‘Concert Reviews’ Articles

Concert Review: Massey Hall (T.O. Star)

Concert review: Neil Young brings Le Noise to Massey

Neil Young performs at Massey Hall on May 10, 2011.
CARLOS OSORIO/TORONTO STAR

By Ben Rayner
May 11, 2011

The great comedian Patton Oswalt has a classic bit where he calls out this dude who has insisted upon violating a quiet moment in his set with one of those loogan-ish “whoooaaas!” with which anyone who’s ever been to any kind of performance that pauses for a quiet moment — other than a play, I guess, but even then — is probably well acquainted.

Oswalt theorizes that such a noisemaking member of the audience must have been told as a youngster that if there was ever a moment of silence in any public performance he was taking in, he’d best make as much noise as possible or goblins would come storming out of the shadows and rape him.

It’s brutal and tasteless, I know, but it serves its purpose, and you kinda wished Oswalt was on hand during the early going of Neil Young’s transfixing solo performance at Massey Hall Wednesday night.

…moar on Toronto Star.

Thanks to Sharry.

Posted in Concert Reviews | Comments Off on Concert Review: Massey Hall (T.O. Star)

Review: Neil Young’s one-man power play (Chicago Tribune)

Greg Kot says:

Solo guitar show raises the roof at Chicago Theatre
May 08, 2011|By Greg Kot | Music critic | for Chicago Tribune

One man, one guitar, one big sound. Neil Young orchestrated his solo concert Friday – the first of two-sold shows at the Chicago Theatre – for maximum impact. He started slow and quiet and built to a rafter-rattling finale.

An early acoustic tune nailed the night’s theme…

…
Sound was as crucial as sense. Though feedback has always been an aspect of Young’s electric playing, on this night it was a central focus. He was like a landscape painter, splashing voluptuous colors around the theater with reverb and creating a series of overlapping overtones that constantly threatened to bury his voice. “Rumblin’ ” did indeed rumble balcony seats; here was a concert that was felt as well as heard.

…moar on CicagoTribune.com

the SETLIST.

Posted in Concert Reviews | Comments Off on Review: Neil Young’s one-man power play (Chicago Tribune)

Neil’s Guitar Tuning

Alex ponders the question:

What Is Going On With Neil’s Guitar Tuning??? Neil has been struggling with his guitars being out of tune for this ENTIRE tour. I have seen a bunch of these shows and more than a few times in the middle of the show Neil had to stop and yell to his guitar tech that his guitar was not tuned correctly. All very distracting and amateur for a Neil show.

I have seen over 100 Neil shows over the years and tuning has never been an issue. Well, it is now. I wondered if other concert goers had the same experience? Neil what is going on with your guitar tuning???

Tags: guitar, guitar tuning
Posted in Concert Reviews, Neil-unsorted-MISC-trivia | 4 Comments »

Review: Philadelphia “beefy dudes”

Posted on Thu, May. 5, 2011
on: citypaper
Still The Searcher
Neil Young doesn’t need a band to fill a room.

By Sam Adams

[ concert review ]

…

That didn’t stop one beefy dude from repeatedly yelling “What the fuck?!” as the crowd streamed out after Young’s single encore, but then he’s spent decades perfecting the delicate art of getting classic-rock fans to turn out whether he’s playing the hits or an environmental rock opera. The show might not have been what the audience was expecting, but those with open ears heard Young finding new ways into well-worn classics and forging onward with characteristic eccentricity. At times,it recalled Young’s defense of his scattershot run of 1980’s releases: “You can call me erratic, but I’ve always been consistent about it — consistently erratic.”

Sat., April 30, Tower Theatre.

Posted in Concert Reviews | Comments Off on Review: Philadelphia “beefy dudes”

Review: Cincinnati

Neil Young: Rockin’ in a weird world

Written by Chris Varias,Enquirer contributor

… But those keyboards and light fixtures didn’t tell half of the tale. Duplicating the sounds on his recent album “Le Noise,” Neil Young put forth several noisy, fuzzed-out displays on electric and acoustic guitars, at times making for what could be the loudest solo performance ever in the field of folk-rock.

Dressed as if he were headed to the off-track-betting parlor, in what appeared to be (in my view from the back of the room) a tan fedora, white sport coat and blue jeans, Young, 65, did nothing to indicate he’s still not our oddest and most relevant old-guy rock ‘n’ roller.

The show had its share of undisputed classic-rock landmarks alongside about a half-dozen “Le Noise” cuts. The old stuff ran from pretty and dreamy like the pump organ-fueled ballad “After the Gold Rush” to lonesome and mean like the endless jam “Down by the River,” which had the near-sellout crowd helping Neil sing the line, loudly: “I shot my baby.”

…more on news.cincinnati.com.

Posted in Concert Reviews | Comments Off on Review: Cincinnati