Winnipeg Rocks & is Hot!

All Canadian music lovers' ears will turn towards Winnipeg this weekend for the upcoming Juno Awards on Sunday, April 3. The event has not been without controversy after the snubbing of hometown musical hero Randy Bachman. Fortunately, Bachman is back onboard and the weekend promises to be one to remember for Winnipeg music fans.

So why is the music scene in Winnipeg hot? How have artists connected to Manitoba sold more than 100 million records world-wide?

According to Randy Bachman, it is the cold weather itself which helped to create a hot Winnipeg music scene. In an interview in Macleans by STEVE LAMBERT, Bachman says:

"Because of the climate . . . you're kind of six months underground in your basement. [The community clubs made it] pretty much like a little Liverpool. There must have been 150 bands from '62-'69 with hundreds of places to play - community centres, church halls. A big dance was the school gymnasium."

Canadian music historian John Einarson, regarding the Winnipeg scene which spawned Neil Young, Randy Bachman, and Burton Cummings of The Guess Who, among others, said:

"Winnipeg is regarded as having a very unique and special contribution to Canadian music."

Neil Young's Boyhood Home in Winnipeg, Canada - photo by Bill Laing
When Neil was in Winnipeg in 1992, for his father Scott's induction into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame, biographer Jimmy McDonough writes in Shakey (via Winnipeg Free Press):

"As we drove outside the city one day, across the endless prairie, I heard the lonesome clanking of Young's Harvest in my head. I felt a lot of Winnipeg in Neil."

From a CTV report covering the Junos of an interview with longtime Neil fan Bill Laing on Young's Winnipeg hometown:

" "I'm a huge fan to the point of what my wife considers obsessive," said Laing, who lives in Gimli, Man., and is a contributor to the fan website Thrasher's Wheat, www.thrasherswheat.org.

He's keeping an ear to the ground in the hopes Young, who's career has spanned 40 years, might make a surprise stop at one of the local bars on Saturday night, but isn't holding his breath.

"If you know Neil's background you know he's evasive and elusive," said Laing, who purchased tickets to the Junos to ensure he'd get to see his idol in the flesh."

Winnipeg musician Bill Laing, who wrote and took the photos for the above article on Neil's Winnipeg, has put together his debut self-produced CD. Thrasher has really enjoyed hearing the project evolve from Neil covers to original material.

Laing covers such Neil Young tunes as "Pocahontas", "Old Man", and "Cowgirl in the Sand". The covers of Neil are done in a faithful approach that any Neil fan can appreciate right down to the harmonica rack and Neil's interesting tunings and vocal phrasings.

On Laing's original songs he really shines, particularly on "West 231", which is a nearby Winnipeg road. Lyrics from "West 231":

"Driving West 231
fence posts pass
like the setting sun
time and space the veil between
souls pass through
yet not always seen."

The song evokes the prairie space and spirit and even includes a nice little sound effect of a car whooshing by on Winnipeg, Manitoba Highway West 231.

Nice job, Bill.

Click to hear MP3's of Bill Laing's Neil Young cover songs.

Open comment thread below.

Broken Arrow Magazine - February 2005 (#97)

Broken Arrow Magazine's February 2005 (#97) issue just came out and it's another splendid issue. As usual, the Neil Young Appreciation Society magazine has lots of innaresting articles, including an awesome cover photo.

The cover photo is by Michael Dworschak from Nuremberg, Germany, May 19, 2002.

The issue includes Road Reports from benefits for Clean Air, Adopt A Minefield, Farm Aid, and Vote For Change.

Fun articles like Kevin Derbyshire's (NYAS#5958) "Spotted! My Trip With Neil", "Ordinary People" by Adrian Giles (NYAS#644), an interview with Rust Radio's Roel by Susan King (NYAS#5736), and in depth analysis of Neil's Family Tree by Fabio Gradel (NYAS#5660). All very cool.

Lot's of great reaction for the last issues' Time Fades Away Retrospective by Pete Long.

Also, a nice rundown of released songs not yet performed in public "Do I have to Come Right Out and Say it?" by NYAS editor, publisher, membership manager, (not to mention 100th issue anniversary maestro/Neil's 60th birthday party booster) Scott Sandie.

And congratulations on the newborn twins, Scott!! No need to apologize for getting an issue out a few days late, pal. ;)

Lastly, if you can help out with the 100th issue anniversary / Neil's 60th birthday party convention, contact Paul Docker:
member AT docweb.freeserve.co.uk

Thrasher - NYAS#2476

Randomly Blogged - Billy Talbot, Steve Earle, Wilco, Shooter Jennings, Drive By Truckers

Billy Talbot Band's Alive In The Spirit World bonus MP3 downloads

Video of a 10-minute performance of Billy Talbot Band's "Dreamer"

Rolling Stone review of Alive In The Spirit World by DAVID FRICKE:

"Billy Talbot has been neil Young's bassman in the greatest fuzz-box-rock group of all time, Crazy Horse, since 1969, so he knows plenty about the cleansing properties of distortion and sunlit vocal harmonies -- more than enough to make his own, substantial magic as a singer and songwriter. Inevitably, Talbot's solo debut is alive with echoes of Young: the long lead-guitar soliloquies in "Security Girl" and "Dreamer," the country-gothic air of "Living in the Spirit World." There is also a moving, genuinely psychedelic drama in the way Talbot's ravaged, ranch-hand-poet baritone crawls through the sweet rains of twang here, played by a three-man army of guitarists including Matt Piucci, once of L.A. paisley-Eighties legends the Rain Parade. Talbot's voice and songs are thick with specters and questions; everything else comes in colors, sparkling with morning dew."

