Neil Young News: Concert Reports - Denver, CO

Monday, November 05, 2007

Concert Reports - Denver, CO - 11/5 & 6/07

UPDATE: 11/7/07

Photos by Tony. Thanks!!

UPDATE: 11/6/07

Photo by Ahmad Terry - Rocky Mountain News

"Love In Mind" dropped from acoustic set and encored with "Cinnamon Girl" and "Like A Hurricane".

From Rocky Mountain News by Mark Brown:

With a few exceptions, Monday night's show was for the hard- cores - those fans who cheer at the first notes of the unreleased 1974-era Love Art Blues. And those were the bulk of the 5,000 or so people who showed up.

The crowd was reverential throughout the acoustic set, staying seated and quiet except for the occasional dummy who somehow believes letting out a huge yelp during the quietest part of the song enhanced the experience for everyone. Those manners turned to confusion during the electric set, where half the audience stood and the other half cursed them for it.

Neil Young will be performing tonight and tomorrow in Denver, CO at the Wells Fargo Theatre.

Check Sugar Mountain for setlist updates.

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20 Comments:

At 11/06/2007 12:26:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Go Before You Go!!!!!

Last night I attended the Neil Young concert with my husband at the Wells Fargo Theatre. Near the end of the show my husband went to the bathroom. He was refused re-entry to the theatre. I sat alone for the rest of the show. Let me be clear...he was not told on the way out he would not be let back in. Nearly 100 other irate people were in the lobby with him for almost 30 minutes while Neil Young performed Hurricaine...a very loud ROCK-N-ROLL song. I sat alone for the rest of the show. (Hurricane is a thirty minute song). I want my money refunded and I want the mindless drones who provide security and the misguided management at Wells Fargo Theatre that forced them to do it to take a serious look at their policy and the ill will it has generated . I will NEVER attend another show at this venue.
At 11/06/2007 02:10:00 PM, Anonymous said...: After reading much of the criticism in this space over the past couple months I can say that I would have paid the $100 to walk in, see Ambulance Blues and walk out - it was one of the great highlights of all time live Neil for me. Oh Lonesome Me and The Believer were particularly well done. This was not a show for a casual Neil fan as the song list indicates.

I had my nine year old daughter for her first show so by the end I was looking at the clock. Hurricane was standard version not drawn out - dare I say ordinary, maybe 10 minutes - a far cry from thirty minutes. By that time of the show it was abundantly clear that their was no reseating during songs. If you left to go pee you are an idiot.

Wells Fargo is actually a pretty nice place for a show - the sound was good - just a different kind of Neil show. Definitley a show for Neil - he relished playing this list - "Here's another one you haven't heard". Priceless.

Mark in Denver
At 11/06/2007 02:43:00 PM, Anonymous said...: So we get to the theater. I’m not real happy with the seats (far, far right; tough site angel)despite top dollar. Peggy Young is playing. Feeling sleepy. She's not really grabbing us. Didn’t bring my super binoculars (did bring Donna’s opera glasses). People are up and down, talking, walking, restless. 15 break and I’m beginning to get bummed. Neil comes on for the acoustic with From Hank to Hendrix. It’s okay but his voice is drowned out in the mix with the guitar sound predominating. Things turn rapidly for the better with A Man Needs a Maid: clear, loud voice and piano. He’s in good voice now and the mix is better. After the Gold Rush is incredible getting the biggest ovation of the night and is amazingly timely with the global warming thing. Neil doesn’t wear a hat. He chats with the audience. Intermission. The electric set was great and got louder with each song. In long jams, he explored soaring notes I haven’t heard before. I closed my eyes to get the full effect of the sound. Cinnamon Girl brought 37 year old memories. “Good Crowd” said Neil. Great concert.
Don from Boulder
At 11/06/2007 02:45:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Tough site ANGLE not angel...oops!
Don from Boulder
At 11/06/2007 03:49:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I also thought it was a fantastic show. Acoustic Mellow My Mind on banjo was a highlight, and for my my money it doesn't get better than seeing Neil shred through gems like Dirty Old Man and No Hidden Path - a LONG and ridiculously great jam. One other perfect moment: Neil and the band taking their time during Oh Lonesome Me. Just beautiful. If you're on the fence about going tonight, get your ass down to the theater (as flawed a place as it is). Winterlong? Are you kidding me? I'm there again tonight ...

