Happy 80th Birthday Willie Nelson!

Willie Nelson
(Click photo to enlarge)
Happy 80th Birthday Willie Nelson!

Long May You Run.




Neil Young sings Happy Birthday to Willie Nelson.


Willie Nelson will celebrate his 80th Birthday on April 30, 2013.

More on Willie Nelson's 80th Birthday with Neil Young, others in Nashville.

DEMOCRACY NOW'S AMY GOODMAN: Music legend Willie Nelson turns 80 today. A lot of websites say it’s the 30th, tomorrow, but we talked to his wife Annie; she said he was born just before midnight, the doctor recorded it after midnight, so legally it’s the 30th, but really it’s the 29th.

Country music legend Willie Nelson turns 80 years old today. Last night he performed a benefit birthday concert in Austin to raise money for the fire department of West, Texas — the town devastated by a fertilizer plant explosion that killed 14 people earlier this month. Nelson was born just a few miles away in Abbott, Texas, in 1933. In addition to being one of the most celebrated country musicians, Nelson has been politically active for decades. He co-founded Farm Aid, the annual benefit and awareness-raising concert for small farmers. Nelson has partnered in a biodiesel plant that fuels trucks with vegetable oil. And he serves on the advisory board member for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. We broadcast an excerpt of our hour-long interview with Nelson when he joined us in our studio in 2008.

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The Driver Has A Message

Monument Valley
Photo via LincVolt's Timeline | Facebook
(Click photo to enlarge)
Yesterday, we posted on Neil Young Riding LincVolt with Tim DeChristopher For a Solution.

If you appreciate Tim "Bidder 70" DeChristopher's purpose, then you'll appreciate this message from The Driver out in Monument Valley and Arches:

Imagine the beautiful majestic canyons and valleys of Canyonlands National Park, the same legendary landscape immortalized around the world in car commercials and posters of American beauty, and you know where we are now. Imagine a nightmare where these lands are raped by Big Oil and the American Government, working hand in hand to create another tar sands disaster for Planet Earth in our sacred Canyonlands National Park. The plans are made and the forces are moving.

Ignoring the Climate Chaos that has become the new normal, ignoring the inefficiency of tar sands oil production, ignoring the species becoming extinct as you read this, ignoring a chance for a clean tomorrow, these forces of reckless greed are moving forward and if you don’t do something about it and get active, raise awareness, make your own statements, then it will be partly your responsibility. The destruction will rest on your shoulders. Get active. Make change now. Fight for Freedom to choose the fuel you use. End fossil fuel abuse. End carbon waste. Begin now.
The Driver

Thanks The Driver!

As you may know, this blog fights climate change everyday.

"You can make a difference if you really a try".
rise, resist & change
be the rain
peace

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Tim DeChristopher & Neil Young Riding LincVolt Together For a Solution

Tim DeChristopher & Neil Young
Photo via Bidder 70 - Film
(Click photo to enlarge)
Tim DeChristopher spends a day riding around with Neil Young discussing climate change for a new documentary by Daryl Hannah.

And you may say who is Tim DeChristopher?

Well if you don't know who Tim DeChristopher is, he is known as the "Bidder 70".

The documentary film Bidder 70 will be released soon. Here's the trailer on Tim's story.



It's great to see Neil standing with Tim.

Rush the field.

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Photo of the Moment: Neil Young, Guitar Player Magazine - February 2013

Seattle, WA - Neil Young & Crazy Horse, 11/10/12
Photo by Jay Blakesberg Photography
(Click photo to enlarge)
The Photo of the Moment is from a 2 page spread of Neil Young in the February issue of Guitar Player Magazine featuring photography by Jay Blakesberg Photography.

Reviews and more of Seattle, WA - Neil Young & Crazy Horse, 11/10/12.

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ANNOUNCEMENT TONIGHT: Thrasher's Wheat Radio Europe Tour Plans

Thrasher's Wheat Radio
Tune in on WBKM.org, Saturdays @ 9P EST
Logo design by
Geoff Moore - Silver Moon Graphics
Tonight, Saturday, April 27 at 9:00 PM EST, (~3 hours from now) the Thrashers Wheat Radio Hour from WBKM.org will be streaming.

Tonight's edition will feature the latest Neil Young news, as well as, a major announcement of Thrasher's Wheat Radio Europe Tour Plans for the summer.

Thrashers Wheat Radio Hour is presented and produced each week by WBKM.org in the heart of Burlington, Vermont.

A podcast of tonight's broadcast will be posted for your listening pleasure here soon after broadcast.

Don't Be Denied.

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Rust Radio Redesigned & Goes 24/7!

Rust Radio
Rust Radio is now streaming 24 hours a day, seven days week.

Also, the website has been completely redesigned with new features including an in-browser player, a schedule of upcoming shows, direct links to the excellent Sugar Mountain and Song X websites.

Great job Roel & Fredrik. Check it out at http://www.rustradio.org and crank it up. Enjoy!

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3 Year Old Covers Neil Young's "Comes A Time"

OK, we admit that we must receive on any given day here at Thrasher's Wheat, at least a half dozen or more Neil Young covers.

Some good. Some not so good.

We usually listen a few seconds and move on.

Now this isn't the best cover of Neil Young's "Comes A Time" we've ever heard. But maybe the youngest Young cover -- 3 years old?!

Hi Thrasher,

Just wanted to say I've been reading your site on close to a daily basis for quite some time.

I'm a huge Neil fan as my wife can attest. After the Gold Rush is what did it for me. But one of my favourite songs is Comes A Time, and that whole album is a beauty too. It was one of the first songs I ever sang to a group of people (around a campfire to children at a summer camp). More recently I've adopted it as a useful lullaby to sing to my 3 year old son before bed. He loves it and repeats all the words. On a hike the other day while he was sitting up on my shoulders I captured him doing his best to cover the song, and thought I'd share.

So here you go. It's never too early to be a Neil Young fan!

Geoff in Ottawa

Thanks Geoff! You're right -- You can never be too young (or old) to be a Neil Young fan!

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VIDEO - Neil Young: Ain't Singin' for Pepsi but WIll Sing for Cellulosic Ethanol

A nice little video of Neil Young's visit to POET, in Sioux Falls, SD, on April 12th, 2013 with his LincVolt car while on a cross-country road trip.

The converted 1959 Lincoln Continental, is fueled by POET-DSM cellulosic ethanol.

This fuel's for you. Save planet for another day.

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"I met Neil Young on a Gravel Road in Mayflower Today. Yes Really."

Shelli Russell with Neil Young
Mayflower, Arkansas
(Click photo to enlarge)
Neil Young was driving his LincVolt thru Mayflower, Arkansas the other day looking at the aftermath of the Canadian Tar Sands pipeline rupture and devastation.

Shelli Russell just happened to encounter Neil Young.

Here's Shelli's story I met Neil Young on a Gravel Road in Mayflower Today. Yes Really. – MySaline.com.

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Neil Young, others Go To Nashville to Honor Willie Nelson's 80th Birthday

Neil Young & Willie Nelson, 2005
Photo via FarmAid.org
Rolling Stone Mobile - News - Music: Willie Nelson Rings in 80th Birthday With Neil Young, Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow By Adam Gold:

Willie Nelson turns 80 next week, but the festivities got underway last Thursday night in Nashville, where a star-studded cast of duet partners featuring Neil Young**, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, Jamey Johnson, Ashley Monroe and Leon Russell paid tribute to the outlaw country icon at an intimate birthday soiree. The celebration – held at Jack White**'s Third Man Records – doubled as a taping for an upcoming CMT Crossroads episode.

Of all the guests, Young was the only one who played his own songs (not that anybody complained), as well as the only guest who joined Nelson to perform as an unaccompanied duo. Although Young's appearance wasn't a surprise to the 100 or so attendees who packed the makeshift TV studio in Third Man's warehouse/office space (and, unfortunately, not the adjoining record store/compound's cozier live music venue, the Blue Room), it was as though the audience couldn't really believe they'd witness the Godfather of Grunge rock out with the Redheaded Stranger in such close confines until they actually saw it. And Young diehards probably couldn't believe what they were hearing when the singer busted out the rarely-performed, resplendent Rust Never Sleeps** lullaby "Sail Away," which he performed standing almost nose to nose with Nelson at center stage.

"I wrote it for my car, but it works for you great," Young joked in barroom-chum fashion before serenading Nelson with his next number, a spellbinding rendition of the 1976 Stills-Young Band classic "Long May You Run." Strumming and swaying back and forth, eyes obscured by a baseball cap, his voice sounding pristine as if preserved in time, Young mostly sang it directly to Nelson, not to the crowd or the cameras. With White, Johnson and Monroe watching enchanted from the wings, it was a moment not lost on anyone but maybe the man of the hour, who was keeping a close eye on his friend and fellow Farm Aid organizer's left hand for the chord changes, making the rawness all the more real.

From Willie Nelson's CMT Crossroads Taping at Third Man Records Feat. Neil Young, Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow and More, 4/18/13 | Nashville Cream:

And then it was the moment we still can't exactly believe we were privy to: Neil Young striding out plainly in his T-shirt and baseball cap, joining his old pal Willie Nelson for a take on "Sail Away" from Young and Crazyhorse's superb 1979 LP Rust Never Sleeps. Not only were Young's two tunes the only non-Willie numbers of the night, but "Sail Away" was also the only song that began with a false start — it seems the wrong lyrics were cued up on a teleprompter, and, Young admitted with good humor, it tripped him up a bit. While Nelson's contributions to the number were somewhat limited, it remained a goosebump-inducing moment, right up until Young punctuated the song's end with a mildly premature "thank you" — he mentioned that while on tour with the Judds many moons ago, he noticed their penchant for thanking the audience before the song was through. That got a big laugh. Young introduced his next song with the note that it was actually written for his car, but that it would work for Willie too. The tune was "Long May You Run," of course, and between the song's sentiment and Young's top-notch performance, it was The Spin's favorite moment of the evening.

(Thanks Matt!)


Neil Young
Jack White's Third Man Record Booth
From Third Man Records:

To be fair, most of our excitement is tied-up in the success of our Third Man Record Booth.

