NEW DATE: Liverpool - Neil Young and Crazy Horse on July 13th

New Neil Young and Crazy Horse concert just announced for July 13th in Liverpool, England at the Echo Arena. (Thanks growl & Ian!)

Here's the Europe tour dates for Neil Young and Crazy Horse thus far:

2014-07-07, Laugardalshöllin, Reykjavík, Iceland
2014-07-10, Live At The Marquee, Cork, Ireland
2014-07-12, Hyde Park, London, England
2014-07-13, Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
2014-07-15, KüçükÇiftlik Park, Istanbul, Turkey
2014-07-17, Yarkon Park, Tel-Aviv, Israel
2014-07-20, Münsterplatz, Ulm, Germany
2014-07-21, Collisioni Festival, Barolo, Italy
2014-07-23, Wiener Stadthalle, Wien, Austria
2014-07-25, Warsteiner Hockeypark, Mönchengladbach, Germany
2014-07-26, Filmnächte am Elbufer, Dresden, Germany
2014-07-28, Zollhafen - Nordmole, Mainz, Germany
2014-07-30, København Forum, København, Denmark
2014-08-01, Bergenhus Festning - Koengen, Bergen, Norway
2014-08-05, Lokerse Feesten, Lokeren, Belgium
2014-08-08, Foire aux Vins de Colmar, Colmar, France

Thanks Tom on Sugar Mountain!

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Fourth and Final Neil Young Concert @ Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, CA Added

A 4th and final Neil Young solo concert at the Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, US on Wednesday, April 2nd has been announced.

After selling out his March 29th, March 30th, and April 1st dates, the 4th and final concert most likely will also. We'll have to see whether other cities materialize, as well.

Tickets will go on sale this Friday, Feb. 28th at 10 a.m. There will be a Live Nation pre sale on Thursday, Feb. 27th. See comments below for the pre-sale password. For more info and to purchase tickets, go to: Master of The Tickets.

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Global Neil Young Professional Society LinkedIn Group

Interested in some professional Neil Young networking?

Well the Global Neil Young Professional Society LinkedIn Group is the place for you. This group consists of global business professionals who have an appreciation of the music,art, and life of Neil Young.

For details and registration, see Global Neil Young Professional Society LinkedIn Group.

Thanks Jeffry! It's all one network. ;)

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EXCLUSIVE: Spooner Oldham Interview on Thrasher's Wheat Radio Tonight

Spooner Oldham @ Farm Aid 2009
Photo Gallery by Todd Owyoung on ishootshows.com
Tonight, Saturday, at 9:00 PM EST, the Thrasher's Wheat Radio Hour from WBKM.org will be streaming.

Tonight's edition will feature an exclusive interview with Spooner Oldham, the latest Neil Young music and news.

Tune in details and podcast info @ Thrashers Wheat Radio Hour.

Don't be denied!



Thrasher's Wheat Radio
Tune in on WBKM.org, Saturdays @ 9P EST

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Neil Young’s Many Versions of ‘All Along the Watchtower‘

Awhile back, we posted on Bob Dylan covering Neil Young songs.

Now, here's a post on Neil Young’s Many Versions of ‘All Along the Watchtower‘ on the blog DAYS OF THE CRAZY-WILD. The blog by Michael Goldberg, a distinguished pioneer in the online music space who Newsweek magazine called an ‘Internet visionary’, pulls together about eight different versions of Neil Young’s covers of Dylan's ‘All Along the Watchtower‘ from a span several decades with bands from Booker T & The MG's to Crazy Horse.

The version above is from 1993-07-19 at Tanzbrunnen, Köln, Germany, with Booker T And The MGs.

Check out the other versions over on DAYS OF THE CRAZY-WILD. Thanks Michael!

Also, see everything you ever wanted to know about the collaborations of Bob Dylan and Neil Young together.

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NEW DATES: Neil Young @ Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, CA in March

Just announced Neil Young solo concerts:

Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, US on Saturday, March 29th & Sunday, March 30th. This will be a solo acoustic performance.

Tickets go on sale Monday, Feb 24th at 10am.
For more info and to purchase tickets, go to: Master of The Tickets.

