Computer Age

Neil Young
Rock In Rio, Madrid
27/06/2008

Finally, after 7 years (after that performance in asparagus Rock 2001) Neil Young returned to Spain, offering a unique performance in Madrid, within that esperpento media called Rock In Rio
Logically enough excitement had for quite some time, and I know that fans of the old Buffalo Canadian mobilized from all points of the peninsula.
It must be said that the setting and environment of the festival was simply spectacular, huge, with space for over 100,000 people. The largest concentration of public was however during the action after Manolo Garcia and interesting holes were formed in front of the stage who do not hesitate to take to see our ranks from the first concert.
As you know, I had occasion to see a few months ago to Neil Young in London, I think a more appropriate setting than this, so it was not as excited as that first time, but if that tingling feeling typical of the great concerts.
After about 12 minutes, after waiting a few moments where we saw Larry Craig put the legendary "Old Black" in place, jump on stage with Neil Young peaceful gesture.
Unlike the concert in London earlier in the tour, had no part here acoustics, and the concert began with a "Mr. Soul "which allowed us to appreciate about the mythical power of the Canadian sound, accompanied this time by the" Electric Band "composed by Ben Keith with the electric guitar, Chad Crownwell on drums and Rick Rosas on bass.
The concert continued with "I've Been Waiting For You", one of the songs from her debut solo album which is unusual to hear live. The next topic, "Cinammon Girl," one of its major themes, and finally heating and delivered to the large audience.
After "Spirit Road" sounded one of the major issues that this interpretation on this tour, the monumental "Love and Only Love" pluscuamperfecto of "Ragged Glory", one of my favorite topics on which inevitably miss at least Crazy Horse. This time, followed by the always infallible "Hey Hey, My My" was the climax of the concert (in electrical).
From here, the concert would become a revisitacion of "Harvest," that rescues of up to 5 items: "Oh, Lonesome Me," "The Needle And The Damage Done," "Old Man", "Heart Of Gold" and the magnificent "Words."
In between, too curious themes of his repertoire as "Too Far Gone" Freedom and the "Get Back To The Country" from the Old Ways.
As the only hits the excessive interpretation of "No Hidden Path" that eventually become boring.
After a short pause, the concert closed with a magnificent version of "A Day In The Life" by The Beatles, a great end to a concert, how could it be otherwise.

Neil Young & Pegi Young
Hammersmit Apollo, London
14 March 2008

As I reported on the European tour Neil Young as they are confirmed not happen in our country, I began to work for a couple of entries which was to fulfill a dream that began forging ago many years, when the songs from "Rust Never Sleeps" entered my heart not to ever leave. In the end the choice opted for London because it is a city that lives hard rock (let's not forget that bands like The Kinks, The Who, The Jam or Led Zeppelin were formed there) and the room where the serious action, the Hammersmith Apollo, a pocket full of symbolism (there was the last concert of Ziggy Stardust, there was one of the best concerts of Bruce Springsteen).
With entries in my power since December last year, I have spent months reviewing in detail the discography of the great Canadian musician and enjoy the reviews of concerts in Paris, Amsterdam and other sites on the tour with a healthy envy.
Everything in this life comes, and on Thursday to take a plane bound for London as planned, and almost without realizing there was the Friday before the Hammersmith Apollo 14 that looked at the bright facade of the following words: "An ITB Presentation, Neil Young, Sold Out. "
A little later than the time set at last opened the doors of the Apollo and the first thing I said is that the site is truly spectacular, an old theater decorated with a Victorian wood sound simply impeccable, warm and clear, ideal for both acoustic and electric sounds.
Already installed in our seats and ready to enjoy a night shift came only Pegi Young, then the wife of Neil who has offered the role of telonero throughout the tour. I have not heard her debut album so I do not have sufficient evidence, although they served us to gauge the capabilities of the site and sound to enjoy with Ben Keith's expertise with the pedal steel in some songs of strong country-folk . Most notable, the correct version of a classic: "Hickory Wind" Gram Parsons.

