He is well known, almost infamous, for a certain stubborness although he would probably call it self discipline, determination and just bloody single mindedness.
It is not as though he does not deserve to behave in this manner, after all he is a world megastar in Rock and Roll and often quoted as the influencing source and role model for successive generations of musicians and performers.
He has an extensive back catalogue of work from his early collaborations with Crosby, Still and Nash. His solo career saw him immediately established at the very top with his contemporaries and he has maintained that status and position over the last five decades.
This has not been a matter of churning out albums in a methodical and meaningless production line playing on the loyalty of fans who would, frankly, buy anything but pioneering new sounds and experiences which have challenged and captured the interest of a whole new intake of music lovers.
He has ultimate faith and confidence in his own song writing abilities.
This was illustrated by a now legendary concert appearance in the 1970's when the full playlist of his latest album was performed to a live audience.
The crowd were a bit agitated by this new material and made it clear that they had only really turned up to hear the iconic songs in his repertoire to date. This must have led to a palpable atmosphere at the venue although I am not aware that, at the end of ther first half of the gig he was heckled or acted towards in a disrespectful manner.
The body language of the audience must have been more than apparent and at the beginning of the second half a cheer and applause erupted with the annoucement , from the man himself, that all of the songs to follow were already known to those so assembled.
To the utter dismay of the attendees he just played again, from start to finish, the same playlist as he had just finished.
I was privileged to be in a large concert hall just this monday past to see Neil Young perform.
He was on one of a few UK shows with Crazy Horse, the three members of which he had acheived great critical acclaim and success with in the 1970's and on the occasion of revivals and summer festivals.
I was one of a good few thousand persons in the auditorium. I was there because Neil Young was notably absent from my list of rock and rollers to see before they die. Others were longstanding fans sporting faded and body shape distressed and stretched tour 'T' shirts from bygone years, some were just curious to see such a major musician. I even think that a few were there thinking that the performer was Will Young and may have felt that hard living and dedication had taken its toll on the facial features and physique of their beau.
In the ensuing 150 minutes of the stage show and 15 songs with controlled but raucous feedback, extravagant endings and a scurry of white coated boffins at regular intervals Neil Young spoke a grand total of about twenty words.
Bizarrely the band members and support actors all occupied the stage, before the first note was played, for a rendition of the National Anthem with hands on hearts and due reverence in front of a backdrop of a huge Union Flag.
The crowd, and myself included were a bit confused about what how to react. The same emotion persisted for the duration of the gig but out of amazement at the sheer quality of musicianship.
The gang of four were oblivious to the attentive crowd as they kept in close formation, jamming and joking in more of a private show than a public one. It was like a clutch of teenagers playing at rock and roll in their parents garage or in the dorm at a public school. Any dour and grumpy attitude expected from those in their mid to late 60's evaporated in that tight and melodic set-up. In a rebellious tone the rendition of 'Fucking Up' became an anthem for the crowd and like giggling schoolboys the band put on faces and made up voices which thrilled.
It is widely said that Neil Young goes a bit crazy when he is with Crazy Horse and that was so evident in Newcastle the night before last.
It did not matter that he did not engage with his public. There was no need for any back story, personal testimony of the bad years, political affiliations or campaigns ,anecdotes of playing with McCartney or others or jokes.
The music did all the talking and we all left that place happy and contented. Neil Young was true to himself. He has no time or inclination to grow old. In his own words and unique style 'It's better to burn out than to rust".
No comments:
Post a Comment