Venue:
Leeds Arena
Date: 10/06/2016
Following a subdued set by Laura Marling, the stage was blessed in some ersatz Native American ritual in which young women threw what I think were corn seeds into its four corners. When the spotlight came up, Mr Young was sitting at the piano and the distinctive chords of After the Goldrush chimed out. Straight after, he strapped on an old acoustic guitar and harmonica stand, and went through stripped down, busker versions of classics like Heart of Gold and The Needle and the Damage Done. Suddenly the lights went down and in contrast to the original ceremony, a bunch of hazchem suited goons came on and “chemically sprayed” the stage. Promise of the Real stepped into the limelight, Mr Young strapped on a semi-acoustic and the full band went straight into From Hank to Hendrix off Harvest Moon. About an hour in, things really took off. It began with a really snappy, joyous version of Walk on. Following a quick inter-group convo the crowd were told, “we gonna try something we haven’t done for years, not sure if we can play this” followed by a perfect version of If I Could Have Her Tonight off Neil’s first album. Then, after his black Les Paul was handed to him, Neil and the band launched into an epic version of Down By the River complete with multiple, Hendrix-style, funky guitar wig-outs and about five false ends. The rest of the set – which included classic stuff like Cowgirl in the Sand and Powderfinger -continued in the same loose jamming vibe.
The set ended with the crowd around me, which wasn’t in the first flush of youth, erupting into a sea of jabbing fists and nodding heads as the band blistered through Keep on Rocking in Free World. The encore finished with Fuckin’ Up, which Neil and the Band certainly didn’t. In fact, blow me down, but it looked like he was enjoying himself, a lot. It helps that POTR are the best band he’s had since Crazy Horse.
The audience:
Well I am in my 50s and I felt relatively young.That said there was a sprinkling of people who hadn’t made 30 yet.
It made me think..
When I turned up I was worried that at 70, NY’s voice would be worse for wear. I was very wrong, but as Mrs BJB said “he always sounded old before his time” and in fact – as she also pointed out – his age adds poignancy to lyrics like Heart of gold.
Nice review. I was there as well and it was very very good. Funnily enough where we were standing the crowd was pretty young, lots of teens and early twenties. Down By The River was possibly the most enjoyable twenty odd minutes I’ve had at a gig.
by the time we got our act together we could only get tickets in the Gods. Probably explains the age profile around me.
Only the second ever performance of “If I Could Have Her Tonight”, last played in 68!
Sounds like a crowd pleasing setlist – kudos to the contrarian.
It was. Full setlist here:
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/neil-young-promise-of-the-real/2016/first-direct-arena-leeds-england-bfe1d4a.html
Wow – Winterlong. love that song. Wish I had made the effort.
that’s a cracking setlist
Blimey. I feel bad for calling him bad names the other day now. Great set list.
I saw him through at the Weedge Hydro and can only agree with the review. I went with low-ish expectations – the half hour of feedback from the last tour, reverberation round the tin shed of the SECC is not yet forgotten. But this was primo Shakey. A band that could really play and giving every impression of being glad to do so (as did Neil). A stellar selection of songs. And no anti-GM rants. What’s not to like?
He really is, as noted above, in great voice. it made an interesting contrast to the recent Brian Wilson gig – also marvellous but his voice is certainly not what it was. Neil’s is, improbably, the best its been.
One difference (at least) in the setlist. At Glasgow he played Peace of Mind, the lyrics of which seemed near the knuckle, given his personal life. An act of contrition? Who knows.
My dad and brother were at the 02 last night. No reports from them have surfaced yet, but this is a good review, with pics too. https://everyrecordtellsastory.com/2016/06/12/neil-young-live-at-the-o2-arena-a-journey-through-the-past/ He even played something from On The Beach!
Saw him and them in Dublin on Weds. I agree primo Neil. Great band seems to have rejuvenated him. In great voice. To be honest was fearing 2.5 hours of feedback Ala the last time I saw him in Malahide. Fortunately fears were groundless. Guitar wig outs were in their place. Main thing that struck me was the versitility of the POTR. Could grunge like the mighty Horse but could also do the Stray Gators.
I was in Leeds too. Nightmare journey on M1 and pranged my car while looking for a parking spot and made it undriveable. Nearly didn’t go to the show but very glad I did. Arrived home in Coventry in a courtesy car at 5:30 am…
The five songs Neil did on his white Gretsch Falcon guitar were the highlights of an utterly wonderful show. Words especially. Great to get Winterlong. Rocking In The Free World featured a new verse about corporations and a message to Donald Crump (F**K YOU DONALD CRUMP!).
A decent venue and great sound. Take note Elvis Costello.
I saw his last outing at the awful o2 and decided not to bother again. Although I did see Jack White there afterwards, and again swore never again. The set lists from this tour have been interesting, but I note London didn’t get Down By The River.
I do wish the likes of Neil and Bruce weren’t so popular and played the Hammersmith Odeon instead of these vast arenas.