Friday, March 26, 2010

Neil Young's "Twisted Road" Concert Tour Dates



UPDATE 4/5/10:
Tue May 18 Palace Theatre Albany, NY
Wed May 19 Shea's Performing Arts Center Buffalo, NY
Fri May 21 Hanover Theatre Worcester, MA
Sun May 23 Oakdale Theatre Wallingford, CT
Mon May 24 Constitution Hall Washington, DC
Wed May 26 Palace Theatre Louisville, KY
Thu May 27 Knoxville Civic Auditorium Knoxville, TN
Sat May 29 Fox Theatre Atlanta, GA
Sun May 30 Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium Spartanburg, SC
Tue June 1 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN
Wed June 2 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN
Fri June 4 Jones Hall Houston, TX
Sat June 5 Bass Performance Hall Austin, TX
Mon June 7 Meyerson Symphony Center Dallas, TX



Neil Young's "Twisted Road" concert tour dates. Opening act: Bert Jansch

Tickets on sale tomorrow, Saturday, March 27.

- May 19 - Shea's Performing Arts Center, Buffalo, New York
- May 23- Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, Connecticut
- May 26 - Louisville Palace Theatre, Louisville, KY (2,600 seats)
- May 29 - Atlanta's Fox Theatre (4,600 seats)
- May 30 - Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, Spartanburg, SC (3,200 seats)
- June 1 - Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium (2,300 seats)
- June 2 – Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium

Don't be denied!

Also, see Sugar Mountain for tour date updates.


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Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Ronnie and Neil: Laying to Rest the "Feud Myth" Once and for All

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Ronnie Van Zant with Neil Young "Tonight's The Night" T-shirt

Oakland Coliseum, July 2, 1977 - Photo by Michael Zagaris
Neil Young with Lynyrd Skynyrd/Jack Daniels Whiskey T-Shirt
Verona, Italy 7.9.1982 - Photo by Paolo Brillo on Flickr


"Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
a southern man don't need him around anyhow"



Growing up in the American South in the 1970's as a Neil Young fan wasn't exactly easy. It seems as if all of our life that whenever the subject of musical tastes came up and we revealed our appreciation of Young's music, almost invariably it was met with those lines above from Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" .

You see, Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" is more than just an anthem for many -- it serves as a statement for a way of life that is intensely protected such that when threatened -- it can produce some very uncomfortable results.

Background of "Sweet Home Alabama"


Thanks to Neil Young, Lynyrd Skynyrd was inspired to write the song "Sweet Home Alabama".

Without Young's songs that were so critical of the South's segregationist and racist attitudes for inspiration, it is doubtful that the band would have produced a song with such a long lasting duration that continues to sell well 30 years after its release.

But the ultimate irony of "Sweet Home Alabama" is that for so many, the song's implied put down of Neil Young was NOT meant as criticism but as support of Young's anti-racism. Thus, for those who think it's so clever to put down Neil Young using the phrase "Hope Neil Young will remember, a southern man don't need him around anyhow" little do they realize that they have the meaning backwards. Every day, someone blogs or tweets the "Neil Young putdown" without comprehending that they've actually praised him. Similarly, with the State of Alabama using the phrase "Sweet Home Alabama" as an official slogan on license plates, one truly has to wonder what they were thinking the song was about.

Somewhere, Ronnie is still having a good laugh at Alabama officials and Neil Young bashers. Such is the duality of the southern thing.

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MCA Records 45RPM Single


Is "Sweet Home Alabama" Really Sweet?


The history of Lynyrd Skynyrd's 1974 song "Sweet Home Alabama" has a long and tortured history. The enormously popular song has an extraordinarily complex backstory involving a wide swath of groups which have laid claim to the song's message and symbols. As this article demonstrates, the complicated saga of "Sweet Home Alabama" is anything but sweet.

Rarely has such a widely popular hit song been so vastly misunderstood by so many for so long.

This article came about because we've long been fascinated with Neil Young's influence on other bands ever since we heard Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" which was written in response to two of Young's anti-southern slavery songs, "Southern Man", from the album After the Gold Rush, and "Alabama", from the album Harvest. From "Sweet Home Alabama" lyrics:

    Well, I heard Mister Young sing about her
    Well, I heard ole Neil put her down.
    Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
    a southern man don't need him around anyhow.


Known as a response record, such songs "refer directly to a previous hit and usually do it in a catty, mischievous way". The lines in "Sweet Home Alabama" are a direct response to Young's anti-racist, anti-cross burning "Southern Man" and "Alabama" songs. Lynyrd Skynyrd's comeback was intended to mean, at first glance, "Thank you for your opinion Neil, now leave us alone."

It is this perceived "attitude" which has led to Lynyrd Skynyrd earning a reputation as a "racist" band. Inasmuch as the fact that the band often performed with a Confederate flag as a backdrop, the label and perception has been hard to shake.

Lyrics and Analysis



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Four Dead in Alabama


Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" meaning is often interpreted as being "racist" because of the the lyrics reference "In Birmingham [where a black church was bombed killing 4 young girls] they love the governor [George Wallace ]" who was a segregationist. This interpretation and analysis has been intelligently reasoned, hotly debated, passionately argued, bickered over, volleyed about, and scrupulously dissected.

After singing this line, Skynyrd sing "Boo, boo, boo!" as if to disapprove of Wallace and his policies of racism. As for the "Boo, boo, boo!" chorus, some have dismissed it as Skynyrd 's wink at racism. Joshua Marshall writes in Talking Points Memo: "It always seemed to me more likely that that shadow lyric is a mocking allusion to anti-Wallace protestors." Nonetheless, many still regard the song to be a paean to the South's disregard for the civil rights movement.

