BENEFIT: Neil Young's Old Black Guitar Autographed (Reproduction)

Neil Young's Old Black Guitar (Reproduction)
(Click photo to enlarge)
An autographed reproduction of Neil Young's Old Black guitar is up for auction to benefit SLAM - Save Live Australia’s Music .

According to a Noise11 report by Paul Cashmere, the four members of Crazy Horse, Neil Young, Frank Sampedro, Ralph Molina and Billy Talbot, signed the guitar backstage at Melbourne, AUS concert.

On February 23rd 2010, 20,000 protesters marched on Victorian Parliament House to insist that crippling laws that equated “live music” with violence be changed. The SLAM (Save Live Australia’s Music) rally was the largest cultural protest in Australia’s history. Musicians reclaimed the streets of Melbourne and the law was overturned.

More on Neil Young's Old Black Guitar.

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Walk On: Neil Young - From the Buffalo to the Pill

Neil Young
A very major retrospective on Neil Young from the liminal "Walk On: Neil Young - From the Buffalo to the Pill" by Joseph Burnett:

Weirdly, however, Neil Young is these days an even more polarising figure, be it among his fans or music listeners at large, than he was back when he wrote ‘Southern Man’ and ‘Alabama’ to castigate racism in the Deep South.

For many, his decision to seclude himself at his Californian ranch for most of his post-seventies recordings and the increased comfort of his life (marriage, kids, cars, model trains, etc) has led to a dip in songwriting quality and musical standards, with lyrics -usually focusing on war, the environment and eternal love for his wife, Pegi- dashed off as if written on the backs of cigarette packets (which he does a lot, actually). Whilst there’s some truth to this complaint (gone -mostly- are the psychedelically surreal and oddly poetic rambles of ‘Ambulance Blues’ and ‘Cowgirl in the Sand’), it actually seriously misses the point and the bigger picture. Because, even as he becomes more settled into his stable country life (hence all the love songs and ecological concerns), away from the drugs, illness and instability of the sixties and seventies, he still remains rock’s eternal maverick, a constantly contrarian spirit who approaches his life and his music the way he always has, and in the same manner: on his own motherfucking terms. You don’t like a new direction, or some of his new lyrics? Tough shit. Neil Young just keeps on rolling, and in that he is both fascinating and, I swear, as consistent as he’s ever been. The differences between the Neil Young of 2012 and the one of 1966 are of course there, but not as important as they might seem.

It’s where he connects with his eternal muse that Neil Young stands tall, which is handy for me as I sit down to write this tribute.

Thanks Joseph! An excellent career retrospective.

Full article "Walk On: Neil Young - From the Buffalo to the Pill" by Joseph Burnett.

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Broken Arrow Magazine: March 2013 - Win a Free Copy

Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Chicago - 2012
Photo by Francesco Lucarelli
The latest issue of Broken Arrow Magazine, published by the Neil Young Appreciation Society recently hit the streets and we're now finishing up reading the issue. As always a nice read -- especially as we look back while looking ahead.

And -- thanks to the generous support of NYAS and editor Scott Sandie -- we're pleased to be able to offer a free copy of the latest issue of Broken Arrow Magazine to a Thrasher's Wheat reader. Details follow below.

The new issue of Broken Arrow – number 129 – is now out. The 80 pages feature a major 21-page essay on Greendale by Ethan de Seife, a perspective from six days on the road with Crazy Horse in the USA (which amongst other asides includes a fond look back at The Spectrum and a Thrasher led attempt to re-create the cover of Time Fades Away), a report on a legendary concert on Neil’s 1971 solo tour full – ‘Neil Young & The Gate Crashers’ and author Dave Zimmer’s article on his ‘Year of Neil’. The cover is Francesco Lucarelli's glorious shot of Crazy Horse taking a bow onstage in Chicago in 2012. There’s also a full colour centrefold and the usual mixture of fans’ points of views, reports, ramblings and several pages of letter to the editor.

And without tipping our hat too much, there's a special announcement regarding Thrasher's Wheat Radio which we'll have more on very soon. So don’t miss it!

For more information and subscription information visit the Neil Young Appreciation Society or directly contact NYAS editor Scott Sandie at surfer-joe@nyas.org.uk

Don't be denied!

Thanks Scott and everyone who is supporting the NYAS & BA!

Thrasher - NYAS#2476


More on back issues of Broken Arrow magazine.

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HOW TO WIN A COPY OF LATEST ISSUE OF BROKEN ARROW MAGAZINE

One lucky Thrasher's Wheat supporter will win a free copy of the latest Broken Arrow Magazine. We truly appreciate being able to what we do here at TW, and we love being able to give something back in return.

To enter the contest, follow these steps:

#1) Subscribe (or be already subscribed) to one of our blogfeed channels either via Facebook (LIKE us), Twitter (FOLLOW us) and/or subscribe to our email list.