The dozens of people who waited in line to record their very own 111 seconds of vinyl magic walked away with one-of-a-kind audio mementos that we (and they) will never forget. Whether it was a marriage proposal, folk song, last will and testament, poem, one act play, a Sir-Mix-a-Lot cover or birthday greetings, accompanied by everything from a vintage 1920's Gibson mandolin, a boombox or an iPhone, every last recording from the booth was inspired and fulfilling. Even Neil Young stopped by and recorded a song in the booth.

The booth was carefully monitored by two engineers throughout the day to ensure all the mechanizations were in fine working order. Third Man made the decision (at least for Record Store Day) to use the highest quality aluminum substrate lacquers. These blanks offer the best fidelity for cold needle record cutting and can be played dozens and dozens of times without any noticeable audio degradation.

Record Store Day weekend has really put the booth through its paces and our engineers (Third Mangineers?) have learned a lot from this weekend and are making the necessary modifications to ensure the booth can soon be a permanent fixture in the Novelties Lounge.

Jack White also did a recording in the booth this weekend and we share that with you here for free so you can hear the warm analog fidelity that radiates out of this booth.

Neil Young
Photo via Third Man Records

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Neil Young - "Happy Mother Earth Day"

Happy Mother Earth Day!

From Farm Aid 1990, Neil Young sings "Mother Earth".



Happy Mother's (Earth) Day!

Mother Earth by Neil Young

Oh, Mother Earth,
With your fields of green
Once more laid down
by the hungry hand
How long can you
give and not receive
And feed this world
ruled by greed
And feed this world
ruled by greed.

Oh, ball of fire
In the summer sky
Your healing light,
your parade of days
Are they betrayed
by the men of power
Who hold this world
in their changing hands
They hold the world
in their changing hands.

Oh, freedom land
Can you let this go
Down to the streets
where the numbers grow
Respect Mother Earth
and her giving ways
Or trade away
our children's days
Or trade away
our children's days.


Save Mother Earth for another day...


The Inconvenient Truth of Greendale
Be the rain.

t’s as quiet out here as it looks, folks, and it’s lovely. It’s a long road ahead, but I’m proud to be moving along, part of the change. It’s Earth Day, and I’m reminded that I love her. We need to save her. Mother Earth is in trouble, and every idea to help her has merit. I’m one idea, and proud to be one. LV

LincVolt

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Concert Review of the Moment: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Auckland, New Zealand, Mar 21, 2013

Neil Young & Crazy Horse in Brisbane Australia 7/3/13
Photo by Stuart Mazz | Facebook
(Click photo to enlarge)
First, a nice photo by Stuart Mazz | Facebook:

Neil walked forward during the start of the 'Opera Star' Encore and leant against the giant mic whilst casually glancing around & checking out what was going on in the Pit -- much to our delight ;) — at Brisbane Entertainment Centre, QLD Australia.

And the Concert Review of the Moment of Auckland, New Zealand - Neil Young & Crazy Horse Concert Reviews - Mar 21, 2013 by Baz Cleverley:

Thursday night, 21st March 2013. Vector Arena in Auckland.

First time here and I was pleasantly surprised at the venue. I think I expected a sort of tin shed where people mostly play horrible netball stuff. However, the Grounds and surrounding area, and the facilities available to you before the doors opened at 6.30, were excellent. Naturally, we were there a good few hours before we needed to be,( 4.1/2 to be precise.!)..but once the Eatery was open, we basked in glorious sunshine at an outside table where very attentative staff made sure we were happy, kept the table clear and bought drinks for those silly sods that needed them. Why seemingly sane folk would want to get tanked up on alcohol before a NEIL YOUNG concert is beyond me but I suppose this IS Auckland, a different sort of crowd to Wellington.

The Support act, The Drones, an Australian band, opened for Neil in Wellington. They were here tonight too. The Drones were earsplittingly LOUD and not at all enjoyable but probably only for that reason.. Some 'quieter moments' showed that they were melodic and accomplished so why they chose to unleash this vicious assault on the Audience is beyond me. BeCAUSE of the Wellington performance, we chose not to enter the Stadium in Auckland until 8.30, after they had left the Stage. Such a shame and they could so easilly have done themselves some real good had they toned it down. As an aside, NEIL YOUNG is 67 and a good proportion of the Audience would have been of similar age or maybe a DECADE or so YOUNGer.

Why the Promotors thought it a good idea to present the Drones to such an Audience is beyond me but maybe they would have been palatable had the volume been reduced to that which NEIL and CRAZY HORSE managed to survive with..... I might still hunt out some Drones material, just to see what we missed by BEING there.!!

And so to 8.44. The Stage was set and the Gigantic Fender 'Speakers' were unpacked. Eventually, the large gaggle of white coated boffins that were responsible (If they could stop squabling amongst themselves...) for setting up the Stage, lowered the huge HUGE Microphone and Stand, you know, the one from Rust never sleeps n that. The Boffins maintained their petulant antics much to the delight of the crowd and eventually, Order seemed to be established and to a huge roar from the Capacity Crowd, NEIL and the HORSE entered Centre Stage and stood lined up on the left side. The New Zealand flag appeared and the New Zealand National Anthem rang out. A great touch and NEIL likes to show that respect in every County he plays... Nice one Son. Out came the white coats and assisted the Band into their instuments.

