Neil Young Tweets Another Message From "The Visitor"

You fortune tellers,
take my hand.
see what's there.
Its sifting sands -
The Visitorhttps://t.co/Z3usw9gj2S

— Neil Young (@Neilyoung) October 1, 2017

Neil Young has tweeted out another message from "The Visitor".

Last week, Neil tweeted a message from "The Visitor" with a short clip of a rainbow. Today, the message is:

"You fortune tellers, take my hand. see what's there. Its sifting sands"
- The Visitor

The Visitor's latest message accompanies the Official Music Video for "Powderfinger".

So what might Neil be up to with these tweets and references to the mysterious "The Visitor"?

As you may recall, "The Visitor" was referenced during a track by track commentary on his new album 'Hitchhiker' which was live streamed from a radio station in Telluride, CO. (See TRANSCRIPT: Neil Young's Track by Track Commentary on New Album 'Hitchhiker').

So who might "The Visitor" be? There are many out there with thoughts on who "The Visitor" might be and their significance.

Some have speculated "The Visitor" is the title of Neil Young's next album recorded with the band Promise of the REAL. Others think "The Visitor" refers to upcoming events, shifts or possibly "change" or "The Truth". Or "awareness" or "consciousness".

Maybe the "The Visitor" is Neil's muse returning with creative musical ideas?

Everyone has their favorite theories. As for us? Well, we had an interesting synchronicity on this recently.

About the time that "Hitchhiker" was released last month, a large sculpture was placed along our regular commute with a large white, shroud. And when it was unveiled, we did a double take.

"The Visitor"? - The Aperture Plaza
Photos by thrasher - September 2017

The sculpture does not have any title or artist name, however, it is located on the plaza of a complex known as Aperture.

On first glance, we see a figure breaking through to the other side of a camera lens aperture or portal. On closer inspection, we see the figure has a digitized texture effect with blank "pixels".

Well, we gave our little time traveling visitor a little pat on the head and went about our day.

But we did find the timing of the release of "Hitchhiker", the unveiling of the Aperture's "Visitor" scuplture, and the imminent arrival of "The Visitor" to be another one of those intriguing intersections of Synchronicity and Neil Young and The Synchronicity of Thrasher's Wheat.

Still perplexed? Well consider that "The Visitor" doesn't have a Twitter account. Or Internet access. Still wondering? Then check links below.

“The Gypsy told my fortune, she said that nothin' showed. ” - Like An Inca

More on Neil Young's New Album "Hitchhiker":

• Neil Young Tweets A Message From "The Visitor" (10+ Comments)
• INTERVIEW: Neil Young on Sirius Radio w/ Jim Ladd (5+ Comments)
• NEW Official Music Video: "Powderfinger" by Neil Young (10+ Comments)
• TRANSCRIPT: Neil Young's Track by Track Commentary on New Album 'Hitchhiker' (20+ Comments)
• Neil Young’s Previously Unreleased Hitchhiker, and His Dark Malibu Years | Vulture (5+ Comments)
• REVIEW: Neil Young's Unearthed 1976 Recording 'Hitchhiker' Is a Lost Treasure" | Rolling Stone (15+ Comments)
• Neil Young's Live Facebook Session on August 31 (15+ Comments)
• REVIEW: Neil Young's Hitchhiker | American Songwriter (15+ Comments)
• Neil Young's Live Facebook Session on August 31 (15+ Comments)
• STREAMING: Neil Young's New Album "Hitchhiker" | NPR (25+ Comments)
• Tweet From Neil Young on "Hitchhiker" Release (25+ Comments)
• UNCUT Review: Neil Young's Upcoming Album "Hitchhiker" (2+ Comments)
• Comment of the Moment: Neil Young's Next Studio Album "Hitchhiker" (20+ Comments)
• UPDATE ON NEW ALBUM: Neil Young's "Hitchhiker" Now Due September 8 + Preview Track (10+ Comments)
• Neil Young's Indigo Ranch "Hitchhiker" 1976 Sessions Revealed: Behind the Scenes w/ Richard Kaplan - Part #1 (10+ Comments)
• Neil Young's Indigo Ranch "Hitchhiker" 1976 Sessions Revealed: Behind the Scenes w/ Richard Kaplan - Part #2 (15+ Comments)