GeorgeWallace
Alabama Governor George Wallace


The last line in the song is an ad-lib by Van Zant that is rarely understood. He says, "Montgomery got the answer". Some of the original band members revealed this in a radio interview a few years back and possibly references the infamous march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, led by civil rights leader Martin Luther King. George Wallace was the governor of Alabama when this was released and -- apparently -- loved the song, especially the line, "In Birmingham they love the governor."

At best, this is ambiguous. At it's worst, this can be seen as an endorsement of the racist policies of the Alabama state capitol. Wallace, in the end, made the band honorary Lieutenant Colonels in the state militia. So is the song "Sweet Home Alabama" racist?

Immediately after the band sings the verse "Well, I heard Mr. Young sing about her," one can hear in the background what sounds like the phrase "Southern Man." Many believe it was Young's original recording being played. However, others claim it to be the album's producer, Al Kooper, impersonating Young.

Neil Young and Lynyrd Skynyrd: Friends or Foes?


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"Now your crosses
are burning fast"



The response song "Sweet Home Alabama" was inspired by the two Neil Young songs "Southern Man" and "Alabama". Specifically, lyrics to "Southern Man":

    Better keep your head
    Don't forget
    what your good book said
    Southern change
    gonna come at last
    Now your crosses
    are burning fast
    Southern man

    I saw cotton
    and I saw black
    Tall white mansions
    and little shacks.
    Southern man
    when will you
    pay them back?

    I heard screamin'
    and bullwhips cracking
    How long? How long?


And "Alabama"'s lyrics:

    Oh Alabama
    Banjos playing
    through the broken glass
    Windows down in Alabama.

    See the old folks
    tied in white ropes
    Hear the banjo.
    Don't it take you down home?


In Young's anthology album "Decade" liner notes, he wrote about "Southern Man" in his usual opaque and obliquely ironic fashion:

    "This song could have been written on a civil rights march after stopping off to watch "Gone With The Wind" at a local theater. But I wasn't there so I don't know for sure."


Others have made different interpretations of the contretemps. In Glide Magazine by Ross Warner, this opinion is ventured on Skynyrd's song:

Although the song is perceived as an anthem of southern pride, “Sweet Home Alabama,” was actually intended not only as the band’s fond recollection of their first time in a recording studio but as a reminder to the rest of America that not all southerners were rednecks. When Skynyrd criticized Neil Young’s “Southern Man,” it was for the sweeping generalization of all southerners as rednecks. Don’t condemn southerners now for what their ancestors did. “We thought Neil was shooting all the ducks in order to kill one or two,” Van Zant said. “We’re southern rebels, but more than that, we know the difference between right and wrong.” In fact, the band was quite outspoken about their disdain for Wallace’s policies.

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Southern Rock Opera
Drive-by Truckers


The "feud myth" was further fueled with the Drive-By Truckers 2002 album "Southern Rock Opera" (one of the only truly genuine masterpiece albums released in the early 21st century) song "Ronnie and Neil":

    And out in California, a rock star from Canada writes a couple of great songs
    about the bad shit that went down
    "Southern Man" and "Alabama" certainly told some truth
    But there were a lot of good folks down here and Neil Young wasn't around

    Now Ronnie and Neil became good friends
    their feud was just in song
    Skynyrd was a bunch of Neil Young fans and Neil he loved that song

    So He wrote "Powderfinger" for Skynyrd to record
    But Ronnie ended up singing "Sweet Home Alabama" to the lord


Drive By Truckers guitarist Patterson Hood explains:

    "I wrote this song to tell of the misunderstood friendship between Ronnie VanZant and Neil Young, who were widely believed to be bitter adversaries, but were in truth very good friends and mutual admirers..."


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Street Survivors (original album cover)
Ronnie Van Zant wearing a Neil Young "Tonight's the Night" album cover t-shirt


As Fred Mills puts it in his book review of Lynyrd Skynyrd: Remembering The Free Birds Of Southern Rock by Gene Odom, "[Ronnie Van Zant] would just as soon go onstage wearing one of several Neil Young T-shirts that he owned in order to fuck with any yahoos in the crowd who missed the humor and irony of the “Sweet Home Alabama” lyrics."

As for Neil Young's reaction to all of this? One widely circulated theory during the 1970's was found in Neil's stunning response to Lynyrd Skynyrd with On The Beach's "Walk On."

    I hear some people been talkin' me down,
    Bring up my name, pass it 'round.
    They don't mention happy times
    They do their thing, I'll do mine.


Little did we realize at the time the symbolism in "Walk On", but years later as On The Beach surfaces and makes its place with other classics, did some of Neil's meanings sink in. (The lyrics in "Walk On" have also been interpreted to refer to bandmates Crosby, Stills, & Nash. Others argue that the song is in response to press reviews of Young's Time Fades Away tour.)

It seems that whatever grudges Lynyrd Skynyrd had for Neil's music may have been resolved - if there ever was any feud to begin with. From an interview with Ronnie Van Zant:

    "We wrote Alabama as a joke. We didn't even think about it - the words just came out that way. We just laughed like hell, and said 'Ain't that funny'... We love Neil Young, we love his music..."


As for the rumor that Lynyrd Skynyrd recorded the Neil Young song "Powderfinger" (see for lyrics analysis), here's an interview in MOJO Magazine , where Young said:

    Young:Lynyrd Skynyrd almost ended up recording Powderfinger before my version came out. We sent them an early demo of it because they wanted to do one of my songs.

