Neil Young, Talking Stick Amphitheater, Phoenix, AZ, 4/27/2024

RAGGED GLORY

Maybe Neil Young isn’t as spry as he used to be, but who is? At 78, to be playing hard core rock with the passion he displays isn’t only a goddam miracle, it’s a revelation. And, just like young Micah Nelson, who filled in for Nils Lofgren (who’s on tour with his other Sensei, Bruce Springsteen) to jam with Crazy Horse stalwarts Billy Talbot on bass and Ralph Molina on drums - demonstrates a generational melding that gives hope to us aging rockers. So, also when my son suggested that he and I fly to Phoenix to catch Neil’s latest (I won’t say last because who the fuck knows) tour, I gratefully accepted the familial love that was being offered.

And, what a show it was! The opening act of Reverend Billy and the Church of the Stop Shopping Choir was a weird, trippy, and funk-fueled way to begin the evening. But since combining positive energy against Climate Change with tornado-like rock and roll force is Neil’s thing, it didn’t surprise me that he recruited this legendary street performer to be his emissary.

The early spring evening temp in Phoenix was perfect, and Neil was in a generous mood to give this fans what they craved - the golden oldies from Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, Zuma, and Rust Never Sleeps - with a short acoustic interlude playing Comes a Time and Heart of Gold (which everybody sang along to). It felt like a fucking campfire. And, looooong kick ass jams, which is what my son was craving. Down by the River and Cortez the Killer were at least 15 minutes each. And, what Neil may have lost in dexterity, he more than makes up for with heart-tugging, sonic crunching lyricism. For my money, he’s one of the best rock guitarists who ever slung an axe.

There are compensations to getting older; one of which is sharing your heroes with your children, and having them love them along with you.