Neil Young | Hitchhiker

(Click to enlarge & preview tracks)

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Neil Young's Muse: The Passion, The Pathos & The 4%

Discussing "The Muse"
Moderator Jaan Uhelszki & Neil Young
SXSW Keynote Address, Austin, Texas - March 16, 2006
photo by Michael Weintrob, Groovetography
With virtually every album that Neil Young has released since 2000, his fans, listeners and critics have routinely questioned his artistic muse. (See 2001's Road Rock, Live, 2002's Are You Passionate?, 2003's
Greendale, 2005's Prairie Wind, 2006's Living With War, 2007's Chrome Dreams II, 2009's Fork In The Road, 2010's Le Noise, 2012's Americana & Psychedelic Pill, 2014's A Letter Home & Storytone, 2015's The Monsanto Years, 2016's Earth, Peace Trail.)

During this period, we here at Thrasher's Wheat have been engaged in a pretty interesting exercise in this discussion and ongoing analysis of "The Muse" of Neil Young.

And then there are those in "The 4%" -- which we'll come back to below.

And -- right on cue -- comes Neil Young + Promise of the Real's new song "Children of Destiny" featuring an orchestra in the studio. The new song's "patriotic" video seems to have really hit a nerve with some -- as we noted on the 4th of July -- managing once again to both polarize his fan base and inflame critics.

Inflamed and polarized to such a degree that Neil Young issued a statement essentially saying that he won't quit no matter what.

Pearl Jam band members have discussed their experience with Neil Young and "The Muse" at length. Eddie Vedder says: "He's getting closer and closer to the core." (Full interview here.)

Graham Nash has revealed some of the origins of Neil Young's passionate following of "The Muse". (Full interview here.)

Back in 2006, at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas, during Neil Young's keynote address, he said:

"'The one constant is not to let yourself get distracted when a song is trying to find you. Once you have an idea with music, nothing else matters but that idea. Your responsibility to the muse is to follow it.... There's nothing more important ... Commitments are one of the worst things for music making - they're annoying.'"

During Young's address on artistic creativity, he went on to explain the muse:

"I'm proudest of my work when it comes really fast [and] I don't edit it. It's the purest form of creativity ... you just have to be there.

You can't worry about the result while you're in the midst of creating. Afterwards, you can scrap it, record it or dump it in the editing bin. But, when you're terrified, you know you're on the right track.

Now, there are big breaks and [then] it's just like a dam bursting. I used to write a song every day.

People want to know why you don't make your most famous record over and over again. Because it's death."

So what it seems to have come down to back in 2009 with the latest batch of new songs from the album "Fork In the Road" is that there seems to be a huge divide between fans who are comfortable with Neil following "The Muse" and those who steadfastly refuse to allow Neil's creativity to deviate from their own desires.



It has all been quite fascinating. Here's a brief rundown on some posts which generated hundreds and hundreds of comments between impassioned Neil fans around the world:

- The Myth of Washed Up Neil (140+ comments)

- So Who's Really Washed Up? (30+ comments)

- Yonder Stands The Sinner (25+ comments)

- Life in the Neil Young Cocoon (15+ comments)

- "Fork In the Road" - New Video! (70+ comments)

- Those New Songs: Falling From Above (80+ comments)

- Comment of the Moment: Yonder Stands The Sinner (40+ comments)

- A Battle Raged on the Open Page: Can You Change Your Mind? (30+ comments)

- "Optimal" Neil Young Fans (10+ comments)

- Comment of the Moment: "Chaos Is Good" says Neil Young

- Doubters: There's A Hole in the Neil Young Fanbase (19+ comments)

- The Essence of "The Doubters": Neil Young & Crazy Horse Concert Reviews (40+ comments)

Well, here's another perspective on whether Neil has a wheel in the ditch or a wheel on the track by Not Above Suspicion:

Here's my perspective. Neil's recent albums have not excited me as much as much of his earlier work.