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NEW DATE: Colmar, France - Neil Young and Crazy Horse on 8th August

Just announced: Neil Young and Crazy Horse will be playing at the Alsatian Wine Fair in Colmar, France on Friday 8th August.

Tickets available tomorrow at 1000: http://www.foire-colmar.com/fr/vendredi-8-aout-2014

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FLASHBACK - Neil Young: "MTV, you spineless twerps"

Sponsored by Nobody
Neil Young's "This Note's for You"
Lots of recent chatter on Bob Dylan becoming Chrysler's latest car salesman at the Super Bowl last week.

In 1988, MTV placed a station-wide ban on Neil Young's "This Note's for You" video due to "problems with trademark infringement."

Neil Young's "This Note's for You" video satirized high profile musicians like Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston for selling out by endorsing brands.

Young wrote the following open letter to the MTV executives:

6th July, 1988

MTV, you spineless twerps.

You refuse to play "This Note's For You" because you're afraid to offend your sponsors.

What does the "M" in MTV stand for: music or money?

Long live rock and roll.

Neil Young

In response, Young offered to re-shoot the video; however, MTV claimed the lyrics were just as problematic.

MTV eventually reversed the ban and the Julien Temple directed "This Note's for You" went on to win Video of The Year at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1989.


Neil Young's "This Note's for You"

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▶ Neil Young: "Love in Mind" - 1/9/14

Valentine's Day weekend continues.

Here's a very rare performance of Neil Young's "Love in Mind" at Carnegie Hall, NYC on 1/9/14. As everybody knows, "Love in Mind" -- from Time Fades Away -- is only available on vinyl.

Also, check out Thrasher's Wheat Radio tonight.



Thrasher's Wheat Radio

Tune in on WBKM.org, Saturdays @ 9P EST

Tonight, Saturday, at 9:00 PM EST, (~15 minutes from now) the Thrasher's Wheat Radio Hour from WBKM.org will be streaming.

Tonight's edition will feature Year of the Crazy Horse songs, the latest Neil Young music and news.

Tune in details and podcast info @ Thrashers Wheat Radio Hour.

Don't be denied!

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Gram Parsons and Neil Young: Valentine's Day Late Edition

Gram Parsons’ Grievous Angel

 

Here's a Valentine's Day Late Edition post.

Earlier in the day, we had a "happy" post with a video for that timeless song of Neil Young's "Heart of Gold".

So for the Valentine's Day Late Edition post, here are some Gram Parsons and Neil Young songs about getting your heart torn out.

From Neil Young and Gram Parsons Get Their Hearts Torn Out | Consequence of Sound by Henry Hauser:

“Only Love Can Break Your Heart”, off Neil Young’s spectacular ’70 LP After the Gold Rush, marked the singer-songwriter’s first top 40 hit as a solo artist. In this touching, delicate ballad, Young sings that only true love has the power to bring us to our knees. With a wistful, haunting timbre, he bemoans a shattered friend that “hides his head inside a dream.” Unable to shake the “down that he’s found,” this piteous fellow has devolved into a hollow shell. Rather than criticizing his forlorn pal’s inability to get on with life, Young sympathizes, likening a broken heart to the end of the world. Delivering his lyrics in soft spurts, the singer rhetorically questions, “What if your world/ Should fall apart?” Harmonizing beautifully with Stephen Stills and Crazy Horse members Danny Whitten and Ralph Molina, Young repeats the song’s titular lyric over and over as the track fades.

Originally penned by husband and wife songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, “Love Hurts” has been covered by The Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, hard rockers Nazareth, Cher, Rod Stewart, Don McLean, Joan Jett, Heart, Jenny Lewis, and countless others. But the version appearing on Gram Parsons’ posthumous LP, Grievous Angel, is the song that plays in my head when love’s got me down. Backed by crestfallen vocals and a lachrymose steel pedal guitar, the alt-country track sounds all at once mournful and admonishing. In a duet brimming with abjection and sorrow, Parsons and Emmylou Harris rifle off the bitter consequences of love: scars, wounds, pain, and tears. Denouncing love as “just a lie made to make you cry,” the singers implore us to be wary of consigning our hearts to reckless sadists. Gram Parsons’ guitar solos are arresting and plaintive, like freezing rain on an icy sidewalk. Much like Young’s “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”, the track ends with a return to the title line as vocals grow faint: “Ooo-hoooo love hurts!”

