REVIEW: Light Up The Blues 4th Annual Concert w/ Stephen Stills, Neil Young + Others - Los Angeles, CA, May 21, 2016

Neil Young performing "Thrasher" at the 4th Annual Light Up The Blues benefit concert for Autism Speaks at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, May 21, 2016. (thanks Deb!)

Here's a nice review we received from Britt for 4th Annual Light Up The Blues benefit concert for Autism Speaks at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, May 21, 2016.

Lookin’ for a Love (but I haven’t found her yet)

I pulled into a parking spot and let the harmonica fade down at the end of From Hank to Hendrix before pulling my keys from the ignition. To my delight an hour later, Neil Young would serendipitously open his set at the Dolby Theatre with the same song. It was March 29, 2014, I was 20 years old, rocking 1974 Neil sideburns, a mop of greasy hair, and a pair of reflective mountaineering glasses to keep out the harsh light of the parking garage sub-basement: I was about to see Neil Young perform for my very first time.

Having overshot my proper birth date by about 47 years, I found myself at a loss for companionship on this pilgrimage to the holy land that lies within audible distance of Neil’s acoustic guitar. Oh well, it’s only castles burning… besides Neil gives the concert solo, I can receive it in the same style.

Drawing closer to the theatre entrance, I recognize more and more Neirds (a term describing those of us that suffer from Youngdipsea, or the thirst for the music of Neil Young) around me and the bad fog of loneliness faded to not.

Scouring the balcony for my seat my eyes land on a 20 something blonde, sitting beside my empty seat. My heart skipped several beats. A beautiful girl… At a Neil Young concert… Sitting next to me?! I quickly patted my pockets in search of an engagement ring, but decided to play it cool, smoothing my burns down the sides of my face and checking my breath.

I sat beside her and attempted to hide some mild staring behind a yawn. I could practically smell cinnamon wafting from her hair and imagine sandy boots on her feet. She looked up from her phone and caught my eye. “I’ve been a miner for a heart of gold” I offered, with what must have been the goofiest grin in existence. She answered, “What does that mean?”

Only love can break your heart, and this wasn’t an ensuring start.

Turns out she had been dragged there by her parents on their anniversary and couldn’t give Neil’s music the time of day, spending most of the performance on her phone(the parents were pretty groovy and we discussed at length the likelihood of hearing Flying on the Ground that night). I’m not bitter… we just weren’t operating on the same plane. As she checked her Facebook page, Neil pulled out Thrasher after 30 years in his back pocket, and I wept into my binoculars.

Headed to where the sun hits the water and the mountains meet the sand, I guess I’ll keep on lookin’ for the Neirdy blonde of my dreams.

Thanks Britt! Nice review and glad you enjoyed the show. And all for a good cause.

And we would've wept in our binoculars also.

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