Neils almost constant companion, 'Old Black, his beloved '53 but heavilly modified Gibson Les Paul, burst into LOVE and only LOVE at 8.53 and the crowd roared their approval. We were on our way and we were at one with the Master and the Horse... Some favourites, POWDERFINGER, some new, ONTARIO, heavy times with the feedback rich Walk like a GIANT (and He IS too) made sure that the excitement level never ever dropped. The HORSE were blindingly brilliant and the raport between NEIL and Poncho is something to see. The tempo slowed a wee bit at 9.39 with a beautiful version of Hole in the sky. NEIL was taking a break from the blistering pace already set.

Out came a white coat and took Old Black.... Suddenly, an Accoustic appeared and a harmonica cradle.... NEIL burst into HEART OF GOLD to a huge roar of approval from the crowd who were by now totally sold on the evening. It was a great rendition too, from a time long ago and far away. Next came TWISTED ROAD, which I 'think' was done with his Gretch white Falcon..? Somebody will correct me. From here to the beat up old piano at Stage Right. NEIL sang this beautifully, his voice over the entire night was just perfect (for an old guy.!) and it didnt let him down on this slow evokative ballad. While he was singing, a beuatiful blond girl wandered out onto the stage, carrying a beat up old guitar case. She wandered from prop to prop and to the Piano, she looked whistfully at the Speakers and the microphones, and the HORSE. She wandered here and there, stopping sometimes and staring into a space she knew but couldnt reach. The Singer without a Song.... and then she was gone..

It was now 9.57 and after donning Old Black again.... The unmistakable Chords for RAMADA INN rang out.. A Great long version too and quickly followed by a strange elongated funky, rap, whispered, howled, chastising, humourous, pleading, oh, you name it, every emotion, FU#*#n' up. A marvellous concoction of words and riffs that rattled back and forth between Ralph and Billy and Frank and NEIL, any spaces neatly filled by the audiences noisy participation...14 minutes saw some good humoured banter between all present although I was beginning to think that some of the 'older' members of the Audience might be getting uncomfortable with THAT word.. (which came out about 150 times.?? )

Suddenly we were into the Mighty CINNAMON GIRL at 10.27. There had been no breaks in the performance, no waffle or setting up etc.. Just hard and fast performances all round.10.32 saw a strange piece of theatre. NEIL talked long about his Analogue Time machine, and 'demonstrated it on the Les Paul, scratching the wire wound 'low E' string down its length producing the comb tooth effect, all the while letting us know what era we were now in, mentioning various albums and times. The Time machine went too far and NEIL exclaimed that this was no good because he hadnt MET the HORSE yet... so he cranked it upstream a bit.

Suddenly, and with much storm effect sound all through this theatre, we arrive at Woodstock. Rain appeared across the stage and side screens. Loud thunder and lightning and NEIL began shouting out those immortal words that we know and love...."Hey, maybe if we think real hard, we can stop this rain..... No rain, No rain, No rain... Keep off those Towers, we dont need any more weight on 'em..." .A great skit and I was half expecting him to break into I'm driftin' back but instead, Neil announced that they were going to do a 'new one' because thay stand a good chance of messin it up as they didnt usually do it.... They launched into a great version of SURFER JOE, such a suprise to hear this rare performance tonight...I must have been good in a past life.... This great song was closely followed by MR SOUL ., an 18 minute version that got us all warm n comfortable in our NEILship, and got us going again....The set finished with MY MY, HEY HEY..... Brilliant. This is of course the new 'old'.

The band did an extended version and the Audience joined in too. NEIL and CRAZY HORSE left the stage at 10.58. NEIL had been on stage since 8.44 without a break and without even a drink of water. Astounding stamina and he looked to be enjoying this, the last Show of a 31 venue Tour that has lasted for over a year. Incredible. Much stamping and whistling and shouting as the White coat brigade went about tasks on stage.. They looked busy but were doing very little of course...lowering the huge Speaker crates to within an inch of the Speakers and then stopping and argueing amongst themselves... All great fun. The head 'Coat' began whipping up the crowd out front to lift their game and make more noise. The response was instant and wonderful and from our seat we could see NEIL and the HORSE coming back.. There was rapturous applause and noise as NEIL entered the Stage area again, followed by the greatest Rock n Roll band EVER. It was 11.02 a mere 4 minutes had passed since they had left NEIL struck up a fantastic entry to DANGER BIRD. Stroking the strings with three fingers in a sawing action, producing that unidentifiable (until now) sound we hear on the Vinyl. He used his thumb and first finger to pluck out the action, all the while maintaining the sawing motion... My ears were tingling as was the hair on the back of my neck... It built and built into a beuatiful version of Danger Bird. 19 minutes too. SEDAN DELIVERY followed at 11.20 and at 11.26 NEIL sang... 'Hard to say goodbye' bringing us back to earth as we realised that the time was ticking down and this was quite possibly the close of the Show.