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Happy Valentine's Day For Everyone's "Heart of Gold"

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's been 40 years now since "Heart of Gold" entered our lives, and we'd like to wish that every day could be Valentine's Day.

And no Neil Young song seems to say Happy Valentine's Day more than "Heart of Gold" so here's a recent version from Carnegie Hall, New York on Jan. 10, 2014.

So there comes a time for a delightfully heart-warming little love story or ...Understanding Neil Young's Music.

Often, we've found ourselves trying to explain Neil Young's music to others with varying degrees of success. In the end, we find that his music isn't really something that can be explained.

While we've expended quite a few words on this blog making an attempt, it really is the stories of others which transcend the gap much better.


Art by Susan Farrington

So Happy Valentine's Day to all of the hearts of gold out there.

And Happy Valentine's Day to my Heart of Gold, Thrashette. I love you!

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Also, see Top 10 Neil Young Love Songs.

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Review: Crazy Horse's Scratchy & Trick Horse

Crazy Horse's Scratchy
Here's a review of Crazy Horse's albums Scratchy & Trick Horse by Tami Chandler, an Arkansas Girl Who (HEARTs) Crazy Horse:

To say I am a fan of the band Crazy Horse would be a gross understatement. I love them – Heck, I’ve got the sign to prove it. In my opinion, the Horse is one of the most underrated bands in rock and roll, often misunderstood by the casual Neil Young listener as being simply his backing band. Nothing could be farther from the truth…and Neil wholeheartedly agrees. In fact, he prefers to be referred to as “the guitar player for Crazy Horse”. The band has taken many forms over the years, with a varying cast of characters and evolving styles of music. One thing that has remained the same about the Horse since their early days is that they compose and play music from the heart. They are real. Crazy Horse slips through the dark, murky recesses of life with a vulnerable passion, while also celebrating its joys with a fiery salute. They are hard rock-americana-country-doo wop-garage band-balladeers…real guys who take us on a journey of the highs and lows of rock and roll.

Available now for purchase are two of the best kept secrets in music: the recent re-release of the 2005 Reprise-based “Scratchy” compilation, and the 2009 re-release of “Trick Horse”. Although the two albums are very stylistically different from one another, both are fine examples of the band’s work.
“Scratchy” is a two-disc set, released by Wounded Bird Records. It unfortunately does not include the booklet that came with the original package. However, the re-release is much less expensive, and the music it contains is priceless. The set starts off with the blistering “Gone Dead Train” and weaves it way through time with the Cajun-spiced tune “Dance, Dance, Dance”. It includes Nils Lofgren rockers such as “Beggar’s Day” and “Dirty Dirty”, and the heartbreaking Danny Whitten songs “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” and “Dear Song Singer”. Another Whitten-infused highlight is an extended version of “Downtown”.

The package also showcases later work, including the beautiful ballad “Kind of Woman”, the heart-rending “Try”, and the county-flavored “One Thing I Love”. Sprinkled throughout the set are contributions by Jack Neitzche, Ry Cooder, and George Whitsell, among many others. The origins of Crazy Horse’s harmonies are reflected in the Danny and the Memories tracks “Can’t Help Loving That Girl” and “Don’t Go”. Even though “Scratchy” contains over 30 songs, it seems short….it’s a musical ride that ends way too soon.

The sleeper album “Trick Horse” is a gem that was recently discovered lurking quietly on iTunes. Produced by “Poncho Villa”, a.k.a. guitarist Frank “Poncho” Sampedro, it is a hard-rocking, fiesty recording from start to finish. I am unsure of its release date, as little information can be found about the album, but the sound and production style point to the 80s or early 90s. Rockers “Part of You” and “Rock House” kick things off, followed by the beautiful Ralph Molina ballad “Loving You the Way I Do”. Things shift back into high gear with the adrenalin-rushed voice of Billy Talbot screaming “how can we survive?” in “People Talkin”. In classic Crazy Horse style, the guys show they can pull off anything from the heart-pounding rocker “Looking for Somebody” to the easy-flowing “I Miss You” to the party cruise groove inspired “Mexicali”. “Trick Horse” gets better each time you hear it.

