Crazy Horse with Neil Young are a machine. A powerful unstoppable machine which can only come from decades of playing together. For a lot of the gig they stood on the huge NEC stage surrounded by large props but standing so close together they could have been in your lounge and that just emphasized how tight they are yet completely relaxed into the music. Of course front and central is Neil Young's amazing grungy guitar voice and that was what he was at Birmingham to play.
First off we had Los Lobos who played a longish set for a support band of around 50 minutes. It was pleasant and professional enough and showed some wide ranging musical influences. The set list included songs in Spanish, an Allman Bros track, blues, swing and rock and roll. They were all good musicians but the drummer was outstanding, beat perfect all the way through. Respect to them that they did not include 'La Bamba' in their set.
The Crazy Horse gig started with an extended piece of business involving roadies dressed as lab scientists and construction workers and then a playing of the National Anthem before they kicked off with 'Love to Burn' followed by 'Surfer Joe and Moe the Sleeze'. Immediately the vibe of the evening of extended tracks of guitar music was evident. Perfection; but not everyone in the audience was happy. A couple of tracks of the new album followed, 'Psychedelic Pill' and 'Walk Like a Giant'. The gig was really motoring by this time with Neil getting ever more expressive on guitar; four songs in and more than 45 minutes on the clock by the time the extended coda on 'Walk Like a Giant' had finished.
The show transitioned into a solo acoustic section after a quieter song I hadn't heard before, 'Hole in the Sky', and Neil then did 'Heart of Gold' and 'Blowin' in the Wind'. The mouth harp on 'Heart of Gold' was delectable and the last track in thsi part 'A singer without a song' with Neil on piano was also superb but overall I think he and the band relaxed back into the previous mode with a better feel as Crazy Horse songs resumed with 'Ramamda Inn' off the new album. This was one of the highlights of the gig for me. The band was tight as a nut and Neil's guitar screeched to perfection through this long reflective song.
Next up were old favourites 'Cinamon Girl' and a long playful 'Fucking Up' before the band in response to a request threw in 'Cortez the Killer'. This is a magnificent song and with this band on this form it was a privilege to be there. The main set was wrapped up with 'Mr Soul' and 'Hey, Hey (Into the Black)'.
The encore was possibly the best bit - I was wondering why he hadn't played 'Powderfinger' but the truth was he was saving it for the encore. One wonders if they will tour again - both Young and Sampedro had their wrists strapped - and if that is the last track I hear Neil Young and this band play then that is a perfect finish. The guitar was immense; it is a, possibly the, classic Neil Young and Crazy Horse song and it was a great finish to a great gig.
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