Talkin' Bout Neil Young.....

[BIGVICLBI]

I will also be hitting the ac show. Never seen him and should be awesome since its pretty small theatre.

[MrWhippy]

We got a nice little one-song addition to the setlist last night in Fairfax, VA - Cortez the Killer.

[manonthemoon]

Honestly the only thing that saved that show last night for me was the Cinnamon Girl through - Cortez as I was severly underwhelmed up until that point.
Everest reminded me of BOH and thats never a good thing, Patti was meh at best, and the crowd was horrible.  We were beside a group of 50 to 60 year olds who talked through the entire Neil set and yelled harvest moon everytime a song was over.

I really liked Walk like a giant until he went into that 20 minute wierd note session that I don't think anyone was feeling.  Plus Fucking up has always been my favorite Neil song, but they turned it into an extended jam that really didn't add anything to the experience IMO. 

Overall it was a solid show, but the real kicker for me is the price tag as I have been to 5 shows this month and the other 4 shows total cost less than this one show and I was at least as entertained as last night with JTB, and blow away by Trail of dead and Red Fang.  Granted the crowds were much better at the latter three shows which helped out. 

Glad to catch Neil as he has always been one of my faves, but can't say I wasn't a little disappointed overall as I was expecting a great show.

[MrWhippy]

I really liked Walk like a giant until he went into that 20 minute wierd note session that I don't think anyone was feeling.  Plus Fucking up has always been my favorite Neil song, but they turned it into an extended jam that really didn't add anything to the experience IMO. 

I definitely agree with these points.  The ending of Walk Like a Giant is more than a tad excessive, and feels drawn out just for the sake of being drawn out, rather than really needing to go on that long.

I also agree with your point about Fuckin' Up.  The drawn out ending/vocal vamp on that really did nothing for me and killed the momentum of that song, which was great up to that point.

Your post also reminded me that I totally forgot about the Trail of Dead show.

[Tracy 2112]

I really liked Walk like a giant until he went into that 20 minute wierd note session that I don't think anyone was feeling.  Plus Fucking up has always been my favorite Neil song, but they turned it into an extended jam that really didn't add anything to the experience IMO. 

I definitely agree with these points.  The ending of Walk Like a Giant is more than a tad excessive, and feels drawn out just for the sake of being drawn out, rather than really needing to go on that long.

I also agree with your point about Fuckin' Up.  The drawn out ending/vocal vamp on that really did nothing for me and killed the momentum of that song, which was great up to that point.

Your post also reminded me that I totally forgot about the Trail of Dead show.

I could have gone with another 10 minutes of the ending to Walk Like a Giant; I was ecstatic during that part.

[manonthemoon]

I really liked Walk like a giant until he went into that 20 minute wierd note session that I don't think anyone was feeling.  Plus Fucking up has always been my favorite Neil song, but they turned it into an extended jam that really didn't add anything to the experience IMO. 

I definitely agree with these points.  The ending of Walk Like a Giant is more than a tad excessive, and feels drawn out just for the sake of being drawn out, rather than really needing to go on that long.

I also agree with your point about Fuckin' Up.  The drawn out ending/vocal vamp on that really did nothing for me and killed the momentum of that song, which was great up to that point.

Your post also reminded me that I totally forgot about the Trail of Dead show.

TOD was awesome at Rock and Roll.  I swear everytime I hear them live, even with the newer lineup, I am shocked at how good they are live.  Jason and the bassist were in the crowd for Caterwald.  Conrad then got the crowd up on stage for the encore, it was awesome.

[manonthemoon]

I really liked Walk like a giant until he went into that 20 minute wierd note session that I don't think anyone was feeling.  Plus Fucking up has always been my favorite Neil song, but they turned it into an extended jam that really didn't add anything to the experience IMO. 

I definitely agree with these points.  The ending of Walk Like a Giant is more than a tad excessive, and feels drawn out just for the sake of being drawn out, rather than really needing to go on that long.

