Young turns on power in Vermont, donates $100,000 to fight lawsuit

Written by Shar on 20 July 2015

GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

A review from the Burlington Free Press staff writer Brent Hallenbeck says Sunday’s show July 19 in Essex Junction was Neil Young’s first-ever headlining show in Vermont. He played with Promise of the Real for the ninth show of the tour.

Prior to the show he spoke at a press conference in favor of Vermont’s GMO labeling law. Activist booths were set up outside the concert.

Hallenbeck writes that Young was driven in large part by his support for the state’s law requiring food manufacturers to label products containing genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. The Grocery Manufacturers Association has filed suit against Vermont over that law, and Young announced Sunday that he’s donating $100,000 to the fund helping the state fight that lawsuit.

Here’s a clip from the review:

“Given that impetus behind the show, though, Young’s nearly two-and-a-half-hour concert was largely restrained about politics – for instance, he didn’t talk about the presidential candidate he favors, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont – and focused on the music that has made him one of rock’s top songsmiths for nearly half a century. He came out in blue jeans, a dark brimmed hat and a black T-shirt reading “Earth” and began with quieter tunes featuring his naturally strained, upper-register voice on top of acoustic guitar (with occasional harmonica interludes).

This was not the angry 69-year-old man raging against the corporate machine on “The Monsanto Years.” This was calm, reflective, often celebratory Neil Young as he played old favorites such as “Heart of Gold” and “Old Man.”

Lukas Nelson moved from guitar to piano as he played “Moonlight in Vermont,” an old standard his father often covers, even singing it with a warm, wavering tone like Willie Nelson employs. The crowd gave Nelson one of its heartiest ovations of the night.

Neil Young
2015-07-19
Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, Vermont, USA
w/ Promise Of The Real

01. After The Gold Rush
02. Heart Of Gold
03. Long May You Run
04. Old Man
05. Mother Earth (Natural Anthem)
06. Out On The Weekend
07. Unknown Legend
08. Only Love Can Break Your Heart
09. From Hank To Hendrix
10. Harvest Moon
11. Wolf Moon
12. Words
13. Lookin’ For A Love
14. Moonlight In Vermont (cover) Lukas Nelson on lead vocals and piano
15. A Rock Star Bucks A Coffee Shop
16. People Want To Hear About Love
17. A New Day For Love
18. Country Home
19. Down By The River
20. If I Don’t Know
21. Workin’ Man
22. Monsanto Years
23. Love And Only Love

Tour: 2015 Rebel Content Tour
Band: Promise Of The Real

Neil Young – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, pump organ,
harmonica
Lukas Nelson – electric guitar, piano, vocals
Micah Nelson – electric guitar, electric charango, piano, vocals
Corey McCormick – bass, vocals
Anthony Logerfo – drums
Tato Melgar – percussion