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Karen Stevens' Review and Neil Encounter

Kurt little box Johnsen's Review

Chris Murray's Mini-Review

The Set List

Hey, hey, my, my...It's me again. So sorry I haven't had time to write more on the concert in SJ, but I have to earn my pay check! Anyways, some of you will be sadly disappointed in my report...

First, let me say that I have a really bad memory at the best of times. I usually have to write down everything that I am supposed to remember. Having said that, let me state now that I was not in to taking notes during the concert. I do apologize for not having an accurate setlist, but I'll do the best I can. (There's something else that I've been ashamed to admit... there were a few songs I hand't heard before and couldn't even begin to guess the names of. I guess I'm not a hard-core rusty!)

Setlist: Very similar to Ottawa - I remember that the first 2 are the same for sure. Then he played 2 more and did an acoustic set. I think it was 4 songs. And then more electric stuff. Somewhere in the middle of the first acoustic set and the last song (Like a Hurricane), he did one acoustic song. He did 2 encores - 3 songs the first time, and 2 the second. The 2nd encore looked like The Horse was done after 1 song, but Neil wanted to crank out another one. So, based on the Ottawa setlist, he definitely played the following songs and in a similar order: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20. He also played Powderfinger sometime after the acoustic set. And I think Sedan Delivery was one of the encore songs.

Despite the fact that it may seem like I'm a bit spacy for not remembering what he played, I do clearly remember being swept away in the music for a large portion of the more than 2 hours they played. As I mentioned before, Neil is a much more impressive musician live than anything I've heard of his stuff before. He is obviously very centered when he's out there. And the way he moves - he looked very graceful. Rising and falling on his toes, wiping his feet, stepping gently.

Whenever Neil touched his harmonica, the crowd went crazy. Acoustic stuff was definitely a major crowd pleaser.

The whole thing was almost like a jam session with a lot of people hanging out. There was some talking amongst the musicians between and during songs. They stood in a little triangle on the stage with little regard for the audience. They seemed to some joking around - stepping on each other's feet.

After the show: Neil seemed pretty relaxed. I was shitting bricks, but he and I had a very brief conversation about the concert. Of course, I don't remember what all was said! But my friend said she thought it was a pretty casual conversation. (She doesn't remember either!) Actually, we did the Hi, how are you, handshake thing. Then he asked about the concert, and I said it was excellent. Then I asked him what he thought about the concert. He said he felt really good about, that he was able to get into the music and get lost a couple of times. He said that he really liked the venue (Harbour Station holds about 6000 people) and it was sounding good. I think that was when I lost all my senses and don't really know what happened! I can't believe I talked to Neil!!!

Then we were quickly hustled to do a picture. He put his arm around my waist!!!! Totally casual. He was very polite and chatty with everyone. There were 20-25 people in the room. Some people gave him stuff and he was very appreciative. He did autographs for just about everybody.

An observation that deserves a separate paragraph (because I still get chills when I think about it): Neil appears very graceful and gentle, yet extemely intense. Eye contact was phenomenal. He looks at you until you almost feel uncomfortable. But I didn't. You know how eye contact can be with some people? With Neil it was meaningful.

And then it was over. I was exhausted and I can't imagine how Neil felt.

I just got lost in thinking about all this and caught myself staring at the computer screen. I need to take some more head time. I promise I will keep working on the setlist. When is Hartford? I've called a few people who were here and hope to ask them what they can remember about the music. May be if anyone has specific questions, it might jog my memory. Feel free to ask. And of course, my favourite was played in the acoustic set...

Long May You Run,
Karen

Glorious!! Due to Sheila and Sonya, six of us Rusties literally had THE BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE!!! I was about 10 feet (no exaggeration at all) from Neil's mike and directly in front of him. Any closer and I would have been in Neil's way. It was simply amazing to be able to see every grimace, contortion on his face, and occasional smile, SO CLOSE. I mean this was the essence of it all.

The Show... I did not keep a set list. I think the show was about 2 hours long. Two encores!! If I seem short on details it is because it all seemed like a dream. For me, the pearls (songs I did not hear at the other two shows) were Don't Cry No Tears (I love that song), Helpless, When You Dance, and Scattered. I think I am remembering this correctly: Scattered was played on acoustic first by himself and then joined in by Billy and Ralph.

Music Arcade again was almost aborted. People were just making too much noise and clapping their hands like it was a hootenanny. It is a great, dark song and Neil almost quit before the last verse ( he looked annoyed to say the least). Maybe he heard me call "don't let them ruin it for you". Actually, It is very hard to play these acoustic songs at these Crazy Horse shows. He has the crowd going nuts. Personally, I would rather hear Neil sing than the crowd. Actually, though the front row was incredible, the mix was not terribly good there. Hard to hear his vocals at times. But, I promise you, a very minor complaint, and I would not trade those seats for any other..

At the beginning of the show, Neil and the boys (especially Billy) looked very tired. It has been a long tour. But, they "woke up" after a bit and played around quite a bit. There was chit-chat between songs and some semi-wrestling about. It is great to watch the band, as Billy is just gonzo -- in his own world. Frank, however, watches every little move Neil makes, to compliment his changes.

And Neil was On with Old Black. Some of his solos were beyond description. The feeling they evoked must be like heroin to the junkie (much healthier though). And Old Black really looks like it has been through the war. As does their other equipment. Really unbelievable to witness so close. Not the OPL but maybe the next best thing. My ears are still ringing a bit.

I had 6 front row seats and it was hard to decide who got them. Lisa, my wife, and Andrew, a good friend and a long-time Neil Head, got two. One went to Colin (the first Rusty to contact me last month) and another two went to Karen (the second Rustle to contact me). I felt good about who got these fantasy seats. The rest of the Rust row seats were split between rows 6, 9 and a few in the lower bowl (they didn't even look bad). The whole thing was a dream come true, I tell you.

After the first two shows this year I was suffering from PNS ("Post-Neil Syndrome") and had that empty feeling. But this time I feel so good and complete. I can "put the tour to bed" now and just relive the memories.

I just have to agree that "live Music is Better"

A few of the songs I was not farmiliar due to the fact that I haven't bought the new one yet. I got a copy after the show, and my wife and I listened to it and we tried to remember which ones he did... It would seem that he did most of the album!

Anyway it was an awesome show. Neil and Crazy Horse played for almost two and a half hours (about 2:20). The show started off sorta slow, it seemed that Neil was tired, or just couldn't catch the groove. But after Music Arcade, he caught it with a vengence!! The set from Cinammon to Like a Hurricane was sublime! Amazing...

Long jam sections in Cortez and Hurricane made the show a gem to behold. At one point, Hurricane lived up to its name, as Neil and the Horse brought the song to a frenzied wall of noise, complete with strobe lighs and energy to spare! I was floored!

The show was well worth the hour drive to Saint John. The crowd was totally into it, which may account for the second encore. Overall, it was an excellent show.

take care,
Chris Murrray

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