    Interviewer Q. Surprising, that. After all, Lynyrd Skynyrd put you down by name on Sweet Home Alabama, their first hit single....

    Young: Oh, they didn't really put me down! But then again, maybe they did! (laughs) But not in a way that matters. Shit, I think Sweet Home Alabama is a great song. I've actually performed it live a couple of times myself. "


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Lynyrd Skynyrd's Ronnie VanZant Wearing Neil Young T-shirt

In addition to the song "Powderfinger", Young allegedly also gave the band the song “Sedan Delivery” and "Captain Kennedy" to record. From The Uncool, Cameron Crowe blogs:
Neil Young gave a tape to Joel Bernstein to give to me which I gave to Ronnie [Van Zant], that had three songs on it - "Captain Kennedy," "Sedan Delivery," and "Powderfinger" - before they'd come out. And he wanted to give them to Lynyrd Skynyrd if they wanted to do one of his songs. They didn't fit on Street Survivors.
Neil loved that band and said they reminded him of the Buffalo Springfield and they made him yearn for the days of the Buffalo Springfield. He loved Lynyrd Skynyrd and he loved being mentioned in the song.

Being a huge Neil Young fan, I sort of appointed myself as cheerleader for that love affair to happen and blossom. I think it was happening - Ronnie was wearing that [Neil Young] shirt on the album cover and on the road. I was really happy to be able to play a part in getting some new Neil songs into Ronnie's hands. I don't remember what he had to say about it, but he was a huge Neil Young fan.

It should also be noted that shortly after the band was involved in a fatal plane accident, Neil Young performed a rare live version of "Alabama" at Bicentennial Park, Miami, Florida on 11-12-1977 for Children's Hospital Charity with The Gone With The Wind Orchestra and he changed the lyric chorus from "Alabama" to "Sweet Home Alabama".

Recalling the concert tribute in an interview with the Boston Globe, Young said: "I just sang 'I hope you all will remember. I thought it was a cool thing."

In a interview on the Rockline radio program (November 23, 1981), when asked about "Sweet Home Alabama" and Lynyrd Skynyrd, Neil Young said: "Great band, great. I understand Ronnie once said that I'll be mellow about it [SHA], not care one way or other. He was right."


"Ronnie and Neil" by Drive-by Truckers - Asheville,NC, September 2007

Back to the Drive-by Truckers (a great band that's a cross between William Faulkner and Neil Young) song "Ronnie and Neil" and the implication that Neil Young was a pallbearer at Van Zant's funeral:

    "And Neil helped carry Ronnie in his casket to the ground
    And to my way of thinking, us southern men need both of them around"


This is another Neil Young/Lynyrd Skynyrd "urban legend" which is debunked in an interesting essay in Tone and Groove. As for the rumor that Ronnie Van Zant was buried wearing a Neil Young t-shirt, again this seems to be another example of a myth to propogate the tragic legend.

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Neil Young with Lynyrd Skynyrd/Jack Daniels Whiskey T-Shirt
Verona, Italy 7.9.1982 - Photo by Paolo Brillo on Flickr


From the book Freebirds: The Lynyrd Skynyrd Story by Marley Brant:
    "The presentation of the song "Sweet Home Alabama" in concert was accompanied by the unfurling of Skynyrd's traditional backdrop, a huge Confederate battle flag. The reaction of the audience was always the same: vigorous, fervent, and instantaneous. Neil Young's song "Southern Man" had offended many Southerners by seeming to accuse all people born in the south of being intolerant racists. Young's observations were obviously generalized and not accurate and Southerners were ecstatic when Skynyrd defended their honor by releasing "Sweet Home Alabama" with its direct references to Young's faux pas. The idea that the Southern man, or woman, didn't need Neil Young around to point out the problems of their society was overwhelmingly supported by Skynyrd fans.

    "We thought Neil was shooting all the ducks in order to kill one or two," Ronnie told Rolling Stone magazine regarding the creation of the answer song. The band felt that Young's lyrical content was representative of the shortsighted "Yankee" belief that all Southern men should be held accountable for the verbalizations and actions of a racist minority.

    While the rebuttal was heartfelt, Skynyrd held Neil Young in high regard for his musical achievements and they weren't intending to start a feud of any kind. "Neil is amazing, wonderful... a superstar," said Van Zant. "I showed the verse to Ed King and asked him what Neil might think. Ed said he'd dig it; he'd be laughing at it." Ed King says that the tune was not so much a direct attack on Young but just a good regional song.

    The song was well received but immediately put a stigma on the band as rednecks. Producer Al Kooper added. "Hey, you have to be more careful when you write a song now. But I'll tell you something -- Neil Young loved it. That's true, he told me so to my face."

From Lynyrd Skynyrd's Second Helping Re-Master booklet:
    "The singer's mock attack on Neil Young and his apparent defense of Wallace branded Skynyrd with controversy which would continue for years. Young got the joke, however, responding by telegram and by letter to say he was proud to be the subject of Skynyrd's Southern anthem.'

    Perhaps Van Zant sums it up best. 'We're not into politics, we don't have no education and Wallace don't know anything about rock n roll.'


Much as John Lennon's murder put an end to the 1960's love and peace spirit (albeit some twenty years later) or Kurt Cobain's death marked the end of the grunge era, Ronnie Van Zant's death ended a chapter in Southern Rock history.

The "faux feud" contretemps seem to provide endless fascination for Ronnie and Neil fans.

So what do you think? And why?




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Lynyrd Skynyrd: Neil Young's Nemesis or Ally?


More on Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young.


