Comment of the Moment: Thoughts on “Thrasher”

Neil Young
Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, 04/02/2014
Photo by Jeff Allen
(Click photo to enlarge)

The Comment of the Moment is from Thoughts on “Thrasher”: Neil Young Last Performed 36 Years Ago by setlistthief:

The reemergence of Thrasher reminds us that the best songs are alive and changing. So it is with the 2014 performance.

When Neil first wrote and performed this song he was in his early thirties-a time when most of us finally feel like we're grownups. Indeed, Neil had already seen so much life and death, joy and tragedy up close. Thrasher seems to be a reaction to all that; the CSNY breakup. Danny and Bruce's deaths, the birth of his kids, Carrie, the longing to get away from it all. The song is full of metaphor and imagery like no other NY composition, describing childhood memories, dreams, life and death. Indeed, every line is precious, not a word wasted, following a chronological narrative from young to old. How Neil at a tender young age could write those words and set them to a simple, gorgeously rendered melody true to a traditional folk song structure is beyond astonishing. It is truly unique.

But now the song looks back over a life. In that context, it becomes something else, a chronicle, a memoir. That's what makes it alive.

"But me I'm not stopping there,
Got my own row left to hoe
Just another line in the field of time
When the thrasher comes I'll be stuck in the sun
Like the dinosaurs in shrines
But I'll know the time has come
To give what's mine"

My God. Those words in 2014 mean something completely different than they did in 1978. But the meaning hasn't changed at all, either.

ps - And another thing...we think of Neil Young's songs as intensely personal, but ultimately what he writes is incredibly universal. Who hasn't watched westerns on their mama's TV? Who hasn't watched eagles and vultures soaring in the western sky? Who hasn't wondered how they lost their friends? And how many of us aren't becoming aware of our own mortality?

For me the most poignant line is "I was feelin' like my day had just begun." Sung by a man pushing 70, it serves to remind me how much more I want to accomplish in my life. With all his acccomplishments of the last decade (going back to Greendale) imagine how Neil Young feels.

Thanks setlistthief! Yes, quite eerie and prescient the lyrics of “Thrasher” relative to today's times. Certainly the hallmark of great art -- timeless.

More Thoughts on “Thrasher”: Neil Young Last Performed 36 Years Ago.

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In Memory of The Red Baron: Human Highway Founder Completes Final Upload To Cloud

Dr. Rainer B., AKA “The Baron,” “Baron Rouge” and “Dr. Nusskopf”
Co-Founder of Neil Young Fan Community Human-Highway.org
It is with great sadness that we report on the passing of a dear friend and Neil Young Fan Rainer B., AKA “The Baron,” “Baron Rouge” and “Dr. Nusskopf”, the co-Founder of Neil Young Fan Community Human-Highway.org.

The passing of our long time friend Rainer is quite sad for us. Having known him online virtually for 20 years, we finally met last summer in Berlin when Neil Young & Crazy Horse toured Europe.

To finally meet in person at the Berlin Human Highway/Rust/ Tribute was tremendous — yet all too brief, regrettably. Thrasher’s Wheat website owes a great deal to Rainer for thoughts and technical guidance over the years. Rainer was both an ordinary and not so ordinary person. Too late, too soon, he sleeps with angels.

Dr. Rainer B. & Thrasher's Wheat Radio Crew
June 1, 2013 - Berlin, Germany

Dearest Zumans,

It is with deep, deep grief and profound sorrow beyond measure that I tell you this.
Our beloved list administrator and friend, Rainer, passed away last night after a short but courageous battle .

He did not want to go and he fought his illness with all the strength he had. He said to me: "I have to go
on and it will be a long and hard road. I've always been more like a long-distant walker."

He chose to keep what he was going through private - it was his German way.

He was fine during his trip to America last August but he started to feel unwell at the end of October last year. It was a shock as he had never been sick a day in his life, he said.

He loved his lists and his websites and all of you and believed strongly in his advertisement-free social media platforms he created to discuss all things Neil and whatever else turned up along the Human Highway.

"This is brilliant and beautiful" he always said and he paid for all this himself - including his beloved server "Cortez" that operates from Munich. All so we could continue to have a free, private exchange.

He cherished his once-in-a-lifetime trip to America and meeting some of his Zumans after 17 years.

He supported everything creative and urged people to "Just do it, just do something!" especially young musicians.

He was a brilliant, real Doctor of Physics and was highly respected at his employer the European Patent Office.

He had a zany sense of humor - Dr,Nusskopf - and a sense of wonder about all things in the universe.

I have so much to say and write but I am such a mess right now.

I loved him so much.

In the days to come we can share memories of him and we will put together a page on his websites. I do not know what will happen in the future, but somehow we will stay together.

Sharon

Cortez Server
Neil Young Fan Community Human-Highway.org
Our dearest Red Baron, this code's for you - just another line in the field of time. See you next time up in the Big Cloud.

More tributes and comments on Neil Young Fan Community Human-Highway.org.

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Thoughts on “Thrasher”: Neil Young Last Performed 36 Years Ago

“Thrasher” by Neil Young, Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, 04/02/2014 (reviews)

The song “Thrasher” by Neil Young was last performed in concert 36 years ago in 1978 on the Rust Never Sleeps tour.

The reemergence of “Thrasher” in the setlist during Neil Young's solo run Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, CA has certainly thrilled and stunned fans.

Setlist Los Angeles, CA, 3/29/2014
Photo by Candy Butterscotch

Until last week, the song had been played in concert only 32 times, the last time being Oct 24, 1978, which was captured in the “Rust Never Sleeps” concert film. (Thanks Sugar Mountain!)

