Neil Young, Reviewed...

(I asked one of our readers, Mike in Houston, how the Neil Young concert was and inquired whether Neil did "Powderfinger," as it is one of our favorite songs of his. Here's Mike's review...)

powderfinger is one of mine too. he did it during the second set of encores. he blew the place apart. the first hour-and-a-half was a new concept album called greendale. neil sang all the parts but actors appeared on stage and on sets that elevated above the band. They mimed their parts and danced a bit. it was about a family and a drug bust and the media and the environment and ashcroft and a babe who became a protest queen. the sound was great. i could understand all the words to songs i didn't know. neil had some mic stand contraption that help a harmonica and switched to a blowhorn when appropriate for a couple characters. one song said it was "a longer song than all my other songs put together but it don't mean a thing." there was even a "let the sun shine in" type closing. neil songs quoted lennon and dylan by name and endorsed leave it to beaver over fox-style news. neil said people like him are taking the flag back. he meant it.

encores were: outta the black, sedan delivery, powderfinger, welfare mothers, rocking in the free world, roll another one for the road, a new song about record companies sucking, and a couple things that seemed familiar.

lucinda williams was real good too. both bands looked like a bunch of old drunks who sleep under bridges, which was a plus.