and equipment flooded. 66 year old guys should take more care !
Phenomenal !
Just take a look at "Old Man Emu" Picasa Web Albums or his video of the event to get a sense of what took place.
This version of "Like A Hurricane" will probably go down with 1997, the World Music Theatre in Tinley Park (see The Concert I Won't Forget: The Night Neil Young Rocked Like a Hurricane) or the Music in Head 2000 tour at Red Rocks in a blizzard (see HyperRust: MIH Tour: Denver (Show 3)).
The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind...
This brings tears to my eyes! I am stunned! Wish I could have been there! Neil doesn't know this but he wrote that song for me: I met my now-husband in a crowded hazy bar, and I blew him away with my brown eyes turning once to fire as I danced from star to star! Ended up taking him home with me, and the next morning was EXACTLY like the lyrics from "Kansas," except the bungalow was not of stucco. (We were actually in Kansas, too!) And I never even heard the song "Kansas" until 2007! This is why Neil Young fans have such an intense, visceral connection with him. We so strongly relate to the feelings in his music. I truly love this man.
ReplyDeleteAWESOME! that's called riding the storm IN!
ReplyDeleteThe rain added to the experience. It was worth getting wet just to watch Neil Young play a solo with a towel.
ReplyDeleteSunshine or rain,Neil's playing like a hurricane over and over again!
ReplyDeleteSmile.Cees Mostert.
What I find so astonishing is that Neil doesn't have to do this. He's been writing and performing for so long, he's well past the point where lesser artists "retire" from the road.
ReplyDeleteInstead, he continues to write songs like "Ramada Inn," and then goes on a world tour playing it to anyone who'll listen. Instead, he gives 100% every time he plays because he knows that's what his fans want, and expect, from him (AND he expects it from himself. Instead, he plays "Like a Hurricane" in a rainstorm as if that particular performance was the reason he wrote the song in the first place.
Extraordinary. Simply extraordinary.
Neil asks 'can you feel it' between song on Canterbery, I think he was f#$%cking around with classical gas licks.
ReplyDeleteWell?
Can you?
This is a 3D Hurricane. Sight, sound and soaked.
Washes away until the music is over!
That's down under up and over side and back.
Sorry but haven't seen this mentioned anywhere..
ReplyDeleteTwo short clips of Billy Talbot explaining how he plays Cowgirl In The Sand:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IoVMrO272M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srRFjVM8ZPg
Moe
I've watched this thing several times now, all I can think of is move over PT Barnum and make way for THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH-NEIL YOUNG
ReplyDeleteThanks for your account from up the front, and the fantastic photos.Our experience of it from further back was a bit different.
ReplyDeleteWe will never forget it. It had rained on and off all day, the crowd was cold, wet and even a little miserable until the band came on. Then we could forget how we were feeling. Said to husband earlier "if he doesnt play Hurricane, he hasnt got a sense of humour!".
When they started to play it there was a ripple of excitement and delight through the crowd, like it was an acknowledgement of our situation. Conditions were so bad that many would have left had it not been Neil Young and Crazy Horse they were waiting to see. And then, as the guitar soared, the wind whipped up across the crowd and the heaviest rain of the whole day came down. It really was as if Neil made it happen. We were about halfway back, and the feeling in the crowd as this happened was extraordinary, we all roared when the wind came, and I hoped the band could hear what was happening out there. And then, in the distant sky behind the stage, 3 lightning strikes, the only ones we saw that day or night. Right on cue.
Watching him continue to play while the roadies dried Old Black with a towel, or he did himself with his shirt...I sure hope they filmed that for the movie.
It was an amazing experience that all of us there will never forget, the night Neil Young proved what we all believed, that he is a rock god!