So why now? Was there any particular motivation of Neil to perform this rarity in 2014 in Los Angeles?

Well, as with all things, Neil, who knows?

Just before performing the “Thrasher” encore on the 3rd night in Los Angeles (April 1), Neil Young said:

"This song, uh, you know, I did it, I haven't done it that much in my life, because, at a very vulnerable moment I read something about it. Just like the worst fucking review I've ever read. So, for all you reviewers, if you feel like your words don't mean anything, you're probably right. In that case.. in that case, they were damaging. So, anyway, we uh .. I think I got this uh.. I think this is the one here, I hope so.."

As we rambled about the other night on Thrasher's Wheat Radio, there's a great deal of significance to the song's unexpected resurfacing after its 36 years absence as Neil's most requested obscurity track.

Obviously, the song “Thrasher” is quite special to us and we've long considered the song to be Neil Young’s lyrical magnum opus - rich with poetry, metaphors, themes, allusions, and symbols. In one of our very first posts to the Rust list back in 1993 we attempted An Analysis of the Meaning of the song Thrasher Lyrics.

Looking back today at the analysis, there were some things that we think we got right and a few things that were clearly wrong. Our central thesis at the time was that "Thrasher" was about the whole mega group Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young trip in the mid-'70s. Neil seemed to be referring to his former bandmates as the "they" in “Thrasher”. The dinosaurs are CSNY - extinct, a fossil. "So I got bored and left them there, they were just dead weight to me" refers to Neil's departure from CSNY. "It's better on the road without that load" signifies Neil's successful solo path.


“Thrasher” - Rust Never Sleeps film

So that was then. This is now.

It's now been 40 years since the 1974 reunion tour and there's been much speculation about a multi-disc box set being released for the anniversary, as well as, a possible tour. While still no definite confirmation of CSNY plans here in 2014, the clock ticks on and the possibility remains.

But it would seem that the performance of “Thrasher” last week would be a good omen in terms of Neil reconciling differences with CS&N. Or not?

Could this be Neil's response to CS&N regarding the 1974 reunion tour box set, as in it's not going to happen? Well, in our humble opinion, no. The box set will be released someday and Neil will play with CS&N again someday.

"But me I'm not stopping there,
Got my own row left to hoe
Just another line in the field of time
When the thrashers comes, I'll be stuck in the sun
Like the dinosaurs in shrines
But I'll know the time has come
To give what's mine. "


First-ever performance of “Thrasher” recorded on May 24, 1978 at the legendary Boarding House in San Francisco.

Or maybe the performance of “Thrasher” has nothing to do with CSNY? Maybe another 4 letter acronym... PONO? A comment below by The Flying Scotsman just might be on to something...

Neil Young
Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, 04/02/2014
Photo by Jeff Allen
(Click photo to enlarge)

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PHOTO: Neil Young, Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, 04/02/2014 + TW Radio Podcast - 4/05/2014

Neil Young
Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, 04/02/2014
Photo by Jeff Allen
(Click photo to enlarge)
Thanks to Jeff Allen for the photo above of Neil Young, Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, 04/02/2014 (reviews).

Jeff Allen's photography can be seen on the cover of Neil Young FAQ by Glen Boyd – a previously unseen photo of Neil Young taken during the 1969 TV taping of ABC’s short-lived Music Scene show, with Crosby Stills Nash & Young.

As author, blogger, raconteur Glen Boyd writes: "So, obviously we were delighted when Jeff contacted us earlier this week to let us know that he had scored prime seats for Neil’s four-night run of solo acoustic shows at the prestigious Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles."
From a comment on Neil Young, Los Angeles, CA - Tuesday, April 1, 2014 - Show #3 by eddy:

I would have loved to see him play a solo show. Honestly, if watching Neil play doesn't inspire or make you feel anything anymore, why are you still going to his shows?

I went to see Dylan a couple years ago for my 3rd time - the show blew me away, i was two rows from the stage. Bob was energetic, voice was sounding pretty good, the band was tight, and he brought out a couple of unexpected songs. It was one of the best shows I had ever seen. Afterwards, i went to go piss before leaving, and in the bathroom a couple of older dudes were saying how bad Dylan's voice is and that he should give up touring. I couldn't believe my ears.

All I'm trying to say is that even if it was an off night for Neil, if the listener isn't feeling if, the fault lies more with him than with the musician. It's just a matter of perception.

I used to listen to this post-hardcore band from Jersey, and they were my favorite group in the world for a long while. Anyways, they came to my city to play a show, and a week before had announced that they were breaking up. The concert was incredible and full of emotion, people were going crazy. Two weeks later me and my friend went to philly for their last show. I was expecting to hear all kinds of different songs and rarities, and to my disappointment their set was exactly the same. Not only that, but i didn't feel the same catharsis that I did during the previous show. Yet many of the people i talked to were saying that it was the best they had ever seen. I should have just enjoyed the first experience for what it was.

Thanks for the perspective eddy. Well put. We're still scratching our heads about some of those comments we've read, also? So Neil plays "Thrasher" as encore and yet some are somehow dissatisfied? really?

Also, the podcast from last night's (Sat, April 5, 2014) Thrasher's Wheat Radio Hour - 4/5/14 is now available for download.



Thrasher's Wheat Radio
Tune in on WBKM.org, Saturdays @ 9P EST
Logo design by
Geoff Moore - Silver Moon Graphics
(How To Support Thrasher's Wheat Radio)

[To download, right click on link, save target as, pick destination folder: the podcast will download. Select your preferred MP3 audio player and play file.]

Sat, April 5, 2014 - The return of "Thrasher" after 36 years. Thrasher's Wheat Radio Hour - 4/5/14

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