CONCERT REVIEWS: Neil Young + Promise of the Real - Portland Center, OR, Oct. 7, 2015
Neil Young + Promise of the Real will be performing tonight at Portland Center, OR, Oct. 7, 2015.
Got a report? Drop us a comment below.
Check Sugar Mountain for setlist updates and Chronological Grid, Recording Summary, Statistics and Extras.
Also, see Neil Young + Promise of the Real 2015 Concert Tour Dates - 1st Leg, Summer 2015 and Neil Young + Promise of the Real 2015 Concert Tour Dates - 2nd Leg, Fall 2015 (West Coast, North America) for reviews, photos, videos and more.
Labels: concert, dates, neil young, promise of the real, reviews, tour
4 Comments:
I've been to many NY concerts over the last 40+ years, and this one ranks at No. 3 all time, right behind his solo tour and the original Rust Never Sleeps tour. Neil is clearly re-energized by the youthful vigor of POTR; he's having fun. He's not carrying this band; they are punchy and in-sync on their own, thanks to a crisp drummer and a high-energy bassist. And Neil again has another lead guitarist with whom he can trade distinctive licks, reminiscent of exchanging riffs with Stephen Stills.
The set list was well designed, starting with some solo acoustic greatest hits (Heart of Gold, Comes A Time), gently adding in the band with calmer old/new material (Human Highway, Wolf Moon), then gradually amping it up with a smart blend of rocking classics (Alabama, Southern Man) and Monsanto Years songs (Big Box).
Neil was powerful, clear and energetic, as if rediscovering songs with a fresh set of bandmates. Old songs sounded familiar, but brighter. New songs sounded much stronger than the album versions. If Neil decides to continue this partnership with POTR, they could probably keep up with him for another 20 years.
Thanks Terry! Number 3 in 2015 ain't too shabby for a guy pushing 70, eh?
I arrived from NY to Portland to visit my 33 year old son on Oct 6. After dinner he presented me two tickets to see Neil with him the next night. I was surprised and Neil Young had faded a bit from my life. Last saw him a few years ago with Crazy Horse in New Haven CT. That was a loud and pretty angry show. He had issues with the audience holding cell phones and mimicked them. Actually think he threw a cup of ice water into the general admission crowd after a woman called him an asshole.
This show was the extreme opposite. For one, I watched the audience and noticed most everyone was present and watching and enjoying the show. No cameras and cell phones in the way. Neil with his band "Promise of the Real" was a thing of joy, beauty and passionate reverb from my feet to my heart. The energy on stage was great to watch. His voice and every note played sounded as if I were listening to my vinyl records back in the day. Sitting with my son by my side, I actually choked back tears twice with memory and true feeling and couldn't believe what I was hearing was so close in the same space and time. It's been 40 years since I started listening and singing the lyrics that he wrote and at that time he saved me by keeping me 'sane' and 'normal' in my troubled youth.
I can't believe the energy he still has. When Lukas Nelson sat down at the piano and said "this one is for pops" and sang in a clear voice one of his father's songs - the audience gasped looking for ole Willie himself to come out on stage and make an appearance. He carried that shaky voice, I don't know how he did it but it was amazing. The woman in front of me had binoculars and didn't even know that two of Willie's sons were up there playing with Uncle Neil. I at least did my homework before I went to the show.
I don't get gathered up with the political and environmental statements being made. I respect his beliefs but think some are too extreme and we have enough of that crammed into our minds everyday. Glad he hardly spoke to the audience at all, no preaching. Speaking of preaching, the opening band was atrocious. I don't know who they were but some "preacher" with his choir from NYC. Hollering out Black Lives Matter crap. They barely got any applause and I for one thought it was not appreciated, glad they left quickly. Seriously, just want to be entertained and taken away for a while.
Hope he enjoys the rest of the tour, they were really awesome and it looked like they were having a great time jamming.
Fresh tracks appeared much more resilient compared to the record variants. When Neil determines to carry on this kind of collaboration together with POTR, they are able to possibly match your pet regarding one more.
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