For months I had been looking forward to this gig, MMJ and Shakey in my home town at the same time “WOW”. I guess I could have paid a motza for a BDO ticket, spent all day in the blistering heat but I wanted more Neil than he’d be afforded to offer at the BDO.
My Morning Jacket were the perfect choice for the support slot, Jim James and Co. were in very fine form, beautiful, angelic melodies and reverb to burn! The only problem presented by the gorgeous MMJ set was that being the support act, they weren’t on for long. At the end of their set, I wanted, nay, craved more!
I have been listening to MMJ for about 18 months now, I was only aware of them until my nephew put me onto them, but I hadn’t actually heard them until then. After finally hearing MMJ, I really liked them, I thought they were a great band that had some very cool sounds, but it wasn’t until I experienced this incredible band in the live forum that I truly got them. Well now I’m hooked, I only wish I’d seen their side show a couple of days earlier. The highlights of their set for me personally, “Thank You Too!”, Smokin From Shootin", and "Gideon", but I really missed "One Big Holiday". Like any relationship, we go through stages, before Saturday, I liked MMJ, now I love them!
MMJ Set
1. Golden
2. I'm Amazed
3. The Way That He Sings
4. Thank You Too!
5. Gideon
6. Smokin From Shootin
7. Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Pt.2
8. Dondante
Then it was time for Shakey and his troubadours, I have been looking forward to this since rumours first surfaced about the impending tour. People that were looking forward to an evening of Neil’s greatest hits would have been in for a surprise, some may have even been disappointed, but not this little black duck!
Neil opened the set with “Love And Only Love” from “Old Ragged Glory 1990” a song that I wasn’t that familiar with, but enjoyed thoroughly, then was a new ditty “Sea Change” that was very rocking and shows that Neil is still a very relevant entity in the wonderful world of music. I must admit, that I would have enjoyed hearing some of his more popular songs, like “Heart Of Gold”, “Are You Ready For The Country”, “Old Man” or “From Hank to Hendrix” I mean they’re popular for a reason, they’re really great songs! But hey, I always like being surprised and getting something out of the norm and this is Neil Young after all, so expect the unexpected! The highlights of Neil’s set for me were “Cinnamon Girl”, “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere”, “One Of These days”, “The Needle And The Damage Done” and Rockin In The Free World”, with the jaw dropping version of “A Day In The Life” completely blowing me away!
Unfortunately, the audience at the Entertainment Centre were very reserved and this seemed the frustrate Neil, this was especially noticeable during the anthemic chorus of “Rockin In The Free World” and a lot of the audience on the floor did was sit on their collective ass!”
He didn't seem to be a happy camper and who could blame him? A lot of the audience down on the floor looked like they may have been more comfortable at an André Rieu concert. This was Neil Young! A Rock concert! That's the problem with seating on the floor at rock concerts, people pay over inflated prices for tickets to be close to the artist, I guess it’s a status thing, because they then complain, saying things like “SIT DOWN! I PAID A LOT OF MONEY TO SIT HERE!” when people react the way they are meant to at a rock concert.
If they want to sit and be civilised toffs, then skip up to the first elevation or beyond and let those who truly enjoy being moved by music rejoice in the rapture of rock!
Better yet, get the Heart Of Gold DVD, make a cup of tea and stay home.
At the end of the day, I had a great night, I was thoroughly entertained and thrilled to witness the greatness and the majesty of rock royalty.
Keep On Rockin In The Free World!
Neil Young Set
1. Love And Only Love
2. Sea Change
3. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
4. Spirit Road
5. Cortez The Killer
6. Cinnamon Girl
7. Mother Earth
8. The Needle And The Damage Done
9. Light A Candle
10. Four Strong Winds
11. Unknown Legend
12. One Of These Days
13. Get Back To The Country
14. Words
15. Just Singing A Song
16. Rockin' In The Free World
17. A Day In The Life (The Beatles cover)
