An Eyewitness Report From Neil Young's "Somewhere In Canada" Concert by Sharry (Up in Omemee keepin’ jive alive)

Welcome to Omemee, Ontario, Canada
Photos by Sharry Wilson
(Click photo to enlarge)

There's very little doubt that December 1st will go down in the history books as one Neil Young's more momentous moments.

While Neil Young's "Somewhere In Canada" concert -- really a love letter to his hometown of Omemee, Ontario, Canada -- was only one of the day's accomplishments (along with Archives Going Online + The Visitor Arriving + Video Release of "Great Again", it was the warmth of the hometown audience captured by the brilliantly intimate production of Director Daryl Hannah that melted hearts around the world.

And it can not be denied that December 1st was a huge, huge success with the Neil Young Archives Going Online + The Visitor Arriving + "Somewhere In Canada" Concert blowing minds.

So here's An Eyewitness Report From Neil Young's "Somewhere In Canada" Concert by Sharry (Up in Omemee keepin’ jive alive) Wilson. Sharry -- as many TW readers know -- is the author of the highly acclaimed "Young Neil: The Sugar Mountain Years", cited as "the definitive source of Neil Young's formative childhood years in Canada."

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Legion Hall outdoor live streaming

I was there, watching the show projected on an outside wall of the Legion Hall, standing in 4C temps with thin gloves on, no hat and numb feet from the cold, hard ground. It was a very Canadian experience. A number of individuals brought lawn chairs and there were plenty of kids in the viewing crowd as well. Remember, we’re talking early December weather in Canada.

They were also live streaming the show inside the Legion Hall, but on a smallish screen in the small front room with just half-a-dozen tables. There was no screen in the larger back hall area.

The Omemee Curling Centre was another option but that involved crossing a muddy parking lot and viewing it in a Curling rink with bus loads of fans converging on the facility. Also a very Canadian experience re: Curling. In the end we chose to go with the outdoor option.

Outside Coronation Hall, Omemee
(left to right: Ron Warne, Sharry Wilson, Glenn Gillespie)

There was another option but that involved lining up hours beforehand to gain access to a “viewing garden” that was set up with bales of hay to sit on while watching small retro-looking screens that streamed the live performance. There were also some heating sources set up here and there. They looked like small oval bbqs. There were strings of pretty white lights strung around the trees and other shrubbery. There was fencing all around this area and it was all awkwardly covered with tarp-like material.

Live streaming projected against the outside wall of the Legion Hall

We heard Daryl Hannah had a large hand in designing the “viewing garden” and the stage setting in Coronation Hall (other than Neil’s standard particulars). I personally found it charming that he fumbled around for the right hat to wear while singing particular songs. I also enjoyed the stories he shared about his guitars, how they acquired all their nicks, scratches and more.

There were also live streaming available at various locations on the campus of Trent University in Peterborough, a city about a half hour away from Omemee.

I enjoyed Neil’s performance immensely. He was very chatty and embraced all the annoying mix-ups. Also very funny in his own unique way.

But I did notice that he seemed to be under the weather a bit, perhaps nothing more serious than a sore throat but he was taking a lot of sips of water (and beer) but specifically requested a cup of tea with honey (to soothe his sore throat). He also mentioned something about a particular guitar being not being correctly tuned to his lower register, presumedly, from the sore throat.

Another indication that he was perhaps under the weather (or just his age catching up with him) was that he noticeably seemed to forget lyrics, shortened songs, etc. For example, he completely forgot the Canada verse in JTTP but included the “O Canada” verse in DBD. I think he chose to sing “Sugar Mountain” because of the connotations with his childhood, including his time in Omemee. Randy Bachman was in the audience and that’s one of his favourite Neil songs so perhaps that had something to do with it as well. Randy recently inducted Neil into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame on September 23, 2017.

I am so grateful that Neil chose to come and play in Omemee. (And that he still enjoys performing.) It would have been nicer if more of the local people had been given tickets. I did hear that Scott Young P.S. teachers were offered the opportunity of a ticket for $40. That seemed odd because everyone else “invited, presumedly, didn’t pay.

Sharry Wilson and Colton Eddy from “The Strombo Show” inside the Butternut Folk Art shop, Omemee

I attended the streaming that Colton Eddy of “The Strombo Show” helped set up. The live streaming of the performance was projected on an outer wall of the Legion Hall. Colton had to get a permit from Omemee to do this. The Legion Hall had their own live streaming event inside but there was only a smallish front room available with a smallish screen. We chose to embrace the great outdoors. It felt like one of those great shared “Canadian moments.”

People waiting patiently in line to gain access to the “viewing garden,” designed by Daryl Hannah (as noted by Neil during his concert).

Omemee Santa Claus at the tree-lighting ceremony. Daryl Hannah participated but I didn’t see her. However, that is where I encountered Elliot Roberts. That’s when I made my approach.

I gave out a lot of copies of “Young Neil” and receipt was confirmed by Elliot who also received a signed copy and posed for a photo with it. Gave Neil a signed copy via a kind individual in the front office at Coronation Hall. And have Bob Young an unsigned copy as he hurriedly walked past. (A man on an obvious mission.) Bob was in charge of ticket distribution. Neil thanked him from the stage.

I made the CTV evening news (for about 30 seconds). Omemee shop owner Joan Rehill is a friend of the Young family and so was her late husband. She has a number of Neil related memorabilia on a few shelves in a front corner of the store (Butternut Folk Art, 18 King St. E.) plus her NYAS membership card, button and more.

Sharry interviewed by CTV News outside Coronation Hall

I donated an unsigned second copy of “Young Neil” to the Omemee Public Library. And I donated a signed copy to the library in Scott Young P.S.

Scott Young Public School Omemee

Another signed copy went to the new owners of 33 King St. W., the Young family home. I knocked but no one was home except the dog. I left the book in a bag at the front door past the inside covered porch.

33 King St. W. (Young family home, Omemee)

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Thanks so much Sharry for the report and photos. Nice report and memories from a town in north Ontario. What a day. Oh, Canada. Don't be denied, indeed.

So for those Neil fans who were anticipating the arrival of December 1st with high expectations -- in the end -- we were not to be denied. Thanks Neil, Daryl & crew!

Neil Young Performs in Hometown Omemee, Ontario, Canada

More on Omemee Thanks Neil Young & Neil Young Thanks Omemee.

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