Tonight: No Bridge School Benefit Concert for 1st Time in 30 Years

Earlier this year, official statements by Neil Young and Pegi Young announced that there will be no Bridge School Benefit Concert this year.

A sad day indeed for so many, but much to cherish from the memories of past and all that has been accomplished these past 30 years.

More on last year's 2016 Bridge School Benefit Concert (reviews, photos, videos, etc.).

Also, see The Essence of Bridge School Benefit Concerts. (Incidentally, FWIW, this is why we do what we do here @ TW.)

Also, see our Memories & Reflections on Our 2015 Bridge School Benefit Concerts Weekend.

Neil, Pegi & Ben say "Good Night. Thanks for coming. 

We love you all."

Photo by thrasher
(Click images to enlarge)

Because -- as everyone knows -- the annual pilgrimage to the Bridge School Benefit Concerts was a life altering and transcendental experience.


Welcome to the 2010 Annual Bridge School Benefit Concert by Bridge Kids
In memory of all of the Bridge School Benefit Concerts we've attended over the years, here's a modified posting of our thoughts on the 2010 Annual Bridge School Benefit Concert.

Dedicated to Pegi, Neil, The Parents & all of the Bridge Kids.

A comment by Dan1 that sums it all up so well on "It's Official: No Bridge School Benefit Concert in 2017":

As Joni said so eloquently, "don't know what you've got till its gone"

... a sudden change brings much perspective - some thoughts ...

1) Neil and Pegi are incredible people for doing this year after year for 30 years into their 70s
2) The kids were blessed as were all of us to be part of this incredible institution
3) Neil and Pegi's marriage was a pillar of strength, 30 years is forever in show biz, it was seemingly so solid we all probably took that for granted
4) Big reminder to appreciate that Neil is still creating cause that won't last forever either, I'm going to try to bitch less (even about this seemingly endless break from touring) and appreciate more
5) Looking back, what an incredible event they created a who's who of the best musicians donating their time and talents to play unplugged for us ... only a very, very determined and mission driven artist could twist so many famous arms to pull this off and for so long
6) The fans made it possible by supporting it and building such an incredible community around the event ...

for those who made it a pilgrimage and for the kids so so sad to see it all wind down ...

Neil and Pegi, thank you for your big hearts and for your unconditional giving for decades!!

Thanks Dan! Nice words ... and who said numbers add up to nothing? Or maybe numbers really do add up to SOMEthing?

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Over the years here at Thrasher's Wheat, we've spent a considerable amount of blogging on trying to convey what we experienced at a Bridge School Benefit Concert.

Probably nothing really captures the spirit of the Bridge Concerts than this tribute video to the late Larry "L.A." Johnson (1947 - 2010), Neil Young's long time film maker and producer.

While the above YouTube version is silent, during the concerts the video was accompanied by "Dancing in the Streets" during which Neil & Pegi Young danced about the stage. It was the Young's tribute and celebration of L.A.'s impact on the Bridge School legacy.

Neil and Pegi Dancing in the Streets for L.A.

And while there was a celebration of L.A. Johnson's passing, there was more of a somber tone of the late Ben Keith (1937 - 2010), Neil Young's long time band mate and dear friend. Ben is included in the tribute to the artists who have donated their time and talents to perform at the Bridge School Benefit Concerts for the past 24 years.

"One Of These Days" - Bridge School Benefit Concert 2010

Neil & Pegi - 2010
Photo by John Green - San Jose Mercury/Bay Area News Group

Buffalo Springfield - 10/23/10
Photo gallery by Nan Philpot | Facebook
Over the years, the Bridge School Benefit concerts have seen some of the most diverse and eclectic lineups of musicians ever assembled on an annual basis. For 25 years now, Neil and Pegi Young have hosted the concert series which marks the official end of the season for the benefits home venue -- The Shoreline Amphitheater just outside San Francisco, CA.