2) Then just email us (thrasher@thrasherswheat.org) with your name, postal mailing address, and which blogfeed channel you signed up for (Facebook, Twitter, email list options noted above in Step #1). *Be sure to identify your complete Facebook ID, Twitter handle, or email address.*

Entries must be emailed with SUBJECT line: Contest - Broken Arrow Magazine: March 2013

Include name, postal mailing address with *country*.

Deadline: April 30, 2013

We'll then randomly select Thrasher's Wheat readers as winners.

Don't Be Denied!

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Paul Williams: 1948 - 2013

Paul Williams: 1948 - 2013
(Click photo to enlarge)
Paul Williams, the pioneering music journalist, has passed away.

Founder of the legendary and seminal Crawdaddy! magazine in 1966, Williams essentially launched pop music criticism as a legitimate and serious endeavor. And he was a huge Neil Young fan and author of a definitive biography Neil Young: Love to Burn : Thirty Years of Speaking Out, 1966-1996.

Mr. Williams once wrote:

“In writing about rock music, my intention was not to judge the records (like a critic) or report on the scene (like a journalist) but to explore, as an essayist, the experience of listening to certain records and feeling the whole world through them.

“My form has always been the essay, talking on paper,” he added. “My subject matter has always been transcendence.”

From correspondence with Williams on his book Neil Young: Love to Burn : Thirty Years of Speaking Out, 1966-1996.:

The intention of my book was to document the kind of very personal response that we listeners and fans have to Neil's extraordinary performances, and maybe to entertain readers like you who might wonder what somebody else would say about Ordinary People or Love and Only Love... I haven't had many letters from readers of this book (as compared to many from readers of my Dylan books), so it's good to get the feedback.

Don't be denied....
Paul

In 2009, we wrote that Paul Williams Needs Our Help due to serious illness and helped raised funds for his health care.

From Remembering Paul Williams, The First Rock Critic | Rolling Stone by David Fricke:

"He wrote with judgment but not superiority or lazy censure; he worked to find paths and connections, through committed, often repeated listening, and presented the results as if you were a fellow traveler, not just a reader.

He was the first of my breed, and he set fundamental standards for integrity and dedication. As a writer, Paul Williams never stopped listening. As a listener, he never stopped seeking. As a colleague, he expected the same."

In 1996, Williams called "The Complex Sessions: Neil Young & Crazy Horse", directed by Jonathan Demme, Neil Young's - and Rock n' Roll's - finest moment. Williams wrote:

"The Complex Sessions seems to me to represent a pivotal moment in rock history (as, say, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" did), not only because it's so good but also because it is a breakthrough in the creative use of a medium (the long-form rock video as a work of art) that has defeated most supplicants, including Neil as often as not.

As a fellow Neil Young fan and music blogger, we can say that Paul will truly be missed.

Don't be denied....

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PHOTO GALLERY: Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Vector Arena March 21, 2013 | The 13th Floor

Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Vector Arena March 21, 2013
Photo Gallery by Michael Flynn | The 13th Floor
(Click photo to enlarge)
A very nice photo gallery of Neil Young & Crazy Horse at Vector Arena, AUS on March 21, 2013 by Michael Flynn | The 13th Floor.

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SNEAK PREVIEW: Possible Europe Setlist for Neil Young and Crazy Horse?

Neil Young & Crazy Horse Setlist
Aborted Version for 2013 Australia/New Zealand Tour
(Click photo to enlarge)
As you may recall, after the Australia/New Zealand Tour tour opener in Perth, many, many concert goers reacted in bewilderment to the setlist of Neil Young and Crazy Horse.

"A self indulgent racket of loud grungy guitar instead of playing the true classics I came to hear" was -- sadly -- an all too typical comment.


Poncho Confronting Upset Fans
A Day On The Green, March 9th 2013
Photo by Gary "Old Man Emu"
(Click photo to enlarge)
This led to the notorious "White Zinfandel Riot" when wine infused fans nearly stormed the stage demanding familiar songs. The whole scene at "A Day On The Green" Festival in Hunter Valley, Geelong, AUS was vividly captured and will go down as an almost Tonight's The Night/"Judas" type of Neil Young concert experience with an audience in near revolt.

Exhilarating stuff of the highest magnitude.

In an exclusive Thrashers Wheat investigation, we have learned that in reaction to the early Australia concerts, that Neil seriously considered dumping the standard Alchemy tour setlist and substituting a setlist of all classic songs, in an effort to appease "middle-of-the-road" type fans. The setlist pictured above is one of several versions which were contemplated but ultimately abandoned. Thank god.

As we know, Neil Young and Crazy Horse's Australia/New Zealand Tour eventually continued on with nearly universal enthusiastic, positive reviews.

So what can we expect of the upcoming summer tour of Europe?

As always, only time will tell, but we've learned that based upon the reaction of some of the more "fair weather fans", that Neil is considering a radical setlist for Europe. In typical willfully perverse fashion, Neil is considering doing the opposite of giving audiences the classics. Instead, setlists are being rumored to contain nothing but total, complete obscurities.

How obscure you ask? Basically, as rare and unperformed as possible based on one of the Europe rehearsal setlists that we here at TW have seen.


Neil Young & Crazy Horse Setlist
Rehearsal Version for 2013 Summer Tour of Europe
(Click photo to enlarge)
Now how obscure is that? Based on quick analysis of setlist statistics from Sugar Mountain, it would seem that Neil is considering playing songs which have only been performed once or twice live?!

Now if that doesn't get you booking plans for a summer in Europe, we don't know what possibly could?

p.s. - Happy ARC Day!

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VIDEO: A Giant Walks - Neil Young and Crazy Horse Down Under

Here's a very cool video of Neil Young and Crazy Horse performing "Walk Like A Giant" from the 2013 Australia-New Zealand Tour.

The video consists of three different performances from Sydney, Geelong and Perth finale.

A Giant Walks indeed.

Nice job Rod!

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Induction Film: 2011 Canada's JUNO Award to Neil Young

In 2011, Neil Young was honored with the 2011 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award at Canada's Juno Awards.

Here is the complete career highlights film, including the introduction by Producer Daniel Lanois and Neil's touching acceptance speech.

Here's a transcript of Acceptance Speech by Neil Young at Canada's JUNO Awards.

Can there be any doubt that Neil Young is a Humanitarian Rebel With Causes?

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BEST STORY EVER: Ed Robertson Hangs With Neil Young

Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies is a huge Neil Young fan. So when he got the chance to play Neil's Bridge School Benefit, he was happy to do it.

One thing he didn't necessarily expect: getting to hang out with Neil himself, and Crazy Horse to boot. But it happened... And Neil was a great host.

Best. Neil. Story. Ever.

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Guitar Infographic: Neil Young’s Old Black

Infographic: Neil Young’s Old Black
(Click photo to enlarge)
Maybe everything if you've ever wanted to know about Neil Young’s guitar Old Black.

Guitars of Legend: That Rock and Roll Sound by Mike:

Exactly where does that legendary guitar sound come from? You bought a guitar, patched it into an amp, unsheathed your plectrum and played your favorite riff note for note, yet it sounded nothing like it should.

The beautiful thing about an electric guitar is the endless ways you can tweak, modify and manipulate the sound. Whatever guitar sound you have in your head is possible through some combination of pickups, pedals and powered speakers.

This infographic was designed to put together the details of the most legendary guitars (and their sound) of all time. From Neil Young’s Old Black to Stevie Ray Vaughn’s Strat Number One.

More on Neil Young’s guitars and sound and Anatomy of ‘Old Black’ Guitar .

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VIDEO: "Surfer Joe & Moe The Sleaze" by Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Auckland 2013

Neil Young and Crazy Horse perform "Surfer Joe & Moe The Sleaze" for the first time in over 20 years!

Per Sugar Mountain - Neil Young Set Lists, "Surfer Joe & Moe The Sleaze" last played on 1990-11-13, The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, California.

From Auckland, New Zealand concert on Mar 21, 2013.

"Here's a story about Surfer Joe
He caught the big one, and he let it go."

Stunning.

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An Alchemy Tattoo Way Down Under: A Neil Young Fan Story

2013 Alchemy Tour: Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Thanks Lee "Astrolee" B.!
(Click photo to enlarge)One of the best things about running a Neil Young fan site is that you meet up with folks who are more into Neil than we are! Imagine that?!

Lots of fantastic stories from the 2013 Australia/New Zealand Tour of Neil Young and Crazy Horse and here's a very cool Neil story.

Rustie extraordinaire Lee "Astrolee" B., in preparation for the Alchemy Tour, got herself a tattoo for the roadtrip. Lee had her first tattoo done in 2009 when she was 53. On her back she has a large Moon/Sun/Stars layout as they have had a special significant role in her life hence her "handle" name of "astrololee". Underneath the symbols are some words from songs she likes that reflected her life at that stage.

So now the Neil Young and Crazy Horse tattoo has become her 2nd tattoo. Lee "Astrolee" wrote us:

I was so excited that NY&CH were coming down under. Our Aussie Rustie group had all contributed to designing a t-shirt to wear to the shows and I liked the design so much I decided to have a permanent reminder of the occasion.

I only received my T-shirt on the Monday the 25th Feb and on the Tuesday the full moon and the date of Neil and the guys arrival into Australia I went down to "The Tattoo Shop" in Bundoora Victoria to get it done that night after work! (Neil does his best work on the full moon) so that's when I wanted it done as well but arrrrgh, Britt (young lady 30yo) couldn't do it then, so l had to wait until the 27th...only 3 days before the first Oz gig in Perth. It took only 1 1/2 hrs to stencil, outline and colour.