He burst into ROLL ANOTHER NUMBER (for the Road...). I must add that the camera work onto the big screens was supurb all night but with these last two or three songs we were given special intimate close up shots of NEILS playing. As Roll another Number played out, the camera lads swivelled into the standing Audience showing some rapturous faces and a crowd that was game to stay there for aNOTHer three hours. Neil though had done his thing. He had been, seen and conquered this wonderful crowd of NEIL enthusiasts. Auckland crowds can often be hard and unruly but THIS lot had seen the MASTER at work and behaved impacably. Suddenly, it was time to go, NEIL and the BAND fronted the stage and to be honest, apart from the screen shots, this was the first and only time a lot of us had SEEN Ralph the Drummer. His station was set well back between the huge 'speakers'.

I guess we had been spoiled a bit at the Wellington Concert two days earlier as we had had fabulous seating stage centre and not very far back. Eventually, of course, they all left the stage and we sat there noisilly just in case, as this was the last show on this huge tour, that HE would appear again for just a few more.... Of course, he was totally spent and had given his all for 3 solid hours. It was 11.42 when the lights went up and we knew in our Hearts of Gold that this was all there was. A fabulous fabulous Concert and we all filed out slowly, most with not too much to say as she was a hard act to follow.. I have woken up every morning since the Wellington Show with a NEIL song on my mind.. It is with me all day too but I am gradually becoming aware that there is a great sadness creeping in on me that I cant shake. Me and HE are not as YOUNG as we were... The chances of me every seeing the MAN up this close and personal again are about zero unless he comes to see us in New Zealand again and the possibility of that is pretty remote...

However, I AM left with a few scratchy pictures from my camera, a head full of the two Concerts and my deep and abiding LOVE for NEIL and the many many MANY years of joy and love that we have shared. "Pardon my Heart, if I show that I care.....For I love you more than moments, we have or have not shared"

Thanks NEIL. Thank CRAZY HORSE. NEIL YOUNG, FRANK SEMPEDRO, BILLY TALBOT, RALPH MOLINA

Thanks Baz! Quite a review.

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Happy International Record Store Day!

Neil Young Vinyl Shopping - April 16, 2011
Plan9 Music, Richmond, Virginia
Photo by Emaleigh Franzak
Neil Young showed his support of Vinyl & Independent Record Stores back in 2011, on International Record Day.

Young was in town for a concert at the Landmark Theater when his crew decided to do some vinyl shopping. Emaleigh Franzak, Asst. Manager of Plan9 Music, Richmond, Virginia wrote us to say:

I took the photo posted on the Plan 9 Facebook page. It was a really fun day, and that was an excellent surprise.

The best/worst part was that we were actually playing "Le Noise" when he walked in the door. I just about melted for a few seconds.

There was nothing we could do but keep listening, of course! He shopped for a bit...was very reserved, but polite and friendly!

Neil bought Its a Beautiful Day record. (Incidentally, this is a very classic album and if you read the linked review it'll make you want to dig out your copy... or find a used copy.)

Very nice!

There was been a rather huge reaction in the Vinyl & Independent Record Stores community around the world. The Record Store Day Facebook page has 100's of Likes and Comments on the sighting.


Neil Young, Tour Manager Eric Johnson, Manager Elliot Roberts
Plan9 Music, Richmond, Virginia
Photo by Emaleigh Franzak
Spin the black circle.

ps - Keep an eye out for Time Fades Away on vinyl. See it? Grab it!

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The Passenger Chronicles: Neil Young & LincVolt

Neil Young's LincVolt & Bus
via Under The Hood
(Click photo to enlarge)
The adventures on the road continue with Neil Young and his LincVolt car.

Neil has started a new blog called The Passenger Chronicles.

There's also a Twitter | LincVolt feed with photos and updates. Of course, Facebook | LincVolt Carbonet.

And a few other sources to follow including the blog Under The Hood and the official site at LincVolt - Repowering the American Dream - Fueled by Design.

2 last things. We've been puzzled on the lack of telemetry from the trip?



The LincVolt site shows zero data. From previous reports, Neil indicated that LincVolt would display real time data on LV's perfomance, like MPG, etc. (See Neil Young @ Dreamforce 2011 Opening Keynote).

Anyways, onto the 2nd more important point.



You really have to take a look at this post by Neil on his Timeline Photos | Facebook.

Quite a remarkable sharing of a private moment. In some ways even more so than what we read in Waging Heavy Peace.

When you're on a fork in the road, there's no hidden path...

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Happy 80th Willie! Neil Young sings Happy Birthday to Willie Nelson

Neil Young sings Happy Birthday to Willie Nelson.

Willie Nelson will celebrate his 80th Birthday on April 30, 2013.



As you know, we have a lot of respect for Willie here at TW and we wish Willie a Happy 80th as well.

Thanks for all you do for music, farming, alternative fuels, and world peace.

We love you Willie.

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"Nowadays I'm excited about either new music or energy": Neil Young | The Talks

Neil Young
A somewhat odd interview of Neil Young from The Talks.