2010's Buffalo Springfield reunion for their first performance in 42 years certainly was one of the most satisfying concert going experiences we've ever had the pleasure of attending.


Paul McCartney and Neil Young
"Only Love Can Break Your Heart"
Bridge School Benefit Concert - October 23, 2004
Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, CA
Photo by Kim Komenich of San Francisco Chronicle
While there have been some pretty amazing acts and collaborations since the first benefit in 1986, the year 2004 probably ranks right up there at the top of the scale of concert memories. The 2004 Bridge School Benefit Concert featured Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, Eddie Vedder, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tegan & Sara, Los Lonely Boys, Sonic Youth, and Ben Harper along with Neil Young.

The concert's finale with Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett and other musicians left many with literally tears in their eyes.

"Only Love Can Break Your Heart" - Paul McCartney and Neil Young - October 23, 2004

Neil Young
2009 Bridge School Benefit Concert
Photo by John Shearer/WireImage


"Powderfinger" - Adam Sandler and Neil Young
2009 Bridge School Benefit Concert
Photo by Christopher Victorio


"Comes A Time" - All Bridge Performers Finale:
Neil Young, No Doubt, Jimmy Buffett, Chris Martin, Sheryl Crow, Fleet Foxes, Monsters of Folk, Wolfmother, Gavin Rossdale
2009 Bridge School Benefit Concert


Pegi & Neil Young
Photo by Steve Jennings/WireImage
Cat Power and Neil Young on "Fortunate Son"
2008 Bridge School Benefit Concert

Wilco
2008 Bridge School Benefit Concert

Neil Young - Photos by Inside Bay Area
2008 Bridge School Benefit Concert

Neil & Pegi Say "Goodnight"
Bridge School Benefit Concert 2007
Photo by Roel van Dijk - Rust Radio

Dave Matthews Band & Neil Young
Bridge 2006 Concert
photo by Craig Abaya
Gillian Welch, David Rawlins & Neil Young
Bridge 2006 Concert
photo by Craig Abaya
Eddie Vedder & Neil Young
Bridge 2006 Concert
photo by Craig Abaya
2004 International Rust Fest
Miron's Photo GallerySan Francisco Chronicle: Young sings to family of 20,000 at 20th Bridge School concert:

"The Bridge concerts, among many others things, have served to humanize Young and bring out the family side of his life into the public eye. With their son at the bottom of all this and his wife's tireless dedication to creating and building this pioneering school, Young has drawn back the curtain at these Bridge shows on a private life he has otherwise not been disposed to reveal."

Pegi & Neil Young at Bridge 2006 Concert
photo by Craig Abaya

Neil, Pegi & Ben say "Good Night. Thanks for coming. We love you all."

(Click images to enlarge)

For those of you who have made the annual pilgrimage to the Bridge School Benefit Concerts, you know that it can be a life altering and transcendental experience.

And 2015's 29th Annual Bridge School Benefit Concerts, was -- once again - a "life altering and transcendental experience" to be savoured and shared with old and new friends from around the world.

So here are just a few of our memories and rusted reflections on the 2015 Bridge Concerts Weekend - our last Bridge that we attended.  And we're thankful and blessed for the opportunity.  enjoy

Rusties Descend Upon The Shoreline

The Great Bridge Pumpkin

Neil Young w/ Wisdom Dancers

"After The Gold Rush"

"Human Highway"

Nils Lofgren

Nils Lofgren w/ Neil Young - "Believe"

Ben Harper w/ Pegi Young

Sheryl Crow w/ Gary Clark Jr.

Dixie Chicks w/ St. Vincent & Sheryl Crow

Stage Plot: Getting Ready to Get REAL

Neil Young + Promise of the Real w/ Nils Lofgren

"Mother Earth" w/ Nils Lofgren

Finale Day #2: Who's Gonna Stand Up?

Neil, Ben & Pegi Young

So many fond memories and dear rustie friends. Someday, we're gonna sit down and write a long letter...

