Concert Review of the Moment: Neil Young & Crazy Horse Concert: Mainz, Germany - July 25, 2014

Neil Young
2014-07-12, Hyde Park, London, England
Photo Paolo Brillo |Facebook
(Click photo to enlarge)
The Concert Review of the Moment is from Neil Young & Crazy Horse Concert: Mainz, Germany - July 25, 2014 by Ruby Inthedust:

Neil Young, Crazy Horse and Rick The Bassplayer, Mainz Nordmole, 07-28-2014

Love To Burn

This is a story why I love the man, about the joy and pleasure of being a Rustie and it is the personal review of my last show of this amazing tour!

I am often asked by friends or colleagues "you go to several shows of the same artist in a row, isn't that boring?" I always tell them, that it is because I want to see my favorite artists as often as I can live... while thinking "You'll never understand, cause asking this question shows, that you don't have Love To Burn".

Neil proved again last night, that every show is different, a different mood, the same song never to be played the same twice, no talking to the crowd that was written down before, same words every show, just spontaneous interaction... sometimes more... and sometimes less.

When we arrived at this strange temporary site on the bank of the Rhine, that was part of an old harbour section, walking there from the bus stop, we could hear a rhythm from a far, loud intense.. boom... boom....boom... sound check... what song is it?...Tonight's The Night!!!... WOW!.. The closer we came, the more the song structure was building up... Wooo hooo what a welcome at the venue... will we get it tonight at the show? So exiting... well we didn't, but I guess the crowd in Copenhagen, can possibly look forward to listening to one of my favorite Neil songs.

The pleasure then of meeting all my Rustie friends again, like coming home! I knew she would be there and so I was able to hug her for the first time, my friend Hiroko... "so good to meet you"... she gave me a beautiful, beautiful necklace, one of those, she makes herself, "a tree of life" as she told me "Thank you so much Hiroko". Saying hello to all my friends, hugging Tomer again, my friend from Tel Aviv, who followed Neil spontaneously to three German shows, because Neil wasn't able to play Tel Aviv for the saddest resson of all... Living with war. Tomer gave me a button of Thrasher's Wheat, it will always remind me of meeting such a wonderful new friend and I will wear it with pride, as Thrasher of course is one of my favorite Neil pages, since....ever. There's a sweet story about these buttons, finding their way to Germany... I'll tell that story later.

Waiting in line, looking forward to the show, the weather.. oohhh not looking good, thunderstorms ( we were very lucky in the end, no rain), "come on guys, let us in", grabbing a free t-shirt and running to the stage... always the same, but always exciting!

The Magic Numbers again as support act. I really like them, especially their gorgeous song A Shot In The Dark. And again the tension rising for Neil and his fellow musicians to come on stage, only a short break for rearranging the stage... Old Black handy... and Wooo hooo, here they are!

Down By The River again first song!!! Yes!!! Even more intense than in Dresden! And Powderfinger to follow. The setlist the same as in Dresden...BUT... Cortez in addition! I had prayed for that song again. Tomer, who was standing next to me, had looked at the time, he told me both songs 24 minutes, incredible, insane, awesome, gorgeous!!! No one can do it like Neil, this playing like destroying the song, like tearing it apart, stripping it down to the single notes, only to rebuild it, making it whole again and again and again. Love To Burn also yesterday one of the longest and most intense versions ever. The show lasted 2.25 hrs... with 14 songs played... WOW! (my setlist wasn't quite right last night, too overwhelmed...).

Neil wasn't as talkative as the night before in Dresden, but his spirit and heart was with us, shown in his smiles, in waving to us! In the end he talked to us, telling us again, that we were given the free shirts to remind us of taking care of our Mother Earth! And of course the last song again the encouragement, the demand Who's Gonna Stand Up And Save The Earth?... You've Got To!!!!

Waving good bye... "Who's gonna stand up?"... "Who's gonna stand up?"... "Who's gonna stand up?"... and off they went....

Thank You so much to Neil and his fellow musicians! It was worth every ride through thunderstorms and pouring rain, every train ride or flight! Following Neil on a tour is the most amazing journey and the most rewarding thing to do. I never went home disappointed, NEVER!

While saying good bye to all my lovely Rustie friends, see ya... somewhere down the road... I was thinking: "So this is it?... hmm..... but what about Colmar.... I will have to check out Colmar... the last show of the Euro-tour...hmm...."

Even if I shouldn't go, to me it was the most surprising and most intense Neil, I've ever seen. I am so grateful that he's still bringing us the gift of his wonderful music, thank you so much!!

Down By The River
Powderfinger
Standing In The Light Of Love
Days That Used To Be
Living With War
Love To Burn
Name Of Love
Blowin' In The Wind
Heart Of Gold
Barstool Blues
Psychedelic Pill
Cortez The Killer
Rockin' In The Free World
Who's Gonna Stand Up And Save The Earth

PS: I have told the story in my reviews before, that I have recently lost a friend, who loves Neil the same way I do. I had to think of him again last night and I will always miss him. But I also know, that we will always be connected in a way....through our love of Neil!

Thanks Ruby Inthedust, our roving rustie reporter! Another excellent review with vivid memories to share.



The amazing Neil Young has playing this song with Crazy Horse on an extraordinary location near the river Elbe at Dresden. It was my hope to hear the song as a bonus for closing the show. But it was the opener, incredible. Everything after that was a bonus, I think.
btw, it was quite exhausting to recording the song more than twenty minutes, but it was worthy. Thank you Neil, for the show.

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