Wooohoooo It was a breeze, NO it did not hurt!

Now here's Lee's report from the Neil Young and Crazy Horse Australia leg where she made all of the continent's concerts.

As part of the privileged group of Oz Rusties, 8 of us graced the front row at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre "looking for a good time" for the 2nd gig of Neil Young & Crazy Horse's Alchemy Tour - Australia and New Zealand leg, and certainly a good time is what we got, only it was so much more than we all imagined it would or could be!

I have always held the notion... "Have no expectations in life and the unexpected will definitely happen". On the other hand one of my friends has an opposing view with the idea of, "If you have no expectations then you will get nothing", so I can now tell you, she is sooooo totally wrong lol!

After waiting on the western side of the venue for GA to open, the day was hot enough to get badly sunburnt and when the venue finally let us in, there was no time to grab water as taking up pole position was the far greater priority! Phew made it to the front rail..lol..hog front frail...stare down anyone coming within two inches of OUR personal space and you are going to cop it!! Yep, us Aussies are brutal but after all this was, NEIL YOUNG AND CRAZY HORSE!

Precisely at 7.30pm the support act "Husky" an Indie band from Melbourne came on and we all politely listened through "Husky's" melodically harmonised acoustic setlist which included the songs "Tidal Wave, Fake Moustache and The Woods". At times some of the words sung by Husky Gawenda, the bands' lead vocalist, were a little short on fluid diction however the use of their instruments and the bands harmonisation more than made up for the little nuance of not quite hearing all the words! Husky are the discovery of FM radio Triple JJJ with the band winning the "unearthed" title in 2011. They are currently working on their 2nd album after releasing their first album "Forever So" to critical acclaim in July 2012, which they backed up with a short tour last Sept/Oct 2012 to the Netherlands, France and United States. During Husky's setlist they played 3 new tunes, "Wolfman, Weary Soldier & Years Gone By", whether these 3 songs make it to the next album will remain to be seen, as they are still works in progress.

On The Aussie Rail w/ Lee "Astrolee", Stringman & Kaz
(Click photo to enlarge)

As 7 of the 8 of us on the rails, had previously attended the Perth gig 3 days before, we all knew that we would be thoroughly entertained with the antics of the crazy mad scientists reminiscent of "Rust" days whom ran around frantically tuning the oversized amps and generally ensuring that the stage was correctly set to precise measurements as well as ensuring the oversized mike would be lowered in place and correctly positioned with a little help and adjustment from a "digeridoo", which is a wooded wind instrument created by the original aboriginal inhabitants of Australia, consisting of naturally shaped timber, internally bored out and ceremoniously painted and played by using circular breathing techniques in order to produce a haunting sound.

We also basically knew that the setlist would be roughly the same...however we also, all know "that it's only real in the way Neil feels from day to day...so having no thoughts, preconceived or otherwise, about how the gig might progress, we waited and then waited some more, for the lights to dim with the familiar strains of the "Beatles" intro "Day In The Life" whilst the crazy scientists (roadies) stood erect in their white lab coats; as Neil and the guys casually walked on stage to the strains of "Advance Australian Fair", thankfully shortened this time to one verse! The Perth gig included our lesser known and not usually sung 2nd & 3rd verse causing much hilarity amongst Neil's camp when we didn't sing along, so thankfully it was dropped off at the Adelaide gig after much jestering from our end that we dont usually sing it!! One Rustie with the "handle" of "The Old Laughing Lady" remarked that we all probably knew the "Star Spangled Banner" anthem better than our own...haha what sacrilege, and we all bet that Neil would have known the Canadian anthem backwards lol!

Anyway with all that over, Neil slapped Ralph on the back as he headed to the drum riser and then nodded knowingly to Poncho and Billy that it was time to Rock, Loud, Gloriously Loud and with that first strum on the chords, "Love and Only Love" exploded with an unleashed force into the venue, so much more powerful than even the previous Perth gig, 3 days earlier. Maybe it was the smaller intimate venue that made it more vibrant, I'm not sure however from that moment on, we all knew they were all on fire and Neil was gonna show all the whingers, whom only wanted his Greatest Hits repeated, how it's done with The Horse! On hearing that first power chord from Old Black, from the rails, we all went nuts!!!