I also agree with your point about Fuckin' Up.  The drawn out ending/vocal vamp on that really did nothing for me and killed the momentum of that song, which was great up to that point.

Your post also reminded me that I totally forgot about the Trail of Dead show.

I could have gone with another 10 minutes of the ending to Walk Like a Giant; I was ecstatic during that part.

I enjoyed at first, but then it got to long for me and the wife was none to impressed with it at all.  Plus people around us were chanting play a song during the last 10 minutes of it so there was that affecting us as well.

[GO4IT]

I really liked Walk like a giant until he went into that 20 minute wierd note session that I don't think anyone was feeling.  Plus Fucking up has always been my favorite Neil song, but they turned it into an extended jam that really didn't add anything to the experience IMO. 

I definitely agree with these points.  The ending of Walk Like a Giant is more than a tad excessive, and feels drawn out just for the sake of being drawn out, rather than really needing to go on that long.

I also agree with your point about Fuckin' Up.  The drawn out ending/vocal vamp on that really did nothing for me and killed the momentum of that song, which was great up to that point.

Your post also reminded me that I totally forgot about the Trail of Dead show.

I also agree about the extended outros to Walk Like a Giant and Fuckin' Up.  They went on way too long and really didn't add much after a couple of minutes.  We could have had another couple of great songs from the catalog instead.

I was taking a video of Giant and my hand almost fell off - a total of almost 26 min!  My camera spit the bit after 17 min and kicked the last 9 into another file.

I'll try to post the 3 videos I took soon but I've had issues uploading so far for some reason.

[Fully]

I really liked Walk like a giant until he went into that 20 minute wierd note session that I don't think anyone was feeling.  Plus Fucking up has always been my favorite Neil song, but they turned it into an extended jam that really didn't add anything to the experience IMO. 

I definitely agree with these points.  The ending of Walk Like a Giant is more than a tad excessive, and feels drawn out just for the sake of being drawn out, rather than really needing to go on that long.

I also agree with your point about Fuckin' Up.  The drawn out ending/vocal vamp on that really did nothing for me and killed the momentum of that song, which was great up to that point.

Your post also reminded me that I totally forgot about the Trail of Dead show.

I also agree about the extended outros to Walk Like a Giant and Fuckin' Up.  They went on way too long and really didn't add much after a couple of minutes.  We could have had another couple of great songs from the catalog instead.

I was taking a video of Giant and my hand almost fell off - a total of almost 26 min!  My camera spit the bit after 17 min and kicked the last 9 into another file.

I'll try to post the 3 videos I took soon but I've had issues uploading so far for some reason.

I am also in the "outros were too damn long" club for exactly the same reasons the rest of you have stated except for GO4IT's broken hand/camera problem, although I can certainly see how that would be a problem.

[LeanneP]

Again, I'm feeling vindicated for my review. 

Funny thing is, I really, really love when a band grabs a groove and just keeps pounding it over and over. It gets to a point where the repetition gives you a kind of psychedelic experience. But that wasn't really what was going on with Neil and the Horse. Clearly they are monsters on guitar, but they didn't make it groove well.

[GO4IT]

Finally got the three videos up.  These are taken with my new camera in the seats right behind GA in the center but I was about 100yds away since the GA floor was so big.  So, video quality isn't that good since I had to go into digital zoom for much of the time.  Setting to HD quality on YouTube definitely sharpens them up.

On the good side, I was right behind the soundboard so the sound was very good there and I think the camera captured it pretty well.

As reported above, I "only" captured the first 17 min and change of Walk Like a Giant on this file. I have the other 8 and a half minutes if anyone really wants to see it 

Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIzInH6hk5o&list=UUO50f88t7Rg7C3_Qj3iwHfg&index=3&feature=plcp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C8pJqj1Sc4&list=UUO50f88t7Rg7C3_Qj3iwHfg&index=2&feature=plcp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuzLADVoHPY&list=UUO50f88t7Rg7C3_Qj3iwHfg&index=1&feature=plcp

[ralph]

you guys are all crazy!!! There is nothing better than Neil & the Horse taking an extended ending / jam / feedback exploration and then taking it to the complete extreme! That is my idea of heaven...