Using 10 years and looking at his out put since the CSNY Looking Forward, I'd be hard pressed to put any the albums containing "new" material in my favorites category and I'd have to put LF, AYP and LWW close to the very bottom of any albums Neil has done solo or in a group. I also agree that the general antipathy toward those albums is unlikely to be subject to revisionist appraisals as was the case with TFA, TTN and OTB.

CDII is probably my favorite of the albums. It does contain some old material and it still would probably be somewhere in the middle of my ranking of all his albums. I like S&G, Greendale and PW but I'd probably put them all in the lower half of a ranking.

So, to that extent I am in agreement with those who state Neil's recent work is not on a par with much of his earlier work. I'd be more inclined to say he hasn't delivered the "great" albums that he produced, if not consistently, frequently in the past.

Of course, he and I are both much older now. Honestly, I don't think anything, music or otherwise, can excite and move me as much today as it could when I was young.

I also think that Neil is using the latter portion of his career and the almost unique luxury he has in terms of his relationship with the recording industry to release whatever strikes his fancy at a given moment without regard for any of the factors usually considered. This is not really something new for Neil but in the past even his "challenging" albums seemed more internally diverse musically and topically. now, to an extent, you do get "here's 10 songs one after another that all reflect this attitude and feeling that occupied my thoughts the last month or so." there is an element of unrelenting self-indulgence present, and it's likely that factor which accounts for wide variance in opinions.

Some people (not surprisingly from almost exclusively the cadre of his biggest fans) are closely attuned to Neil's "self." Probably because: (a) they are extremely interested in what Neil is feeling and thinking and the songs and albums provide clues that they value in an "extra-musical" sense; and (b) those people just happen to have "selves" that are more similar to Neil.

That's not being sycophantic, which connotes a sense of uncritical adoration and often insincerity. Neil might just be the last person allowed to "narrowcast" from a major record label.

I think some of today's critics just don't know what to make of someone who is allowed to break all the rules and isn't relegated to the underground of obscure corners of the internet and self-published CDs.

Criticizing Neil for failing to deliver things with broad appeal might be accurate but is similar to criticizing health food stores for not delivering sugary treats.

-- Not Above Suspicion

David Geffen, Elliot Roberts, & Neil Young
Frame from 'Inventing David Geffen': American Masters
(Click photo to enlarge)
In 2012, we posted preview trailers for the upcoming documentary film 'Inventing David Geffen': American Masters.

Which, of course, reminded many of Neil Young's "lost '80's" due to the infamous Geffen lawsuit. This in turn, coincidentally led to the following article which examines the legal nightmare from a different angle. From How Neil Young Became the First Artist to Get Sued for Not Being Himself By Susan Alexander:

What? How can you get sued for not being yourself?

Writing for Rolling Stone, music journalist Don McLeese explains:

Neil Young is the only artist in the history of modern recording to be sued for refusing to be himself. The suit, filed by Geffen Records, Young’s label for much of the Eighties, charged that he was violating his contract by recording ‘unrepresentative’ albums. In other words, Neil Young wasn’t making Neil Young music.

The problem with Geffen’s suit was that there has never been any such thing as a ‘representative’ Neil Young album. Young has made a decades-long career out of keeping his fans guessing what he’ll do next.

Even before he signed with Geffen, his ever-changing style included raw and edgy, melodic and romantic, dark and melancholic, acoustic and electric, and introspective and retrospective, with a bit of punk thrown in for good measure, all backed by whatever band he’d assembled at the time. It’s just how he worked (and still does).

This post explores how Young has managed to maintain an ongoing state of creative flow throughout his career. Even when he was creating to order for a record company, and even during the litigation that ensued.

As we’ll see, he did so by mastering the art of self-renewal, which is something we can all learn to do.