And so the night progressed with long joyous guitar jams between Neil and Poncho; thunderous feedback distortion fed directly back into those huge amps by Neil and Billy especially during "Walk Like A Giant". Some of songs were interlaced with little side riffs, duals between Poncho and Neil too, as well as borrowed tunes within the tunes, especially when they did "F@#kin Up" which was hilarious! Neil especially added to Poncho's antics of being given the finger and kicked up the bum by refraining in a high falsetto voice, repeating the words " Feels So Good"! It was a brilliant display of the commaradrie between the two with Ralphie and Billy grinning along. Ralph throughout the night gave both his arms and the drumkit an absolute workout with some well timed, powerful drum strokes, in the purest tone, no fancy, artsy fartsy shit that rock drummers today seem to engage in, just for show. This was just tremendous pounding that was a force to be reckoned with which was perfectly executed, the years of experience showed as Ralph made it look like a cakewalk! It was a joy to watch!

Oh Yeah, have I mentioned about some of the best harmony to date, from Billy and Ralph during all songs but especially on Ramada lnn, which was truly epic, and always makes me cry..shit we have all experienced a Ramada Inn situation in our lives, and getting old and reflecting back is an essential part of life's process!

Billy's Bass was truly beautiful in this song, needless to say the bass created the mood and feeling for all the songs, the bass always tells its own distinct story and is often overlooked especially in light of the brilliant guitar work from Poncho complimenting Neil's brilliantly worked lead. If at times you have been guilty of ignoring the essential requirement of adding mood and emotion to a band, like I often had, then try taking the Bass out of this band and you've have nothing but a raucous mess lol!

And now to Neil ....he was amazing, mesmerizing, totally into it, the music he created that night consumed and impassioned him, he was on fire, completely encapsulated by its power to be completely taken to his own private head space and I know us fans revelled in those moments where we were sucked into that vortex and were taken along with him for the ride...it was so Fckn Extraordinary that I know I did not ever want the songs to stop! One of our mob even yelled out to Neil after finishing Ramada Inn, "Do it again"....Hahahahahaha but this night was never gonna be a repeat of Neil's "Tonight The Night" days...lol!

Now we all know that Neil can really rock it with The Horse, real loud but they also have their quieter moments. The acoustic songs numbered to only three. "Twisted Road" from PP as well as a newie named, "Hole in the Sky" and then the usual singalong from the crowd for "Heart of Gold". Then the unreleased "Singer Without a Song" was tunefully played by Neil on the piano whilst a "un-named" person sauntered wistfully across the stage with a guitar case in hand, to visually display the content and forlorness of the song!

The setlist http://www.sugarmtn.org/getshows.php?venue_key=962 numbering in the low teens was a mix through the decades with Mr Soul and Cinnamon Girl from the 60's, Hey Hey, My My & Like a Hurricane from the 70's, Love and Only Love from the 90s.

The night of course went too quickly and one the biggest highlights for our mob came at the end of the show when Neil embraced by his mates to do their final bow; that was when Ralph pointed out our "WooHoo" sign to Neil, Poncho and Billy to which they responded by all shouting back to us, several "WooHoo's" It was a real hoot and we loved it!
Other highs for the night were of course ...

"Fuckin Up", "Walk Like A Giant" "Ramada Inn" and the encore "Like A Hurricane". Yep the night was memorable even psychedelic without consuming any "pill" to induce euphoria as the magic came from the thrill of seeing and hearing Neil and Crazy Horse in full flight!
Woooooooooooohoooooooooooo!

Lee "Astrolee" concludes with this:

I love getting tattooed...feels pleasant and soothing, you can just zone out...key to success just talk to the other guys in the shop...yep thats easy, l can talk heaps.. lol....talk about music..even easier.....and bingo you're done..lol!

Folks reactions - hahahahahahhahaahahahahahha....ranged from:-
OMG OMG OMG OMG CRAZY (Sister)
AWESOME (Niece)
KEWL (Nephew)
AMAZING (Best friend)
OUCH (Friend)
DON'T GET "IT" (Friend)
WOW - DIDN'T THINK YOU WOULD GO THROUGH WITH IT (rustie - Little Reggie)
LOTS OF POSITIVE COMMENTS FROM ALL THE RUSTIES - YAY!!!!

and my reaction
WOOHOOOOOOO LOVE IT
"The Tattoo Shop" provided a professional and hygienic experience. All staff were a treasure and l will go there again.

Lee "Astrolee" B. at "The Tattoo Shop"
(Click photo to enlarge)Thanks Lee "Astrolee"! What a terrific Neil story. Thanks for sharing with all of us.

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Shock & Awe: 10th Anniversary of Still Living With War

As Neil Young has stated: "History is a cruel judge of overconfidence."

It's now been 10 years since the days of "Shock & Awe" and "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq.

And. We're. Still. Living. With. War.

So just as Neil Young was right about the Vietnam War being wrong, so he was again by warning of the consequences of reckless war in Iraq.