Not so much odd regarding content, but its context. It appears to be recent, but no background info and just a transcript. There is a brief audio clip on the link, also

The Talks: So, what excites you these days?
Neil Young: Well, when I get excited about anything nowadays it’s either new music or energy. Those are the two subjects I’m most concerned with.

The Talks: Your own new music?
Neil Young: Yeah, I’m always open to new stuff. I don’t sit and try to figure out what to do, I just wait for an idea to come.

The Talks: And what excites you so much about energy?
Neil Young: We’re working on building an automobile that doesn’t have to go to a fueling station, that creates its own fuel. That’s really what I am focusing the rest of my life on. I am finished with everything else as far as I am concerned.

The Talks: Besides music of course…
Neil Young: The music is great and it is nice because it gets people thinking, it moves people, but ultimately, to make a real change in the world, it’s going to have to come from energy. It’s going to have to come from physics and science. So I am working with physicists, scientists, and engineers around the world trying to build this car.

More of interview with Neil Young from The Talks.

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Frank "Poncho" Sampedro: "My gut tells me this is the last tour."

Neil Young and Crazy Horse guitarist Frank "Poncho" Sampedro: "My gut tells me this is the last tour." rol.st/13jkHHw

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) April 17, 2013

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It's Been 39 Years: CSNY 1974 Tour Box Set Planned for 2013 Release

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Wembley Stadium, London, 1974-09-14
Photo by smartsetpix | Flickr
(click photo to enlarge)
As we've reported over the years, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young have been working on a CSNY 1974 Tour Box Set and it now seems to be ready just in time for the 39th anniversary of the tour!?

Of course, we're glad to see this after waiting a few decades, but at this point, why not wait another year for the 40th? And maybe coincide with a tour? Just a thought.

From Crosby, Stills, Nash Young to Release Long-Awaited 1974 Live Album in August | Music News | Rolling Stone By Andy Greene:

"It's going to come out August 27th," Graham Nash tells Rolling Stone. "It's going to fuckin' stun people. We only multi-tracked eight or nine shows from the tour, and we've chosen the best from those gigs. We've had to do a little tuning, but not that much . . . But the spirit of the band! If I take myself out the band and look at it, it was a fuckin' great band."

David Crosby shares his bandmate's excitement. "I am one of the most egotistical people on this planet," he says with a laugh. "But the legend looms larger! You have to remember that in 1974, the Beatles were over and the Stones were playing a completely different kind of music. When I hear this shit, I think, for a moment we were probably the best band. It's startlingly good."

They have yet to settle on a title. "I want to call it What Could Possibly Go Wrong?" says Crosby.

A number of other comments by CSN in Rolling Stone with Neil content. But no actual Neil, naturally.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's 1974 summer tour was unprecedented in many ways -- not the least of which was a pioneering mega huge sound system able to blast tens of thousands at outdoor stadiums. The Bill Graham produced spectacle went on to usher in the massive rock and roll extravaganzas that so many other acts would later follow.


Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
1974-08-23, Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Photo Gallery by John Gellman Photography
Photos © John Gellman

Planned as a three CD and a DVD set, the box is being put together by Joel Bernstein and Stanley Johnston from eight full shows from that tour.


Stephen Stills and Neil Young
CSNY Concert: 1974-08-23, Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Photo Gallery by John Gellman Photography
Photos © John Gellman
A comment by Yardbird:

I saw them on their reunion tour at the Capital Center in DC and it was one of the best concerts I've been to.

The DC crowd was attentive and appreciated their wooden music as much as their electric. It was like attending several concerts in one as they played together, then split up to play individually or as a duo (Crosby & Nash) and then finished together. It was a long concert, but awesome. As stated by an earlier poster, Neil Young was clearly the star of that night, when he played a solo set near the show's end. I hope they include something from the DC show.

I am definitely looking forward to this release!

Crosby Stills Nash Young & Mitchell - Helpless (1974)
Nick Dagan | MySpace Video CSNY w/ Joni Mitchell - "Helpless", 1974-09-14, Wembley Stadium, London, England Rolling Stone - August 15th, 1974 More on the reunion tour of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in 1974. In an interview with CBS This Morning in 2012, Crosby, Stills, and Nash discussed their current tour and how the dynamics of the group are better than ever before. (Thanks Mike!)

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The Adventures of Neil Young's LincVolt Continue

Photo via LincVolt Carbonet | Facebook
(Click photo to enlarge)
The adventures of Neil Young's LincVolt continue.

From LincVolt Carbonet | Facebook:

Every night when Lincvolt plugs into the grid energy we already have generated and I go to sleep, that means we did not have to generate more. Not doing that is a waste of precious energy. Every night, the grid keeps running and is in low use. It’s just too big to turn off. That’s when we waste big energy. I like to use that energy for the Lincvolt Carbonet.

Lincvolt is my girl. I call her “Miss Pegi”. We’ve been getting ready to travel for a long time. Now we are.

So why does this matter? In other Greendale News of the Moment, don't look now, but...


Arctic Sea Ice: The Death Spiral Continues
Graphic via Climate Progress
(Click photo to enlarge)
Not convinced that there's a hole in the sky yet?