These two albums are gems – releases that, unfortunately, have barely seen the light of day. “Scratchy: The Complete Reprise Recordings” is available on Amazon and directly from Wounded Bird Records. “Trick Horse” is available on iTunes.

Am I biased? You bet I am…but I am right. Buy them – see for yourself. As the announcer says on the radio spot included on “Scratchy”, you’ll “get hooked”….

Thanks Tami! Nice review and thanks for sharing with us. A nice way to observe The Year(s) of the Horse(s)!

Actually, we have to say that were glad you mentioned the "Trick Horse". As you mention, it only seems to be available on iTunes and there never was a physical release. Interesting cover and we'll have to track it down when we have a chance.


Crazy Horse Radio Spot

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Some Housekeeping From The Editors of TW

Separating the wheat from the chaff...

Certainly feels like a busy 2014 so far.

So now with the January concerts at Carnegie Hall and across Canada behind us and the European summer tour of Neil Young & Crazy Horse ahead us, it seems like a good time to do a bit of "housekeeping" around here at TW.

To begin, if you've reached out to us but haven't heard back as of yet, we're not ignoring you. Seriously, we're not. It's just that often during heavy news periods like January with the Alberta Tar Sands and mideast concert controversies, it can be a real challenge to keep up with everything.

On an average day here at TW, we probably receive over 2,000 contact "hits" via email, Facebook, Twitter, blog comments, instant messages, physical mail, etc. While we do try and address much of the direct, personal correspondence, we tend to get behind and sometimes lose track of things. So if you do have something that needs our attention, it's best to email us and feel free to follow up on it.

Speaking of Facebook, some folks have asked about why our posts on Thrashers Wheat Never Sleeps | Facebook don't show up in their feeds. Frankly, we have no clue, but here's a suggestion.

Facebook now requires page administrators to pay to promote status updates to fans who already like our page. So, since we do not pay fees to Facebook, many people are missing our posts and only about 10% (or less) of our fans receive our updates in their news feeds.

That means you are probably not seeing most of our posts on FB! To keep receiving all our posts, hover your mouse on the "Like" button near our name. In the drop-down menu select "Add to interest lists." Then create an interest list (see below).

OK, moving along, some have also asked about any updates on our advertising blackout? You may recall that we have lost our advertising partner last year and TW no longer receives revenue from display ads on the blog. We still do not have any sort of explanation for why this happened, but the loss of revenue has forced us to reconsider how we go about things here at TW.

Basically, the cost model of operating TW is unchanged in that the more traffic the site receives, the more it costs to operate. So without an advertising revenue stream to support the bandwidth costs, we now have even a further disincentive to grow traffic and are exploring ways to curtail traffic load.

One method to reduce traffic is reduce posting frequency from daily to 2 or 3 times a week. Another option might be to eliminate the comment feature. Or archive the radio podcasts elsewhere. Or anything else we can think of.

And of course, you, our dear supportive readers would like nothing more than for things to remain the same in this ever changing world as the Big Shift inexorably moves towards us all. Some have asked "How can we help out TW?" Well, glad you asked because there are lots ways to help us out and the Neil fan community. We always suggest dropping us comments on the blog. Submit content like reviews, photos, videos, and Neil stories. That's really the best advice and doesn't cost you a penny.

Also, LIKE us on Facebook , follow us on Twitter and/or subscribe to our email list.

Like, share, forward, and re-tweet posts to your friends.

Or make purchases on Amazon.com via TW. Just look for the Amazon links on this page and TW will receive a small commission (about $0.48 on a $12.00 CD).

Or if you're feeling particularly generous today you can toss a few coins in the hat.

Only your credit card is necessary to apply directly & securely. No PayPal account setup necessary.

Again, we appreciate everyone's kind words of support. Always and sincerely.

Again, thanks everyone for their contributions. But mostly thanks for all the reviews, photos, links, videos, and comments. And your kind and supportive words, especially. We truly enjoy sharing the Neil love around the world. We've been doing this on & off for 20 years on Rust/HH/RH and 18 years on TW and we'd really like to continue -- readers willing.


So by helping us out, you'll also help out to spread the Neil love around the world. And -- maybe in some small way -- it all helps the Bridge School, Farm Aid, Musicares, First Nations People, and the LincVolt project. Because we all want to light a candle, make a difference, be the rain, and be the change.