Steve Earle Revolts - 9:30 Club, March 19, 2005

Wilco's A Ghost is Born and Neil Young discussion

Shooter Jennings' Recipe for a Good Song: One Part Neil Young

Drive By Truckers BitTorrents on Nine Bullets of 01/01/2005 - Bowery Ballroom, NYC and 02/24/2005 - Cooley @ The Earl, Atlanta, GA

Beware the Where the Buffalo Roam DVD Soundtrack Ripoff

The Gear Page's Neil Young's Guitars Thread discussion where
bluesdoc writes:

"Stories??.......... About 30 yrs ago I lived on a commune in the hills above Palo Alto, not far from Neil's ranch. I was fresh out of medical training, living the dream....... or so it seemed. Anyhow, fall of '75, some idiot let a campfire get out of control and a grassfire ensued. Pretty hairy as we were on about 800 acres of bone dry grass and oaks. Everyone pitched in trying to scrape grass off the dirt to stop its progression. Neil came over to help and proceeded to collapse from exhaustion. I was called to tend to him, which I did. No big deal. Just a bit of close contact."

ASCAP Founders Award to Neil Young

Chrissie Hynde of Pretenders and Neil Young Jam at 2005 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

In the "It's About F*%#$ Time" Department, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) announced that it will honor Neil Young with the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award.

The awards dinner will take place on May 16th at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

The ASCAP Founders Award is one of the most distinguished honors that the Society bestows upon its members, paying tribute to pioneering songwriters who have made exceptional contributions to music. Neil Young joins this select group of songwriters and composers which includes Elvis Costello, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Paul McCartney, Tom Waits, Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach & Hal David, and Stevie Wonder.

From the ASCAP press release:

With nearly fifty albums to his credit, Neil Young has proved to be one of the most prominent and influential artists of his time. Throughout his career, Neil Young has touched on many different genres of music and vocal styles. From folk and country to rock, from his days with Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and throughout his solo career and his many collaborations, Young has delivered his prolific songwriting talents and unique sound to decades of discerning music listeners. He continues to be a major voice and influence in music today.

A 1995 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Neil Young has been writing, recording and performing songs for more than 30 years creating such hits as "Heart of Gold", "Cinnamon Girl", "Hey Hey, My My," "Ohio," "Down by the River," "Harvest Moon" and "Rockin in the Free World."

"We are so proud to honor Neil Young this year with ASCAP's Founders Award," said ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman. "Neil's music has sent powerful messages to generations and his work is as meaningful today as it was when his career began in the '60s."

All Thrasher can say, is better late than never.

So with this years' Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Juno Awards ceremony and the ASCAP Award, could this be the year that the music industry truly acknowledges the impact of Neil's 40 year career? (Not sure why the press release says "30 year career"? Last Thrasher checked, Neil did some significant work prior to 1975?)

Nah, this probably only confirms that there's no market for an Archives box set release.

Pretenders Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Neil Young

Photos by Scott Gries and Timothy A. Clary of Getty Images

Last night, the Pretenders were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Neil Young. From a RollingStone.com report, Young said that he and Crazy Horse mined the Pretenders debut album for ideas in the early Eighties.

"They went through all the heartache that rock & roll is built on. They lost two key members and they never gave up."

Chrisse Hynde said in accepting the award:

"We are a tribute band. We're paying tribute to James Honeyman-Scott [guitarist] and Pete Farndon [bassist], without whom we would not have been here."

Neil joined the Pretenders on the song "My City Was Gone".

In post ceremony comments, U2's Bono said that he believes the legends who have been a part of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame wouldn't stand a chance of survival in today's music business. From Volume10:

"There is very little chance for there to be another U2 the way the business is constructed right now. You have to have the single immediately. If you don't, you don't get a second chance."

"I don't think that's what the great American artists or the great European artists, for that matter, have come out of. Bruce Springsteen didn't have a single for 10 years. Neil Young, I'm not sure, he ever had a single; and every song Neil Young does sounds like a single to me."

Highlights of the ceremony will be broadcast at 9 p.m. Saturday on VH-1.

More great photos from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony of U2, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bruce Springsteen. More photos on Yahoo!, VH1.com, and WireImage.