NOTE: Sometimes we're asked about what the deal is with our fascination with Ronnie and Neil. The fact of the matter is that much of this is driven by the constant correspondence we receive on the subject. Hardly a day goes by without the subject rearing its pretty (or ugly) head. What follows are some of the recent letters received on the subject. Feel free to jump in!

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Wednesday, March 03, 2010

"With trunks of memories still to come": Neil Young at Olympics Closing Ceremonies

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Neil Young Extinguishes Olympic Flame


60,000 inside Vancouver stadium. Millions on the TeeVee box.

One acoustic guitar. One harmonica. One man.

Just singing a song.

It really is hard to know what to write after witnessing Neil Young's performance of "Long May You Run" at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics Closing Ceremony.

Watching the flames being extinguished above Neil's head as snow gently drifted down from above, while he strolled about -- all alone -- with his harmonica rack and Hank Williams' Martin guitar.

For once -- it seems -- words fail us. The pictures above say more than all the words we've ever blogged here.

By now, everyone hopefully has witnessed this for themselves and drawn their own conclusions. One comment, in particular, struck us by Zak that captured the significance of the selection of LMYR.

And now Zak has posted a nice blog with more of his thoughts on Neil Young at the Winter Olympics Closing Ceremonies.

Definitely check it out.

Nice Zak. Thanks. May you run and run for a very, very long time, as well.

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Monday, March 01, 2010

Full Video of Neil Young at Olympics Closing Ceremonies

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Neil Young
"Long May You Run"
Vancouver Olympics Closing Ceremony: Winter Games 2010

PHOTO by Getty


To say that it is really hard to grasp just how vastly lucky we are to be Neil Young fans, is to try and count grains of sand on the beach.

With all the back and forth over whether Neil Young would actually play at the 2010 Olympics Closing Ceremonies, it was a bit of challenge dealing with the rumors du jour.

In the end, we were not denied.

Neil Young performed "Long May You Run" for the Vancouver Olympics Closing Ceremony: Winter Games 2010. As snow gently drifted down from above, Neil strolled about with his harmonica rack and Hank Williams' Martin D-28 guitar.

Following Young's performance, the cauldrons were extinguished and the torch arms retracted, bringing a symbolic coda to the Olympics finale.

It was a live performance -- in contrast to the earlier and latter lip-synching.

Many, many 1000's of instant mini-reviews that were micro-blogged on Twitter indicated that Young's performance was the highlight of the closing ceremonies. Many felt that what followed Young's performance was a travesty and an embarrassment to music fans and to Canada's rich heritage. (for more Tweets, see neil young @ olympics tweets.)

In fact -- at one point -- Neil even became a Twitter Trending Topic, which is very unusual given the platform's highly chaotic tower of Babel tendencies. And without even a hashtag/# code -- no less.

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Twitter Trends


From Salon.com By Allen Barra:

Accompanied by his own acoustic guitar, Neil Young made the evening complete by singing 'Long May You Run' as the Olympic flame was extinguished. It would have been a great place to end things, but unfortunately, Michael Buble then did an ersatz Broadway-like musical number I couldn't identify backed by oversized Mounties, hockey players and what looked like models wearing giant maple leafs. It was everything the ceremony had not been up to that point -- Canada imagined by Baz Luhrmann.

Oh, Canada: Just one minute of Leonard Cohen would have made it all right.

From The Manitoban Online: Put the Beaver to bed by Saul Magnusson :
Halfway through the closing ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, I became profoundly and intensely embarrassed for our country. Everything was fine until Neil Young finished his performance. The Olympic torch was extinguished and our country, on the world’s stage, up-chucked every imaginable Canadian stereotype onto the floor of BC Place.

Just to recap, we narrowly beat the U.S. in men’s hockey. We won more gold medals at a winter games than any other country in history. We showed the world that our athletes are not only fierce competitors, but are intelligent, funny and well-spoken. In attendance, for many events, were PM Harper and his always pristine salt-and-pepper bowl cut. Even he won something: a case of beer through a bet with President Obama. Over weeks of hard competition, we had earned the respect of spectators from hundreds of countries. But then, in just a few short hours, as the games came to a close, we were made to look foolish, the accomplishment of our athletes was diminished and our national identity was set back by a century.

From Vancouver Sun: Reflections on the Winter Games by Eric Lofgren:
Oh. My. God. That was the reaction my wife and I shared as we witnessed with horror and embarrassment the disaster that was the Olympics' closing ceremony. Don't get me wrong. Neil Young's stirring rendition of Long May You Run was pure understated class. But that only made the freak show that followed all the more offensive.

And then a brutal takedown of the whole corrupt corporate sponsored Olympics extravaganza contrasted with the integrity of Neil Young by the cantankerous but always provocative Bob Lefsetz Letter:
"And then we’ve got one lone man.

Who’s still making music long after David Geffen accused him of recording tripe. A man who has always followed his instincts. Hell, after recording 'Long May You Run' Neil Young bolted from his scheduled tour with Stephen Stills…it just didn’t feel right.

That’s what an artist does, go with his feelings.

Last night Neil Young sang live. He reached my heart like none of the smiling athletes parading by were able to. A day later, he’s just about the only thing I remember.

Because real artists are unforgettable. Whether they’ve got one hit or dozens. They reach down deep and excavate feelings we know but cannot express. ...

Neil Young did it his way. And what’s remarkable is when an artist gets it right, their way is our way.

Long may you run."

More Olympics reviews on neilyoung.org - Neil Young links - reconnecting thoughts and actions. (Thanks Roel!)