Having said this, let’s all prepare for what is to come in what we believe will be a New Year full of positive, lasting change.

be the wheat.
peace and love,
thrasher & thrashette

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EDITORIAL: Beware Neil Young: Message to the Oilpatch

As the debate over Canada failing to honor the treaties and relentlessly exploit First Nations people while devastating the Alberta Tar Sands region, support for Neil Young continues to build -- not just in Canada but around the world. (See here, here, and here.)

And as the following editorial makes clear, those who have challenged Neil Young in the past have often regretted doing so and found themselves on the losing end.

Over and over, Neil Young has proven to be on the right side of history time after time after time. So just a reminder for the doubters out there, when Neil Young speaks truth to power, challenge him at your own risk.

From Message to the oilpatch: beware Neil Young | Toronto Star by Eugene Lang, BMO Visiting Fellow, School of Public and International Affairs, Glendon College, York University:

Big oil has spent tens of millions of dollars in advertisements and public relations (...) Whatever positive effect this expensive PR effort has yielded, Neil Young could wipe out in an afternoon of inspired song writing.
...
Give him the respect he deserves and consider his views carefully, lest he train his formidable lyrical and melodic arsenal on you.
...
The message to Big Oil should be clear. When an angry Neil Young shows up on your doorstep, don’t dismiss him the way you do all your other critics. Give him the respect he deserves and consider his views carefully, lest he train his formidable lyrical and melodic arsenal on you.

All it will take is one song from Neil Young to turn this around.

There's a hole in the sky... and the earth...

And in other Neil news, it seems that some would like Neil Young to cancel his concert in Tel-Aviv, Israel on July 17 with Crazy Horse and have started a petition.

While the entire Middle East region seems to be a terminal basket case that everyone wishes would just go away, of course, it's not going anywhere, anytime soon, so the only option is to continue to dialog. Speaking with one another is certainly far better than this continued nonsense of simply bombing each other. When has dropping bombs ever fixed anything?

With that all said, how about those supporting the petition putting their energy into something positive? Like supporting a concert for peace, maybe? In fact, that's what Neil Young & Crazy Horse's tour of Europe last summer was: a concert of peace and love.

Love and only love. Unconditional love. Try it sometime.

"I disapprove of what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it."
~~Beatrice Hall summarizing Voltaire's philosophy in The Friends of Voltaire

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▶ This Is What Real Deal Neil Young Fans Are Like: Vinyl Review of Neil Young's "Cellar Door, 1970" & Carnegie Hall, 1/6/14

Have you ever wondered what it's like to journey inside a big Neil fan's head space?

Well, here's your chance in this wonderfully intimate review of seeing Neil Young at Carnegie Hall on 1/6/14 and a vinyl review of Live At The Cellar Door 1970.

The vinyl review of Live At The Cellar Door 1970 begins about ~14:00.

Hey Thrasher,

Here is my long overdue video talking about the Carnegie Hall show I attended and the Live At The Cellar Door LP. It's a little long but when it comes to Neil I always have much to say :)

I only went on Monday, the first night. I do wish I could've gone to more, but I was happy to have been there the one night. This was a special evening... it felt a little different from other Neil shows I've seen... maybe it was the venue... not sure. Perhaps it was a little poignant for Neil too seeing as he hasn't played there in so long and how important his first shows there were.

I've heard other nights were better, etc. but for me Monday was excellent. There was still that little bit of mystery as to what he was going to do. In the video I talk about hanging around the stage door before the show...you'll see.

I also show a really cool, rare bootleg record at the end that was gift from another huge Neil fan.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy.

Talk to you soon.

Cheers,
Tony aka ShittyHorse, aka MrFartboy79 :)

Thanks for sharing this with us Tony aka SH aka MFB79! Terrific collection you've got going there.

Keep on spinning the black circle in the free world!

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Photo of the Moment: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Hurricane Sandy Benefit Concert, Atlantic City, 12/6/12

Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Hurricane Sandy Benefit Concert, Atlantic City, 12/6/12
(Click photo to enlarge)The Photo of the Moment is Neil Young & Crazy Horse at the Hurricane Sandy Benefit Concert, Atlantic City, 12/6/12.