Photo of Chrissie Hynde, Pretenders and Neil Young by Timothy A. Clary of Getty Images

From Modern Guitars transcript:

Neil Young: "Thank You, it’s a great honor to be here. I enjoy your company every time I come here. See you people all the time. It’s great! I’m running for office.

"No, really, I’m very happy and very honored to be here to talk a little about The Pretenders, who had a great influence on myself and my band, Crazy Horse. Yeah, well, when we couldn’t figure out what to do, we’d just put on those records and listen to them, and go ‘Ok, they got a....what’s she look like? This was 1980 or something, anyway they had a huge impression on me. I obviously didn’t look at my...I don’t have any notes."

"I don’t know what to say. This is one of the greatest Rock and Roll bands that ever lived. They went through all the heartache that rock 'n' roll was built on. They lost two key members, and they never gave up, they kept going, nothing would stop them. Chrissie, she’s a rock 'n' roll woman. She’s got it in her heart. She’s gonna be rocking till she drops, and I love her. I’m very proud just to know her.

And it’s my pleasure and distinct honor to induct The Pretenders into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."

Chrissie Hynde: "The things I’ll do for a handsome man. I know that The Pretenders have looked like a tribute band for the last 20 years. And actually they are a tribute band. And we’re paying tribute to James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon, without whom we wouldn’t be here. And on the other hand, without us, they might have been here, but that’s the way it works in rock 'n' roll."

After the ceremony, Hynde was asked: "What was it like playing with Neil?"

"Fucking great!", replied Chrissie.

Neil playing a red Gibson ES-335 hollow body electric guitar

More on Neil Young and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Randomly Blogged - SXSW, Joseph Arthur, Wayne Robbins & The Hellsayers, Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

South By SouthWest (SXSW) MP3s and blog report links

Joseph Arthur: Evokes both Picasso and Neil Young

Neil Young's influence on Wayne Robbins & The Hellsayers

Dr. Hunter S. Thompson Remembered

Rust Radio Rocks & Rolls & Roels

This weekend on Rust Radio, lots of crisp, clean concerts are being streamed.

Nice show from 3/26/72 of David Crosby, Graham Nash, and Neil at the Winterland in San Francisco, CA for a Prisoner's Benefit concert, which is from the KSAN radio broadcast.

Also, featured is the Norfolk, VA 1/29/73 concert from the Time Fades Away tour with the Stray Gators and the 1974 CSNY tour concert in Oakland, CA July 13.

When we're not listening to Rust Radio here at Thrasher's Wheat, we enjoy tuning into Mansion On The Hill.

Have a nice weekend! Thanks Roel for the Rock & Roll!

Good Neil News is Good to Blog About

Lots of good news, in the good news department today. So for today at least, this will be the Good News Beat. ;) So smile!

Devoted Rustie Powderfinger is on the mend and recuperating nicely we hear.

After the Juno Awards soldout Randy Bachman, Bachman and fellow Winnipeggers will play the Junos afterall.

Bonus Tracks for Wilco's "A Ghost Is Born" are now available for download.

The Release "Time Fades Away" Petition continues to gather signatures at a nice pace. An update has been posted on the petition page on the favorite song poll. Check out the latest vote counts and comments. Don't Be Denied!

MP3 download of a cover of Neil Young's "Revolution Blues" by Riviera.

Kathleen Edwards: "Like Tom Petty Touched by some of Neil Young's Ragged Glory"

On the technical side, folks may have noticed that news feeds have been added to the sidebar on right. This really has taken some work but now you can see the RSS feeds from Bad News Beat, Rust, Yahoo News, TOPIX, and Thrasher's Blog. Hover your mouse over a headline for article preview. Way coool.

All Neil News, all the time. So Keep on Feedin in the Free World!

Lastly, I had not seen this Neil Young video before, but it brought back lots of great Greendale memories. Here's a link for the "Be The Rain" concert music video via an article on Bad News Beat that reassesses the significance of Greendale. Nice to see folks come around. Better late than never.

Now if that's not all good news, what is?

So just be the rain!

Pretenders to be Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Neil Young

Paul McCartney inducted by Neil Young, March 1999

SEE 2005 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame UPDATE.

Neil Young will induct The Pretenders into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame reports Bad News Beat via Associated Press Newswires.

The 20th annual ceremony will be held March 14 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Highlights will be televised March 19 on VH1.

Neil inducted former Beatle Paul McCartney into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and Jimi Hendrix in 1992.

Neil's getting pretty good at inducting legends into the Hall of Fame.

So will Neil jam this year after the awards? We can only hope given some of his previous jams like the one with Led Zeppelin in 1995.

TFA Petition Update: Numbers Add Up To Something

The 1,000th signature for the Release "Time Fades Away" Petition has been reached.

The 1,000th signature was submitted by Mark Nielsen. Mark comments: "Release this already!!!"

As a footnote, the Release "On The Beach" Petition took approximately 6 months to cross the 1,000 signature mark between June and November 2000.

More updates on the Release "Time Fades Away" Petition.