Took my 14-year-old son; we had a blast.

Keeping jive alive in C.O. ;)

George
At 11/06/2007 04:14:00 PM, K.P. Dennis said...: My eleventh Neil show (the first was 1973 and the Time Fades Away tour). I sprang for the top dollar seats (eighth row), and they were to the extreme stage left - all we could see was Neil, the bass player, and Ben Keith roaming around. The entire stage set-up, Molina's drums, back-up singers were invisible to us. We were close, but saw a different show than approximately 4,000 other fans viewed.

For my money, Ambulance Blues was the acoustic set highlight. The hushed delivery, that cascade of far-flung imagery followed by the down-to-earth phrasing of "pissing in the wind" - pure Neil. Oddly, Love Is A Rose, a song I always thought was a throw-away, got folks clapping, but the following Heart of Gold felt strangely muted.

In the electric set, Ben Keith's steel lines invigorated Everybody Knows, and Dirty Old Man was nearly ZZ Top and a lot of fun. But Bad Fog and Winterlong together was a slow patch. Oh Lonesome Me was terrific, Shining Path was crunchy neo-gospel, and No Hidden Path was a nice, winding closer. Cinnamon Girl - punchiest version I've ever heard Neil play, and Hurricane was close to explosive. The rockers were Crazy Horse-lite, no offense to Ben and Rick, but sometimes the Horse is required!

First time in the Wells Fargo theater - great sound, clean sight lines (unless you're on the extreme left or right - think twice about sitting close but on the end). The "no admission during a song" was frustrating - I argued with the guy posted at my door. I left for a bathroom break during Bad Fog, came back and Winterlong had just started, and was barred. I said "Come on, folks are standing up, dancing, singing along - no one cares when we come and go!" It worked for me.
At 11/06/2007 04:25:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I've never seen Neil Young in concert live -- so I am now a "bona fide" believer! While the song list was not something I had heard before (everything) I felt that Neil was in great voice and such a great poet an lyricist. It really made me cry at the beginning to hear such a great artist live! I LOVED the acoustic set, but I realize that everyone was waiting for the electric set. Still, he can "rock" -- and that's clear. As far as the venue, maybe people should not have been "guzzling beer" after every intermission so they would have to go out of the auditorium. I think it's up to individual people to take care of their personal busines and not make a constant disruption going in and out of a concert. After all, it's not a bar -- it's a theatre (that's how they have performance in most theatres I've ever been to). I hope to be able to see Neil Young again and again....a true artist!!
At 11/06/2007 05:45:00 PM, Simpson said...: If "Hurricane" was 30 minutes long I will be completely blown out of my mind and will definitely have to see him on this tour.

The longest versions of "Hurricane" are with Crazy Horse and never last over 20 minutes.

Neil isn't with the Horse on this tour (except for Ralph) and from the recordings I heard, they've only been around 8 to 10 minutes...which is about the length of the studio version.
At 11/06/2007 05:55:00 PM, RedRoxx said...: Denver regular here, all shows, every show. As has happened many times before, I questioned his song selection. As has happened every time before, Neil proved I have no business second guessing him. Ambulance blues alone worth the price of admission. This a great tour, don't miss it. HOWEVER, of the 30+ times I have seen Neil, this is by far the worst venue I have seen him in, including the indoor mega arenas. 4th row, lower section, dead center. Couldn't see acoustic set, and from where I was, mixing board was asleep at the wheel. At least I could see him jamming on ol black, even if I couldn't hear it. Despite the venue, see ya again tonite Neil!
At 11/06/2007 08:06:00 PM, 2581 said...: I traveled from Kentucky to see Neil with my 26-year old rock-n-roll lovin' daughter (her first time to see Neil!), who lives in Denver, last night. I agree with the comments that "Ambulance Blues" was the highlight of the show! I liked them all, but "Oh, Lonesome Me", "Dirty Old Man" and "Spirit Road" were also highlghts. "Like a Hurricane" was maybe 8 minutes... The only really long song was "No Hidden Path" which mirrored the album at maybe 14+ minutes, and I loved every minute of it! Have never seen a concert in Denver before, but I thought the acoustics at the theater were great!
At 11/06/2007 10:35:00 PM, Anonymous said...: were posters available at the shows?
At 11/07/2007 08:04:00 AM, Anonymous said...: How long was the intermis
sion between Pegi and Neil ?

how long an intermision between the acoustic set and electric ?