More photos and reviews at Hurricane Sandy Benefit Concert, Atlantic City, 12/6/12.

Also, check out Thrasher's Wheat Radio tonight.



Thrasher's Wheat Radio

Tune in on WBKM.org, Saturdays @ 9P EST
Tonight, Saturday, at 9:00 PM EST, (~15 minutes from now) the Thrasher's Wheat Radio Hour from WBKM.org will be streaming.

Tonight's edition will feature Year of the Crazy Horse songs, the latest Neil Young music and news.

Tune in details and podcast info @ Thrashers Wheat Radio Hour.

Don't be denied!

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The Everly Brothers Cover of Neil Young's "Mr. Soul": 1968

With the recent passing of Phil Everly, there's been a bit of a resurgence in interest in the music of The Everly Brothers.

So in the interest of resurgence, re-discovery and resurrection, here's a cover of Neil Young's "Mr. Soul".

Produced By Jack Nitzche in 1968.

Enjoy and dream, dream, dream!

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"Meet the Musicians": Crosby, Stills & Nash Panel Interview

Here's an interesting video of a panel interview of Crosby, Stills & Nash titled "Meet the Musicians".

Filmed in Berlin prior to a concert in 2013, the group talks about a variety of subjects including the CSNY 1974 Tour Box Set and whether it will be ready for 40th anniversary? (see ~46:00).

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"The Calgary Address" by Neil Young - 01.19.14

Neil Young speaks in Calgary for the "Honour The Treaties" campaign.

From Neil Young | Facebook:

Thanks to my friends in the First Nations.

Thanks to my crew, Thanks to all of the Canadians who supported our efforts to enable justice and truth for the First Nations living in Canada. Our journey across the great expanse of Canada revealed the beauty of the people and the land once again and brought back the old feelings of home. To the leaders of Canada I say keep our word. Live up to the truth. Honour the treaties. To the foreign and domestic oil companies in our north, I say clean up your mess. Stop complaining. Talk to our First Nations and come to agreements to allow what you plan to do on their land, as it is represented in the treaties our forefathers reached with our First Nations.

PEACE.
Neil Young, Canadian citizen since 1945.

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NEW DATE: Reykjavík, Iceland - Neil Young & Crazy Horse on July 7th 2014

Neil Young & Crazy Horse will perform their first ever show in Iceland on July 7th 2014. The show will take place at Laugardalshöllin in Reykjavík.

Tickets on Sale 10am Monday 10th February.

Venue Address: Laugardalshöllin, Engjavegur 8, 104 Reykjavík, Iceland

EVENT PROMO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkYe85b53QA

TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets will be on sale from Monday 10th February at 10am from here: http://www.dashtickets.is/event/5z1tcsgxv.

There are 2 types of ticket for Neil Young & Crazy Horse at Laugardalshöllin: Area A and Area B. Area A being closer to the stage and Area B further from the stage. All tickets are unreserved/standing.

Single tickets:
Ticket price for Area A is 17,900 ISK / 115 EUR
Ticket price for Area B is 14,900 ISK / 95 EUR

We are also offering combined tickets with ATP Iceland (ATP Iceland weekend ticket holders will receive an email from their ticket vendor with instructions and links if they wish to upgrade their tickets to week passes.)

Combined ATP Iceland and Neil Young tickets:
A week ticket includes:

Neil Young & Crazy Horse show on July 7th
ATP Iceland event July 8th - TBA
ATP Iceland event July 9th - TBA
ATP Iceland 2014 weekend ticket July 10th - 12th (Portishead, Interpol, Kurt Vile & Violators, Swans, Fuck Buttons + many more)

Prices:
ATP week ticket (ATP Iceland + Neil Young & Crazy Horse Area A): 31900 ISK / 200 EUR
ATP week ticket (ATP Iceland + Neil Young & Crazy Horse Area B): 28900 ISK / 180 EUR

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▶ "Splendid Isolation" - Warren Zevon & Neil Young - Bridge 1993

Here's a trip down memory lane with the late, great Warren Zevon.

Here's Warren Zevon & Neil Young on "Splendid Isolation" at the for the 7th Annual Bridge School Benefit Concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre, 11/06/93.



