VIDEO: "Like An Inca" - Paris, France Concert: Neil Young + Promise of the Real - June 23, 2016

Let there be no doubt that what we're witnessing is nothing less than another crest in the Big Wave of Neil Young + REAL.

Here's the evidence above with the video of "Like An Inca" from Paris, France Concert: Neil Young + Promise of the Real on June 23, 2016.

And here's concert review commentary from our dear friend across The Pond Mark "Don't Spook The Horse":

I wasn't going to type much more than trying to convey my excitement at seeing "Like An Inca" last night and attach the link you see here....

...but I got a bit carried away...

...this ended up being a truly memorable show....and I was so glad I was there...

Everything started off slowly and safely (with the usual suspects ~ although the plaintive, almost ethereal solo harp introduction to "Mother Earth" was rather moving, despite the concrete confines) and then things took a little veer leftwards with the band version (a rather lovely version too) of "Old Man". The White Falcon soared higher and higher, "Winterlong" joyous, the two "Harvest" songs tight and strong and another go at "If I Could Have Her Tonight" made me happy (I thought it was great, NY less so), having managed to not see any previous shows so far.

Lukas nailed "La Vie En Rose" (and with some aplomb too), then a few technical issues seemed to rile Neil a touch; making light of things post-"Someday" (he wouldn't have seen Micah having fun with the crowd when his guitar failed totally and completely...amp maybe?) but after the Falcon was taken off for the second time (false start when Neil called it back for "If I Could Have Her"...) Old Black came out and something clearly wasn't right again ~ nothing switched on for Neil's guitar and he charged across the stage wielding the Les Paul above his head like a snowboard or something...either way, it had a magnificent outcome as "Love To Burn" brought the house down...incendiary, brooding and moody; the lyrics towards the end semi-barked with real venom etched deep within.

Full steam ahead with "Mansion On The Hill", no let up, but the pace eased as a gentle (much less rusty than the west coast last autumn) "Western Hero" entered the fray ~ a lovely, lovely song, it really is...(is it just me, but is this set list, and others like it, becoming ever more slanted towards "Earth" ~ clever move).

The final sextet of songs within the main set would have been like predicting the lotto numbers ~ sure they've all appeared to one degree or another in the last 12 months plus, but it was extraordinary to head from the spitting fury of a stellar "Vampire Blues", into an almost-as-visceral "After The Garden" ~ the sense of injustice and anger etched to the core as the songs unfurled. "Country Home" (a nice jaunty, at home feel to it again, after a nice word about the French ~ and European ~ green, open spaces) and "Everybody Knows" made folk around me very happy and then a sizzling "I've Been Waiting For You" popped up to say hello ~ loving the heavy drums at the back there ~ again, the set, if not planned, seems to fall together like some raucous, vast World jigsaw. "Earth". Again.

"Free World" had a feel of "Freedom"-era about it ~ the verse honed in Europe in 2014 still in there ~ hard, fast and heavy...an excellent finale...

...and then to the encore...

...I was willing it to be what it was...it was like "Field of Dreams" almost (!) ~ having been witness to Micah's online teases last autumn as we headed from Canada to Oregon and on to California, I was desperate to hear "Like An Inca" ~ twice already in France of course, but I never expected it as an encore again so soon...WRONG!

Old Black was brought out...the guessing games in mind had me going down the "Cortez" route I think...the open, expansive, vast chords ahead of the start of the song had me clueless (not having seen any YouTube of the song from elsewhere in France)...repeated three times, over what seemed like forever...then, thar' she blows!

It may be a bit of a throwaway within the "Trans" environment but this swiftly and suddenly morphed into something epic...rusty around the edges yes, but as you've gotten to know me, you know I love Neil with those raggedy fringes....I loved it...cool, fun and funky throughout and pretty tight too...with a really nice way of hitting the chorus, just dropping everything bar the percussion...man I was so happy (you'll hear my whoop of joy on the YouTube clip as the intro kicks in...). An unconventional encore it may have been and a lot of folk were a little mystified by it, but it was ragged, glorious and totally sublime.

Promise of the Real have grown and grown and grown into some hugely significant footsteps that have preceded them throughout the 50 years of Neil Young's career...I fell for them last autumn and nothing's changed. They've learned much over the last 18 months or more, they are more crafted and a little less rough hewn around the edges, but they were pretty cultured to start off with anyway.

Comparisons with other bands are utterly pointless; the way Lukas plays a line over or under Neil's lead, the manner of Corey's bouncy bass playing, Micah's "development" as a musician ~ it doesn't matter. It does not matter. Analyse what you want, analyse why they may not be "as good as Crazy Horse" as much, and for as long as you want. I'm not interested.

Promise of the Real are masters of what they do and what they do at the moment with Neil Young is as exciting as anything I've been fortunate to see in the last 29 years of being able to head off to Neil Young gigs...the good thing, no the great thing for all Neil Young advocates and devotees is that every single one the six of the people on stage, giving everything for almost 180 minutes, are rowing the boat in the same direction. The long circle of embrace at the end of the show confirmed that, many times over. This is, for now, the real deal.

A marvellous set list in the end, to go with countless other standout sets in North America and Europe. No one knows how long this delicious, heady ride will keep us dizzy with excitement (and some awe and wonderment from round these parts too) but we should cherish every last drop of the rhythm and groove they all have while they still have it.

Magnifique!

Magnifique indeed, Mark "Don't Spook The Horse"! Thanks for sharing. And yes, please do get carried away. We love it when folks do.

More reviews on Paris, France Concert: Neil Young + Promise of the Real on June 23, 2016.

VERSION #2 - "Like An Inca" - Paris, France Concert: Neil Young + Promise of the Real - June 23, 2016

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