After a pause to many who made us endless, Neil Young finally left the stage after greeting and sat down briefly in the center of its impressive circle of guitars. It began with "From Hank To Hendrix," including this beautiful song in "Harvest Moon" (1992) summarizing a few lines in the history of this virus that feeds us called Rock and Roll. An advance to one of the best moments of the night came with the second song, is that "Ambulance Blues," one of the songs from his album damn darker ( "On The Beach" 1974), is one of those songs I have always thrilled to see its author desgranando there before these harrowing thoughts that I did the first tears escaped and (would not be the last).
After another issue equally brilliant but more unknown as "Sad Movies," Neil sat at the piano to interpret anything less than "A Man Needs A Maid" one of the great songs in "Harvest", although this would not be the only song separately and their guitars sounded too "Journey Through The Past" and almost at the end of September the immeasurable "After The Gold Rush." In this part of the concert noise Neil also took time to give others equally glorious, mythical and magical as "Harvest", "Do not Let It Bring You Down," "Old Man" (First "Perfect Song" on this page) or the wonderful acoustic version of the initiatory "Cowgirl In The Sand." Almost nothing. I feel chills just remember.

After a pause to recover as much excitement and a bit to clear the stage to finally left the band scene is accompanied by electric Neil Young throughout this Eurotour 2008: Ben Keith on guitar, Rick Rosas on bass and Ralph Crazy Horse Molina on drums. As Neil himself said later: "As you know Ben from 60 to 80 from Rick and my brother Ralph has always been." Neil came to the stage of changing his white suit in September by a black acoustic suggested that his intentions perfectly: to offer an electrical discharge of rock known as just done. We are not wrong and that "Mr. Soul finally allowed me to hear sounds like the mythical "old black" live with those old amplifiers packed.
The set continued with electric "Dirty Old Man" one of the best songs of the "Chrome Dreams II" (2007), followed by "Spirit Road" from the same disc, but nothing comparable to what happened next: "Powderfinger" and "Hey Hey, My My. " Here were the tears and crying desconsolado, wept at the sight of genuine emotion at last fulfilled one of my ansiados wishes.
At this point my ability and criticizing certain position "distanced" I wanted to offer in order to maintain a moderately chronic objective is completely down. I felt like after that play, I gave absolutely everything well, just wanted to see Neil up there, making a roar his guitar, dancing that strange dance that has plagued him for the electricity and rock and roll. Only later, in Madrid, I realize the setlist which completed the concert. To say that sounded "Cinnamon Girl," "Tonight's The Night" and "No Hidden Path" of about half an hour I think that says it all.
I am very fan of Neil Young, Neil Young I believe in, but I admit I had some doubts before the concert. Neil is now 62 years, and his voice is no longer the era. My fault. Neil Young apellida is not by chance.
Conclusion: The fucking best concert of my life puñetera. point.

Full Tracklist:

1. From Hank To Hendrix
2. Ambulance Blues
3. Sad Movies
4. A Man Needs A Maid
5. No One Seems To Know
6. Harvest
7. Journey Through The Past
8. Mellow My Mind
9. After The Gold Rush
10. Love Art Blues
11. Old King
12. Do not Let It Bring You Down
13. Cowgirl In The Sand
14. Old Man
--
15. Mr. Soul
16. Dirty Old Man
17. Spirit Road
18. Powderfinger
19. Hey Hey, My My
20. Gone Too Far
21. Oh, Lonesome Me
22. The Believer
23. No Hidden Path
--
24. Cinnamon Girl
25. Tonight's The Night

Marzipan Man American Music Club
Sala Acapulco (Gijón)
20 February 2008

Mallorca opened the concert Jordi Herrera, lead singer of the Satellites, currently focused on its parallel project under the name 'Marzipan Man'. Inspiration, personality, good songs and a great performer, with a mixture of voice and spell bastard children. He offered an acoustic concert, only with a guitar and harmonica almost unnecessary (and no doubt pitch prominence). Eyes closed, glued to the microphone as if he desires with passion and bamboleándose slowly on the seat, on either side, giving the impression that it could fall at times, was shelled the half dozen songs that appealed the public, basing his repertory releases more intimate that the new album (among the most talked about 'Corrine, Corrine', folk-blues classic traditional version by dozens of performers, or 'Where did you sleep last night,' Song better known as Leadbelly's version of Nirvana).

Had not followed his career so far, after this action has left me wanting to follow in his footsteps. As only downside to mention his obvious attachment to the excesses (with the consequent risk that the noble timber that is actually still end up rotting if floating in the waters).