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Neil Young Extinguishes Olympic Flame
"We've been through some things together
With trunks of memories still to come"


60,000 inside Vancouver stadium. Millions on the TeeVee box.

One harmonica. One guitar.

One man.

Full video of Neil Young at Olympics Closing Ceremonies performing "Long May You Run" on NBC.com.

UPDATE: Sorry, but it seems this link only works within the USA. sigh. So much for the Olympics spirit, global cooperation, harmony and the triumph of corporate greed.

Folks have been posting working links for other countries in comments section below. Thank you for sharing with your global brothers & sisters.

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Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Reflections on Grammy Weekend

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Neil Young
MusiCares Person Of The Year - 2010
January 29, 2010 - Los Angeles, California

Photos by Kevin Winter/Getty Images North America on Zimbio


We would think that for most Neil Young fans, this weekend represented somewhat of a breakout.

Without getting too bogged down with "what does it all mean?", it just seems self evident and we wonder why we even bother to point out the obvious. But -- clearly -- after browsing reviews and comments, it still seems as if Neil's career remains an enigma for so many.

One would think that simply scrolling through the list of bands performing to honor Neil Young as the 2010 MusiCares Person Of The Year, would be sufficient. Wilco's Jeff Tweedy said:
"He's right up there in terms of a constant in my musical life as an influence and as a mentor. He's kind of just a force of nature. And I take him for granted sometimes like I take the sun for granted ... I'm really happy the sun comes up every day and I'm happy Neil Young keeps making records."

We really couldn't say it any better.

OK, so the music industry honored Neil and his incredible commitment to charitable work and worthy causes. And the Music Academy even awarded Neil Young and longtime artistic collaborator Gary Burden a Grammy for boxset design. Not the music inside the box. Or the breakthrough technology. Or just the release itself. Not taking anything away from Gary or Jenice here whatsoever.

Year after year after year, we've have blogged on the injustice of the Grammy Awards handed out by industry elites, so none of any of this should come as a surprise to anyone.

But, as G.B. observed:
"A friend of mine noted that Neil Young winning for packaging is like Martin Scorsese winning an Oscar for costume design."

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"Thanks a lot, everybody."
Jenice Heo, Neil Young, and Gary Burden
Photo by Matt Sayles/Associated Press


From comment on Neil Young Wins First-Ever Grammy Award for Archives Box by Dan:
All I can say that if the Grammy's, after 50 years of Neil rockin the rock n' roll industry, can only manage to give him a grammy for the artwork on his box set, it shows that the whole thing is a ridiculous farce ...

I actually agree that giving him a grammy now for the art on the box set is insulting to him as an artist and at the same time it demeans the whole Grammys institution ... I mean, how can people like Taylor Swift (no disrespect meant to her or her work) or Beyonce walk away with an armload of awards, and this kind of thing has been happening for literally years and decades, and a true authentic artist like Neil has created tens of albums and hundreds of songs of all flavors, and genre's, Jeez he's probably created a few genere's in the process and they can't come up with one measly award for his MUSIC??

Sorry, its a joke, its ridiculous, you'll rarely see me ranting like this, but its preposterous, and it proves the whole Grammys thing is bankrupt, its bogus, its fake, its pretentious, its political ... otherwise its totally unexplainable ...

Neil is a class act to show up and receive the art award ... he's a gracious person who doesn't need their false, pretentious accolades, but the whole thing when you think of it is so ridiculous ya can't do much more than call it out ...

ten years from now these grammy winners and their carefully manicured songs will be long forgotten and Neil and his substantive music will live on, aging gracefully as always...

Neil, Long May You Run!! You truly set the real standard.

Dan



Another comment by Matthew Lintzenich:
Oh come on, people, they deserve the award for such great art direction. The artistry is awesome. I agree that Neil deserves a Grammy for his music, and doesn't get half the overall recognition he deserves, but that shouldn't take anything away from the artists who did such a fine job creating the packaging for the Archives.

It's beautiful.

What y'all need to understand is that mainstream people in our society and the music industry aren't looking for creativity or the quality of personal expression, or your ability to channel the universe in music.

They are much more shallow than that. The people want what's sold to them, they want to be part of the popular crowd, they aren't interested in identifying personally with a song in a profound, emotional way.


They far outnumber the people who enjoy music because it moves them or titillates their minds, because of how it effects them personally, both emotionally and intellectually.

The music industry, by-and-large, plays to this tendency. It releases shallow garbage, people buy it and pretend they like it in order to satisfy their need to be accepted. This is mainstream American pop culture we're talking about here, not the land of smart, thoughtful, multidimensional individuals.

So obviously the chances of Neil Young winning a Grammy are much, much slimmer than Taylor Swift, even though he writes better music. Neil writes better music than almost anyone. It's not about good music - it's about popularity. It's about who sold the most albums because they were aggressively marketed by the industry to the shallow mainstream cult of popularity.

I'd be happy if Neil Young did get the recognition he deserved, but Neil isn't after recognition (thank GOD, because his music wouldn't be half as good as it is), and he doesn't need it, so who really cares?

In some sense it might even be a travesty to award him a Grammy, considering that winning one basically indicates that you're simplistic and derivative enough to easily market to sheep.

And the always thought provoking ranting of Bob Lefsetz:
I saw the Buffalo Springfield. In those days, there were no sponsors. The Fortune 500 ran. Music was dangerous. Neil Young knows the truth, that these companies themselves are dangerous. And that an artist has to march forward and explore unencumbered. Hell, he held up a sign during the show telling the performers to "Just do what you want to do. Don’t listen to anyone else."

