Stadtpark, Hamburg, Germany
July 6, 2001

Ulli Adelt's early review

The show details

1. Don't Cry No Tears
2. I've Been Waiting For You
3. Love And Only Love
4. Piece Of Crap
5. Going Home   [new this tour]
6. Hold You In My Arms   [new this tour]
   Solo/Acoustic set:
7. From Hank To Hendrix
8. Don't Let It Bring You Down
9. Pocahontas
10. After The Goldrush   [on pump organ]
    With Crazy Horse again:
11. Only Love Can Break Your Heart
12. Standing In The Light Of Love   [new this tour]
13. Gateway Of Love   [new this tour]
14. Hey Hey My My
15. Sedan Delivery
16. Powderfinger
    Encore
17. Fuckin' Up
18. Cortez The Killer

The show was scheduled for 7.30 p.m., and usually you're not allowed to play after 10 p.m. in the Stadtpark. I was quite nervous when a support act (Novastar from Belgium, not really worth mentioning) started playing at 7.30. It was quite a long wait afterward...

Neil actually came on stage a little after 9 p.m. Lucky for us he disregarded the rules and played until 11.15 p.m. He looked cool from head to toe -- i.e., from his cowboy hat down to his New Balance sneakers. I liked his Lynyrd Skynyrd t-shirt best. We all know Mr. Young does remember.

The audience was a little too lame for my taste. Actually, except for Hey Hey My My, they mostly just watched while Neil was shaking like a madman.

The first three songs were a treat. Don't Cry No Tears is a great great song, I've Been Waiting For You is a lot better with Crazy Horse than on the original album, and Love And Only Love is also a good one. Next was Piece of Crap, which was the first highlight for me. Slower than on the album but lots of fun.

Then the new songs. Going Home was okay, and Hold You in My Arms was very very moving. From the acoustic set, I liked Pocahontas best. Very slow. From Hank to Hendrix sounded better solo than with the Stray Gators. And even After The Goldrush was nice to listen to, even though I had thought I didn't really need to listen to it again.

Of the rest of the show, Hey Hey My My was the best song. The other two new songs were great as well. Neil started to play Gateway of Love, got it wrong and started all over again. That was nice. He also mixed up the verses on Powderfinger, and played a couple of extra solos. I was happy that he played Powderfinger. With Sedan Delivery next, it was interesting that he did three songs in a row from Rust Never Sleeps.

The encore was cool. I really didn't need another 20 minute Hurricane that badly so I had been hoping for Cortez. Which we got -- and it was lovely. Very long, very slow, very good. Before that, he did Fuckin' Up -- also a good choice I think. No RITFW this time, but apart from that it was a perfect show.

I'd seen Neil 3 times before -- 1987 with the Horse, 1989 solo and 1993 with Booker T. For different reasons, I had missed him 4 times since then (remember when he cut his finger?) So this was finally the compensation for what I have gone through. I'm moving to the states next month, and I really hope I can see him there soon. I won't wait another eight years!

Ulli "Notebook Behind Your Eyes"

(more reviews coming...)