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Rock im Park
Nürnberg, Germany, May 19, 2002

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The Confirmed Set List
  1. When You Dance
  2. The Loner
  3. Differently
  4. Sleeps With Angels
  5. Are You Passionate
  6. Goin' Home
  7. Cinnamon Girl
  8. Cortez The Killer
  9. Let's Roll
  10. Powderfinger
  11. Quit (Don't Say You Love Me)
  12. She's A Healer
  13. All Along The Watchtower
  14. Two Old Friends
  15. Mr.Soul
  16. Down By The River
    Encore
  17. Fuckin' Up


Rock im Park
Nürnberg, Germany, May 19, 2002

review by Klaus Krosse

I just came back from Nuernberg and would like to share our Rock-im-Park experience.

SATURDAY
On Saturday morning, after programming my VCR to record Neil's Rock-am-Ring show, I rode down south to Nürnberg by train. After check-in at the Hotel I went to the festival. Rock-im-Park is the "little sister" of Rock-Am-Ring, but it has about the same line-up of bands. There are four stages. The centerstage was set up in the Frankenstadion, the nice football (soccer) stadium. The stage had big video screens on each side.

When I arrived in the stadium one of the best German comedians was on stage: Michael Mittermeier. He was really funny and set my mood for the rest of the festival. Faithless, Santana and Lenny Kravitz followed. Lenny started at 9:30 and ended at 11. I guess, this was the closing time for the centerstage.

Neil was planned to start at 9 the next day, so he would have about 2 hours, (I thought). Although there were big dark clouds we had no rain. When I got back to my hotel, I turned on the TV to check the weather forecast for Sunday: it didn't sound good. They announced heavy rain for Bavaria.

After the news on TV, Rockpalast came on. I only wanted to check whether they would show Neil from Rock-Am-Ring. There was Alan Bangs in front of the stage while Neil playing Down By The River, and announced that they would show the complete show. I was hoping that I programmed my VCR right.

I hadn't planned to watch the complete show and spoil the surprise for Sunday night. But since Mr. Bangs had mentioned that they start with When You Dance, I said to myself, "Okay, one song will not spoil it for tomorrow." But then I saw a setlist on top of Booker Ts organ. And I stupidly read it! It listed down to Powderfinger. I was not able to turn off the TV. So I watched until they played Quit.

SUNDAY
Sunday afternoon I stepped into the train from Main-station to the Stadium. Found one empty place to sit, but a lot of people had to stand. One of them spotted me: Rustie Ludwig (After Berlin), together with Theresa. I didn't know that he was coming to Nuernberg, and the last time we met was at the Erfurt concert and Rustfest last year. They had only one-day tickets for the side of the arena, but they managed to get wristbands for the Innenraum so that we could stand together closer to the stage.

When we went into the stadium Wyclef Jean was about to start. And no, (as wished by David L.), Wyclef was not joined by Neil. But during his set he spotted one guy in the front row who happened to have on a Neil T-shirt, but must have been making some trouble. Wyclef said "Hey you in the Neil Young T-shirt, stop that.... I like Neil Young and you should stop that."

Before Jamiroquai hit the stage, we tried to get as near to the stage as possible. After Jamiroquai, all the little girls left and we were able to get up to the rail, about 20m away from the stage. There was no-one directly in front of us (except the security guys walking up and down the aisle).

Jamiroquai left the stage at 8:25 and Neil was scheduled to start at 9:00. But Ludwig guessed that Neil would not come on stage before 9:30. As on Saturday, there were a lot of dark clouds in the sky -- but it did not rain... At 9:30 (How did you know that, Ludwig?) Neil Young with the band came on stage. Most of the clouds were gone, and you could see the half-moon up in the sky.

NEIL YOUNG ROCKIN' IN THE PARK
Because I had watched half of the Rock-Am-Ring show on TV, I thought I knew what was coming. Yes, the first song was When You Dance, but it sounded (and felt) so much better than on TV. Neil and the band were into it right from the beginning. WYDICRL was followed by The Loner, and the crowd now knew what kind of show to expect.

Then we get the first "How ya doin'?" from Neil. He talked a lot more at this show than in the 5 shows I saw last year added together!

Here's what I remember about the following songs...

"Hope to see you next time somewhere in Europe."

Then Greensleeves via the PA and we knew it was over. A lot of very happy faces around.

All the quotes are from memory and are not 100% word by word correct. If someone can give me a recording of the show, I will correct the quotes... :-)   Here are some others:

While I write this down, the Rock-am-Ring show is playing on my VCR. I found Rock-im-Park better. But being there is always better! I guess the weather in Nürnberg was a little better than a day before on the Nürburgring. It wasn't so cold and so wet.

I had expected a show like the Booker T & MGs tour from '93. But this was more rockin'. This was like the encore to the Eurotour01.

Klaus
...Listening To The Radio


(more reviews coming...)