Neil Young and his Music in the Head Band

blew into Jones Beach last Thursday night. I feel safe in saying that this was the probably the best set of music I have seen in 27 years of concerts. The band was incredible, they made it look completely effortless for Neil, which it really did seem to be. Neil came out rockin' with his black Les Paul with the whammy bar and rocked through the 1st couple of tunes. The volume was perfectly deafening. In an unusual display, Neil was very personable and bantered with the crowd between every number. After Powderfinger he apologized for singing one verse twice so he could play the guitar solo again. Two early highlights were Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere and I Believe In You, both played on the Les Paul. The musicianship was indescribable, Neil's voice was in the best form I've ever heard. I Believe In You, my personal favorite of the night, was a beautiful juxtaposition of raunchy guitar, sublime accompaniment, and perfect vocals. It seems as if Neil decided to take his favorite musicians on the road to play his favorite songs, and ours. He made the switch to acoustic guitar and led the band through 7 tasteful arrangements of a variety of new and old tunes. Ben Keith's pedal steel and lap steel playing was showcased on several of these tunes. Then Neil picked up his Gretsch and launched into rockin' Walk On.
Jim Keltner is an amazing drummer, as Neil aptly called him, simply, the best. With his trademark black clothes, sunglasses, and perfect hair, he was the master percussion alchemist. Wildly flailing, or simply pounding he never broke a sweat. There is always some part of him that is absolutely still, the sign of a great drummer, letting a backbeat slip by. He effortlessly slips back and forth between straight time and orchestral percussion arrangements. Of the 3 best concerts I've ever seen I'd have to say Jim Keltner was at all 3. Duck Dunn on bass was as to be expected, the master, not a single extra note. I can't even recall hearing any bass notes, they were just where they should be and nowhere else. Then Neil pulled out the acoustic again for a few more sublime tunes. Spooner Oldham, a master of keyboard understatement was always there, but never over playing. He had an upright, Hammond b-3, and a Wurlitzer. Neil's wife Pegi and sister Astrid did a fine job with background vocals.
A blood red full moon was on the rise as Neil played Harvest Moon, he probably wondered why the crowd cheered every time he sang the word moon, as the moon was rising behind him. When Neil strapped on the Telecaster we knew something from Tonight's the Night was coming. Who would've thought it would be World on a String? Not me. Then for the only song of the night Neil played the piano. A haunting bluesy Tonight's the Night. A technical snafu with Ben Keith's slide guitar at a key riff sent them into the wonderful space of improvisation, ad libbed vocals, piano, and another run through the slide riff and they were cooking. They left the stage after that, only to return for a rockin' All Along the Watchtower, the only cover of the night, and an extended Like a Hurricane. Who would have thought he'd come back after that? But he did, with a perfect version of Mellow My Mind from Tonight's the Night. Neil thanked everyone for coming and said 'We were gonna do it anyway and it was better with you all here' I believe him. A perfect ending to a show that truly was the best of Neil's catalog.

08-17-2000, Jones Beach Amphitheater, Wantagh, New York

1. Motorcycle Mama

2. Powderfinger

3. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

4. I Believe In You

5. Unknown Legend

6. Dance, Dance, Dance

7. Buffalo Springfield Again

8. Razor Love

9. From Hank To Hendrix

10. Daddy Went Walkin'

11. Peace Of Mind

12. Walk On

13. Winterlong

14. Bad Fog Of Loneliness

15. Words

16. Harvest Moon

17. World On A String

18. Tonight's The Night

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19. All Along The Watchtower

20. Like A Hurricane

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21. Mellow My Mind

Neil Young - vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica

Donald "Duck" Dunn - bass

Jim Keltner - drums

Ben Keith - Pedal Steel

Spooner Oldham - keyboards

Pegi Young - background vocals

Astrid Young - background vocals go - by terra incognita