Watch this, then see if you agree that, Yes, There's Definitely A Hole in The Sky.

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Graham Nash Photo: Neil Young, Northern California 1988 | Rolling Stone

Neil Young, Northern California 1988
Photo by Graham Nash | Rolling Stone
(Click photo to enlarge)
A gallery of photographs by Graham Nash | Rolling Stone and here's one of Neil Young. Seems appropriate with Neil being out on the road with LincVolt to promote sustainable fuels.

From Rolling Stone:

"That's Neil Young driving home to his ranch at Broken Arrow.

We were recording the American Dream album. I'm in the limousine with David [Crosby] and Steven [Stills] behind him. Neil, of course, wasn't in the car with us. It's Neil. He has an English sports car. I think it's called a Jensen.

I saw him driving along this lonely road and I thought, 'This is a perfect image of Neil Young.' And even though you can't see Neil, except the back of his head, it is in fact Neil."

More photos by Graham Nash | Rolling Stone.

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Neil Young and LincVolt Stop In Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Neil Young & Jeff Broin
Poet Biorefining - Sioux Falls, South Dakota
(Click photo to enlarge)
Neil Young and LincVolt continue to make their way across the country on their road trip to promote sustainable fuels.

The latest stop was Poet Biorefining in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a producer of celulosic ethanol.

“It's a fuel made by Americans in America that is cleaner than fossil fuels, that's the message.

Which is incredible for the planet is what we are talking about, climate change and the problems with that that are happening.You don't see much about what's going on in the climate and media, it's not a fast moving subject, kind of a slow moving story, but it's not going to be going away unless we do something.

“The planet needs a publicist then it would be a big star and everyone would pay attention to it.

KELOLAND.com | Neil Young Stops In South Dakota

Where's LV heading next? Indications are Detroit bound.

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Coffee & Breakfast with Neil Young + Five Good Covers: Cortez the Killer

Neil Young, ~1974
Coffee & Breakfast with Neil Young on a Saturday morning sounds pretty good. Zuma days on the beach.

Also, Five Good Covers: Cortez the Killer (Neil Young) » Cover Me:

• MP3: Carrie Rodriguez and Tim Easton — Cortez the Killer (Neil Young cover)
  
  
• MP3: Jason Isbell & Dawes — Cortez the Killer (Neil Young cover)
  
  
• MP3: Matthew Sweet & The Indigo Girls — Cortez the Killer (Neil Young cover)
  
  
• MP3: Calexico — Cortez the Killer (Neil Young cover)
  
  
• MP3: Built to Spill — Cortez the Killer (Neil Young cover)

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Rockin' in the U.S.S.R.: Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young?!

Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan
OK, file this under the heading of diplomatic nirvana.

Apparently, back in the 1970's, someone thought it would be a good idea to have Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young fight communism. Per recent Wikileaks disclosures of diplomatic cables, the US embassy in Moscow thought the singer-songwriters might connect with Russian youth.

US ambassador Walter Stoessel Junior wrote:

“Soul genre not of top interest here, and suggest priority consideration be given to soft rock, blues/rock or country rock. Previous country music efforts have succeeded in establishing acceptability of this genre and we believe time is right to expand musical horizons.

Top performers who are both eminent in the field and genuinely creative artists should be approached first before considering ones of lesser stature and perhaps less creative talent."

No indication of whether the US embassy in Moscow was aware that Neil & Joni are Canadian.

Needless to say , these concerts never happened and there's no indication the artists were ever even aware of the possibility. It is highly doubtful any of the artists suggested would have ever accepted such an arrangement.

Now would that have been rockin' in the free world or what?

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Neil Young's LincVolt: Out of the Sunset

Neil Young's LincVolt: Out of the Sunset
(Click photo to enlarge)
A lovely image of Neil Young's LincVolt heading out of the Sunset heading east.

From the road on LincVolt Continental | Facebook:

Hi.
LV is running beautifully. We have an app onboard that tells us in real time exactly what our continuous CO2 savings are compared to a regular gasoline powered car or truck of equal size and weight. Currently we have saved a half-ton of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, traveling a little over 1100 miles.. Our goal is to save the weight of Lincvolt in tons of CO2 over the next few weeks. That weight of Lincvolt is just over 3 tons.

the driver.

Thanks LV for helping save the planet for another day!

A very cool TRANS cover mashup by Uwe G.....



Stay tuned for more road adventures @ LincVolt Continental | Facebook!

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"I Am Not Neil Young" – The Musical

I Am Not Neil Young – The Musical
The event of the season is this weekend's "I Am Not Neil Young" – The Musical.

As part of the 2013 season kickoff, The Youngtown Rock and Roll Museum , which is in tribute to one of Canada’s most outstanding Singers , Songwriters, and Musicians … Neil Young, comes the following details:

Youngtown and Omemee Ace Hardware are pleased to present “I Am Not Neil Young - The Musical” featuring the story of Frank Wilks and his amazing journey touring with “Buffalo Springfield Revisited”.

