THIS WEEKEND: Neil Young Solo Concert - London 2008 | Hearse Theater | NYA

LONDON | NYA

This weekend, Neil Young solo in concert at Hammersmith Odeon Theater (aka the Carling Apollo), London in 2008 will be showing in the Hearse Theater on NYA. (See full Hearse Theater Schedule.)

The concert film is directed by Tim Pope and the acoustic set premiered in September 2019. Recorded during the final 2 nights (of a 6 gig run) in London, England, in March 2008, the multi-camera film is stunningly intimate and features the "mic cam" for ultra close-ups. (see here for reviews of March 5 & 6, 2008 and March 8 & 9, 2008, March 14 & 15, 2008)

Neil Young - Hammersmith Theater, March 2008
via LONDON | NYA

Presumably, the Saturday film focuses on the acoustic portion of set and the Sunday film focuses on the electric portion of the set. Both the acoustic and the electric sets are being presented entirely in the 2 hour and 25 minute concert film now streaming.


Poster: Neil Young - Hammersmith Theater, March 2008
(See reviews on March 5 & 6, 2008 and March 8 & 9, 2008)

Ticket Stub
Via Sugar Mountain Setlists

Via Sugar Mountain Setlists:
2008-03-15
Hammersmith Apollo, London, England
w/ Ben Keith, Rick Rosas, Ralph Molina, Anthony Crawford and Pegi Young

Acoustic:
1. From Hank To Hendrix
2. Ambulance Blues
3. Kansas
4. Sad Movies
5. Mexico
6. A Man Needs A Maid
7. Harvest
8. Love In Mind
9. Journey Through The Past
10. Homegrown
11. Love/Art Blues
12. Love Is A Rose
13. Out On The Weekend
14. Old Man

Electric:
15. The Loner
16. Dirty Old Man
17. Spirit Road
18. Powderfinger
19. Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)
20. Too Far Gone
21. Oh, Lonesome Me
22. Winterlong
23. No Hidden Path
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24. F*!#in' Up
25. Tonight's The Night
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26. The Sultan
Tape Exists:
Yes
Length:
163
Notes:

Tour:
2008 Chrome Dreams Continental Tour - Europe
Band:
The Chrome Dreams Band
Neil Young - guitar, banjo, harmonica, piano, vocals
Ben Keith - pedal steel, lap steel, guitar, organ, background vocals
Rick Rosas - bass, background vocals
Ralph Molina - drums, background vocals
Pegi Young - background vocals, vibraphone
Anthony Crawford - background vocals, piano, mandolin, electric guitar
Cary Kemp - gong

2008-03-15, Hammersmith Apollo, London, England
(Reviews of March 14 & 15, 2008 concerts)
Photo courtesy of Mario van Sabben

Filming Notice
Via Sugar Mountain Setlists

So get your popcorn ready!

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Tim Pope is the director of numerous highly acclaimed 1980's Neil Young music videos such as "Wonderin'", "Touch the Night", "People On The Street"and "Weight Of The World".

"People On The Street" ‏Music Video by Neil Young
Director - Tim Pope

Neil Young
Frame from "Cry, Cry, Cry" Music Video Directed by Tim Pope

Frames from Neil Young music video "Wonderin'", 1983
Director Tim Pope
More on Tim Pope: Making "Wonderin'" Video with Neil Young.


Frames from "Touch the Night" -
Neil Young Music Video directed by Tim Pope
Also, see Making of "Touch the Night" Music Video by Tim Pope.

Also, see Tim Pope: Neil Young Music Video Director | PODCAST by Adam Buxton.

Neil Young
Frame from "Weight Of The World" Music Video

Also, see MUSIC VIDEO: "Weight Of The World" by Neil Young, Directed by Tim Pope.

Excerpt removed per author request (see disclaimer).

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VIDEO: Merry Clayton's Southern Soul Cover of Neil Young's "Southern Man"

Merry Clayton

 

Over Thanksgiving holiday, we re-watched the film "20 Feet From Stardom" and were reminded of Merry Clayton.



And you say who is Merry Clayton???

Clayton sang back up vocals on Neil Young's "Old Laughing Lady". Above, watch Merry Clayton covering Neil Young's "Southern Man" around 1972/3 (@~14:30).

Also, Clayton was the intensely female backup vocal on the Rolling Stones original version of "Gimme Shelter". And, she was one of the original Rayettes (Ray Charles female backup singers).

Merry Clayton's was brilliant on The Who's "Tommy" soundtrack on "The Acid Queen" with symphony orchestra backing.

And, she sang backup on Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama", that song that some think"put Ol' Neil down".

Southern soul for a southern man from a southern woman.

1969 - Merry Clayton recorded The Old Laughing Lady and I Loved Her So Long with Neil Young

1971 - Merry Clayton recorded Southern Man as a solo artist

1974 - Merry Clayton recorded Sweet Home Alabama with Lynyrd Skynyrd

And, so why exactly might a southern black woman cover a white Canadian man's ode to racism in the Confederate south again, now anyhow

From the film "20 Feet From Stardom", Merry Clayton discusses her backup vocal on The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter". Note Mick Jagger's reaction when Clayton's voice breaks on lyrics "Rape, Murder".



