The storied group played a 16-song set from the soul of Young’s catalog
Last night on a dreary spring evening in Queens, Neil Young and Crazy Horse rolled into Forest Hills Stadium to kick off a two-show stand. The storied group is on the road as part of their Love Earth Tour, their first outing in a decade. While Reverend Billy was on stage kicking things off, the sky began to spit on the crowd. The cold, rainy weather didn’t deter the capacity crowed in Queens from getting ready to experience one of music’s all-time great contributors.
Neil Young and Crazy Horse released their last album, World Record, in November of 2022 through Warner Records. The follow-up to 2021’s Barn, World Record was recorded live at Rubin’s Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, California. The album featured the single, “Love Earth,” which is the namesake of the band’s current tour. Despite having relatively fresh material, the band didn’t bust out a single track from their latest LP. Instead, Young dove directly into the soul of his catalog, pulling some of the greatest hits from his both his own discography, as well as his collaborations with Crazy Horse.
With the rain still falling slightly, Neil Young and Crazy Horse simply strolled out onto the stage and started playing. No big intro. No frills. Just a bunch of guys hitting the stage to jam. And jam they did, opening up with “Cortez the Killer” that stretched over 10 minutes. Neil had his iconic Gibson Les Paul with a Bigsby, which looks like it has seen a million miles on the road. Next was Neil’s 1969 hit, “Cinnamon Girl,” which is from his first collaborative effort with Crazy Horse, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. For all the kids following along at home, the song was famously covered in 1996 by Type O Negative, a legendary doom metal act that was founded just a borough away in Brooklyn.
“Scattered (Let’s Think About Living’)” followed, and then “Like a Hurricane.” It was evident that Young and company were digging deep for the evening’s setlist. It was dream for the longtime fans in attendance, and an excellent biography of the band for all the younger concert-goers, some of whom may have been finally seeing Neil Young for the very first time.
While the group does appear to be slowing down a bit, their talent is undeniable. Young’s voice is unmistakable, still smooth for a 78-year old. And during the band’s eponymous jams, Neil reminds us why he’s one of the best damn guitar players of all time. Despite the shoddy weather, the group pushed through the rest of the set highlighted by tracks like “Don’t Cry No Tears,” “The Losing End (When You’re On),” and “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere,” among others.
Towards the end of the set, fans were treated to a Neil Young acoustic set. The three song featured “Comes a Time,” “Heart of Gold,” and “Human Highway.” It was an almost surreal moment seeing such legend up on stage stripping it down to the bare bones. Sadly, the “Human Highway” was plagued a bit by some sound issues, as was the final full band song, “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black).”
They group returned, however, and made it right with their encore of “Sedan Delivery” and the massive hit, “Rockin’ In the Free World.” Arguably Young’s most raucous tune, it was a perfect way to close out the evening. Tomorrow night, they group comes back to do it all over again. Hopefully, this isn’t the last time they pass through New York City.
Last month, Neil Young and Crazy Horse dropped a new live LP, FU##IN’ UP, reveals Neil Young and Crazy Horse in all their ragged glory, playing songs from their long relationship. Neil and The Horse have played together for over five decades, and the performances of these familiar songs, recorded in 2023, is a true highlight.
“In the spirit it’s offered…made this for the Horse lovers,” Young states. “I can’t stop it. The horse is runnin’. What a ride we have. I don’t want to mess with the vibe. I am so happy to have this to share.”
Containing nine songs on two LPs, FU##IN’ UP was released on a limited edition color vinyl pressing on Record Store Day [April 20] with a wider, with all formats arriving on April 26.
Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s Love Earth Tour runs through the end of the month, wrapping up on May 23 at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago, Illinois.
