Recommendations of the Editorial team
Neil Young and Stephen Stills On Saturday evening, for the semi -annual benefit event “Light Up The Blues” in the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. Together with Billy Idol and Steve Stevens, Cat Power, Nathaniel Rateliff, Rufus Wainwright and Linda Perry, they appeared to collect money for “Autism Speaks”.
Neil Young’s return to the concert stage
Young played a few weeks ago A few songs at a rally by Bernie Sanders and AOC against the oligarchy in La. But this was his first real concert this year. Together with his new band Chrome Hearts-consisting of guitarist Micah Nelson, the organist Spooner Oldham, bassist Corey McCormick and drummer Anthony Logerfo-Young started his set with the live premiere of “Let’s Roll Again” from his upcoming album “Talkin ‘Tomes”.
Live premiere of “Let’s Roll Again” from the new album “Talkin ‘To The Trees”
The song that is not with his hymn “Let’s Roll” from 2002 by “Are You Passionate?” is to be confused, an appeal to companies, to act responsibly. And to hold together. “Come on America,” he sang. ‘Let us protect our back/protect our children/protect our children in China/are far ahead/that is difficult to swallow/they are far ahead/If you are a fascist/then buy a Tesla/if it is electrical, it doesn’t matter.’ (The Tesla line was welcomed by the audience with a thunderous applause.)
Tesla line ensures thunderous applause
He followed with the lesser known song “Big Box” from the album “Monsanto Years“, Which he had not played since the Bridge School Benefit in 2015. The song leaves no doubt where Young is currently. It is another protest song against greedy corporations.” Plunderco got into financial difficulties, “he sang. “If the law had to break/had to compensate for the punishment/against the benefit for everyone/had a business decision/punishment to pay/and to break the law.”
“Ordinary People”: The highlight of the evening
The most impressive moment of the evening came next, when he started “Ordinary People”, an epic song from the “This Note’s for You” era, which he had not played live since 1988. Although he published it on “Chrome Dreams II” in 2007.
Joint appearances with Stephen Stills
The 17-minute song is full of allusions to phrases and personalities of the eighties. How the former Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca and Michelobs advertising campaign “Make it a Michelob Night” is still up to date today. In the previous versions, wind instruments were in the foreground. But this new arrangement is more guitar -heavy. With a length of 17 minutes, the song took up a large part of Young’s entire setlist.
Duet on “Human Highway” and “Rockin ‘in the Free World”
At the last two songs by Young, “Human Highway” and “Rockin ‘in the Free World”, they were accompanied by Stephen Stills and his son Chris Stills on the guitar and singing. The concert ended with a furious guitar solo duel between Young and Stills. And a resumption of the “Take America Back!” Slogans, which Young had introduced at the “Fighting Oligarchy” rally.
Stephen Stills: Classics with the support of Nathaniel Rateliff
Stills was also accompanied by Chrome Hearts on his own set. He played the manassas favorite “Colorado”, in which he was supported by Special Guest Nathaniel Rateliff, “Hung Upside Down” by Buffalo Springfield, “Dark Star” by CSN and “For what it’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield. Young returned to the stage for the last song. And played his guitar part from the original recording of 1966.
Outlook: Neil Young Plans for 2025
At the beginning of the evening, Billy Idol and Steve Stevens had encouraged the audience to sing along to “White Wedding” and “Rebel Yell”. Rufus Wainwright played with Chris Still’s “Going to a Town”. And Linda Perry sang “Feather in A Storm” from her solo album “In Flight”, published in 1996.
Next on May 23, Neil Young will step on stage for a solo acoustic beefic concert in Lakefield, Ontario. In June he will travel to Europe to start a world tour with the Chrome Hearts. The German concerts are presented by Rolling Stone. If the setlist is something like “Light Up the Blues”, some big surprises can be expected.