Regular readers of this blog's comments know that there has been a disturbing pattern over the years where virtually every artistic and business decision Neil has made has been ripped to shreds. We're not even going to begin to link to the dozens and dozens of examples we've documented over the years, but this post contains a link summary.

Which led us to the creation of the "Muse Poll" in order to see if we could determine the extent of dissatisfaction and tension amongst Neil Young fans. And -- in not too big a surprise -- the vitriol of negative Neil comments is in no way whatsoever reflective of the larger Neil community.


So, as you can see, after all this wailing, bitching and moaning about those lame new songs and Neil being a washed up rock star a grand total of 4% of fans have a problem with Neil's course. That's right -- 4%!!! (Polls are still open below, so stand and be counted).

So, before we go, we'll conclude with this comment by Not Above Suspicion:

Apart from the obvious reality that different people have different opinions and some people like things others dislike, why would anyone be against him releasing more rather than less? Who is hurt by music being made available?

If you don't like it, don't buy it. then you can't even claim the loss of $15. Those who want it can buy it. The implication of some that Neil is harming his legacy strikes me as being both silly and no one's business other than Neil's.

Personally, I want to hear everything he's ever done. I won't like it all but I'm actually a good bit more interested in what he's doing now and thinks enough of to prepare for release than I am the 339th (random number) version of Powderfinger, even if that 339th version of Powderfinger is a sure thing.

In keeping with some of our recent analysis, what do you think? Should Neil follow his muse? Or, do you have "doubts"?


So why did you vote the way you did? Please comment below.

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Graham Nash on Neil Young's Passionate Following of "The Muse"

With Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young now confirmed for the 2013 27th Annual Bridge School Benefit Concert, hopefully much of the chatter about their relations will dissipate.

Here's Graham Nash on Neil Young's passionate following of "The Muse".

Unknown what the source is on this interview.

More on Neil Young Following The Muse.

Also, tonight, Saturday, Sept 7 at 9:00 PM EST, (~30 minutes from now) the Thrashers Wheat Radio Hour from WBKM.org will be streaming.

Tonight's edition will feature the latest Neil Young news on upcoming CSNY reunion at Bridge School concerts.

Tune in details and podcast info @ Thrashers Wheat Radio Hour.

We’ve wanted to say something for some time to thank all of you dear visitors here, the readers, the listeners, commenters, contributors and fellow Neil fans, for your sincere dedication, commitment, your very kind words, your sense of humor, your holding on through all this craziness and staying cheerful and uplifting while so bravely staying the course. It’s been a wonderful ride together and we wanted to tell you “thank you for being our friends.

namaste


Thrasher's Wheat Radio
Tune in on WBKM.org, Saturdays @ 9P EST
Logo design by
Geoff Moore - Silver Moon Graphics
(How To Support Thrasher's Wheat Radio)

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Streaming TODAY: MUSE 2011 (No Nukes) Concert - All-Star Benefit Supporting Disaster Relief In Japan And Non-Nuclear Groups

MUSE 2011 (No Nukes) Concert

Today, Sunday August 7, an all-star line-up will perform a benefit concert for Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA; showtime is 3PM. The event supports disaster relief efforts in Japan and organizations worldwide working to promote clean, safe energy and appropriate technologies toward a non-nuclear future.

The line-up includes Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Jason Mraz, The Doobie Brothers, Tom Morello, John Hall, Kitaro, Jonathan Wilson, Sweet Honey in the Rock, plus special guests. The artists will perform together throughout the show, with Browne and Raitt anchoring the first set, and Crosby, Stills & Nash closing the show.

To bolster fundraising, MUSE will have live streaming and global online donations, and MobileCause for text2give donations and concert updates in the U.S. (both platforms are live now). Streaming of the MUSE event will begin at 2PM (PST) on August 7; viewers will get exclusive pre-show content and the main feed of the concert. To pre-register for a minimum $5 donation, log on to http://bit.ly/musebenefit. Mobile giving for MUSE is via MobileCause through its text2give service (U.S. only). People may donate by texting MUSE to 80888. A one-time $10 donation will be added to the user's mobile phone bill; complete terms can be found at www.igfn.org/t. Additionally, MUSE concert updates can be accessed by texting CONCERTNEWS to 27138.