Leia's Daddy: Find the Cost of Freedom
From Pressing Issues: When Neil Young Hit Bush, and the Media, On Iraq by Greg Mitchell, the former editor of Editor & Publisher (the newspaper for newspaper editors) and author of "So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits and the President Failed on Iraq.":

Neil Young: Rock star as journo? It essentially happened in 2006 when Neil Young, son of a famous Canadian sportswriter, hurriedly wrote and released (only online at first) his ripped-from-the-headlines Living With War CD. He even proposed impeaching the president "for lying" (and "for spying"). In one of the songs in the collection, Young sang repeatedly: "Don't need no more lies."

He emphasized the prohibition against the media showing pictures of coffins with the American dead being returned from Iraq, singing: "Thousands of bodies in the ground/ Brought home in boxes to a trumpet's sound/ No one sees them coming home that way/ Thousands buried in the ground." In another song: "More boxes covered in flags/ but I can't see them on TV."

When Young urged that Americans "Impeach the President," he included audio clips of embarrassing Bush statements ("We'll smoke them out ..."). But a highlight of the collection was the blistering "Shock and Awe," which, along with its antiwar lyrics, included the more philosophical "History is a cruel judge of overconfidence." He also recalled that "back in the days of Mission Accomplished ... the sun was setting on another photo op."

"There's one more kid that will never go to school
Never get to fall in love, never get to be cool."
Photo by Chris Hondros - NYTimes.com
More on why we're still living with war.

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Comment of the Moment: Does Neil Young owe you his hits? No, he doesn’t.

Neil Young And Crazy Horse
The Plenary, Melbourne (13/03/2013)
Photo Gallery by Luke Sutton
(Click photo to enlarge)
The other day we posted about the ongoing saga of Doubters and Believers on Does Neil Young owe you his hits? No, he doesn’t.

And would you believe it but folks accused us of stirring up a debate?! C'mon proud doubter dude, but this aggression will not stand, man.

From a comment by astrololee:

I went to all Australian gigs and each night was different, even with mostly the same setlist...differing towards the end of each night and not once did I come away bored, dissatisfied or pissed off because they hadn't done this or that!

Neil and Crazy Horse could have played "God Save the Queen" all night long and I bet each time they did, you would have heard different riffs, solos and "lol" even words!

In fact after each gig I left elated, on a high and fckn impressed...so much so I still have not "come down" even yet and not likely too for the rest of the year....NOTHING compares or even comes close to seeing these guys all perform together, so tight, totally in sync with each other with an understanding and awareness of each other that only years of experience.

All gigs were fantastically performed with passion, enthusiasm and ferociousness that is sadly lacking from a lot of younger bands..and believe me I'm old but still get to around 20 bigger concerts a year plus other smaller gigs in clubs and pubs!

No Neil does not owe you a damn thing..it's the other way around...I owe him and these guys for giving me a life filled with words that personally mean a lot to me, melodies that have woven a pathway to my heart and soul and have become part of my psyche and who I have am today. Neil has been in my life, throughout my troubled youth and even more stressful early adult life. I owe them for probably saving my life from despair and depression on many occasions. Neil and Crazy Horse have given me a life worth living to the full...the passion in the music that these guys have created has put me in touch with other souls whom feel the same, for which I am externally grateful.

Long live Neil, Frankie, Ralphie and Billy....I owe You and I can only repay you guys by saying Thank You...it's not enough but believe me, it's said with "Rustie" love...wooohooo!

Nice Astrololee! So you made all the AUS concerts?! Awesome. :)

More concert tour reviews on 2013 Australia/New Zealand: Neil Young and Crazy Horse.

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Jason Molina: 1973 – 2013

Jason Molina: 1973 – 2013
Sadly, Jason Molina has passed away.

We've had a few comments and notes on Jason's passing and wanted to share this note from Mark Merrifield of Off The Beaten Tracks, who is a massive Neil Young fan and regular visitor here to Thrasher's Wheat site. Here's Jason Molina and Magnolia Electric Company rocking out live and brilliantly weaving in Neil's "Out on the Weekend" (@~6:00) from 2005's live album Trials and Errors.

You can clearly hear how much Neil Young's music heavily influenced Jason's sound and lyrics. Jason was the cornerstone of Secretly Canadian.



From Magnolia Electric Co.:

We are deeply saddened to announce that Jason Andrew Molina passed away in his home in Indianapolis this past Saturday, March 16th of natural causes at age 39.

Jason was a world class musician, songwriter & recording artist. He was also a beloved friend. He first caught international attention in 1996 when he began releasing albums under the name Songs: Ohia. In 2003 he started the band Magnolia Electric Co. Between those two bands he released over a dozen critically-acclaimed albums and — starting in 1997 — he toured the world every year until he had to stop in 2009 to deal with severe alcoholism. Jason was incredibly humbled by his fans’ support through the years and said that the two most important words he could ever say are “Thank you.”