Warren Zevon and Neil Young
Winter Park, Colorado, 1992 - Photo by Richard Creamer

The late, great Warren Zevon and Neil Young have a few interesting musical intersections.

From Sugar Mountain Set Lists, Warren Zevon and Neil Young performed together on 07-11-1992 in Winter Park, Colorado. Neil was a guest on two songs: 'Splendid Isolation' and 'Comes A Time'.

Neil also plays lead guitar on Warren Zevon's song "Gridlock" from his 1989 album, Transverse City.

Warren Zevon - Sentimental Hygiene

Neil Young played on one of Warren Zevon albums, the title song of the 1987 album Sentimental Hygiene with a blistering guitar solo.

And a minor Warren and Neil connection is Zevon's song "Play It All Night Long" with the lyrics:

"Sweet home Alabama",
Play that dead band's song.
Sweet home Alabama,
Play it all night long.

Of course "that dead band's song" refers to Lynyrd Skynyrd's anthem "Sweet home Alabama" with the immortal lines:

"Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A southern man don't need him around anyhow"

From Warren Zevon's biography, the sory is that he ran into Neil and invited him to play a benefit show. Neil then returned the favour by inviting him to the Bridge Benefit.

The biography uses passages from his diary. One passage reads:

July 10, 1992-Colorado
"Stopped to eat at what seemed like no more than a crossroads in the middle of nowhere: we walked in and there was Neil Young and his wife, Pegi. They're with their son at camp: pure coincidence.

July 11, 1992-Winter Park
...Up at 8:00 with a headache. Rode over to the festival site early with Randy Newman and his guy. Newman seemed to have no interest in me whatsoever...Neil and I running into each other was major local news. Later Neil and Pegi arrived, Neil wearing "Old Velvet Nose" boldly on his T-shirt...He asked me what we were going to do. We played Splendid Isolation and Cortez...great audience...great day. Neil and I spent some more time together. I sure like this guy and it was a thrill playing with him on stage.

Lastly -- quite surprisingly -- here's a video from the TV program Suddenly Susan with Warren Zevon and the lead character discussing whether Neil Young is actually on his Sentimental Hygiene album.

Quite funny...



Thank Jeffry!

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Jim Jarmusch: "I thought Neil (Young) might burn psychic rays through my skull..."

Jim Jarmusch in STAR
(Click photo to enlarge)
Here's an interview with Jim Jarmusch on making the film "Dead Man" with Neil Young.

We were trying to transcribe but never finished, so here it is.

We found this quote particularly striking by Jarmusch: "I thought Neil (Young) might burn psychic rays through my skull. He's an intense character."

So we've heard.

If anyone wants to volunteer to transcribe, that would be great! The TW intern staff is out on strike. ;)

Question put to Jim Jarmusch in this months UNCUT , Can you tell me the story about Neil Young working on the Dead Man soundtrack when you were outside the soundbooth and there was "production concerns" Jim Replies , I,m going to get in trouble here .We were recording the soundtrack in a warehouse in San Francisco with a remote outside.We mic,d up the room in various places for Neil to use an electric guitar but he could also use an acoustic or the organ he had .There were screens set up around in a circle so that Neil could record to the picture while the film was playing .It was a rough cut.Neil wanted the dialogue of the film audible to himself.I was worried it was going to bleed into the music so we couldn,t move the music later .When Neil left the room I said to Jay Rabinowitz , the editor "man this isn,t going to work .It,s going to bleed and we,ll never be able to move it , I,ve got to tell him , what do I do ?" Then Neil walks back in , walks right up to me and looks right through my skull saying "I heard what you said , I was out in the truck, you know the whole room is mic,d man? Just loosen up , don,t worry about it .If the score is good you won,t want to move it .Don,t worry about the technical shit , let me do my thing .In the end he was right , because we did not move it .The music landed where Neil played it .But there were very scary moment where I thought Neil might burn psychic rays through my skull, he,s an intense character "

(Thanks David F.!)
Also, see more on Jim Jarmusch's film "Dead Man" with Neil Young soundtrack.

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CSNY 1974 Tour Box Set: Ready for 40th Anniversary?