Info might be helpful to those going to future shows !

although I love the setlists,I hope Neil still has some changes and suprises planned.Hopefuly he's taken alot more songs on the road than we've seen already.

I love "Hurricane" as the closer, but TTN as the closer doesn't cut it.
At 11/07/2007 09:59:00 AM, RedRoxx said...: 15 minutes between Pegi and Neil; Neil flashed hand signals that he would be back in 17 minutes at intermission. They met both schedules and may have been a minute or two early. Don't get caught outside. Tuesday show much better sound except for guitar on Winterlong. Neil had "acclimated" and was very talkative and funny as hell.
At 11/07/2007 10:58:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Can anyone tell me the average time the show's been ending? I'm attending the D.C. show on the 15th and I need to let my friends know what time to expect me after the show.

Thanks!

folsom
At 11/07/2007 02:10:00 PM, Anonymous said...: This was my first time atWells Fargo Theater which is nice inside, comfortable seats, with better than average acoustics. The layout however seems poorly designed. If you don't go in the correct door, you're sunk. If you don't go to the restroom before the concert, you're sunk. The restrooms are in the middle of nowhere and not placed where a person can go during the intermissions and make it back in time. Same with the liquid dispensers. Took my seventeen year old son the the Show. He loved it, especially Neil Young's songwriting. The drummer, not so much. "Dad, he hasn't gotten any better since the Sixties !" (He's a Steve Gadd fan...) Well, I tried to explain that's the sound the artist Neil Young is trying to achieve. Otherwise, a brilliant show! I loved the crowd, which was so very attentive and appreciative. Loved the new songs. Loved the old songs. Loved the vibe. Go Neil go !
At 11/07/2007 04:21:00 PM, Anonymous said...: The show is very consistently 2:15 from Neil start to end. I walked out of wells Fargo at 10:50 both nights.

Neil was funny as hell last night -totally on a roll. I saw night 1 from a crappy angle etc., a wonderful show anyway, but last night I was dead center about 15 rows back. All the talk of Neil's intentions, ticket prices etc. were utterly meaningless in light of seeing the man do his thing. Anyone on the fence out there? For God sakes GO TO THIS SHOW!! Mark in Denver
At 11/07/2007 05:19:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Can anyone advise as to how long Pegi's set runs before Neil comes out? Previous poster mentioned set break, but not how long Pegi Young plays. Thanks!
At 11/07/2007 06:46:00 PM, purple words said...: Can anybody tell me if there are Neil young posters sold at the shows- just wondering so I can add to my collection of concert posters
Thanks
At 11/07/2007 08:25:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Tickets say 7:30 - Pegi played from 7:35 to 8:05. Neil came on 15 minutes later and played for 2 hours.

There was one poster for sale for $20.
At 11/09/2007 06:14:00 PM, Anonymous said...: You know, actually, it's terrific that an artist will choose to perform their art in a venue which contributes so mightily to the enjoyment of the artist's craft. WellsFargo Theater is just such a place. True, the theater-goer has a long way to walk to get in. Also true that it was difficult to use "the facilities" during the Show and its intermissions. Nevertheless, kudos to Neil Young for insisting that the entire concert experience be enhanced by choosing to perform at this theater. The aural ambience was astounding, from the first notes of Pegi Young's set to the last of Neil Young's. The drummer needs to tighten up his gig. Come on Ralph you can do this. As for Neil and both his acoustic and his electric set - what a forceful poet, what an engaging performer, what thrilling songs ! What a nut ! Thanks for the great experience, Neil.