This is especially hard for us to share. Jason is the cornerstone of Secretly Canadian. Without him there would be no us — plain and simple. His singular, stirring body of work is the foundation upon which all else has been constructed. After hearing and falling in love with the mysterious voice on his debut single “Soul” in early 1996, we approached him about releasing a single on our newly formed label. For some reason he said yes. We drove from Indiana to New York to meet him in person and he handed us what would become the first of many JMo master tapes. And with the Songs: Ohia One Pronunciation of Glory 7” we were given a voice as a label.

The subsequent self-titled debut was often referred to by fans as The Black Album. Each Songs: Ohia album to follow proved a new, haunting thesis statement from a prodigal songwriter whose voice and soul burned far beyond that of the average twenty-something. There was organ-laced, sepia-toned econimica (1998’s Impala) and charred-hearted, free form balladry (1999’s Axxess and Ace). There were the dark glacial make-out epics of 2000’s The Lioness and the jungle incantations of 2000’s Ghost Tropic. There was the career-defining agnostic’s gospel of 2002’s Didn’t It Rain, an album about setting roots that also seemed to offer solace to a world that had recently seen its bar on terror raised. It was followed in 2003 by a thrilling about-face, the instant classic Magnolia Electric Co., which took Jason’s songwriting to ’70s classic rock heights. The move was such a powerful moment for Molina that Magnolia Electric Co. became the new moniker under which would perform until 2009. With Magnolia Electric Co., Jason found a brotherhood in his bandmates, with whom he built an incredible live experience and made a truly classic album in Josephine (2009).

We’re going to miss Jason. He was generous. He was a one of a kind. And he had a voice unlike any other.

Fans can contribute to Jason’s medical fund as a memorial gift by sending money via PayPal.

Hold on, Magnolia, to that great highway moon
No one has to be that strong
But if you’re stubborn like me
I know what you’re trying to be

Hold on, Magnolia, I hear that station bell ring
You might be holding the last light I see
Before the dark finally gets a hold of me

Hold on, Magnolia, I know what a true friend you’ve been
In my life I have had my doubts
But tonight I think I’ve worked it out with all of them

Hold on, Magnolia, to the thunder and the rain
To the lightning that has just signed my name to the bottom line

Hold on, Magnolia, I hear that lonesome whistle whine
Hold on, Magnolia, I think its almost time

Jason, you are missed. You never call.

peace

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Does Neil Young owe you his hits? No, he doesn’t.

Neil Young w/ guitar "decoration"*
A Day On The Green, Hunter Valley, AUS - Mar 9, 2013
Photo Gallery by Miron "Stub King" M. - Picasa Web Albums
(Click photo to enlarge)
Long time readers of TW know for some time now we've been challenging the "Neil Doubters". Oddly, on the just completed leg of Neil Young and Crazy Horse's Australia & New Zealand Alchemy Tour, the essence of "The Doubters" was revealed in all of its inherent contradictions.

Which brings us to this blog post which picks up on the "The Doubters" phenomenon and offers some advice. From Does Neil Young owe you his hits? No, he doesn’t. | Meadowlake Street by Nick Milligan:

[This negative reaction] brings up the debate on what an artist owes the audience for the price of their admission.

Isn’t buying a ticket to see an artist perform… just that? As long as they perform with conviction, haven’t they done their job? Seeing an artist like Neil Young – who is a legend in his own lifetime and continues to write fresh, influential and vital rock recordings – is, as I mentioned, a privilege. Does an artist owe the audience their most popular songs? The short answer is “no”. The slightly longer answer is “of course they fucking don’t”. For personal reasons, it’s momentous to see and hear an artist perform a song that you have some emotional connection with. But those moments are special and rare. Your admission fee does not guarantee them. You have no right to demand them.

To all the people that thought Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s show was “self-indulgent”, I’ll let you in on a little secret. All creativity is, by nature and definition, self-indulgent. Every live act you’ve ever seen is self-indulgent. The whole process of writing, recording and performing music is about self-indulgence. Every touring act is self-indulgent. Fair-weather fans, who buy tickets to see artists with the expectation they’ll hear all their favourite songs and have a nice little sing-along, need to pull their heads out of their arses. They need to get a grip on reality. They need to take a long walk through the hall of mirrors.

Thanks Nick! Nailed it.

More from Does Neil Young owe you his hits? No, he doesn’t. | Meadowlake Street by Nick Milligan and the story of Neil's guitar "decoration"*.

Also, see more on obligations to audiences on Artistic Freedom and Commerce.

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VIDEO: "Hey Hey My My" - Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Sydney 10 March 2013 - YouTube

"Hey Hey My My" by Neil Young & Crazy Horse at Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, AUS on Mar 10, 2013.

Smell the Horse on this one.

This is why Crazy Horse is the equivalent of the "North American Rolling Stones."

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Yes, There's Definitely A Hole in The Sky

Hole in The Sky
On the just completed Australia/New Zealand tour leg, Neil Young debuted a new song "There's A Hole In The Sky".