David Crosby, Graham Nash, Neil Young and Stephen Stills
Oakland Coliseum, July 14, 1974
Photo by David Zimmer
(Click photo to enlarge)
As we've reported over the years, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young have been working on a CSNY 1974 Tour Box Set and it now seems to be just about ready just in time for the 40th anniversary of the tour.

David Crosby recently Tweeted that box was nearly finished.

Here's an interview from last fall with more detail from Graham Nash Harmonic Converger: Graham Nash Unveils a Life Full of Wild Tales | SoundBard:

NASH: The upcoming CSNY 1974 deluxe package accounts for at least eight sides of vinyl in it.

METTLER: Oooh, can we talk about that?
NASH: Sure, let’s talk about it.

METTLER: When will that be coming out?
NASH: I’m 11 mixes away from the end of a 40-song set. I’m deeply into this. Right now, I’m figuring out the cover with my friend Joel Bernstein. We listened to every single thing. We chose the best delivery of the song. The idea was this: Did Neil kill me with his delivery? Did Stephen blow my mind with “Word Game”? Which track, which one, is the best? I wanted those kind of takes. So Joel and I put this thing together. It’ll be 40 songs, and it’s the 40-year anniversary next year. I’m thoroughly expecting it to be out by March 4 [2014].

METTLER: So you’re reclaiming the sound from that tour, quite literally.
NASH: Not only that, but CSNY was an incredibly fine rock & roll band. We could really do it. I mean, not only did we have four interesting individuals and four strong songwriters, but we had the songs. I mean, Neil Young, in 1974, had an incredible burst of songwriting. He has a lot of songs on here, all written around that time, that are brilliant.

METTLER: That would be, what, songs like “Human Highway”?
NASH: [nods] “Human Highway.” “Don’t Be Denied.” “Pushed It Over the End.” “Ambulance Blues.” Just on and on and on. And one of the things about this box set, which was supposed to come out last year, is that I just kept finding things. I found this minute-and-a-half Neil song called “Goodbye Dick,” about Richard Nixon. It’s killer! I had lunch with Neil here in the city about a week ago and I told him about it, and he goes, “Ahh, I remember that one. I only did that once, right?” I said, “Yeah, you only did it once, and it’s fucking brilliant! And I’d like to use it.” And he goes, “Well, go ahead, man. Sounds good.”

METTLER: Did you also talk about putting this out in some form of HRA, high resolution audio?
NASH: Yes. The very first release on Pono, Neil Young’s new high-res playback machine, will be that Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Live 1974 album. All in 24/192, the highest resolution we can get. Neil has been a high-res fanatic for years, you know.

March 4 is two months out from now. Will it be ready? Or by Summer?

PONO is set to launch in March at SXSW. Maybe some news there?

Then there's the rumored 1970 CSNY BluRay DVD...

More on CSNY 1974 Tour Box Set.

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Neil Young at GRAMMY's 2014: Highlights and Interviews

Neil Young

GRAMMY Awards 2014

Last week, Neil Young was at GRAMMY week in Los Angeles, California for The Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing GRAMMY Honor.

Here are a few videos from the festivities with commentary from other musicians, producers & engineers.





GRAMMY 56 Producers & Engineers Event Honoring Neil Young, Part 1


GRAMMY 56 Producers & Engineers Event Honoring Neil Young, Part 2

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▶ Billy Talbot Talks Future Of Crazy Horse & Latest Solo Album - YouTube

A nice interview with Crazy Horse's bassist Billy Talbot.

A wide ranging discussion where Billy talks about his latest solo album On The Road To Spearfish, about the endurance of garage rock and Pearl Jam, spirituality, the influence of Warren Zevon and Neil Young's PONO technology.

So does Billy think that Crazy Horse has met the end of their road?

“No, I don’t. I think it’s impossible for us to live without it. I don’t think so. I’m never gonna think it’s the end until after I passed away.”

And after watching Billy's interview, check out Thrasher's Wheat Radio.


Thrasher's Wheat Radio
Tune in on WBKM.org, Saturdays @ 9P EST

Tonight, Saturday, at 9:00 PM EST, (~15 minutes from now) the Thrasher's Wheat Radio Hour from WBKM.org will be streaming.

Tonight's edition will feature the latest Neil Young music and news.

Tune in details and podcast info @ Thrashers Wheat Radio Hour.

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