Also, see Northern Man, Southern Man and The Un-Civil Wars of Donald Trump & Neil Young and Southern Man and Northern Man: Ronnie and Neil, The Un-Civil Wars & Rebels with Causes.

We hope you remember that a Southern Man needs Neil Young around anyhow. Now, more than ever.

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BOOK REVIEW: Neil Young: Art of Gold

Neil Young: Art of Gold
by Herman Verbeke

Just before Thanksgiving, we received a review copy of the new book Neil Young: Art of Gold by Herman Verbeke.

Over the years, we've reviewed quite a few books on Neil Young from biographies to song analysis, illustrated books, songbooks to comics. But we can tell you that this Neil Young book Art of Gold is unique, especially if you're drawn to the creative arts.

Belgian Herman Verbeke has collected more than 200 drawings, painting, cartoons, caricatures, murals, comics, sketches and other artworks about Neil Young. His compilation published this Fall by the publishing house Witsand Uitgevers, is a hardcover with 256 pages. Artists from all over the world brought their art and their love for Neil and his music to this brilliant collection. Each artist added his or her comment and tells us about the how, the why, the when & the where they created their piece.

In our correspondence with author Herman Verbeke, he relates that when so many artists paint, draw, cartoon or "mural" Neil Young's image, then "One must be great in what he does."

"Neil Young: Art of Gold", is Verbeke's proud tribute to Neil Young, as well as a tribute to the many visual artists who contributed to the project. Author Verbeke adds that he truly appreciates the artists sharing their art and talents free of charge. Incidentally, Verbeke did not receive a fee from the publisher of this book either.

Earlier this year, Herman sent a letter to Neil Young Archives, where the following was published:

Neil Young Archives | NYA

And here's a short movie of the book by one of the artists Kirk Andrews, who did a charcoal image on page 183.

I am honoured to have my Neil Young charcoal portrait included in this ace new book, Neil Young: Art of Gold by Herman Verbeke. Featuring work by artists from around the world it is a beautiful collector’s item for anyone who loves Neil Young and his music.#NeilYoung #art pic.twitter.com/Ff0yCwgrxp

— kirk andrews (@the_kirkinator) November 23, 2019

Herman Verbeke - Neil Young: Art of Gold
Publisher Witsand Uitgevers
ISBN 9789492934277
Hardcover, 196 pages, 24,99 Euro

via tweet by Andre Koekemoer | Twitter

Orders can be placed at bei Witsand and bol.com.

Also, in 2017 Herman Verbeke published the book Neil Young: En Ik (In Dutch of course), with 65 thoughts and musings about Neil by journalists, professors, theater people, writers, poets, and many others from Belgium and Holland).

Neil Young: En Ik
by Herman Verbeke

Author Herman Verbeke & Neil Young - 2009

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Neil Young's Saturday Night Live Performance of "Rockin' In The Free World" | NYA

Neil Young's 1989 Saturday Night Live performance of "Rockin' In The Free World" is now playing in Hearse Theater | NYA.

On September 30, 1989, Neil Young served notice that he was back with a vengeance with his legendary performance of Rockin' In The Free World on Saturday Night Live. There are many, many defining moments in Neil Young's career. His appearance on SNL was another such occasion.

Neil's incredibly incendiary 1989 performance of "Rockin' in the Free World" which has been called "one of the most intense live television studio performances ever".

When Neil performed on Saturday Night Live, on September 30, 1989, the album Freedom was about to be released. Neil did a rare "3-fer" on SNL - performing 3 songs: "Rockin'", "The Needle And The Damage Done" and "No More".


Neil channels Elvis & Johnny Rotten
"Rocking in the Free World"
Young seemed possessed as he throttled his Les Paul guitar and shredded its strings before the audience. Wearing a Elvis Presley T-shirt, Young seemed to be bridging his 1970's classic "Hey, Hey, My, My" with the lyrics "The King [Elvis] is gone but not forgotten, this is the story of Johnny Rotten" with the end of the 1980's and the impending advent of the grunge-alternative music explosion.

Lupo's "Elvis Heartbreak Hotel" Shirt

Later, Young commented that he worked with a trainer before going onstage to work himself up to the encore intensity level when he normally performs the song after 2 hours on stage. Neil came on the set as if he had just performed the concert of his life and went from there. The song was selected as one of the best of Saturday Night Live musical performances of all time in broadcasts later in the 1990's for the 25th anniversary.

Critics were ecstatic about Young's return to form based on just the single broadcast and it marked a critical turning point in Neil's career. Jimmy McDonough writes in a Village Voice interview:

With the September 30 appearance on Saturday Night Live, Young arrested any signs of rust - at least for the moment. Backed by Charlie Drayton, Steve Jordan, and longtime sideman Frank 'Poncho' Sampedro - a new band Young's tentatively calling Young, CS&P - he was all over the stage, jumping on the drum stand, lunging out of camera range, whipping off earsplitting solos that sounded like falling power lines. It was the loudest thing I've ever heard on TV, the lyrics to 'Rockin' in the Free World' barely audible. This is easily his best band since Crazy Horse.

