Concert Review of the Moment: Neil Young & The Kids in Europe, Summer 2013

Kristine, "The Loner" & Rafael
Lucca Festival, Italy: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - July 25, 2013
(Click photo to enlarge)
The Concert Review of the Moment is about seeing Neil Young & Crazy Horse this summer in Europe with the kids. Here's the experience in Lucca and Rome with two nine years old by The Loner:

Neil Young and Crazy Horse!

My family had enjoyed our summer holiday in Italy, planned when we knew that Neil Young and Crazy Horse were going to play concerts in Lucca and Rome. My two nine year old children were attending their first Neil Young concert in Lucca. Finally the day arrived - with an aching shoulder. The painful shoulder is probably due to tense driving with manual transmission in Italian cities and made ​​shifting very painful. A few painkillers and adrenaline caused that I could add sixty kilometers behind the wheel towards the fine city of Lucca in Italy. We arrived a piazza, giving a lovely frame for the concert.

A nice person in the audience had my kids alternately on his shoulders, something people around us only thought was cozy. Thanks to those people! Already from the first notes of Love and Only Love came lump in the throat, and the good feeling lasted throughout the concert. I finally got to experience Walk Like A Giant and Ramada Inn from last year's album – what versions! Time and place are insignificant when Neil and horses go to the peripheries of the world with their instruments. Adding that Neils voice was in very good shape and that the acoustic songs like Red Sun sounded perfect.

I've been on so many Young concerts that I will complain about songs that are not played, but enjoying myself with those who come. Some of the most obvious crowd favorite did not come. Like a Hurricane I did not expect, as this supposedly got an incredible version of thunderstorms two days earlier. The concert ended a quarter past midnight and we were all very tired when it was over.

The concert the next day in Rome was about as strong. After running 3000 kilometers by car, visited Siena once again, delivering the car and arrived hotel, I should now see Neil Young and Crazy Horse without my kids. The crowd here was much younger than in Lucca, but they hung on to both old and new material. Ramada Inn seemed even better than the night before and people were singing along to Blowin ' In the Wind (the acoustic version), Heart of Gold and Rockin' In The Free World. I particularly enjoyed a superb Sedan Delivery - none of my favorites otherwise - and Surfer Joe and Moe the Sleaze. But Lucca meant something special to me. For those who have tickets in Norway, only to rejoice! Will my children come along? If Neil promises to play Hey Hey, My My. My son wants so bad to be like the woman in the video from Weld.

-The Loner
Oslo, Norway

Thanks The Loner! What a great father. Lucky kids. Enjoy the concert in Norway!