Keep On Rockin' In The Free World!

Photo's taken by Brad Vest

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/pop/384464_young23q.html?source=rss

2008 keeps getting better! Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to catch Neil Young in concert at the Comcast Arena in Everett. Mandy got me the ticket in September for my birthday and I had been counting the days. I had asked her if she wanted to go but she told me that she thinks that Neil Young singing sounds like a dying cat. Not me, next to Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young is my favorite artist. When he came last year to the WAMU Theater I was so disappointed that I couldn't go, but tickets were pretty expensive. Mandy was able to get me seats in the upper bowl that were still expensive but not as bad as last year. Neil had asked Everest and Death Cab For Cutie to open for him. Everest is playing every show on the tour with DCFC and Wilco alternating. While I would have cherished the idea of seeing Wilco, you could get a lot worse than DCFC.
When I arrived at my seat I found someone else sitting in it. I asked the usher what to do and they sent me to customer services. It seems that they had mistakenly printed two tickets for the same seat. They apologized and gave me another ticket. I was mad until I found out that the ticket they gave me was far better than the one I originally had. So there I was with one of the best seats in the house ready to rock and roll. As the show began I started to notice that I was the youngest person in my section by about 30 years. I was surrounded by a sea of flannel shirts, Levi jackets, long grey hair and the smell of gasoline. Duane, the gentleman to my left was very confused as to why he had never before heard of DCFC. He wasn't sure what he would think of them but he told me that if they were friends of Neil's than he will give them a shot. The man directly to my right would ask me what album each song was on, I think he converted. I was expecting DCFC to play only a few songs, I was wrong. They played a full set and were very impressive. They played their hits but the highlight was the close to 10 minute version of "I Will Posses Your Heart."

After DCFC played and the stage was being set for Neil to come out, the energy was palpable. Neil Young and his Electric Band came out with a bang and played "Love And Only Love" and then right into "Hey Hey, My My (Into The Dark)", they never looked back. His set was very eclectic with songs spanning his long career. The absolute best part of the night was the encore where he played a cover of the Beatles "A Day In The Life." It was beautifully done and paid respect to the source, even and especially the distortion at the end. My new friends and I were on our feet the entire time. It was a great experience and one I will remember for a long time.

Thanks Mae Mae!

Set List: 10/21/2008

1. Love And Only Love
2. Hey Hey, My My (Into the Dark)
3. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere *
4. Powderfinger
5. Spirit Road
6. Cinnamon Girl
7. Oh, Lonesome Me
8. Mother Earth *
9. The Needle And The Damage Done
10. Unknown Legend
11. Heart Of Gold
12. Old Man
13. Get Back To The Country
14. Just Singing A Song
15. Sea Change
16. When Worlds Collide
17. Cowgirl In The Sand
18. Rockin' In The Free World *
--- 19. A Day In The Life *
--- 20. The Sultan


*Highlights for me*