Just the look on his face was enough. He really seemed insane.

YOUNG: 'Yeah, well I was. I don't like TV. Never have. It always sucks and there's nothing you can do about it. You can't just walk on and do 'Rockin' in the Free World,' or you'll look like a fuckin' idiot. To perform that song the way it's supposed to be performed you have to be at peak blood level, everything has to be up, the machine has to be stoked. To do that I had to ignore Saturday Night Live completely. I had to pretend I wasn't there.'

So Young developed 'a brand new technique for doing TV' - a half-hour before going on he worked out with his trainer, lifting weights and doing calisthenics to get himself wired.

Video of the performance was once widely available on YouTube however -- as the corporate grip continues to tighten on the Internet -- it is no longer available. Somehow though, the 2nd song performed that night "No More" is available on YouTube... for now.

In the meantime, check out this review of the first concert performance of “Rockin’ In The Free World” in Seattle on February 21, 1989 by Chris Horn.

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Neil Young Announces NYTV Coming in 2020 + 25+ Completed Projects "In the can"

NYA News 2020
Times-Contrarian | NYA

Writing on Times-Contrarian | NYA, Neil Young writes that he will be introducing NYTV in 2020.

Times-Contrarian | NYA

NYTV will be a podcast for subscribers only. Here at Thrasher's Wheat, we have been a strong proponent of Neil TV dating back to 1997. But, that's another story for another day...

"Neil TV" Supporter w/ Andy & Mary
Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse: HORDE Tour - Camden, New Jersey - 1997

Along with lots of new features for NYA in 2020, a small increase in the annual subscription to $2.99/month ($29.99/year).

Also, a survey will be coming to vote on releases that are "In The Can" | Times-Contrarian | NYA.

"In The Can"
Times-Contrarian | NYA

Once again, the possibilities are mind boggling with over 25+ completed audio and/or film projects that are "In The Can", unreleased and ready to go.

STRATFORD SHAKESPEARE THEATER
SOLO 1971 FILM LP

GREENDALE LIVE
CRAZY HORSE 2003
STAGE PRODUCTION FILM LP

GREENDALE at VICKAR STREET
SOLO 2003 FILM LP

TOAST
CRAZY HORSE LP 2001 (limited film)

MOUNTAINTOP
CRAZY HORSE 2019 FILM

CATALYST
CRAZY HORSE 1991 FILM LP

ALCHEMY
CRAZY HORSE 2012/2013 FILM LP

EARLY DAZE
CRAZY HORSE 1960s LP

HARVEST TIME
STRAY GATORS 1971 FILM LP

MIRROR BALL LIVE DUBLIN
friends from PEARL JAM FILM LP

DESERT TRIP
PROMISE OF THE REAL FILM

MONSANTO YEARS
PROMISE OF THE REAL 2O14
FILM / DOC/ MUSIC

TRUNK SHOW
THE CONTINENTALS 2009 FILM LP

LINCVOLT CHRONICLES 1-5
DOCUMENTARY SERIES FILM

TOWER THEATER PHILADELPHIA
SOLO FILM LP 2018

POLAR VORTEX
SOLO FILM LP 2019

HOMEGROWN
ORIGINAL STUDIO LP 1975

CHROME DREAMS
ORIGINAL STUDIO LP 1977

BERLIN
TRANS BAND 1982 FILM LP

OCEANSIDE COUNTRYSIDE
ORIGINAL STUDIO LP 1976-77

BOARDING HOUSE
SOLO 1976 FILM LP

ISLAND IN THE SUN
LP 1982

TRANS 2020
ANIMATED TRANS FILM

BOTTOM LINE
SOLO 1974 LP

OVER THE RAINBOW
LIVE TONIGHTS THE NIGHT LP

ODEON BUDAKON
LONDON / TOKYO CRAZY HORSE / SOLO / DOC 1976
FILM / LP

DUCKS
LP LIVE IN SANTA CRUZ 1977

HOMEFIRES
LP 1974 VARIOUS SOLO AND BAND

FILLMORE EAST
CSNY LIVE/ BAND/ SOLO
1971 FILM LP

We know that we've long been anxious for the release of "Trunk Show", the Neil Young concert film directed by Jonathan Demme. We attended the filming of both concerts in 2007 Philadelphia shows.


Of course, who can forget Archives Guy urging us to get to theaters before the release of BluRay DVD?!

Trunk Show's Mission: "To blow your eardrums out"

Highlights include the solo for “No Hidden Path” at roughly 20 minutes long.


Photo by Larry Cragg
More reviews of 'Neil Young Trunk Show: Scenes from a Concert'.

Also, see Young and Demme Discuss Trunk Show Movie and Trailer for Neil Young Trunk Show Movie.


Photo by Thrasher
Also, see concert review of the 2007 Philadelphia shows at which the film was shot.

Musician Neil Young and Director Jonathan Demme

Photo of the Moment: Musician Young and Director Demme by Victoria Will/AP
(Click photo to enlarge)
More on Jonathan Demme and Neil Young collaborations.

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