NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE

Brisbane Entertainment Centre 07.03.2013

Giant amplifiers onstage, stage technicians in lab coats and 1950’s style television sets hung from the ceiling tipped the audience off that this was going to be something special. It was Neil Young giving a nod to his rock and roll past while keeping his music in the moment. As a giant microphone was positioned centre stage, the PA blasted The Beatles’ A Day In The Life followed by the national anthem: then Crazy Horse cranked it up.

Opening with Love And Only Love, the foursome, with Young out front, set a template for the night: great singing, gunslinger guitar solos and brevity… well, brevity was never on the cards.

Powderfinger was the night’s first real knockout and that was delivered two songs in. Born In Ontario and Walk Like A Giant weren’t for the faint hearted, as Young was intent of stretching the tunes to their limit.

Anyone who saw Crazy Horse emblazoned on the poster knew what they were in for: others expecting the acoustic hits from the early seventies made a steady stream out the door. A respite from the rock n’ roll blast came when Young turned in two acoustic numbers, the masterful Heart Of Gold and Twisted Road.

Then in was back to business with a set that hammered home hard. Fuckin’ Up took on a life all its own and Cinnamon Girl was nothing short of sublime. Building a head of steam heading for the encore, Young played killer versions of Buffalo Springfield’s Mr Soul [one of the best Stones’ knock-off’s ever] and his signature My My, Hey Hey [Out Of The Blue].

A rocking night, Young fan’s should know that Neil never trots out the expected. Here he played with the vigour of a man half his age: maybe that’s the power of music delivered with that much muscle and volume.  Still, how cool would it have been if he’d graced us with Like A Hurricane or Rocking In The Free World?

Neil Young & Crazy Horse’s new album Psychedelic Pill is out now. Greatest Hits, also through Warner Music, has been re-issued.

Sean Sennett