Neil Young 11/6/2016

Another extraordinary gig from Neil Young. I last saw him exactly three years ago to the day and sort of assumed that it was the last time I would see the then 67-year-old musician. I also never thought I would go the O2 arena but anything is possible if the end result is Neil Young live. First off was a very enjoyable set from Laura Marling. I had seen her once before (also supporting Neil Young) and had been unimpressed with her set but that was many years ago. I particularly liked the Townes Van Zandt cover ('Waitin' Around to Die') but it was all good. Neil started this time with his solo part of the show playing old favourites. 'After the Goldrush' followed by 'Heart of Gold' and then one of my all-time faves 'From Hank to Hendrix'. A couple more solo songs ('Needle and the Damage Done' and 'Mother Earth, the latter on pump organ) and then the new band he is playing with came on 'The Promise of the Real'. The show was brilliantly structured which avoided some of the disappointment of some audience members (definitely not me) at the show three years ago who had left after some lengthy grungy guitar numbers early on before the old favourites were brought out. He brought on the old solo songs early on and gradually moved via a country section to a more grungy section to lastly the most grungy section with the trusty old black guitar in serious grunge action. The second section of the gig had a real country feel to it which is not surprising given the pedigree of the band who include two of Willie Nelson's sons. The outstanding track in this part was 'Hold Back the Tears' an alt country tour de force. A little later there was a remarkable version of 'Alabama' and then 'Words, Between the Lines of Age' before the black guitar heralded the arrival of peak grunge. Neil made a show of consulting with the audience before launching into the definitive version of 'Love to Burn' following immediately with the definitive version of 'Mansion on the Hill' Both of them were lengthy, relaxed and brilliant. The extraordinary groove was hypnotic and powerful and the band played their part in supporting the unique Neil Young guitar with Lukas Nelson on lead being particularly prominent and sympatico. All of the band looked like they were loving being on stage with Neil Young and the sound was amazingly tight. Soon it was the last song and that too was a superlative version - this time of 'Love and Only Love'. Then a brief encore of 'Fucking Up' and it was over. This probably was the last time I'll ever see Neil Young live but he has provided many astonishing live performances over the years and I feel privileged to have been there.