The scene was quite idyllic. The family cottage (not mine, the Hodgins’) on an island in Killarney Bay. Early 80s, the end of a great canoe trip with down the French River with a tight group of friends and leaders. The typical Ontario cottage, with pines, stone fireplace, boardgames, and… Neil Young.
It was my first introduction, I think, to Neil. Specifically, side 5 of Decade and The Needle and the Damage Done. They played it repeatedly and incessantly (if those two aren’t redundant). A kid thing, no doubt.
We grew to hate side 5 (which remains my least favourite), but it (Decade) grew to be on of the pivotal LPs in my own youth. I’ve been looking forward to seeing Neil in concert ever since. In fact, he is (well, was) on my list of bands to see before they stop touring (or I’m gone). Was, because I finally got the chance to see him at the Saddledome on Sunday.
I was blown away. Here’s a guy three years older than my Mom, and he’s up there pounding away on Old Black and tearing. Up. The. Fricken. Stage.
Simply amazing, and now, one of the best handful of concerts I’ve ever attended.
With such a huge catalog to pick from (and a reputation of being unpredictable, as regards set lists) he played a surprising number of old standbys, including Hey, Hey (My, My), Cinnamon Girl, Old Man, Powderfinger, and, of course, Needle.
I took the Middle Kid ™ with me to this one as an early birthday present. He actually asked for it a while back, and I ignored him. He’d heard that Young was a bit of a legend, and certainly knew I loved him. I guess he wanted to see what the fuss was all about. I think he liked what he heard.
Opening for Neil was Death Cab for Cutie, who we’d seen earlier in the year over at Pemberton. They’d played a shortened set due to N.E.R.D.’s stupid narcissism, and it wasn’t a particularly good set (at Pem). We were looking for a bit of redemption , and they provided it. I’m not sure all the “old” faces in the crowd appreciated them, though. Lots of talking and a half empty floor. Both the Herald (too precious for this reviewer’s tastes) and the Sun (spectacularly uninteresting wuss-rock) reviewers seemed to agree. Not us, though. Cass and I both thought his was a good choice for an opener.
But Neil… right from the get go, with Love and Only Love, and then Hey Hey, he got us into high gear, and pretty much kept us revved up for the entire 1h45.
One more check on the life list.