Rusties @ The Healing Pole & Medicine Teepee

Rusties
19th Annual International RustFest - October 23, 2015
Saratoga Springs, CA
(Click image to enlarge)

Rusties After The Show

Rusties Jammin'

w/ Jay Blakesberg, Rolling Stone Photographer

"Deju Blue"
w/ James Mazzeo, ZUMA & Greendale Album Cover Artist

w/ King of Rust, Hounds That Howell & The Holy Grail "More Barn" Mirror

w/ Micah Nelson

w/ Zeke Young

w/ Bridge Kid Colin

And -- as always -- it's all about the Bridge Kids. Really. The Bridge Kids ... the real, true children of the wheat. (when we say "children of the wheat" we make no claims other than that they represent the best of human nature and symbolize that which each of us can only aspire to. The Kids are the teachers, as Eddie says. We are but mere students.)

We recall the year when Eddie Vedder said at the Bridge concert: "The kids are the teachers. We are the students."

Great to see everyone over the years at Bridge and hope to see you again down the road ... wherever the road leads...

peace & love,
thrasher


PHOTO BY Misha Vladimirskiy | SPIN.comAlso, see:

- Bridge School Benefit Concert Reviews, Photos, Videos, etc.
- The Charitable Mr. Neil Young Keeps On Giving & Giving & Giving

More Bridge Memories highlights:

• Bridge School Benefit Concert Memories: Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir & Neil Young - 1988
• Bridge School Benefit Concert Memories: Dave Matthews, Tim Reynolds, and Neil Young - 2011
• Bridge School Benefit Concert Memories: R.E.M. & Neil Young on "Country Feedback" - 1998
• Bridge School Benefit Concert Memories: Leon Russell, Elton John & Neil Young on "Gone To Shiloh" - 2010
• Bridge School Benefit Concert Memories: Paul McCartney and Neil Young - 2004
• Bridge School Benefit Concert Memories: Nils Lofgren w/ Neil Young - 2015

One Of These Days - Remembering Rusties

Thanks HarryO. A mighty fine tribute to so many fine rustie folks.

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Gord Downie: 1964 - 2017

Gord Downie & Neil Young
Live8 Concert in Canada

Gord Downie: 1964 - 2017

Gord Downie and Neil Young performed together at the 2005 Live8 Concert in Canada. The Live8 concerts ended with Neil Young and an all-star finale -- including Tragically Hip's Gord Downie -- on "Rockin' In The Free World". Quite a fitting conclusion for a day in music history.

A True Canadian
Rest In Peace Gord Downie. https://t.co/FIM8Yq1LIC pic.twitter.com/oJvY8UZNJ6

— Neil Young (@Neilyoung) October 19, 2017

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ZUMA Payload for SpaceX Rocket: Is There A Connection to "The Visitor" in November?

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket
Kennedy Space Center, Florida

In a last-minute change to SpaceX’s launch schedule for November, a mission numbered 1390 has been added with the code name ZUMA.

Aerospace watchdog site NASASpaceFlight.com -- which tracks commercial and government launches -- notes the ZUMA payload will be launched from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the LC-39A launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center. The only information available concerning the ZUMA launch is that the payload belongs to Northrop Grumman, an aerospace and defense corporation. Some speculate that this could be a “black commercial” mission (a type of shadowy joint project between private commercial firms and government agencies) involving some new type of reconnaissance satellite.

The ZUMA Payload Type? Probably Not Vinyl

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., or SpaceX, is an aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company founded by billionaire Elon Musk. Elon Musk is also the founder of Tesla, the electric car company following in the footsteps of entrepreneur Neil Young and his Linc-Volt hybrid project.

Neil Young and his Linc-Volt hybrid project @ Joshua Tree, CA
via LincVolt Continental | Facebook
With Neil Young regularly tweeting cryptic messages of late, could there be some sort of relationship between the SpaceX ZUMA payload and "The Visitor"? And was the visionary Nikola Tesla himself, actually "A Visitor", given the incredible discoveries which are just now appearing in the mainstream after decades of coverup?

