From yesterday's concert, video of "Cortez The Killer" by Neil Young + Promise of The Real at Olympiahalle, München, Germany on July 6, 2019.
A comment on REVIEWS: Neil Young + Promise of The Real - Olympiahalle, München, Germany - July 6, 2019 by Scotsman:
I urge everyone to go and see this tour if possible. There's still time.
I've had some critical words for Promise Of The Real, but on this tour, right now, Neil is playing his heart out and his band are doing a pretty good job. That's my honest opinion, and there may even be some typical British understatement involved in it.
Yes, there's still some meandering guitar work going on, 5-minute guitar instrumentals that tread water, don't go anywhere. A Neil Young guitar solo is a JOURNEY, urgently headed to a magical destination, not an excuse to pass time.
But! Listen to Dangerbird from Berlin. Listen to Hurricane from Napa. And just LISTEN to Neil attack Cortez here, with a raw intensity rarely heard in recent years:
https://youtu.be/8GqM2NQfVuQ [see above]
(The above referenced version of Cortez from last night starts off a bit wayward, Neil trying to find a way into the song. He's shooting blanks. But as the song progresses, as Cortez gets closer to the shore, the guitar really starts cooking, the band comes together, the intensity is notched up. It just takes off. Neil rips into it, it hits you in the gut. It's not a contrived thing, it's just the natural progression of this song. That is what Cortez is SUPPOSED to sound like, what it has been born to do.
And yes, I know it is ridiculously POMPOUS to tell an artist what his songs are supposed to sound like, but in this case I'm quite happy to be considered ridiculously pompous. Not least because I think Neil would probably agree with me on this subject.)
The sound quality of the recording may sound like a relic of 1923, but listen THROUGH that and you will hear a performance light years away from some of the early meandering performances with POTR. This is the sound of a band firing on all cylinders, finding their niche. A band who understands what these beautiful songs need from them, and are comfortable enough in their own ability not to overplay. To play with class rather than style, intensity instead of extensity. Great musicians don't need to play every note under the sun, because as Thelonius Monk put it: "let some music go by: some notes just imagined. What you DON'T play can be more important than what you do!". And "stop playing all those weird notes! Play the melody!".
The famous Neil Young "spook" is a magical but fragile thing. And It's so easy for a band to trample on it with heavy-handed, overwrought performances. THAT is what Ralph Molina is talking about when he talks about "doing justice to the songs". And on this tour, POTR are doing justice to the songs.
People will say I am pontificating. Well, maybe I am. But I know great Neil Young music when I hear it (when I FEEL it), and if you go to a show on this tour, there is a very good chance you are going to hear plenty of it. I haven't been this excited about a Neil Young tour for...a while. More British understatement.
It's worth pointing out that Neil has been on something of a roll lately, musically. His performances with Crazy Horse were also excellent, his guitar playing especially good.
So if you can only afford to go to one show, POTR or Crazy Horse, which would you choose? It's a tough one. A lot more tough than I would have said a few months ago, and especially so considering the retirement of Poncho, one of Neil's most invaluable sideman. Though Nils Lofgren's reputation and ability speaks for itself, of course.
Unfortunately due to a family illness it's now looking like I will not be able to make a date this Euro tour. But there are plenty of people out there who still can: my advice is to find a reasonably-priced ticket and GO. Now stop reading this and go and find out for yourself.
Scotsman.
"And they built up with their bare hands
What we still can't do today"
VIDEO FRAME: "Cortez The Killer"
Neil Young + Promise of The Real - Olympiahalle, München, Germany - July 6, 2019
Scotsman, thanks for insights as always here on Cortez video. Bummer on situation preventing you from attending. Hope you're able to catch this peak with POTR some time soon.
Neil seems to be having a good time, in great spirits, and totally inspired by The Nelson Sons as noted in other comments. The Nelson Sons are clearly transfixed by Uncle Neil as apparent in video above. If anything in all of this Horse-POTR comparisons -- if anything -- it is the awe in which POTR plays that is the only limkiting factor. The Horse -- on the other hand -- have no such qualms or reservations and always jam like brothers in the rusted out garage. Ultimately -- as always -- its all one song.
Neil looks SO relaxed. POTR really brings out the youngster in Mr. Young. Germany is being gifted with some great performances this tour.
ReplyDeleteThis Sunday morning (European time), after last night's show in München, there was a message by Neil on the archives front page headed by a German flag. Neil must have been travelling in his own car, not on the bus, and he obviously took secondary roads, not the Autobahn to get from Mannheim to München. He describes Germany (or the Bavarian countryside) as almost paradise, with solar and wind power installations everywhere, no strip malls, few McDonald's, without garbage by the roadside and no agrochemicals on the fields of family farms still doing well. While some of that maybe true all of that is endangered...
ReplyDeleteMy question is, did anyone outside Germany see this item on their archives' version frontpage? Or do Neil and the archives team go through an effort by having special messages for every country, where Neil is touring?
Dionys
Got the same message here in Canada
DeleteScots,
ReplyDeleteHope your family situation gets sorted out in the best way possible. Always love hearing your commentary. Wow, high praise for the Real! See ya out there at a show one of these days.
Dan
Thank you very much Dan, appreciated.
DeleteThanks for your advice,though I don't need one.Neil's music's been with me all my life,and it always comforted me and lifted me up when I was down and my spirits were low.I don't have to go to this concert,for I know how good he is,specially live.Through the years I often went to his concerts,with or without Crazy Horse and always enjoyed them!And I'll get to see and hear from him every time I look on his Archives.That's always a treasure-hunt.I'm sorry to hear about your sad times you must be going through.But remember:you're never alone and know that a lot of folks thinking of you and wish you strength,Scotchman...Cees Mostert,the Netherlands.
ReplyDelete