And anyone who's been paying attention to the weather lately knows that the extreme weather has now become the norm.



The message is unmistakable.

(There's a hole in the sky)

There's a hole in the sky

(There's a hole in the sky)

Don't forget it now

(There's a hole in the sky)

Hey pretty baby won't you take a ride with me
(I love the sun)

Make my engine run, be my destiny
(I love the sun)

Be my power, charge my battery.
(I love the sun)

(There is a hole in the sky)
There is a hole in the sky
(There is a hole in the sky)
Don't forget it now
(There is a hole in the sky)

Keep on working on the poisoned pipeline
(I love the sun)
Rake that money in and cross the border line
(I love the sun)
Keep on working you're running out of time
(I love the sun)

(There's a hole in the sky)
Don't forget it now
(There's a hole in the sky)
Don't forget it now
(There's a hole in the sky)

I'll never burn again that dying energy
(I love the sun)
'cause when I touch the sun it makes me free
(I love the sun)
I close the circle and fulfill my destiny
(I love the sun)

I love the sun
I love the sun

(There's a hole in the sky)

Don't you forget it now
Don't forget it now

(There is a hole in the sky)
Don't forget it now
(There's hole in the sky)
There's a hole in the sky
(There's a hole in the sky)

And just in case you are not familiar with the whole story behind The Great Hole In The Sky, here you go.



Geo-engineering is definitely not a good idea. Not convinced? See GeoEngineeringWatch.org.

And that's your Greendale news of the moment.

Doubter? Or Believer? You decide.

"It's all illusion anyway."

The Big Shift rolls onward. Consciousness is rising. Disclosure is near. Ascension continues.

No fear. Be the rain. Be the wheat. Just "be".

(Thanks Greg, AFOY)

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Exclusive Launch Party Tickets for Graham Nash: Life on the Road Exhibition

Graham Nash - Self Portrait
Images courtesy of Proud Galleries © Graham Nash
(Click photo to enlarge)
The "Graham Nash: Life on the Road" exhibition will have an exclusive launch party on 2nd April and some lucky Thrasher's Wheat readers will be able to attend.

As part of this exclusive UK exhibition, Nash reveals his personal portfolio of atmospheric travel photography from his life on the road. The exhibition includes rock and roll portraits of friends and collaborators such as Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Stephen Stills and David Crosby, whilst also incorporating striking landscapes, quirky street photography and an unusual selection of self portraits.

Shot between 1969 and 2003, this exhibition of Nash’s photographs includes revealing portraits of family and friends, images of life on the road, still lifes and landscapes, street photographs, and a unique series of self-portraits.

Nash has said of photography:

“I sense the very same energy in photography that I find in music. Through these rock ’n’ roll photos we are conveying what is so difficult to put into words: how the spirit of rock ’n’ roll is mainly an attitude; an attitude of ‘get out of my way, I have something to say here.’ Whether you’re a country singer, a pop, rock, blues, or gospel singer, it makes little difference to the unceasing eye of the camera.”

"Graham Nash: Life on the Road" will be showing at Proud Camden, The Horse Hospital Stables, London, UK from 3rd April 2012 to 19th May 2013.

For a chance to win tickets to the exclusive private view opening, just email thrasher@thrasherswheat.org with SUBJECT line: "Contest - Graham Nash: Life on the Road Exhibition". Let us know why you're interested in attending and commit to providing us with a report on the event. We have 5 pairs of tickets available and will notify only the winners. Entries must be received by Midnight, Tues., March 26th.

More on Graham Nash Says Career Retrospective Is Just the Beginning.

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PEGI YOUNG & THE SURVIVORS TOUR DATES

Pegi Young & The Survivors w/ Special Guest
Farm Aid 2012 Concert - Hershey, PA
Photo by thrashette
PEGI YOUNG & THE SURVIVORS TOUR DATES

March 21 Sixth & I Washington, DC
March 22 The Chameleon Lancaster, PA
March 23 The Speakeasy at Local 121 Providence, RI
March 25 Joe's Pub New York, NY
March 28 Ortliebs Lounge Philadelphia, PA
March 29 House Of Blues Boston, MA
April 1 The LAB Asheville, NC
April 2 The Double Door Inn Charlotte, NC
April 4 Freedom Hall Civic Center Johnson City, TN*
April 5 Big Sandy Superstore Arena Huntington, WV*
April 6 Indiana University, Bloomington, IN*
April 7 Coronado PAC Rockford, IL
April 8 Holland Performing Arts Center Omaha, NE*
April 10 Gallagher Bluedorn PAC Cedar Falls, IA*
April 14 Overture Center for the Arts Madison, WI*
April 15 Paramount Theatre Cedar Rapids, IA*

*In support of Willie Nelson

More updates on Pegi Young | Facebook

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