That’s the key. To go on your own journey. Not the one people want you to.
Hell, did you read all the negative reviews of "Catcher In The Rye" in the Salinger obits? Even the "New York Times" panned it. Unfortunately, the blowback contributed to Salinger’s pullback from society. We lost out, because the powers-that-be needed to tear him down, make him their size.

Thank god Neil Young never succumbed to this. He’s the poster boy for doing it your own way. And that’s why CSN’s business blows up when he performs with them, and he can go out solo to great business and the rest of the players cannot. Because we believe… That Neil Young is giving his all.

Friday night Wilco gave their all. And that’s why their fans believe in them just like oldsters believe in Mr. Young. Punch the clock and people know. Sing from the heart, take your music seriously and the audience knows. Jeff Tweedy wasn’t distracted by looking at the teleprompter, the words were embedded deep inside, just like they are in us.

Grammy weekend. Whatever your thoughts are about the "music industry", it was a time to celebrate. A well deserved celebration for Neil and his friends, at that.

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Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and Neil Young

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Monday, February 01, 2010

Neil Young Honored As MusiCares Person Of The Year - UPDATED

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Neil Young
MusiCares Person Of The Year - 2010
January 29, 2010 in Los Angeles, California

Photos by Kevin Winter/Getty Images North Americaon on Zimbio


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"Broken Arrow"
Wilco



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"Comes A Time"
Emmylou Harris



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"Down by the River"
John Mellencamp



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"Long May You Run"
Stephen Stills and Sheryl Crow



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"Don't Let It Bring You Down"
Jackson Browne



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"Helpless"
Elton John, Sheryl Crow and Neko Case



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"Ohio"
Ben Harper



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"Tell Me Why"
Norah Jones



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Neil said...
"Just do what you want to do
Don't listen to anyone else"
(Jack Black w/ sign)



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"The Needle and The Damage Done"
Dave Matthews



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"As a philanthropist and humanitarian, you're one my heroes. I'll never forget your kindness."
Elton John



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"The Losing End"
Elvis Costello



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"Only Love Can Break Your Heart"
Lady Antebellum
Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood



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"Heart of Gold"
James Taylor



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"Revolution Blues"
Everest



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"Rocking in the Free World"
John Fogerty and Booker T. Jones



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Leon Russell


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"Human Highway" (for L.A.)
"We made some of the best music of our lives with you." - Crosby
Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and David Crosby



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"Harvest Moon"
Josh Groban



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"A Man Needs A Maid"
Red Hot Chili Peppers



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Musicians Dave Matthews, guest, Jason Mraz, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Shawn Colvin and James Taylor onstage at the 2010 MusiCares Person Of The Year Tribute To Neil Young at the Los Angeles Convention Center on January 29, 2010 in Los Angeles, California


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"It's a shame he [Larry "L.A." Johnson, who died suddenly last week] couldn't be here. But I'm gonna keep on going, and I hope you do too."


From USATODAY.com By Edna Gundersen:
"The flustered honoree took the podium and thanked the night's many musicians.

'I forgot how many songs I've written,' Young said. 'It's been a great night. Wore me out.'

He expressed discomfort in gazing back, that it's difficult to recognize the prolific young artist who wrote Broken Arrow. And he wonders what's left in his quiver.

'I listen to some of those songs — who was that guy?' he said. 'Look at Tony Bennett. He rocks. I look at that man and say, 'I can do this.' I'm going to keep on going, and I hope you do, too.'"

After Crosby, Stills & Nash paid their respects and harmonized on "Human Highway," Young took a moment to acknowledge his friend and filmmaking collaborator Larry "L.A." Johnson, who died suddenly last week."It's a shame he couldn't be here," Young said. "But I'm gonna keep on going, and I hope you do too."

From AP:
Josh Groban said: "I've seen a lot of people win Grammy's that have gone on to really disappoint after that and then I have seen a lot of people that have not won any Grammy's, and I guess Neil's a perfect example, who continue to have honesty and integrity and strive to connect with the world in a totally unique way, and I am excited that they are finally honoring him tonight then."

Sheryl Crow said: "He seemed to marry folk music and country music and for me, where I was from in Missouri, it really sort of set me on course as far as a songwriter goes, and he also managed to interject really socially, politically, moving lyrics into rock songs and he still is for me the template that I hold up and hope to eventually accomplish the things that he's done."



From Spin Magazine Online by Kevin Bronson:
SETLIST:
John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett, "Down by the River"

Ozomatli, "Mr. Soul"

Jackson Browne, "Don't Let It Bring You Down"

Stephen Stills and Sheryl Crow, "Long May You Run"
Lady Antebellum, "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"

Norah Jones, "Tell Me Why"

Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris and Patty Griffin, "Comes a Time"

Wilco, "Broken Arrow"

Josh Groban, "Harvest Moon"
Everest, "Revolution Blues"

Dierks Bentley and Booker T. Jones, "Cinnamon Girl"

Ben Harper, "Ohio"

Keith Urban, John Fogerty and Booker T. Jones, "Rockin' in the Free World"

Elvis Costello, "The Losing End"

Jason Mraz, Shawn Colvin and the Grooveline Horns, "Lotta Love"

Dave Matthews, "The Needle and the Damage Done"

Red Hot Chili Peppers, "A Man Needs a Maid"

James Taylor, "Heart of Gold"

Elton John, Leon Russell, Neko Case, Sheryl Crow and T Bone Burnett, "Helpless"

Crosby, Stills & Nash, "Human Highway"

From CANOE -- JAM! Music: Neil Young tribute star-studded by DARRYL STERDAN - QMI Agency:
John Mellencamp & T-Bone Burnett | Down by the River

Young's FarmAid colleague opens the show with a slow-burning version of a classic from Everyone Knows This is Nowhere. His band consists of superstar producer T-Bone Burnett on guitar, Kenny Aronoff on drums and musical director Don Was on bass. (The latter two serve as a house rhythm section for most of the evening.)