“A facinating look at the up’s and down’s of life on the road…a multi media event with great music provided by Frank Wilks himself…a must to see and hear” (T.R.H. / Youngtown)

Overview – Frank Wilks met Music Hall of Fame, bass player, “BRUCE PALMER” of BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD in 1984. Becoming fast friends Frank and Bruce along with Stan Endersby, brainstormed the BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD REVISITED. Music Hall of Fame, drummer “Dewey Martin” was then brought up from California to prepare for an American tour as Buffalo Springfield Revisited.
Buffalo Springfield Revisited toured extensively across the USA and Canada for six years appearing with “The Band”, “John Sebastian”, “Skunk Baxter”, “Spencer Davis”. They performed in concerts in front of forty to fifty thousand people at a time, all over the the USA and Canada with such bands as “Spirit”, “Chamber’s Brothers”, “Iron Butterfly”, “The Guess Who” and many more! Buffalo Springfield Revisited has been on the “Jerry Lewis Telethon” at “Caesars Palace” live on international TV. Music Hall of Fame guitarist and singer “Steven Stills” of “Buffalo Springfield and C,S,N and Y” made appearances numerous times with the “Revisited” band.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! @ Omemee Ace Hardware (705)799-2233 or get them at the door!

Event: Saturday April 13th., 8:00PM 1 King Street W. Coronation Hall, Omemee

Visit… http://frankwilks.weebly.com/buffalo-springfield-revisited.html

Thanks Trevor! Good luck!

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Photo of the Moment: Walk Like A Giant

"Walk Like A Giant"
Neil Young & Crazy Horse @ Sydney Entertainment Centre (10/03/13)
Photo by Leticia Nischang | Doubtful Sounds
(Click photo to enlarge)
The Photo of the Moment is from the Neil Young & Crazy Horse @ Sydney Entertainment Centre (10/03/13) by Leticia Nischang.

At the time, this would be about 14 minutes into "Walk Like A Giant" when Neil is having a heavy duty "feedback is back" moment.

More photos and concert review LIVE REVIEW: Neil Young & Crazy Horse @ Sydney Entertainment Centre (10/03/13) | Doubtful Sounds by Chris Familton:

We may never see Neil Young perform in Australia again with Crazy Horse.

Let’s hope that isn’t the case but if it is, this was the band at the top of their game, displaying the full range of their sound from epic to intimate, doo-wop vocals to thunderous rock. It was an astonishingly good show, a testament to Young’s pig-headedness and boundless creativity.

Long live Crazy Horse.

Indeed. Who could possibly argue?

Long live Crazy Horse.
(Thanks Leticia & Chris!)

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Neil Young's LincVolt Hits The Road!

LincVolt @ Joshua Tree, CA
via LincVolt Continental | Facebook
It looks like Neil Young's long, long awaited roadtrip with LincVolt has finally begun.

Posting on LincVolt Continental | Facebook:

I started my day by visiting Keys View at Joshua Tree.

Nice to get away from the LA smog that had blown into the Palm Springs area. We're compiling data and stats on my fuel economy and the pounds of carbon emissions that I'm saving. look for that soon.

It seems that LincVolt Continental | Facebook will be where regular updates will be posted of the journey.

Where will LincVolt stop next as she makes her journey east? Only The Passenger knows for sure. A White Feather from the North is a good sign.


via Under The Hood
Good luck LV. Have a great trip on your journey thru the future!

ps - Don't forget. There's a hole in the sky.

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Thrasher's Wheat Radio Goes To Europe...Maybe?

Thrasher's Wheat Radio
Tune in on WBKM.org, Saturdays @ 9P EST
Logo design by
Geoff Moore - Silver Moon Graphics
That's right. Thrasher's Wheat Radio is going to Europe for Neil Young & Crazy Horse's tour this summer! But -- actually -- that's a big maybe.

As covered in this issue of Broken Arrow Magazine and on last night's Thrasher's Wheat Radio Hour broadcast, our hope is to make over to Europe.

Here's the deal.

Thrasher's Wheat and WBKM.org would like to provide live radio coverage of this summer's Neil Young & Crazy Horse World Tour leg in Europe. The aim is to broadcast live from venues around Europe with fan interviews before the concert and instant reactions and reviews afterwards. NYAS members, Rusties and Zumans, come be a part of the show!

This is something that hasn’t been done before and it would be historic if it can be pulled off. As you might expect TWRH is a not-for-profit organisation and funding such a trip is a big challenge. Thrasher's Wheat, WBKM.org and others are now trying to raise the necessary funds for travel, logistics, tickets, lodging and other expenses. In order for the trip to be viable, attending 4 - 6 shows would be ideal. But maybe fewer, maybe more. Right now, we are looking to the Neil Young community for any assistance. So if you can make a contribution, provide lodging, transit, tickets or any other support, Thrasher's Wheat and WBKM.org would love to hear from you. Reach out to us at thrasher@thrasherswheat.org. We would love to hear from you with your suggestions and support.

Let's all see if we can make this historic tour coverage happen so that we can bring the music and magic of the Neil Young & Crazy Horse Alchemy World Tour to all of those who are unable to make it to Europe this summer.

This is really all up to you -- our loyal and faithful readers here on Thrasher's Wheat, our radio listeners and the entire Neil Young fan community.

Let's all not be denied.

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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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