No review’s going to do this justice, so let’s just get this out the way. Neil Young was just phenomenal.
Michael Eavis has tried and failed four times previously to get Neil Young to play at his little party down on Worthy Farm dating right back to the days when local stores would put ‘No Hippies Allowed’ on their windows.
Why Old Farmer Eavis has been so determined to book him is apparent from the moment Neil Young hits the stage. There’s no farting about, his trusty scarred Gibson Les Paul, Old Black, comes straight out and he clangs straight into My My Hey Hey. Seldom has the lyric “better to burn out than fade away” been more pertinent than the day after the death of a King. But also because at this festival of legends there are some here who have faded beyond repair. What this set proved more than anything is that Neil Young isn’t among their number.
Johnny Rotten and punk rock was supposed to get rid of people like Neil Young with their denim and lank hair, and their extended 12 minute versions of hoary old anthems. Thank God it didn’t. You want punk rock? Neil Young is living evidence that it’s still among us.
Anyone who suspected that we might have been in for some curmudgeonly latest album set was sorely disappointed as classic followed classic – Spirit Road, The Needle & The Damage Done, Heart Of Gold - no words or gestures needed from the stage, we were all on board the rock train.
Young’s no sprightly plastic surgery regenerated has been, the lines of age, the balding head, the slack dressing are all the polar opposite of what the outside world may consider cool. At one point he shrugs off a sleeve of his shirt but keeps on playing regardless – two guitar changes and four songs later he is still rocking the half-shirt. It’s not that he doesn’t care, it’s just that he’s in there right inside his music. Who cares about the fucking shirt, there’s rock to be done.
Neil Young and his sterling band have mastered many things (making songs like Cinnamon Girl and Down By The River sound both angry and intricate being one, the end song huddle being another and best of all the false ending). Keep On Rocking In The Free World features four false endings (possibly five, I lost count). A mischievous grin flashing across Young’s mouth as he returns for one more blast of the chorus.
As his set ends you think that it can’t get any better but he returns for one crowning end. The theory that no one can claim a Beatles song as their own is blown away by his encore of A Day In The Life which turns Lennon & McCartney’s whimsy into a multi-layered masterpiece that’s closer to Laurel Canyon than Blackburn, Lancashire. My, My. What a night.
In pics: Neil Young at Glastonbury, June 26, 2009.
Review: Johnny Dee
Setlist:
-Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)
-Mansion On The Hill
-Are You Ready For The Country?
-Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
-Spirit Road
-Words
-Cinnamon Girl
-Mother Earth
-The Needle And The Damage Done
-Comes A Time
-Unknown Legend
-Heart Of Gold
-Down By The River
-Get Behind The Wheel
-Rockin' In The Free World
-A Day In The Life
In pics: Neil Young at Glastonbury, June 26, 2009.
12:10 AM | 28/06/2009
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User Comments
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It was so bloody good that the BBC decided to show hardly any of it.
Instead we get crap like Little Boots over and over again.
Will Springsteen and Blur get full coverage tomorrow night? You bet your sweet bippy they will.
Posted by Phil Lench at 1:36 AM | 27/06/2009 | Report Abuse
No they won't Phil - it seems that Bruce will be given the same disgraceful treatment that Young got. Franz Ferdinand will get the full treatment. Bruce and Neil are obviously not hip enough for those who think they are hip at the Beeb..
Neil Young was brilliant, and I am not even a huge fan... I should have gone to Hyde Park today, but anyway will be there tomorrow for Bruce
Posted by Andrew at 5:24 PM | 27/06/2009 | Report Abuse
I saw Neil at Nottingham with my son on Tuesday.
We sang our hearts out.
My eyes were full of tears of joy - so wonderful to share this with my 21 year old.
My son declared that NY was "f*****g epic !"
Don't be daft you won't catch the Beeb showing any more than just a cursory sequence. NY is not trendy enough for the trendy, skinny jeaned nonses at the BBC.
NY - Long May You Run !!!
Posted by Captain Webb at 5:52 PM | 27/06/2009 | Report Abuse
Utterly awesome! No fancy tricks, no gimmicks, nothing but the music and the man, and, my god, he rocked!!! If I see a more viscerally thrilling act this Glastonbury, I'll eat my boots - although I'm guessing the Boss might come close ...
Posted by kim forster at 7:48 PM | 27/06/2009 | Report Abuse
Johnny Dee, you're an idiot! 'A Day In The Life' was never a piece of "whimsy": it was as intricate and as 'layered' as Lennon and McCartney intended it to be. Neil Young merely copied the piece....note for note. The sub Pete Townsend , not quite, trashing of the guitar was an indulgent act by the silly old hippy. If that impressed you.....well........
Posted by john dillon at 1:10 AM | 28/06/2009 | Report Abuse
And ....did the Beatles play a day in the life Live????? Not to my knowledge - fair dues to Neil Young and the few songs I say on the Beb. Awesome
Posted by Ziggy at 12:17 PM | 28/06/2009 | Report Abuse
Not the BBC's fault they didn't show more, NY said they could broadcast 5 songs from the set, he's well known for not allowing easy access to live performances.
Posted by Pete Moore at 2:07 PM | 28/06/2009 | Report Abuse
Johny Dee you should do your research, Johny Rotten was a fan of Neil Young and if there is a better performance at this years Glastobury I would love to see it.
Posted by John Gaskell at 4:35 PM | 28/06/2009 | Report Abuse
Neil Young was absolutely brilliant at Glastonbury. I saw it on TV and just wished I could have been there to see it all in the flesh. What a genius!!!
Posted by Marie at 8:30 PM | 28/06/2009 | Report Abuse
Neil Young was absolutely brilliant at Glastonbury. I saw it on TV and just wished I could have been there to see it all in the flesh. What a genius!!!
Posted by Marie at 8:31 PM | 28/06/2009 | Report Abuse
I've just seen the whole set list and am jealous that I never went to Glast. It also doesn't surprise me that NY sanctioned the Beeb to 5 songs - that's Neil for you. Whatever he was as good now as when I saw him in 70s, 80s and 90s - that's why I have most of his CDs/Albums.
Posted by jonnie tee at 7:45 PM | 30/06/2009 | Report Abuse
i saw the last 4 numbers of Shakey and he was brillant.his version of a Day in a life was awe inspring and for me compares to Hendrix's version of All Along the watchtower.
The Boss was dull 2hours 40 minuyutes of weak phoney rock.pass the stick bucket;>Long Live Neil.
Posted by motley at 4:12 PM | 01/07/2009 | Report Abuse
i saw the last 4 numbers of Shakey and he was brillant.his version of a Day in a life was awe inspring and for me compares to Hendrix's version of All Along the watchtower.
The Boss was dull 2hours 40 minuyutes of weak phoney rock.pass the stick bucket;>Long Live Neil.
Posted by motley at 4:12 PM | 01/07/2009 | Report Abuse
I have loved Neil Young's music since the 1970's and have seen him 3 times in the past year - he is truly awesome and has so much soul - it just oozes out of his every pore! His Glastonbury performance brought tears to my eyes - he is simply one of best. xx
Posted by patricia holmes at 12:28 AM | 18/07/2009 | Report Abuse
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