Michael Heinz's review.|
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Michael Heinz's review.
Computer Cowboy's report.
Steve Walls' Lament
Stalker's short take
(more to come)
The show details.
What a beautiful day and evening we had in the Puget sound region. Of course Neil brought it with him. Saturday is bringing about the same results.
Since 73, when CSNY was in the colisum in Seattle, I've seen Neil about 7 times at different venues. Tonight was every thing I had hoped for. The only dissapointment is when Neil had to leave.
The Show started promptly at 8. A very primed and excited audience greeted Neil. He opened with Tell Me Why and of course it was flawless. Neil was into it all night. He was intense during War of Man, you could feel his emotion throughout the song.
It was great to hear Albuquerque -- one brought out of the archives. My wife Margie spent a couple of years down there so it was a special touch. World On A String: GREAT! Then on to Philadelphia and you could hear a pin drop.
Pocahontas!!!!!! Fantastic -- what can you say in a review, you have to hear it! Homegrown -- Neil told a story of how this used to be a song about weed, but now it's a protest song for FARM AID. The Aroma was greatly welcomed. And the second half of the show was everything you'd expect.
I could go on and on but I don't want to spoil it for the RUST of you. Tonight get to the Paramount any way you can!!!!! Thank you Neil for your Music - keep on rockin' in a free world!
For days Nature Girl and I had anticipated this trip -- Neil up close and intimate, small theater, surrounded by friends -- but we had forlornly watched the weather forecasts. Rain, rain, rain. A record amount has been falling, darn near an all time record. Sounded a little dreary.
But now that we're here I'm happy to report that this Neil thing is as great as you could imagine. And I think these folks in Seattle are just bull-shitting us about the rain -- it's been nothing but sunny since we got here. :)
A beautiful place to live -- I'd want to keep it to myself too.
So anyway, I just wanted to say a few things about the show. Not a set list, because I'm too lazy and I'm sure someone else already has.
There is no opener. Neil says he starts at 8, and he does. Played about 2 1/2 hours with an intermission.
He plays maybe the widest variety of instruments that I've seen him do in a single show: 6 string, 12 string, banjo, piano, pump organ, harmonica... He treats the show pretty informally and a little like a dress rehearsal -- if he forgets a line, he stops and looks it up in his book, then starts the song again. Repeats the line again after the song and says, "Hmm, have to get that right from now on." But the performance isn't sloppy -- he's clearly serious about doing it up right...
What a great theater! When I heard that folks usually dress formal to see shows there I thought it might be really fancy, and it is. Really reminds me of the Cincinnati Music Hall. In fact, the show itself reminds me of at least the acoustic portion of the 2/25/70 show.
He ended up touring with CSN that year too.
So we're having a blast up here -- Kurt and Lisa are tireless and generous hosts. All the rusties we've met, either again or for the first time, have been just as generous and party friendly. :)
Ok, so that was pretty lame, but my head is throbbing and I'm dying to get out in that sun...so I'm signing off.
See this tour if you can,
Computer Cowboy
PS -- I got your shirt. :)
Man, I hope no one had my experience at the Seattle show. Basically, the first five songs were ruined for me. I'm not a violent individual, but I had thoughts of harming a couple of individuals tonight...
A guy and a gal sitting directly behind me thought that they were Neil's backup singers and news commentators. They were commenting on his guitar playing, his dress, his hair, yelling song requests at the top of their lungs, as well as, singing along word for word to Neil. If they didn't know the words, they would whistle to the music. ARGHHH!!!
I did not pay $90.00 to listen to people sing in the audience. Nor did I pay this money for a blow by blow description of what Neil was doing on the stage. I felt that this behavior was a was a total lack of respect for Neil and the people in the audience. This was worst than the "crying baby in the movie theater" syndrome!
Anyways, the group in this seating area banded together! After numerous attempts at trying to be nice to these people, that approach went out of the window. After some people stood up and made some mild threats of bodily harm, these two individuals proceeded to remain quiet.
Once the intermission occurred, the hecklers never returned to their seats.
One last comment before I have musical dreams. I've always been a fan of Bob Dylan's harmonica playing. Especially in the 60's and even in the 80's. However, to compare Dylan's harmonica style in the 90's to Neils..is a joke. Neil has it hands down. Bob, it's time to put the harmonica down.
Well, I have to listen to my Grateful Dead tapes..gotta cleanse my soul of those evil thoughts....
However uninspired (HyperRust editor's note: Uninspired????) tonight's performance was, it was masterful. Neil's voice has never sounded so good in the twenty years that I've been seeing his shows. His playing was incredibly good.
Highlights for me were Albuquerque and World On A String. Pocahontas has somehow gone from a really sad song to a more gleeful presentation (dare I say Disnified?).
Hats off to Larry C.; the guitars were rich and deep in tone. Good but not great - $80 worth? hmmmm. Saturday's show will no doubt be better.