Blossom Music Center (Cuyahoga Falls, August 15, 2025)

I've written before about how my Dad got me into Neil Young, and took me to my very first concert: Neil Young & Crazy Horse, 1991 (the Smell the Horse/Weld tour). So it was pretty special for me to take him to Neil's latest tour last night in Ohio. He and Neil are the same age and when my Dad remarked that he never thought he'd be going to a Neil Young concert at his age, I said "Well, Neil's the same age, so why not?" It really is remarkable how energetic Neil gets on stage. That he is still exploring sounds on Old Black with such ferocity is incredible. And he gave it a workout last night.

I've been following this tour so wasn't surprised by the 1-2 punch of "Ambulance Blues" and "Cowgirl in the Sand" to open the show, but it was still a pleasure. Two songs I love and have never seen him play live before. The former is an interesting opener. It's long, breezy, and somewhat obtuse in places ("It's hard to say the meaning of this song" indeed), but his intention is clear in the last verse (which happily got a big roar from the crowd):

I never knew a man could tell so many lies
He had a different story for every set of eyes
How can he remember who he's talking to?
'Cause I know it ain't me, and hope it isn't you

"Cowgirl in the Sand" is one I've always wanted to see as I adore the intensity of its riff and solos. He did it justice last night, I'd say. And the Chrome Hearts honored it with fantastic harmonies. There's a lot to live up to with songs like that, given Crazy Horse's roots in singing groups. "Southern Man" was another grail song for me and this got a big response from the crowd, and frenzied playing by Neil. Micah Nelson's piano sometimes had trouble following where Neil was going, but they pulled it together for this sadly newly relevant song. Also sadly and newly relevant, "Ohio" understandably was a big moment (although I understand he mistakenly played it in Michigan a couple days prior). It's not exactly a joyous sing-a-long, but everyone in the state knows the words and it's an event burned into the memory of many in attendance. The band really made it special.

Neil told a story about talking to Randy Bachman, but I had some trouble following it. The gist is that Neil played a guitar he hadn't played since 1965, an orange Squires Gretsch 6120, on a rendition of "Mr. Soul" that paid homage to his time in Buffalo Springfield. I've heard him play this song better, but there was something unique about the sound on this one. "Looking Forward" and "Name of Love" are two songs that appeared on a latter day CSNY album. The former is a really nice number, but the latter was a somewhat ill-advised pump organ rendition that went on too long.

The two Greendale tunes that he's been playing throughout the tour were an entertaining and powerful blues rock detour that I enjoyed a bit more than I enjoy the album. "Sun Green" in particular was fantastically performed, and that rotating megaphone at the front of his mic stand didn't fail to bring a smile. It was pretty cool that he played a new song, "Silver Eagle," despite it being almost completely based on "This Land is Your Land." We got a tour debut! That's always fun.

Neil got a little lost in "Daddy Went Walkin'" but I smiled the whole time. I just really love the rhythm of this song, although he's definitely performed it better. "Harvest Moon" was a big one for the crowd and the band played it really well. Didn't hurt that Chrome Hearts member Spooner Oldham played on the original. Likewise, "New Mama" was performed beautifully and meaningfully, especially after Neil introduced it with a "take care of each other" declaration. "Old Man" ended the main set and it was maybe the biggest sing-a-long. It's odd to think this is the song everyone knows the words to.

Before that, we got a truly ferocious "Like a Hurricane," with Neil going to town on Old Black, and getting deep into the "somewhere safer" refrain. The good ol' Stringman synthesizer descended from the rafters but being the temperamental beast that it is, was pumping a loud drone into the song that muddied it somewhat. I could hear the band struggling to crank up the rest of the playing to compete. Still, it was a killer rendition. Then came the encore: "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)" and Old Black was freshly tuned and ready for a fight. That roiling, burly riff rang out and the band hit their instruments as hard as they could. This song requires massive drum hits, and Anthony LoGerfo showed that he was up to it in my mind.

It was really meaningful to be standing beside my Dad for this show and to be able to share smiles and admiration for this musician that has meant so much to us. The future will see if there are more tours in our future to enjoy, but I hope so.