Below them was the turn of 'American Music Club. The impression with which I was after the concert is "I espareba more", ie not convinced me. After the big discs that have produced and maintained in the years to the fore an expected, or at least what I expected to see a cohesive group and delivered on stage. Instead what I saw was a band with seemingly little test marked feeling amateurism, led by a strong personality, Mark Eitzel, excited at first but as the concert was going to deflate, floating a clear sense anger towards the end. Once the action can get the 'track list "that each musician was at his feet, and check and after the seventh song jumped almost all the rest of the portfolio, leaving the 16 songs that were scheduled to play in only 10, including on a final (on several occasions I was doubt whether he would be bothered by the voices of people at the bar not stopped talking, or whether it would be for his irascible personality). Acompañandole were Steve Didelot, the new battery, also doing vocals, and Sean Hoffman on bass and vocals, which perfectly met and made good vibrations. Vudi the faithful guitarist, did not have his best night, has a reputation for chaotic and this time it proved by far the world and absorbed in his guitar, not always in tune (and continually trying to refine it), sometimes conveying a lot of strength that the scenario was perceived, and sometimes lost in the distortions, with the clear evidence euphoric chemical grounds that it was carrying. Luckily, the moment was to save the great voice of Mark, his charisma and his great (but rare) songs are able to shine through cloudy nights and illuminate many emotions. Although the tour is based on the new album "The Golden Age," whose songs gained in intensity and much more convinced me to be played live, they also performed other more familiar themes of his previous work ( "Johnny Mathis' Feet", " Home "," Revolving Door, "" Jesus' Hands, "which he sang with a guitar just before leaving for the first time and complete, or" Hello Amsterdam "to finish). While Vudi and his companions came to a table to talk to people, Mark recorded their instruments. Some fans approached him asking for autographs, looking unwell signed courtesy but with clear signs that this is not the least wanted, responding as quickly as possible to those who tried to bring some sort of conversation. I just wanted to leave the hotel early and did so before.

To summarize, I stick with the successful performances, with moments of feeling good and happy memories of a given audience (at least those who were closest to the stage). While the feeling that things could have given more than we offered, along with my expectations to meet with a lot more, take me to speak with the flavor that I was at the end: bittersweet.

List of songs performed:

1) The Decibels and The Little Pills ( 'The Golden Age')
2) All the Lost Souls Wellcome You to San Francisco ( 'The Golden Age')
3) Johnny Mathis' Feet ( "Mercury")
4) All My Love ( 'The Golden Age')
5) The Sleeping Beauty ( 'The Golden Age', previously published in "Candy Ass" - Mark Eitzel)
6) Home ( 'Love Songs For Patriots')
7) The Windows Of The World ( 'The Golden Age')
8) Revolving Door ( 'San Francisco')
9) Jesus' Hands ( 'Everclear')
10) Hello Amsterdam ( 'San Francisco')

Bandini Delco American Music Club
Sala Caracol (Madrid)
21 February 2008

We have already poured into this page to a multitude of accolades Bandini, but they, shy away from continuing to grow as a band and as musicians, as were able to demonstrate in their role teloneros American Music Club. Bandini in September offered a short, barely 30 minutes in which focused on new issues that have to nurture their new album, some items more leathery, more dense, more difficult to know which attract the attention of the few souls who had Caracol in the room at such an early hour. Richard sings better every day and every time you note more comfortable on stage. The recovered items that held the "Sunny The Album" also sounded more direct, more lively, more concise. We eagerly await the second album.

After September Delco Bandini gave a concert willful and illusions, but I think not marry well with the overall tone of the night. Anyway I have not heard any of his recordings which deliver a verdict on his performance would be deeply unjust.

Anyone who has seen occasionally Mark Eitzel live either alone or together with American Music Club aware that live more than a swampy ground for the composer California. Mark Eitzel does not feel at ease in front of the audience, and their performances are very sensitive to their (common) changes of mood, so we must always be prepared for everything.
On Friday it was not a good concert, to be malicious to say that we are now grazed by the pathos, but I will stay with the talent and songs, a very large and very good the other. And that is to classics like "Blue And Gray Shirt" or "Hello Amsterdam" is not more to enjoy and surrender to the evidence that Mark Eitzel is one of the songwriters' most important of our time.
The new rhythm section chosen for the recording of "The Golden Age" and the subsequent tour just does not fit well with the times require that the songs of American Music Club and in general the whole band sounded thick and scattered. He stressed the great "Home" from "Love Songs For Patriots" and a cut of his new album as the sinuous "All The Lost Souls Welcome You To San Francisco," although the truth is that the final impression, after little more than 45 minutes Action was frankly disappointing.
Mark Eitzel and American Music Club is much more than what they showed on Friday.