Ozomatli | Mr. Soul

These Angeleno rockers add some heavy Latin grooves to this Buffalo Springfield oldie -- without sacrificing the fuzzy, Satisfaction-style riff-rock at its heart.

Jackson Browne | Don't Let it Bring You Down

Backed by Aronoff and Was, the troubadour turns in a rich acoustic-guitar version of this powerful cut from After the Gold Rush.

Stephen Stills & Sheryl Crow | Long May You Run

Crow dons a squeezebox and trades verses with Stills on a mellow version of this number cut by the Stills-Young Band in '76. Black needles Young for using such a boring band name, and makes up for it by christening the Stills-Crow ensemble Rocketnuggetthunderclaw.

Lady Antebellum | Only Love Can Break Your Heart

These quickly rising country-pop stars told me they were more excited about playing this event than they were about their Grammy nominations. They play this country waltz fairly straight, but their three-part harmonies add some layers to the melody.

Norah Jones | Tell Me Why

Another cut from Gold Rush, this time picked by Jones and a bandmate playing acoustic guitars. It's wonderfully simple. And simply wonderful.

Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin & Lucinda Williams | Comes a Time

The trio of roots queens join forces -- along with some steel guitar and accordion -- in this folksy chestnut. I wonder why Lucinda is wearing glasses. Then I notice the giant teleprompter screen behind me.

Wilco | Broken Arrow

If you can think of anyone more capable of handling all the intricate twists and turns of this shape-shifting epic from Buffalo Springfield Again, you let me know. Then again, don't bother. You're wrong.

Josh Groban | Harvest Moon

The popera sensation takes a seat at the piano for this gentle ballad, which he gussies up a little too much with all his technique and talent. Neil needs to be a bit ragged, you know?

Everest | Revolution Blues

Who? Well, put it this way: These L.A. roots-rockers are signed to Young's Vapor Records. Hey, throw Neil a bone: It's his big night. Besides, they crank out a smoking version of Revolution Blues. It's the heaviest performance so far.

Dierks Bentley & Booker T. Jones | Cinnamon Girl

Backed by frequent Young sideman Booker T. and his instantly identifiable organ, Bentley and his gruff pipes transform this immortal tune into twangy country-rock -- and lose a bit of the song's edge in the process.

Ben Harper | Ohio

The musical centrepiece of the show. Armed with his slide guitar and accompanied only by three female backup singers, Harper recasts Young's Vietnam-era protest song into stirring gospel-blues. Quite simply one of the finest, most moving versions of this song I've ever heard. It deservedly brings some attendees to their feet.

Keith Urban, John Fogerty & Booker T. Jones | Rockin' in the Free World

Another winner. Urban and Fogerty crank up the amps and blow the roof off the dump, trading solos and belting out the vocals on Young's slamming rocker. Urban is playing harder -- and grinning wider -- than I've ever seen before. And Fogerty still hasn't lost a step. Afterward, Black quite rightly tells the swells, "I know it's expensive -- but I think you're getting your money's worth. This is insane! Can you appreciate how insane this is?"

Elvis Costello | The Losing End

The roll continues: An acoustic-guitar toting Costello takes this lesser-known number from Everybody Knows This is Nowhere and turns it into a country weeper that could have come straight from ole Hank's pen.

Jason Mraz & Shawn Colvin | Lotta love

A horn section and some organ add some soulful backing to Mraz and Colvin's duet. Still, it's not one of the evening's more memorable moments. Then again, they did have to follow Elvis.

Dave Matthews | Needle and the Damage Done

On the plus side: The singer-guitarist totally nails Neil's anti-drug ballad, right down to the mournful falsetto vocal. On the downside: He delivers a rambling introduction that makes him look like a goof.

Red Hot Chili Peppers | A Man Needs a Maid

Not surprisingly, the Peppers -- making their first public appearance with new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer -- lace Young's Harvest track with their heavy, slogging funk. But that's not nearly as alarming as Anthony Kiedis's Mexican porn-star moustache.

James Taylor | Heart of Gold

Hey, I respect JT as much as the next guy -- but does the world really need an easy-listening version of Heart of Gold? The good news: Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello and Jason Mraz help out on backing vocals.

Elton John, Leon Russell, Neko Case, Sheryl Crow & T-Bone Burnett | Helpless

The stage is getting a little crowded at this point -- but really, the song belongs to Elton, who converts it into a work of classic country-pop vaguely reminiscent of his own Burn Down the Mission. Neko, Sheryl and Leon each get a turn at the mic.

Crosby, Stills and Nash | Human Highway

"We made some of the best music of our lives with you," says David Crosby before the legendary trio close the show by putting their gorgeous harmonies to work on this underappreciated '70s track. Neil's reaction? "Now I gotta go write some more songs." No argument here.

From Vancouver Sun: Rock’s storied performers gather to honour Neil Young By Jim Holt, Canwest News Service

Booker T. Jones: “He’s a huge influence on me,” Jones said. “His music is heartfelt. He’s always exploring and pushing the envelope.”

James Taylor: “His songwriting is the stuff,” Taylor said. “You hear his music and you know that’s the stuff.”