Proceeds from the concert will be distributed to Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) to support Japan disaster relief efforts, and organizations worldwide working to promote safe, alternative, non-nuclear energy.

“The MUSE concert will not only be a great show, it will hopefully entice the public to become better informed of the tremendous dangers of nuclear power,” says Graham Nash. “We have to keep real and true information flowing so that people can act on it.”

“The disaster in Fukushima is not only a disaster for Japan. It is a global disaster. We come together now across cultural boundaries, political and generational boundaries, to call for changes in the way we use energy, and in the ways we conduct the search for solutions to the problems facing humanity,” says Jackson Browne. “We join with the people of Japan, and people everywhere who believe in a non-nuclear future.”

It was shortly after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that triggered multiple meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan that the decision was made to coordinate a benefit. Shoreline Amphitheatre was chosen because of its close proximity to the Pacific Rim, Northern California’s history and deep association with Japan—and because nuclear reactors on the California coast store spent fuel rods in the same manner as at Fukushima. The concert date falls between the anniversaries of atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9, 1945).

“We’re so lucky to have been able to bring back some of the original MUSE team to collaborate with some new and younger artists for MUSE 2, so that we can immediately help with the Japan relief effort and raise funds and awareness for the no nukes issue,” says Bonnie Raitt. “I'm excited to be a part of this important and truly collaborative effort. It’s going to be a very special, one of a kind event.”

Pat Simmons, of The Doobie Brothers, who performed at the original MUSE shows adds, "We are so proud to be reuniting with so many of our talented friends, who share our concern for the safety, and sustainable future of our fragile planet. Current events have brought us to a turning point in our human existence. It's time to consider alternatives to the present course of energy production that have been forced upon us by an aggressive corporate power structure. We join together to generate funds to help our Japanese friends, as they recover from the devastation that they have had to endure, due to man's careless use of nuclear energy, and nature's unpredictability. Through these efforts we also hope to raise public awareness of the challenges we are faced with, and the important responsibilities we share in moving us towards a safer, nuclear free future."

The concert stage will be powered by an integrated system of clean, alternative energy sources, using solar, biodiesel, and wind technologies. The energy-saving GRNLite LED lighting rig for the show has been donated by Bandit Lites, and Schubert Systems has donated the sound rig. In addition, Shoreline is the largest Green certified concert venue in the United States and is a founding member of the Green Music Group. One goal is that the concert will inspire musicians in other areas to organize shows that both employ and promote safe energy alternatives, and that raise funds for disaster relief efforts and for groups—local, regional, national, and international alike—advocating non-nuclear programs and initiatives.

Says John Hall (who, in addition to being a musician, was a U.S. Representative from New York, 2007-2011). “Will we, as a country, invest in clean, renewable sources of energy, or will we continue to use taxpayer dollars to indemnify and subsidize the dirty, deadly old technologies that are making our planet unlivable?”

"Even though the news cycle has moved on from the Fukushima disaster, this is another massive world energy disaster from which there will be long-term effects,” adds Jason Mraz. “I am thrilled to be a part of this amazing show that will not only help those in Japan, but that will also call attention to the urgent need to embrace safe, clean energy alternatives."

Japanese musician and multi-instrumentalist, Kitaro, joined the bill as a way to give thanks “for all of the support for Japan from the world, and to all of the Japanese, who are helping each other.” He adds, “It is time to consider the change to alternative clean energy instead of nuclear power.”

For more information, please visit: www.musiciansunited4safeenergy.com and www.nukefree.org


Crosby, Stills & Nash

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Neil Young News: For Japan: "Hey Hey, My My" - Neil Young & Crazy Horse LIVE:

Neil Young News: I Got Lost on the Human Highway: "The 1982 film Human Highway by Neil Young portrays the Earth's last day following a nuclear holocaust. Original movie posters referred to it as a 'nuclear comedy'

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