By the magic of television, I have just watched Neil Young performing live at Glastonbury with his band - The Chrome Hearts. He was the Saturday night headline act on The Pyramid Stage.
The guy will be eighty in November but he's still got it - still as committed to his music as ever. Over the years, he has become a consummate lead guitar player - not just a fellow who crafts catchy original songs with the aid of an acoustic guitar.
There's no enhancement with an expensive stage set, big screen videos and dancers - just that old grungy Canadian bloke - a born survivor, sending his plaintive words and his guitar riffs up into the starry summer skies over Somerset.
I have only ever seen him live in concert the once - in Liverpool. Hell, was that really eleven years ago? Go here.
Give me things that don't get lost
Like a coin that won't get tossed
Rolling home to you
My favorite songs of his are Helpless, and Harvest Moon. He doesn't look like your average rock star, but he can sure write and sing great songs.
ReplyDeleteHe did "Harvest Moon" last night but not "Helpless" which is also a fine, original and very human song.
DeleteAmazing!
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteAll these years later and he's still got it.
ReplyDeleteAnd woven into many of the songs are strong environmental and political messages.
DeleteI love Neil Young's music.
ReplyDeleteIt's in a category all of its own.
DeleteNeil young was a great one. He is on my playlist. He's from Winnipeg , Manitoba.
ReplyDeleteHis middle name is Percival. What is your middle name Keith?
DeleteHis middle name might be Percival but he ain’t from Winnipeg. He’s Toronto lad. “There is a town in North Manitoba” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.
DeleteTraveller, check again.
DeleteRed, he was born in Toronto and then moved to Omemee. he did love in Winnipeg and started his music career there but he isn’t from there.
DeleteHey guys! Stop sparring. Neil Young would not like it. I am just grateful that Neil Young was born somewhere.
DeleteI'm no performer, but I hope to still be "rockin'" when I'm 80.
ReplyDeleteGet ready with a "rockin" chair Grandma!
DeleteWhat a legend!
ReplyDeleteYes I am Debra - and so is Neil Young.
DeleteHahahahaha! And incidentally, about the Toronto/Winnipeg controversy, Traveller is right. I'm from Winnipeg so I know. This Neil Young trivia factoid might come up in a future Quiz Time, who can tell?
DeleteAnother one of my rock heroes YP. Canada 🇨🇦 produced some of my favourite Rock singers and bands like NY, April Wine, Triumph, Rush and Saga to name a few.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget your number one hero - Justin Bieber!
DeleteIt's pretty amazing these guys (Young and many other musicians of his generation, like The Rolling Stones) are still able to get out and perform a two-hour show. I guess music keeps them youthful -- at heart, anyway!
ReplyDeleteNeil Young's talent has made him rich beyond our wildest dreams. He certainly does not need to perform any more.
Deletemeant to watch but it passed me by..... think we ended up watching squid game or summat
ReplyDeleteLike a beached sealion, lying on the sofa. Try slapping your flippers together dude!
DeleteI've not yet watched him, but I will on catch up, the wonders of modern broadcasting.
ReplyDeleteI hope to catch up on Pulp (from Sheffield).
DeleteEighty is the new fifty or sixty or something.
ReplyDeleteAre you talking about motoring?
DeleteIt is very pleasing to know, as I've seen before, how well older performers go down so well at Glastonbury. My nephew went once, and took along an old couch to sit on, and his windscreen washer reservoir full of vodka.
ReplyDeleteYou can't clean windscreens with vodka! Pure water is much more effective.
DeleteBack in 2021, a dear friend was dying in the hospital. The COVID restrictions for hospital visitations were loosening and we were able to visit him but just two visitors at a time were allowed in the room. His daughter was there, playing music for him, and when she left the room "Old Man" was playing. She must have hit a repeat button because that song played over and over during our time with him. It brings back good memories of a wonderful man.
ReplyDeleteA good song for saying farewell to the world Diaday.
DeleteI remember him best from the days of CSNY. What energy it must take to still do live performances like that. Impressive.
ReplyDeleteAnd his plaintive voice can still handle it. Amazing really.
DeleteOne of the originals. Still doing it.
ReplyDeleteLike The Stones.
Delete