Jackson Browne: “I’ll be singing ‘Don’t let it bring you down’ which is a powerful song,” said Browne before attending the gala dinner. “Neil Young’s singular use of language is what amazes me,” he said. “It really raises the bar. Nobody but Neil would say, 'When you dance, I can really love.' He's got this powerful way of carving language in very simple blocks of meaning that go right to the core of you."

From Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily by Shirley Halperin:
While Wilco’s gloriously brash rendition of “Broken Arrow” prompted Elton John to give a standing ovation, which he proudly pointed out to the band backstage following the performance. Earlier in the night, Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy told RS, ”We rehearsed this song for two days. The guys in our crew said it was the first time they’d ever seen us rehearse in three years.” He added that they’d chosen “Broken Arrow” because it’s “really episodic and strange and when you hear it, it’s pretty obvious that Wilco has taken a lot from this one song.”

Jack Black, who had to keep things moving even if the show went nearly an hour past its allotted time. How did he rate his own performance? “I was pretty nervous and started off shaky, but I eased into it,” Black told RS. “It was just a remarkable night of musicianship. You don’t see a bill like that very often. Everyone was so incredible, and it’s a testament to Neil’s influence and awesomeness that so many people wanted to be part of this show.”

"To that end, Crosby, Stills and Nash’s serenade of “Human Highway” couldn’t have been a more fitting closer. “We’ve done that song with Neil probably 200 to 300 times so it has special significance that he’ll know and we know,” said Crosby, who called his friend of five decades “the real deal.” “There’s been too much focus in recent years on surface rather than substance,” he said. “But Neil can really write a song that you’ll remember 20 years from now. I’ve played some of the best music of my whole life on stage with that man, there were many moments that were pure magic, and I love him.”"

“The first time I saw him sitting in a circle with his guitars and his harmonium behind him was a solidifying moment for me,” said Crow. “There’s something so soulful about that man. It’s when I knew, ‘That’s what I want to do some day — sit with my guitars and play songs.’”

From The Canadian Press: Neil Young's peers happy the Canadian rocker finally getting due from Grammy:
"Added Jeff Tweedy, whose Chicago band Wilco will perform at the MusiCares event: 'He's right up there in terms of a constant in my musical life as an influence and as a mentor. He's kind of just a force of nature. And I take him for granted sometimes like I take the sun for granted ... I'm really happy the sun comes up every day and I'm happy Neil Young keeps making records.'"

A lame -- and uncredited -- review: Honoree Neil Young fails to perform at music biz charity event | Analysis & Opinion | Reuters. (Incidentally, this the most Tweeted story of the event. As always -- lets find the negative on Neil and pound it home. Reuters. What a bunch of losers.)




More photos by Kevin Winter/Getty Images North America on 2010 MusiCares Person Of The Year Tribute To Neil Young - Show - Pictures - Zimbio

Report on rust : Message: MusiCares! I was Therez! (Rhyme) by Karen.

More highlight photos on Purple Words on a Grey Background.

PHOTOS 2010 MusiCares Tribute To Neil Young concert highlights : starcasm.net

PHOTOS: Grammy weekend begins with MusiCares Person of the Year tribute to Neil Young - latimes.com





Musicares Highlights - Part #1


Musicares Highlights - Part #2


Musicares Highlights - Artisan News

Also, Interview Videos for 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year Tribute | GRAMMY.com with:
James Taylor
Elvis Costello
John Stirratt
Dave Matthews
Jackson Browne
Lady Antebellum

Thanks neilyoung.org - Neil Young links - reconnecting thoughts and actions!




Musicares Rehearsal photos

Arrivals @ Musicares: 2010 MusiCares Person Of The Year Tribute To Neil Young - Roaming Inside - Pictures - Zimbio

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David Crosby & Elton John


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Neil Young & Tony Bennett


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Neil Young, Pegi Young and Elton John




Also, see Neil Young Wins First-Ever Grammy Award for Archives Box.



DEVELOPING. Check back.

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Sunday, January 31, 2010

Neil Young Wins First-Ever Grammy Award for Archives Box

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"Thanks a lot, everybody."
Jenice Heo, Neil Young, and Gary Burden
Photo by Matt Sayles/Associated Press


From Neil Young Wins First-Ever Grammy Award - ArtsBeat Blog - NYTimes.com:
Updated | 6:52 p.m. Well, that only took, what, 50 years? After a career spanning nearly a half-century as a solo artist and a member of groups like Buffalo Springfield and Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Neil Young won his first Grammy Award in a pre-telecast ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon. The award, for best art direction on a boxed or special limited edition package, was shared among Mr. Young and his art directors Gary Burden and Jenice Heo for the boxed set “Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 (1963-1972).” Upon his win, Mr. Young (who did not receive his first Grammy nomination until 1989, for the video for “This Note’s For You”) told the crowd: “Thanks a lot, everybody.” Mr. Young was also nominated for a Grammy in the best solo rock vocal category, but lost to Bruce Springsteen.

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Congratulations, Neil, Gary, Jenice, the NYA crew and all @ Shakey Pix (r.i.p. l.a.)!!!

More on Gary Burden Receives Grammy Nomination for NYA Design.

Also, Gary Burden’s blog has fascinating entries about this project with respect to design, sustainability and collaboration.

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Whiskey admires Grammy Award Winning NYA Box

(Thanks Heidi!)



More coverage on neilyoung.org - Neil Young links - reconnecting thoughts and actions and Purple Words on a Gray Background: A Grammy for NY and Gary Burden.

Also, see Neil Young Honored As MusiCares Person Of The Year.

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