"A Visitor"?
Nikola Tesla
Born: July 10, 1856, Smiljan, Austrian Empire (modern-day Croatia) - Died:Jan 7, 1943, New York City, New York, United States

And might the ZUMA Payload launch by Elon Musk using Nikola Tesla technology be a harbinger of "The Visitor"'s arrival, full disclosure, precipitate the impending "Big Shift", end once and for all the lies, secrets, illusions and usher in the golden age of transparency, peace and prosperity for all?

OK, seriously this may all be a bit of a stretch, but bear with us here, please.

Note that "The Visitor's" latest message accompanies the NEW VIDEO: "Hitchhiker" by Neil Young . This video is labeled as "Black Balloon version".

The November SpaceX’s launch could coincide with the arrival of "The Visitor". The launch will occur no earlier than 10 November 2017, which is close to Neil's birthday on Nov. 12.

Also note that Neil Young's new album "Hitchhiker", contains a track titled "Captain Kennedy" about another seafaring explorer. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch from the Kennedy Space Center.

Of course, this all ties in nicely with Neil Young's new album "Hitchhiker" and it's extensive time travel themes. And recall, of course, that Neil renamed the band "The Rockets" as "Crazy Horse". (Also, see "Running Dry (Requiem For The Rockets)")

The Rockets
Danny Whitten, Billy Talbot and Ralph Molina

ZUMA
Neil Young & Crazy Horse - 1975

Neil Young & Crazy Horse 1975 album ZUMA, of course, contains the classic track "Cortez The Killer". The song is the evocative story of the European explorer Cortez "searching for that palace in the sun", while Aztec emperor Montezuma "often wandered with the secrets of the world".

And what are these secrets referring to in the lyrics: "often wandered with the secrets of the world"?

So Lincoln was assassinated by Booth in Ford's Theater on April 14, 1865.

John Wilkes Booth (15 letters) Ran from A Theater to a Tobacco Warehouse After Assassinating Lincoln (7 Letters)
(Lincoln was succeeded by Vice President Andrew Johnson)

So Kennedy was assassinated by Oswald* (*see The Day The Music Died) in a Lincoln Continental on November 23, 1963.

Lee Harvey Oswald (15 letters) Ran From A Book Warehouse to A Theater After Assassinating Kennedy (7 Letters)
(Kennedy was succeeded by Vice President Lyndon Johnson)

The Linc-Volt is a modified 1958 Lincoln Continental utilizing technology similar to Nikola Tesla technology.

Neil Young's Bus: ZUMA
Florida License Registration + Linc-Volt Plate

Secret ZUMA Payload for SpaceX Rocket. Elon Musk using Nikola Tesla technology. Blast off from Kennedy. In Florida. In November. Mission #1390. Lincoln. Lincoln Continental. LincVolt. Ford. Theaters. Cars. Rockets. connect the dots. open Up the "Tired Eyes".

"The Visitor" is coming... or already arrived ...

"Break On Through To The Other Side" Sculpture
"The Visitor"?
The Aperture Plaza
Photo by thrasher - September 2017
(Dedicated and unveiled on the day of the release of 'Hitchhiker'

Well, whatever you may believe, just remember -- "We're The Ones We've Been Waiting For".




ps - And -- of course -- everyone knows that Neil Young was the first man to walk on the Moon, right?

"That’s one small typo for NBC News,
one giant heart attack for the rust community."
Astronaut Neil Young
Born on November 12, 1945, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
(Click photo to enlarge)
(See NBC News Mistakenly Reports the Death of 'Astronaut Neil Young' - National - The Atlantic Wire.)

pss - As always, please use disCERNment or -- as we like to blog -- Separating the Wheat from the Chaff ... or... REAL from the Fake, because "Red means run, son, numbers add up to nothing".

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