As the sun began to set Sunday night, hues of pink and blue filled the sky along with cotton candy clouds. Neil Young returned to Toronto along with the Chrome Hearts Band for the first performance of a two night stand. Neil’s career has roots in Toronto and there’s always a sense that he wants to give his longtime fans the love and appreciation they have shown him for decades.
With a wave to the crowd as he walked onstage, harmonica strapped around his neck and his guitar draping his body, the amphitheatre cheered with anticipation. The Chrome Hearts Band provided a steady backbone that allowed Young’s voice and guitar work to soar. Neil singing was on point and his guitar work was as gritty as ever.
The setlist was a wonderful mix of classics, rarities and new material. Early staples like Down by the River, Cinnamon Girl, Ohio and Southern Man brought on rapturous applause. The crowd sang along to other long time favourites Heart Of Gold and Old Man. A pair of environmental tracks, Be The Rain and Sun Green, from Greendale fit the theme of the Love Earth Tour perfectly. Neil also pulled tracks from his Buffalo Springfield playing Mr. Soul on a guitar he rebought after pawning it years ago. A couple of rare gems from Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Looking Forward and Name Of Love, also got dusted off for this tour.
But the night wasn’t purely about nostalgia. Young played on deeper cuts and recent tracks like New Mama and Daddy Went Walkin’. There was a new song, Silver Eagle from the latest album Talkin’ To the Trees as well as a tour debut of the song Tumbleweed which Neil played on ukulele.
Numerous times during the evening, Young referred to the venue which he renamed “The Freshwater Stage”. It was a nod to his activism and passion for protecting the planet for future generations but also as a slight to corporate branding. The encore began with another nod to his anti-corporate feelings as he busted out This Notes For You which he had not played live since 1997!
The crowd erupted as the band kicked off Rockin’ In The Free World to close out an epic performance. There might not be a better song to end a Neil Young concert. A reminder that freedom is fleeting and we all have a responsibility to fight for a better world for everyone in it.
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Be sure to check out Live Nation Ontario to see all of the artists they’ll be bringing to Toronto.