[MrWhippy]

Check back after you've sat through it four times in March.   

I understand what you are saying, though, and on paper it sounds great.  As it plays out, though, I just don't think Neil is very good at extended free-form noise jams.  I love the feedback endings he will do on songs, but this is a different thing entirely. 

I love seeing bands that are good at it do extended noise jams (Spiritualized, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, etc.), but to be good they need to build and have momentum.  The Walk Like a Giant ending has neither in my opinion. 

At the Fairfax, VA show, there were several points where it could have ended, but Neil just keeps it going, but not because there is any momentum to it.  It just feels like he is extending it out that long because he has decided it needs to be that long.

Check out this live Spiritualized video for a noise jam done right that has momentum and purpose to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzkQrEZwA2M#

[Tracy 2112]

you guys are all crazy!!! There is nothing better than Neil & the Horse taking an extended ending / jam / feedback exploration and then taking it to the complete extreme! That is my idea of heaven...

I hear ya man; different strokes for different folks I guess. They could still be ending Walk in Tuscaloosa and I'd still be there! I am just glad they enjoy ending like that b/c it spoke to me deeply.

Some things can't be tied up into pretty, little concise bows. Plus, the song's about a Giant, ya dig?
Takes time, he's a big dude.

[ralph]

Check back after you've sat through it four times in March.   

Caught the Hollywood Bowl show and loved the 'footsteps' at the end of WLAG, was one of many highlights of the night.

And it will be 6 times (!) in March Mr Whippy, and I can assure you there will be no sitting!

Some things can't be tied up into pretty, little concise bows. Plus, the song's about a Giant, ya dig?
Takes time, he's a big dude.

Completely agree...

[GO4IT]

Check back after you've sat through it four times in March.   

Caught the Hollywood Bowl show and loved the 'footsteps' at the end of WLAG, was one of many highlights of the night.

And it will be 6 times (!) in March Mr Whippy, and I can assure you there will be no sitting!

Some things can't be tied up into pretty, little concise bows. Plus, the song's about a Giant, ya dig?
Takes time, he's a big dude.

Completely agree...

OK, here you go.... the last 9 min of Giant that I didn't post the first time since I didn't think anyone was particularly interested.  I've labeled it Part II and the original 17 min Part I.  Enjoy.  I expect to see thousands of hits by dawn 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mE_C3fa0_o&list=UUO50f88t7Rg7C3_Qj3iwHfg&index=1&feature=plcp

[MrWhippy]

Interesting I never thought of the end of Walk Like a Giant as footsteps.  Maybe I'm dense, but that makes more sense and is kind of cool.   

Actually, GO4IT, despite what I've said here, I am interested in checking out your video of the end of WLAG.  My group was on the rail for the Fairfax show, so I'm interested to see how it sounded from another perspective.

I watched your other videos, and also shared the links with my friends who had gone to the show.  You did a really nice job on them.

[MrWhippy]

This is pretty funny.  More artists should harass people who text during their shows.

http://neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org/2012/12/if-you-text-during-neil-young-concert.html

[Tired Eyes]

Ramada Inn went on forever!  Jeepers!  Again with the horrible lyrics. I just hate this latter day stuff.

I know your review was quite lengthy...but this is the part that really jumped out at me.  Ramada Inn has blown me away ever since I first heard it at Red Rocks last August.  It's my favorite new Neil song in years...probably since It's A Dream came out in 2005.  Every Neil fan that I know loves this song...even my friend Paul who dismissed the rest of Psychedelic Pill and skipped the tour.
I don't think folks should love everything Neil does (I sure don't although he is my favorite artist of all time), but I think Ramada Inn is a classic and can't understand why anyone who would buy a ticket to see Neil Young wouldn't like it.

[Tired Eyes]

NEIL YOUNG performs BORN IN THE USA at the GRAMMY Musiccare