A few years ago I walked out at the end of a NIN gig at the Brixton Academy, absolutely exhausted by the sheer power and pummelling of the performance. The same feeling washed over me standing outside the 02 Arena in Greenwich last night, after my second Neil Young & Crazy Horse gig of this European tour.
The power of a Crazy Horse gig really has to be experienced to be believed. These guys played non stop for well over two hours. From a start of ‘Love, and only Love’ and ‘Powderfinger’, through the Psychedelic Pill feedback drenched, ‘Walk Like a Giant’ via a very interesting acoustic segment which included. ‘Red Sun’ from Silver and Gold & ‘Comes a Time’.
A raw, chewed out ‘Ramada Inn’ followed before heading home via ‘Cinnamon Girl’, ‘Fu*kin' Up’, ‘My, My, Hey, Hey’, 'Mr Soul’, ‘Like a Hurricane’, 'Roll Another Number’ and ‘Everybody Knows this is Nowhere‘
Twelve hours later, I am still exhausted. This was industrial strength volume that filled the vast arena - at times it was like hailing the very end of time itself. The ticket price for London was £10 more expensive than Birmingham. Was that because more juice was used for seemingly extra volume?
The combined age of the band is off the charts and that they have committed to a lengthy, and perhaps realistically, final world tour is very commendable. The camaraderie of band, stage crew and audience is fantastic to behold.
At the smaller Indigo venue at the 02 last night, Motorhead were headlining a solid line-up of bands including Airbourne and Paradise Lost, as part of the Metal Hammer awards. I can only assume that the civil engineers are at the 02 this morning, checking on the foundations!
Neil and the boys return to the 02 on the 19th August, supported by Band of Horses. There are still some tickets left, here
I should also mention Los Lobos who have steadfastly opened for Neil & Crazy Horse on this tour. We even got a rockin' 'La Bamba' last night.
Pete
Love and Only
Powderfinger
Psychedelic Pill
Walk Like a Giant
Hole in the Sky
Red Sun
Comes a Time
Blowin' in the Wind
Singer Without a Song
Ramada Inn
Cinnamon Girl
F*ckin' Up
Mr. Soul
My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)
Encore:
Like a Hurricane
Roll Another Number (For the Road)
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere